[New Zealand] Christchurch，Casa Publica

與同事飛抵紐西蘭基督城時，完全沒想到今天(12月9日)的晚餐要自理，想說這次應該算是跟團旅行，應該都包在團費裡才是，原來只有騎車期間才全包，哈～總之，大家一起在七點多出門逛逛找餐廳，有幾位一起看上了這間，風格挺不同的餐廳用餐，寫部落格時一查才發現，原來這是間南美風格的餐廳，難怪風格很不同。
When we arrived Christchurch on Dec 9th, 2017, I didn't expect that we need to find our dinner by ourselves. I thought everything was included with the company tour. Anyway, we walked on the street and try to find something special, this building seems really different compares to others. After some search, it's a South America style restaurant. We're lucky to find it.

說實話，點餐時其實看不懂Espetada這個字，但因為很餓，還是要點有肉的，於是就點了牛肉(Beef)，室友反而不太餓，就只點了捲餅；回來一查才知道，Espetada是葡萄牙語，意思是串燒，難怪上菜時會是一盤成串的牛肉塊。
Because there are so many people here, my colleagues are separated to several tables. My roommate and I were sat on a table of two. We ordered the Beef Espetada and Burritos (because my roommate is not hungry, but I was).

牛肉串燒的賣相非常好，烤得五分熟的牛肉塊串成一串，掛在洋蔥，黑豆等蔬菜上，雖然沒有肉汁一直往下滴，但仍保有這樣的意向，感覺滋味就很棒，切塊後與底下的配菜一起入口，滋味多變，好吃。
The Beef Espetada is really attractive. It is grilled as medium rare which is perfect with the onions and beans. It's tasty.

捲餅還算是不錯，只是沒有牛肉串燒那麼驚艷。
The burritos is simple, but yummy. 

Casa Publica:
180 Armagh Street
Christchurch
Canterbury
8000

[Japan] 東京，澀谷區，明治神宮 (Meiji Shrine，Meiji Jingu)

在新宿車站享用完利久牛舌，走路來到了東京除了皇宮外的最大綠地─明治神宮，這是我第二次來到這兒，第一次是在我大三那年，接近廿年前了。
This is my second time to visit Meiji Shrine. Last time I came here is when I was a college student, almost 20 years ago. After that visit, I envy the citizens of Tokyo, because they have such a big park (or maybe I can say a big forest) in the city. This time, after I had lunch at Rikyu Shinjuku, I walk here for my second visit.

入口處的明治神宮地圖。
This is the map of Meiji Shrine.

走在寬廣的步道上，試圖尋找當年的模糊記憶，幾乎毫無所得，不知是明治神宮真的有所改變，還是其實我已記不得當時的一事一物了... 
Although it looks different, the peaceful atmosphere is still here.

回到家，特地翻出了當年的相片，原來明治神宮真的略有改變，舖上了人行道，更適合遊客的參觀，也難怪當年我覺得明治神宮基本上是一座位於東京的森林，感覺較為原始，現在則比較像是座容易親近的公園，說不上哪個比較好，至少都有一樣濃郁的芬多精與平和氛圍。
I find the photo I took almost 20 years ago, it looks more natural. No wonder I said it's a forest. Now, I prefer to use the word "park" to describe the Meiji Shrine. 

唯一讓我肯定的事物，一樣雄偉的鳥居。
The most impressive torii.

可惜到得太晚，明治神宫御苑在下午五點就關門了，未能入內參觀。
It's a little bit pity that we arrived late, didn't have a chance to visit Meiji Jingu Garden. It closed at 5 o'clock PM.

為了2020年的東京奧運，主殿的部分目前都在整修中，那為什麼照片上乍看之下看不出來呢？因為院方在殿前放了張1:1比率的照片蓋住了後方的工程，算是考慮到遊客難得來一趟，不希望遊客的照片中出現「施工中」的遺憾，而做的貼心舉動，這真的很可能是日本人才會想得到，至少我是第一次遇見，雖然我也不知我是不是比較希望看見施工中的主殿。
The main shrine is under refurbish for 2020 Tokyo Olympics. So, the government provide a real ratio photo covers the shrine for you to take beautiful photos as usual. This is really an interesting behavior that I never seen before.
若想看看貼上照片的神宮主殿的樣子，可以參考Google Maps上的連結：
明治神宮主殿
If you want to see how it really looks like, you may find below link with the panorama on Google Maps:
Main Shrine

其他幾個角落如下，感覺好像多了幾個鳥居，或許是記憶有誤吧！
Below are some corners I took photos.

(恰好遇到2017原宿表參道元氣祭的舞者正在排演，駐足了十幾廿分鐘。)

(Some dancers are practicing for Super Yosakoi Festival 2017.)

