jeepneyjinggoy: city

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THEME parks and towers, castles and temples, the busiest intersection and street are all good to see but there is so much more to see—and experience—off the major tourist stops in the popular cities of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Driving will allow you to stop & bask in nature's beauties.

While spring is a great time to visit Japan for the famed Sakura, autumn is just as beautiful. The candy tones of pink and white blooms of spring are fleeting but the vibrant red and gold leaves of autumn linger longer.

I was glad I caught the tail end of autumn and showered with last few falling leaves of a willow tree in the garden of a temple. It was the onset of winter and I was in Isesaki in the Gunma Prefecture. Later that day, I was told we were going on a road trip to Nikko.

On the way to Nikko via the Irohazaka Winding Road.

Nikko is a city in the Tochigi Prefecture, north of the Kanto Region, which encompasses seven prefectures that includes Gunma and Tokyo. The drive will take more than hour across a winding road, which my hosts said, I should see and experience. That got me wondering why.

Hairpin curves coming...

As a prelude to the “main event” I was welcomed by a beautiful tune, not on the radio but the one produced by the road—a Melody Road.

Melody Road ahead…Name that tune.

Of the four permanently paved Melody Roads in Japan, one is in Gunma. It’s the shortest at 175 meters and consists of 2,559 grooves and produces the tune of “Memories of Summer”. The other three are 250-meter stretches in Hokkaido, Wakayama and Shizukoa.

Now for the exciting part of the drive, it’s Japanese alphabet time through the Irohazaka Winding Road.

It ascends to 400 meters in altitude. An aerial view of the Irohazaka Winding Road in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. (net photo).

The winding road of Irohazaka is a famous road that connects Okuzo Nikko and central Nikko. It ascends to 400 meters in altitude and was originally a two-way street. Today it has two separate one-way roads, one for uphill and another for downhill traffic.

Reaching the top deserves a compulsory touristy jumpshot.

Since the early Showa era, the road was referred to as Irohazaka, from the ancient Japanese alphabet consisted of 48 letters, the same number of hairpin curves along the slope.

An alphabet character for every turn. There are 48 of these.

In 1954, the road was improved and the number of turns was reduced to 30. But adding a second road, a one-way street heading up the slope, increased the number of curves to 50. To match the number of letters in the Japanese alphabet system, two roads were removed and brought back the count to 48.

At each turn, there is a corresponding sign with an alphabet below the illustration of Nikko’s city flower, the azalea. Heading up and down, the signage is arranged in alphabetical order.

A sign in every turn. We're on the 13th. See the alphabet character & NIkko's flower diagram, the azalea.

Here’s a trivia about this road. Did you know that in the past this road was for ascetics? Going up the slopes was not allowed to women and horses. There is also a giant stone on the slope, which is said to have a magnetic force.

Chosen & marked. Irohazaka Winding Road is selected as one of Japan's 100 Roads. With Max & Obet Castillo.

Autumn is one of the best times to pass the Irohazaka Winding Road as trees flank both sides of the road and the koyo (Colorful leaves) is a sight to behold. I missed it as I arrived just after the leaves fell to ground on early winter. The last one whispered, “You should come back soon.” Oh yes, I will.

Painted on a winter's day. Imagine how beautiful these trees are in autumn. It will be a beautiful drive under a canopy of red leaves.

*****

Email me at jinggoysalvador@yahoo.com. For more lifestyle & travel stories, visit http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com and http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on January 21, 2016.

WHEN traveling, it is good to familiarize yourself with the vicinity you have chosen to stay at. This is the first thing I do whenever I reach the first point of any destination. It's like mapping out the area and knowing where the ride is, the nearest restaurant, etc.

Sit & observe. One of the first things I do when new in an area.

An oriental noodle restaurant beside the hotel. Who doesn't crave for a bowl of noodles on a chilly day or night?

You don;t know what you'll chance upon when walking around your hotel's neighborhood.

Most of the hotels will have a directory with a section that points you to the "tourist spots nearby" and how far it is from them. That is, if you even bothered to open the desk or bedside drawer and flip through it.

