Travel Japan #1: An Organic Morning Welcomes Me to Kyoto

16.January.2019 | FEATURES / FOOD / SPOT / Uncategorized

Passing over the crystal blue ocean and through the snowy white clouds, I finally arrived in the country I had longed to visit.

 

The destination I chose is a town in located in the west of Japan, one steeped in history. The first morning to welcome me in Kyoto came through the steam of my mug which rose beautifully, almost transparent. It all appeared mysterious. Just what was I going to discover on this trip?

 

This is the story of one girl who came to visit Japan from her home country.

The morning coffee I will drink in my hotel room is like a good luck charm. It’s a requisite ritual of all my mornings, something that gives me a bit of courage.

 

“I hope today is like no other.”

Whispering this quietly to myself, I pour the hot water into the filter.

 

As the water slowly drips I smell the rich notes of the coffee.

 

The heat from the mug warms me up from the inside like a gentle caress.

Right now, in this moment, I want to tear the view outside the window and put it in my coat pocket.

 

I sip my coffee as I feel gratitude for the beautiful morning and anticipate the adventure that is about to begin.

The light, the warmth and the smell. Just quietly admiring this scene – that’s my morning ritual.

 

“I have to get going already,” I murmur. I look to myself in the future a little.

 

I wear a small handbag with my mint coloured coat. Let’s put this morning scene in one of them, because it was a fitting and refreshing start to the start of my trip.

I swing my eyes to the view outside the window once more and leave my room.

 

“I feel that I’ll have become a different me when I return to this room.”

 

Model: Mala Morgan

 

 

These are the organic items for my morning in Japan.

TOPVALU GURINAI – Organic Original Blend Drip Coffee:¥298 (Before Tax) /¥321 (Tax Included) 64g(8g×8count)

The green items sold by AEON’s private brand TOPVALU are good for both me as well as the environment. Organic drinks are like good luck charms that make your body healthy and beautiful from the inside. This organic drip coffee has a full-bodied flavour, and it’s easy to make, making it perfect for mornings when travelling.

 

TOPVALU ORGANIC ORANGE 100 – 100% Straight Organic Orange Juice:¥298 (Before Tax) /¥321 (Tax Included) 750ml

If my body craves fruit the moment I wake up, I sometimes go for orange juice. The refreshing sour taste of 100% organic orange juice makes me feel a little indulgent. Organic oranges that have been squeezed within 24 hours of picking are rich and very delicious.

 

We are handing out coupons for the products mentioned here. Be sure to use them the next time you visit ÆON for great discounts.

 

🎁 5% Coupon:
https://www.welcome-aeon.com/coupon/web_coupon.html

 

ÆON Store Search: https://www.welcome-aeon.com/storesearch/index.html

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    I left my room, and what stood in front of me calling like some outside force was the riverbed of Kamo River, a symbol of Kyoto. My plan for the day is still a blank sheet. If I listen carefully I can hear the calm flow of the stream. Where I’m meant to go will become clear in my mind’s eye, I’m sure of it.   I didn’t know the reason, but I felt that if I inhaled the morning air with all I had I would come to know.   “Where should I go first?” Thinking that, I set off to begin the story of my trip with all the freedom in the world.   The surface of the river is like a mirror, reflecting Kyoto’s changing seasons all year round. No matter the season, the world through that streaming looking glass is sure to be beautiful. Standing under the bridge was like being in a hiding place. It made me think of the first time I felt excitement when I was little. “I wonder what I’m searching for on this journey?”   These are the words I thought this to myself while walking back and forth. This was a city that I instantly grew attached to.   Is it something I want to find myself; or is it something I want somebody else to find for me? Someone I don’t know from in a city I don’t know in a country I don’t know.   The answer can only be found by working up the courage to knock on the door. Hints are hidden amongst the people and scenery I have yet to encounter in Kyoto. I laid out my blanket at the riverside and gazed across the Kamo River.   I took my breakfast out of my bag.   Bread and milk: my morning meal whenever and wherever I am. It’s a very natural cycle just like the blue sky, white clouds and unchanging scene before me. I feel myself becoming hydrated at the silky taste of my almond milk.   I stuff my cheeks slowly with bread and a Danish pastry while painting a picture of the day I will have today. It was the flowing river that laid it out to me as if singing me a sing.   It said, “When you get going, still with that curiosity inside you, you’ll meet a you who you haven’t met before.”   As if someone had gently flicked a switch in my mind, my half-asleep body began to move.   I decide to set off after eating my breakfast. The map of my trip lies in my heart.   Model/ Mala Morgan     Incorporate beautifying foods into your breakfast.