[Taiwan] 台北，捷運萬芳醫院站，拿坡里 vs 胖老爹

在一個嘴饞的夜晚，我和女友兩人，決定要把附近的兩大炸雞名店，買來比較看看，左邊是胖老爹(Fat Daddy)的五號全家餐，259元，內有三翅，三塊，兩腿，共八份雞，右側則是拿坡里的六塊炸雞餐，也是259元，沒記錯應該是兩翅，兩腿，加兩雞胸肉。吃炸雞似乎就是該搭配可樂，所以，另外單買一瓶可樂！

就炸雞占的空間來說，似乎是拿坡里的麵衣比較厚，也比較立體，所以六塊炸雞在桶內占的空間比胖老爹八塊雞還大，這部分比較見仁見智，有人很愛厚麵衣，有人會把麵衣直接丟掉不吃，我自己是會吃一半，有點年紀了，麵衣與雞皮的攝取，還是要控制一下。

外觀上，胖老爹顏色比較深，拿坡里較淡，不知是不是和油溫或是炸的時間長短有關，個人沒有相關經驗。

口味上，胖老爹的調味比較淡，比較偏胡椒鹽的調味，不過鹹味不重，挺好吃的，不過調味似乎都在麵衣上，尤其和拿坡里炸雞一比，當光吃雞肉時，胖老爹幾乎於等無味，可說是吃不到雞本身甜味的雞肉；拿坡里雖然是以辣味調味，但光吃雞肉本身，其實有滿明顯的雞肉甜味，尤其是雞胸肉，超厚超大塊，第一口咬下，辣味刺激口水分泌，第二口，甜味就慢慢充盈口腔，且口口都是滿滿的肉，超滿足的！

兩相比較之下，如果以後要吃炸雞，還是去吃拿坡里！

[Japan] 大阪，中央區，心齋橋 & 道頓堀 (Shinsaibashi & Dōtonbori)

大阪心齋橋與道頓堀附近，算是大家到關西旅遊時，幾乎一定會來的街區，實在是太好買了，一大堆服飾店，百貨公司，藥妝店，還有伴手禮店，真的是讓所有的觀光客都買瘋了。
心齋橋是南北向，以上述相關商店為主，東西向的則是道頓堀，道頓堀同時也是指那條東西向的運河，運河兩側，則是以餐廳為主的店家；從地圖上可看出，附近有許多捷運站可來到這個購物聖地，由於我直接住在黑門市場旁，直接走路十到十五分鐘即可，方便許多。
The Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori mainly are two streets which cross as above. The small area at bottom right is the Kuromon Market. All these three shopping places are nearby. Since I stayed in a AirB&B just next to Kuromon Market, I walk to Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori within 15 minutes. I'm not sure which Metro station you may need to take to come here. I only took the Metro to Nippombashi Station to Kuromon Market.

在黑門市場吃完早餐，我大約從十點開始逛，從南往北，包含在新世界元祖串炸吃個簡便午餐的時間，大約一點半，兩點可以抵達最北端，沿途完全沒有買東西，只有標記某些衣服，決定回程再買。回程就只去某些真的有興趣的店面，加上試穿時間，以及退稅時間(某些店家或許是百貨店中店的關係，無法直接退稅，必須前往指定窗口退稅，那就很容易遇到排隊人潮)，又花了三四個小時，如果，想從頭到尾好好地逛逛心齋橋，別忘了留下一個完整的白天。
The Shinsaibashi is where the shopping stores located, for the cloths, medicines and cosmetics. It's full of people all day long.

如果逛累了，可以往西走，當抵達南北向的御堂筋，路中間種植了一整排的銀杏，可以來賞銀杏，拍拍美照，休息一下。
If you want to take a rest, you may go west to the Midōsuji, it has beautiful ginkgos when you come here at the late autumn.

服飾部分大家各有偏好，開架式的美妝品亦同，這兒就只分享一個藥品與維他命類的資訊，由於家人託買武田藥品的合利他命強效錠(Alinamin EX PLUS，270錠)，我把心齋橋附近的藥店，藥妝店的價格比了個遍(甚至京都奈良也都注意過)，一般的價位大概是4,900円到5,500円之間，心齋橋認真找一下，4,800円的店也算不難找，但只有一家店是最低的，位在心齋橋筋口招牌旁，三樓的大國藥妝店，以4,700円販售，或許因為它位在三樓，房租比較低的關係；這也同時可看出另一個有趣的點，在這一帶，大國藥妝店記得至少有個四五家，但價格居然沒有統一，而是由各家自行決定，互相搶客人，我猜，或許是它其他的品項有比較貴的吧！不過，我就沒有精力再做更多的比較了。
I have one more information would like to share with you. In general, here is the place where you can buy the cheap medicines or cosmetics in Kyoto or Osaka. But there are so many pharmacies or drug stores, which one is the cheapest? If I use Alinamin EX PLUS as an example, which has higher price compares to others, the Daikoku Drug at 3rd floor which just next to the Shin Sai Bashi-suji sign is the cheapest. In my trip, I found the price is from ¥ 4,800 to 5,500, this store is the only one who sells it as ¥ 4,700. Maybe because it's at the 3rd floor, so the rent is cheaper than others.

道頓堀，是一條東西向的運河，運河兩旁，擠滿了各式各樣的餐廳。
The Dōtonbori is from west to east and besides the canal.