At Copenhagen Admiral Hotel, you'd find a very interesting reading material on the coffee table by the most comfortable sofa you don't want to get up from. "Admiral News" a monthly newspaper that contains a comprehensive history of the hotel and the events transpiring around the city. In it are the popular attractions of Copenhagen reachable on foot.

This cozy corner in our hotel room at Copenhagen Admiral Hotel. See that white thing on top of the coffee table?

I love this hotel's monthly journal, it's concise, comprehensive, informative & interesting.

The tour on foot was interesting. It was a treat. But what made it more interesting was meeting the "people in the neighborhood." Here's a list of the Copenhagen personalities I met during the short visit

When you say Copenhagen, it's the Little Mermaid's image that pops to mind. It is the city's most popular attraction, admittedly, and she turned 100 years old in August 2013. She's never moved an inch from where she's sitting, on a rock by the waterfront of Langelinie Park.

Hello there Little Mermaid. I'm staying next door.

But prior to reaching this famous fairy tale character, you'd meet Gefion, the legendary goddess, standing at the center of a monumental fountain built in her honor. The Gefion Fountain, with the goddess on a chariot pulled by huge oxen, is the city's largest monument, is a huge, sculptural fountain in the Langelinie Park near the waterfront.

I got to meet a goddess. Should I tell her I'm we're on the same level?

By the same harbor, you'd probably bump into Frederick IX, the King of Denmark from 1947 to 1972. It was during his reign that Denmark saw a great change in society structure and economy, which turned the country into a modern one.

On the 35th anniversary of his accession to the throne in 1947, the statue of the king in admiral's uniform was unveiled on April 20 1982, the tenth year after his death.

Walking with the man who modernized Denmark, King Fredecrick IX

From the hotel, take the opposite direction to Metro and say hello to Ludvig Holberg. Born in Norway but spent his adult life in Denmark, this man was the Baron of Holberg, a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright who was said to be the founder of Modern Danish and Norwegian literature.

He is best known for the comedies he wrote in 1722-1723 for the Lille Gronnegade Theatre, and from 1736 to 1936, his works about natural and common law were widely read by many Danish law students.

The baron & founder of modern Danish & Norwegian literature, Ludwig Holberg, sits in front of the Royal Dansih Theater

Walk along the famed "longest pedestrian road in Europe" and you'll chance upon a Royal Guard made from thousands of bricks-a Lego man. If you must know, Lego's mother company is based in this country.

I salute the Royal Lego Guard. He's Danish.

But if you wish to see the living (and very good looking) Royal Guards, head to the Rosenborg or the Amalienborg Castles. You can catch the changing of the guards or have photo with whoever is standing on guard. I did.

This was as near as I can get to this castle guard of Rosenborg (at gusto pang mas malapit?)

It's impossible to miss Robert Pershing Wadlow along the Kongens Nytorv. He is towering at almost 9 feet. Robert is not a local though, he's an American from Illinois, but has been standing on this street for ages. Well, he's a Guinness world record holder and it's no surprise to find him in front of a Guinness museum.

"How tall are you, sir." I asked the tallest man on earth. He's a permanent tourist in Copenhagen

Of course, you'll bump into a Viking. I chanced upon one. Unusual though, he was way shorter than what I perceive a Viking to be. Is there a troll Viking?

I didn't know Vikings came in troll form

The longest street opens up to the City Hall Square. In this area expect to meet important personalities and one of them is the Little Mermaid's "father", Hans Christian Andersen. The fairy tale writer is sitting beside the brick-wrapped city hall and gazing up his left shoulder. I wonder why.

Look up, look up, said the father of the Little Mermaid, Hans Christian Andesren

On the way back to the hotel, I saw a picture of Simon and I wonder if he won a seat in Denmark's house of politics.

Hello Mr. Strange.

It was a lovely walk through the streets of Copenhagen and meeting the people in the neighborhood of my home in the city, the Copenhagen Admiral Hotel. The next day's IT, I get to visit a castle and meet the royalty.

Copenhagen Admiral Hotel is at Toldbodgade 24 - 28
DK-1253 Copenhagen K. Visit their website: http://www.admiralhotel.dk/en

For good deals on this hotel, visit the Agoda website at http://www.agoda.com/copenhagen-admiral-hotel/hotel/copenhagen-dk.html

For more travel and lifestyle stories, visit http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com/ and http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com/

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on May 07, 2015.

