Here we are for another week of Wanderfood Wednesday kindly hosted by Wanderlust and Lipstick. My apologies for being a wee bit late. I am still trying to catch up on what seems to be my entire life since returning from my summer travels.

My first introduction to Ramen was in Korea. My initial reaction was “why is this stuff so popular?”. You see in Korea Ramen comes from a package. The noodles are heated and then the hottest spices available are thrown on top. Not my idea of fine dining.
However, I did know that Ramen is very popular in Japan and I was determined to try it and hopefully like the “REAL STUFF”.

I had read a bit about “Hakata” Ramen, which is famous in Fukuoka. This Ramen has a unique milky broth, which (so I read) is the result of boiling pork bones. That is not what I tried my first night in Fukuoka. I think having eight Ramen restaurants to choose from overwhelmed me and I actually forgot that I was looking for a specific kind. I found these eight ramen restaurants at Raumen Stadium on the 5th Floor of Canal City in downtown Fukuoka. They seemed to selling every kind of Ramen known to man!

The Japanese are so visual when it come to food. I loved it! Unlike many places, not knowing the language did not impede my foodie experiences in anyway. Each of the eight Ramen restaurants wanted my business, and the wait staff very politely hustled me for it. I finally chose this dish. Now I know it’s not Hakata Ramen, but I’m not sure what kind it is. I asked the wait staff, but wasn’t able to translate the Japanese into English. If anyone can tell from the photos, please let me know. I will say it was delicious. Vegetarians will probably not be awed by the photos.

Then it was off to the vending machine to pay my 990 Yen.

Into the restaurant to wait. Japanese restaurants welcome single diners. You either sit at the bar or share a small table with other diners. Unlike the West, it’s common to share a table. I’m thinking that’s probably to do with so many people ans so little space. Drinking water is free, and all you can drink. The place was spotlessly clean.

After a short wait …..

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical of the pork. I’m not much of a meat eater and this looked a little too “fatty” for my liking. I was pleasantly surprised that it was very flavorful without being greasy. The broth was rich and tasty, and all of the different tastes..egg, green onion, kim, noodle… blended together very nicely. I was hooked!

At 990 Yen (approximately $11.75) I thought it was good value. Definitely a meal that wouldn’t stretch the wallet of most budget travelers.

Finally, there’s a store where you can purchase (or look at) everything and anything that has to do with this delicious noodle dish.

Here’s the website Raumen Stadium. Although it’s in Japanese, it will give you a nice overview of all the restaurants.

All tweets, stumbles, comments are most appreciated.

You can find more foodie stories at Wanderlust and Lipstick.

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Located in the heart of old Hakata in downtown Fukuoka, Kushida Shrine is my favorite shrine in the city. The best way to get there is to take the subway to Gion Station, and the shrine is a short 3 -5 minute walk away. There is always a lot of activity, including newly weds having their photos taken. Both times that I have been here I have managed to catch couples in their traditional wedding clothes…..

Of course, their get away is in the not so traditional pink bus

Believe me it was not easy for this beautiful bride to get back on that bus!

This is a perfect sight seeing locale for the budget traveler. It’s free!!

All stumbles, tweets, and comments are most appreciated.

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The Japanese love their fans, and they are well used during the sweltering summer heat. The average temperature while I was traveling around was between 35 and 40 Celsius. Definitely, fan weather.

I was surprised to discover that fan making is very much a cottage industry. In Kyoto I visited several small shops where fans were being made at the back. I was also told that many people produce fans in their homes.

This shot was taken in a fan shop in Kyoto. All of the fans were produced in a small area at the back of the shop. Budget travelers looking to bring souvenirs home will find fans to be a great option. Even the least expensive are well made.

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On my last day in Kyoto I was doing some wandering in the Gion District. Coming out of a shop I was taken totally by surprise. This beautiful maiko (training to be a geiko) was standing on the street. She had been stopped by a small child who was totally fascinated with beautiful kimono and make-up. I managed to snap this just as she started to move towards the tea house she entered moments later.

(Click the image if you want to view in larger size.)