    TOPVALU 35% Reduced Sugar Soy Flour Danish Panettone:¥128 (Before Tax) / ¥138 (Tax Included) *Includes 2

    TOPVALU Fluffy Onion Cheese Bread:¥98(Before Tax) / ¥105 (Tax Included) *Includes 1

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    TOPVALU Almond Milk (Left):¥88円 (Before Tax) / ¥95(Tax Included) – 200ml 

    TOPVALU Sugar Free Almond Milk (Right):¥88円 (Before Tax) /¥95(Tax Included) – 200ml

      Packed with vitamin E, the highlight of this almond milk is its low calorie count. Its subtle sweetness and smooth texture complements the bread perfectly.   We are handing out coupons for the products mentioned here. Be sure to use them the next time you visit ÆON for great discounts.   🎁 5% Coupon: https://www.welcome-aeon.com/coupon/web_coupon.html   ÆON Store Search: https://www.welcome-aeon.com/storesearch/index.html
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    I began my walk through the streets of Kyoto which since long ago have been at the height of prosperity in Japanese history. I understand the marvel and easing of the heart from strolling around the numerous majestic temples.   The fallen maidenhair tree leaves which had changed colour beautifully were spread across the ground like a carpet leading up to a sacred place. Each step felt precious and cleared my mind. And there I stood before it, overwhelmed at its magnificence. This is Higashi Honganji Temple. Inside is a portrait of Shinran, a Japanese Buddhist monk and founder of the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Buddhism. The temple grounds are home to historical architecture, every piece of which stirred my soul as somebody who does not know Japan. Despite it being my first time here I felt like I had returned once more. I wonder why? I gave a respectful bow to this temple and its long history while feeling the breath of the people who once lived here. My heart feels at peace when placing my hands together.   The act of praying may be one that has you facing yourself. I drank my genmaicha tea and hydrated myself from the dry air while strolling through the temple grounds.   Kyoto is a mysterious place. It has a tolerance to accept anything. It was like the old buildings were talking to me―like they knew me from long ago. In response and in a trance, I snapped a photo with my camera.   I wanted to burn the beauty of this temple into my memory so I will never forget it. I was captivated by the sight of the falling leaves. I stood under the maidenhair and gazed as they fluttered. I wonder if somebody else from another time stood here and felt the same as I did as they looked on at Kyoto in fall. The just-right bitterness and gentle sweetness of my almond chocolate stirs my imagination. The yellow leaves of the maidenhair dyed the path a golden road.   The grand temple and the maidenhair tree. My existence at this moment piles on top of Kyoto’s unimaginably long history as a single instant.     Model / Mala Morgan     Add rich taste to your walk

    TOPVALU Almond Chocolate Bitter 70%: ¥198(Before Tax)  ¥213 (Tax Included) – 70g

    A box of ÆON’s private brand TOPVALU 70% almond dark chocolate is always hidden in my bag. The flavour is moderately sweet and has just the right amount of bitterness perfect for those times when I’m lost in thought. I feel that every time I taste the almond in this chocolate now I will remember the carpet of maidenhair leaves.  

    TOPVALU Organic Genmaicha: ¥78(Before Tax) ¥84 (Tax Included) – 500ml

    This tea is made from 100% organic tea leaves grown in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a refreshing blend of green tea and flavoursome rice. The healthy ingredients in this tea are good for the body and when they hit every nook and cranny inside me make me want to take a walk anywhere in Kyoto.   We are handing out coupons for the products mentioned here. Be sure to use them the next time you visit ÆON for great discounts.   5% Coupon: https://www.welcome-aeon.com/coupon/web_coupon.html   ÆON Store Search: https://www.welcome-aeon.com/storesearch/index.html
  • Travel Japan #4: Magic Items to Heal My Tired Skin and Body