IT WAS a twist of fate. It almost didn't happen, but it did. I am glad it did.

A welcome I didn't expect.

Nothing can be more convenient (and wiser) than staying within the vicinity (try a hundred steps) of the airport whenever you have an early flight to catch to your destination (in my case, it's Tokyo at 6 a.m.).

No flight connecting to Tokyo from Davao. A night in Cebu is required.

This is the advantage the Waterfront Airport Hotel in Mactan can give all the transient travelers with Cebu as the stopover.

Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino in Mactan is a traveler’s dream home.

Call this a déjà vu. It was just like five years ago in 2010 that I took the same route to Japan, my first time to visit the Land of the Rising Sun. The schedule was pretty much the same with no connecting flights to and from Davao will get me to Narita. I had to stay a night in Cebu.

The bridge you don't need to cross when stain in Waterfront Airport Hotel in Cebu.

Yes, the airlines do not give the convenience it offers its passengers via the Manila hub, where non-residents can take connecting flights on the same day and spend less travel time getting to their destinations. Luckily, there is this hotel you can call your home in Cebu.

A warm Cebuano smile to greet you upon your arrival. You know you’ll have a great time in Waterfront Airport Hotel.

To sweeten the stay.

Waterfront Airport Hotel can be the traveler's home in Cebu. It was mine. With the Mactan International Airport as its "garage". It's a few meters walk upon alighting from the plane, and you can just gaze through the hotel window and check if the ride arrived on time.

The “garage” across the street. I got a good night’s rest knowing I won’t be late for my flight.

In this hotel, time will always be on the traveler's side. With its close proximity to the airport, I didn't have to get up at 1 a.m.- five hours before the flight, which equals to not sleeping a tall. I was able to enjoy the extended sleep time, had my favorite Cebu breakfast of danggit with rice in bed while watching TV, took a quick shower, and took the short walk airport's departure area (okay, I didn't. The hotel insisted on driving me to the airport across the road).

4AM breakfast in bed before taking off to Tokyo. My must eat in Cebu.

You can appreciate Waterfront Mactan more during the day. It takes out the travel time across the heavy traffic-laden streets of Cebu (which is terrible!). Not good, especially coming from a long flight when the only thing on your mind is flopping on a nice bed and sleep.

Points of interest in Mactan & Cebu. Just in case you want to venture out of the hotel.

If rest evades you and you need a lullaby to get you to dreamland, the Jimbaran Spa is the perfect place for it. After a long, tiring flight why not get a well-deserved treat? I opted for the spa's 90-minute signature massage and it was what my body and mind needed to rejuvenate after days of touring Japan.

After days of touring & a long flight to home, the Jimbaran Spa of Waterfront Airport Hotel is the next best thing to heaven.

You see, behind the business aura, the glittering casino that never sleeps and the grand lobby cloaked in wood that exudes an old world glamour, there is that touch warmth of home one can always find in Waterfront Mactan. Time is slower in this place, more relaxing.

I love the glass mosaic swivel wall panels of this hotel.

Just like home. Fresh flowers adorning the lobby' central table.

More than anything, nothing beats entering this Cebu home with the man of the house, with the rest of his family, welcoming me with smiles on their faces at the door.

Welcoming me to their home, the Waterfront Airport Hotel’s man of the house, General Manager BenHur Caballes (center), and the family, MarCom Officer Hamski Garcia & Front Office Manager Rex Yap.

Nothing has changed much since my previous visit in 2010, when former GM Hembler Mendoza warmly welcomed me to the hotel upon arrival. This time it was GM BenHur Caballes who received me. I shook his hand and thanked him for the accommodation, to which he replied with, "You are welcome. You will always have a home here in Waterfront Airport Mactan." I believe him.

It was a surprise to see Hembler Mendoza at Watefront Airport Hotel’s Café Uno, the former GM of this hotel who welcomed me on 2010.

For more travel and lifestyle stories, visit http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com/ and http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com/

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on April 29, 2015.