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“Better City, Better Life” is the theme of Expo 2010 happening in Shanghai until the end of October. Participating countries are sharing how they are improving their cities and countries with the latest technologies. In addition, many are embracing a “green environment”. Shanghai has done an amazing job in organizing this huge event. Having spent three days there, I say that if you have the chance to go don’t miss it. The Expo is a far cry from your local fair, so knowing what to expect and a bit of preparation will greatly enhance your Expo experience.

1. I’m not sure that anything can quite prepare you for the sheer magnitude of the crowds. The Chinese estimated five hundred thousand visitors a day. While I was there they were reporting between 470,000 and 500,000 each day. Just knowing what to expect can help get you into the mindset you need to cope with the crowds.

2. Don’t buy tickets in advance or online. Many convenience stores sell them. I was able to purchase mine at “Alldays” for 160CNY. This way you avoid paying any extra fees. Also, you can buy a day at a time.

3. You can no longer make reservations for any individual country pavilion. If you want a ticket for the China Pavilion, you need to be at Gate 6 when it opens at 9:30am. You will receive a reservation card that tells you what time you can line up. My reservation was for 5:30pm and it took about 45 minutes for me to actually enter the pavilion. The Chinese have gone all out, and i’m glad that I was able to do the tour.

3. Unless you are really set on getting into China, don’t arrive until after the 9:30am opening. If you arrive at 9:45am (or even a little later) you will miss the initial crush of people. Believe me, it’s scary! When the gates open the locals RUN!

4. The Expo is divided into three sections…Asia, the Americas, and
Europe/Africa.Decide on which section you want to visit and then find the closest gate on your map You can check a map online (see links at the end of this post). This will cut down on the amount of walking you will do. Believe me you will be walking plenty! The subway is easy to use, and the best way to travel to and from Expo.

5. Decide how long you are prepared to wait in a lineup On my first day I waited in line at the India Pavilion for almost two hours, and then they closed it down. I never did find out why. At that point I made the decision that my maximum wait time was 30 minutes (preferably less). For the most part the Asian pavilions have the longest waits. People were waiting up to 8 hours to get into Saudi Arabia……………………NO THANK YOU! I saw fantastic African, South American, and European pavilions with very little wait time.

6. Be sure to visit your own country’s pavilion. Cruising through the Canadian Pavilion was so much fun. The apple pie and the “Canadian” breakfast made my day!!

7. Security is enforced. All bags must go through x-ray and you are wanded as you go through. You cannot carry water inside. You will get in much more quickly if you are prepared. That means nothing in your pockets that will make the alarm sound, and NO water. The locals know that they cannot take water inside, but all have it in their bags. They insist on standing in front of security and drinking every last drop. This slows things up considerably. Also, lighters will be confiscated.

8. Stay hydrated. There is no shortage of water, etc. for sale. The prices are not much higher than out on the street. In fact, there are many well marked free water stations. Try some of the food at the pavilions. Again, prices are quite good. I loved my “Canadian” food. Part of that of course was the novelty of being able to eat “Canadian” when I live in Asia. I also ate at the Peruvian Pavilion….HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

9. Wear the coolest clothes you own, and your MOST comfortable shoes.

10. The locals can be pushy. Politely stand your ground in the lineups and they will back off and stay in line.

11. Enjoy some of the evening entertainment. I saw some awesome African drumming, dancing and singing.

12. Finally, keep smiling and have fun! Again………………..COMFORTABLE SHOES, COOL CLOTHES.

Links to help you plan your Shanghai experience:

Expo 2010 Shanghai China

Shanghai Metro Map

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Let me begin by saying that Internet access is agonizingly slow here in China. Even a good proxy and an Internet connection does not guarantee that you will be able to send even the shortest email.

I took this shot in the city of Souzhou, which is known for its waterways and gardens. I stayed in the historical section of the city, and as you can see the buildings are beautifully lit at night. Click through to Flickr should you want to see a larger version.

Comments, stumbles, and tweets are all appreciated!

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My hotel is located within a ten minute walk of Shanghai’s famous Bund.
I fell in love with the awesome night views.

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Be prepared for an early departure from your hotel, if you want to see the magnificent Angkor Wat Sunrise. You’ll also be competing with lots of other early risers for the perfect photo. An Angkor Wat moment that shouldn’t be missed.

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