    21.February.2019 | FASHION / FEATURES

    After my stroll around Kyoto I head back to my hotel for a break and think back over my day. My curiosity is piqued – I want to know more about the history of this place.   Laid sprawled across my bed I picture myself walking through the city, the seasons changing, giving a sideways look at an elegant temple. The vivid cherry blossoms of spring, the cool riverbeds in summer, the autumnal orange hues, and the snow-beds of winter. All of these moments provide a spectacle that cannot be overlooked.   I feel that more wonderful things are still yet to occur. It’s nighttime, and my mind wanders at these thoughts, so I can’t sleep. I take out the Kyoto guidebook from my baggage. I trace the path I traveled today in my head which vividly brings the sights I saw to my mind’s eye. I let my body sink gently into the bed and absorb myself in reading, checking all the nooks and crannies of the book. This ancient city boasted by the island country of Japan, which I crossed the sky and sea to arrive at, is more wonderful than I expected. The orderly townscape makes me sit up and feel tense, in a good way.   My mind becomes clear. It feels as if I have been looking far into the distance for a long time.   “I feel the path I am heading for is beyond that beautiful landscape.”   My heart beats fast at that hope. I walked a lot today, so I give myself a treat.   I bask in the aromas of the cool sheets I place on my legs and heal my body to the core. I add to that a touch of permeating organic oil that’s both moist and gentle on the skin. When my skin is happy my heart too benefits. The night is still young. I enjoy some me-time with my makeup-less skin and heart. Resting like this is another important part of travel.   I flick through the guidebook over and over again and visualise the routes of the places I want to visit. A magic-imbued miracle occurs and I feel this room directly connecting to the places I wish to go to. Afterwards I enjoy a late-night retro movie. I am sure my coming to love alone-time is thanks to this trip. I also feel I have become a little stronger than I was. I try praising myself as my heart throbs at my favourite scenes which I watch over and over.     Model / Mala Morgan     Give your tired body the luxury time it deserves
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  • Travel Japan #5: Experiencing Everyday Life in Japan at a Supermarket in Kyoto

    25.February.2019 | FEATURES / FOOD / SPOT

    After getting to know some Kyoto history I wanted to know more about today's Kyoto. The enormous and modern terminal of Kyoto Station contrasts with the temples I'm so interested in. The two co-exist in harmony. I could see Kyoto Tower through the glass - it stood tall like it was watching over this ever-changing city. I will change my perspective today and walk the streets like the locals who live here in Kyoto. My destination is undecided. It's nice to surrender yourself to the flow of the people once in a while and head towards your goal as in Amidakuji (Ghost Leg lottery). Because I've learnt on my trip that you can encounter wonderful things by chance on occasion. The glass walkway is like a tunnel into the future. I look at my reflection in the window and see I have become more of an adult. Stood there I gaze for a long time up at Kyoto Tower. As I stare I think about how the city changes, people change, the days transition, but how there are also things I want to stay the same. The next place I head to is Aeon Mall, a shopping centre close to Kyoto Station. This is a foreign supermarket to for me, so I get excited. It's like sifting through a toy box.   An ordinary day for the people living in this country is an extraordinary day for me. Each and every thing in there is something I've never laid eyes on before.   I walk around, forgetting about the passage of time, and get a glimpse into the simple yet happy lifestyle of people. There's a conveyor belt sushi restaurant in the mall, something I had been yearning for. I wonder if my friends would laugh if I told them that the sushi coming round on a conveyor belt is like something out of a Tim Burton movie? I feel like the protagonist of that film as I eat the sushi that rolls on by. I visited a general store where everything is sold for ¥100. I bought a letter set from here and wrote a letter to my precious friend.   To my beloved friend,   Japan is a really wonderful place.I'm determined to absorb everything I see and experience in the limited time I have here.I don't know what I will discover on this trip, what I am heading towards.It's hard to describe in words, but I will continue my travels.   Model: Mala Morgan     Aeon Mall Kyoto: A Japan-packed shopping mall 10 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station Aeon Mall Kyoto is just a 10-minute walk from Kyoto Station. Its shelves are lined with daily necessities, you can dine there, buy souvenirs and more. On Weekends and national holidays there are free shuttles bus that runs every 15 minutes from Kyoto Station's Hachijoguchi Exit which is very convenient for travellers with heavy luggage.   I really recommend visiting if ever you're in Kyoto.   Aeon Mall Kyoto Address: 1 Nishikujō Toriiguchichō, Minami Ward, Kyoto Business Hours: Different for each store. Please visit the mall's website below to check opening hours. Website: http://kyoto-aeonmall.com/   KOHYO (Aeon Mall Kyoto - Sakura Building Floor 1F) KOHYO is a supermarket that sells various Japanese goods. I get my hands on a range of daily necessities and ingredients as I feel with my own skin what it's like to real live life in Japan.   Business Hours: 9:00-22:00 Website: http://www.kohyo.co.jp/   Kaiten Sushi Uogashi (Aeon Mall Kyoto - Sakura Building Floor 4F) Kaiten Sushi Uogashi is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant that sells over 20 types of seafood everyday. The ingredients change each day. I reconfirm that I really am in Japan as I tuck into my delicious sushi.   Business Hours: 10:00-22:00 (Last Orders 21:30) Website: http://www.maruchu-sushi.com/   DAISO (Aeon Mall Kyoto - Kaede Building Floor 4F) DAISO stocks new products every single day. There are ¥100-type stores in every country, but the ones in Japan really are something special! They have so many items that make for perfect souvenirs. It's an irresistible place for girls who love shopping so I've got to tell my friends about it.   Business Hours: 10-00-21:00 Website: http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/

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