Side trip from Tokyo! Lake Ashi in Hakone, Japan
When I was in Japan in June, I took a 2 day trip to Hakone which is in the nearby mountains. Lake Ashi is a crater lake surrounded by mountains. Going for the lake itself is worth the trip from Tokyo! I went in June for 2 days, 1 night, and enjoyed the ferries from dock to dock. It takes a few hours by train and other transportation to get from Shinjuku to the lake, but totally worth it! You can get the Hakone Pass for 2 or 3 days which allows you to take the train and then the cable car, ropeway, and the main ferry company. It is beside Mount Hakone which is a volcano that last erupted 3000 years ago, when it formed a caldera that has gradually filled with water over the years. The lake was really the main draw for me. It was relaxing to just be on the water and breath in the fresh air. It got a bit breezy and chilly, but I didn’t mind. It was glorious to be on a boat on a beautiful lake and see green mountains all around! I spent most of my free time taking the ferry from dock to dock, and had just enough time to check out the Hakone Shrine (箱根神社, Hakone Jinja) before catching the last ferry back to where I stayed.
We bought 2 mangoes, with a package of warm sticky rice, and small bag of coconut milk. We brought them back to my hotel room to cut and assemble for a delicious dessert. A trip to Or Tor Kor Market for fresh mango with sticky rice, my favorite Thai dessert!
If you have never had Thai golden mangoes, then please feast your eyes on this photo of delicious fresh cut mango with sticky rice and coconut milk! I went to a famous Bangkok food market to get some.
A few weekends ago, I was in Bangkok, Thailand for meetings, but had some time to hang out with my Aunt who lives there. She took me to this market where they sold the best quality of every fruit or traditional Thai food you could think of. It is called Or Tor Kor Market. This is the place to go for the freshest and best tasting fruit and produce you can find in Bangkok. It is a bit pricier than other markets, but all items have made the cut to be presented there. They are definitely worth the extra money for the occasional splurge! These mangoes were so delicious that I don’t think I can eat mango in Singapore (or possibly anywhere else) ever again. Really! Continue Reading
Hey, I'm Chewy! I'm a science journalist currently living in New York. I'm an introvert who likes to see new things and learn. Here I write about my travels and musings about food, places and cultures. Check out my photos, reviews, and random thoughts!