由於其以大型，甚至超大型看板與霓紅燈為名，你還可以搭上渡輪，從水上，或說從不同的角度觀賞。其中，最有名的，應該就是下面第二張照片的固力果人了，據說是世界上最有名的戶外廣告板。
You can also take the cruise on the canal to see the famous big signs along the Dōtonbori. There are a lot, I guess the most famous one is the second photo below, the Glico Man.

(新世界元祖串炸的道頓堀店，人潮就是比較多。)

(The Kushikatu Daruma at Dōtonbori)

這次日本關西賞楓行，最後兩天我都在附近閒逛，買東西，總共吃了五間餐廳，列名如下：
Totally I spent two days and two nights nearby, below are the restaurants I had tried here:
黑門市場 (Kuromon Market)
新世界元祖串炸 - 心齋橋店 (Kushikatu Daruma)
Luke's Lobster - 心齋橋店
大起水產 - 道頓堀店 (Daiki-Suisan)
一蘭拉麵 - 道頓堀店 (Ichiran)

[Japan] 大阪，中央區，一蘭拉麵 - 道頓堀店 (Ichiran)

其實在到大起水產用餐前，我是打算要嚐嚐在台灣超級有名的「一蘭拉麵」的，可是，人實在是太多了，看起來好像要等到兩個小時似的，於是就放棄了，決定隔天早上七點半再來看看情況。
Before having dinner at Daiki-Suisan, I was thinking to eat at Ichiran. But there are so many people, I guess it may need to wait for more than two hours. I gave up at that time but also made a decision, came back at 7:30 AM on the next day and see what happens.

早上七點半，果然就沒有人排隊了，可以直接入座；很巧的，我的同學在同一天的中午來到這家店，他等了快兩個小時才入座，可見，當要吃一蘭的時候，時間點果然是超級重要。
It's empty. The customers can directly walk in and have a seat. On the same day, my friend came around noon, he waited for 90 to 120 minutes to have a seat. That's really incredible.

一蘭拉麵的點餐是全自動的，這在日本很常見，不錯的點是，每個按鈕都有提供圖片，或許因為外國人多，所以要讓外國人如我，更容易理解點的是什麼吧！我倒是很簡單地點了「一蘭特選A」。
The Ichiran use the auto-machine for ordering. I just ordered Ichiran Special A because it looks so rich although I usually don't eat much for the breakfast.

我真的是進了一蘭才知道這個一蘭的特色，只提供一人座的位子，即使是多人團體，還是必須每個人分開坐，往好的想，每個人可以專心地品嚐面前的拉麵，機車一點想，由於專心，所以基本上會吃得比較快，對一蘭來說，翻桌率就高，就可以賺更多的錢了！而且，在每個座位的前方，直接提供一張「可供加菜」的菜單，這招真是太高明了，都已經點好餐，坐下來了，還繼續想辦法讓顧客能夠多花錢。
You may know that Ichiran only provides One personal seat for every customer even you're coming with a group. In front of each seat, you have the add-on menu in case you want more any time.

居然連筷子套翻過來都是加點菜單！
Even for the chopsticks, it also has the menu.

拉麵濃郁的豬骨湯頭，麵條則是細拉麵，很有嚼勁，且又有湯汁的味道，很好吃，那一球辣油則讓整體帶點微辣，算是不錯的調味；另外附了一個小盤擺放了叉燒等配菜，畢竟豬骨湯會改變配菜的口感，同時也會沾附在配菜上改變味道，獨立提供小盤，可讓每個人自選喜好的口感與調味，也算是一種客製，都算是一蘭不錯的服務。
The soup is cooked with pork bone (tonkotsu ramen), it's really tasty. The noodles are thin and chewy, really satisfying. Ichiran serves the side dishes with an extra plate, I guess that for the customer to adjust how strong taste the soup or the side dishes should be when you can control when to add them into the soup. This is a good thing for those who likes to adjust details or who doesn't like the side dishes to be soaked in the soup.

如前所述，想來吃一蘭的人實在是太多了，如果你也想，建議可以像我一樣挑早餐時間，或者，就在運河對岸，有間一蘭的道頓堀別館，人潮比本館少，我在下午五點半經過時，外面只有不到十人在排隊，以一蘭的座位設計，十到十五分鐘應該就可以入內了，但到了七點半，人數也破五十人了，所以我就沒有排了。
If you really want to eat Ichiran, I recommend you to check the other branch across the canal. When I was there at 5:30 PM, there are less than 10 people waiting outside, but for the one next to the canal, it's already more than 50 people. When it's 7:00 PM, there are more than 50 people waiting for both branches. That's why I didn't eat my dinner there.

總之，一蘭的拉麵是很好吃，不過在有了不用排隊的選擇之後，我覺得排兩小時的隊實在不太值得，來吃頓豐盛的早餐比較好啦！
General speaking, the Ichiran is good, but I don't think it's good enough for waiting more than 2 hours. Especially there are so many good foods in Japan. Just like me, eat Ichiran for the breakfast, then you don't need to wait.

一蘭拉麵 - 道頓堀店本館：
〒 542-0084大阪府大阪市中央区宗右衛門町7-18

一蘭拉麵 - 道頓堀店別館：
〒 542-0071大阪府大阪市中央区道頓堀1-4-16