Ghetto Mr. Hunter in Kyoto

Teresa brought Ghetto Mr. Hunter to Kiyomizu-dera, 

a Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

Another Komainu!

Teresa and Kiyomizu-dera 

Chillin' at Kiyomizu-dera.

Kiyomizu-dera

Kyoto, Japan

September 2008

Travels with Teresa: Sensō-ji Temple

While visiting Sensō-ji Temple in Tokyo, Ghetto Mr. Hunter admired the koi, enjoyed a snack, and posed with another Komainu.

That's the Senso-ji pagoda on the left.

Another Komainu!

Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo, Japan

August 2008

Ghetto Mr. Hunter Visits Tōshō-gū Shrine

The second half of Ghetto Mr. Hunter's inaugural journey with Teresa took them to Japan.  While visiting the Tōshō-gū Shrine in Tokyo's Ueno Park, 

Ghetto Mr. H. encountered this friendly fellow.

Nice to meet you, sir!

Ema prayer and wish plaques hanging in the foreground.

Ghetto Mr. Hunter and the shrine.

Ghetto Mr. Hunter and a Komainu.
Komainu (aka "lion dogs") act as guardians at shrines.

Among the features at Tōshō-gū Shrine

 is the Flame of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a peace symbol 

which commemorates the atomic bomb attacks in Japan.

Those are colorful paper cranes
hanging alongside the Flame of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

About the Flame of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Thanks again to Teresa for letting a flat Mr. Hunter accompany her to Japan!

Tōshō-gū Shrine, Ueno Park

Tokyo, Japan

August 2008

Travels with Steve: Singapore's Merlion

2008 was a good year for flat friends of Mr. Hunter and Merlions in Singapore.  First, Ghetto Mr. Hunter posed with Merlions big and small when he visited Singapore with Teresa.  A few months later, Steve brought his Flat Mr. Hunter to see the original Merlion.

Merlion Park

Singapore

November 2008

Travels with Steve: Figures on the Wall

One of these figures is a relatively new--and temporary--addition 

to this lovely wall near the edge of Fort Canning in Singapore.

Fort Canning

Singapore

November 2008

Travels with Steve: Jurong Bird Park

Feeding time!

Flat Mr. Hunter got up close and personal with a colorful Lory

when he and Steve toured Jurong Bird Park in Singapore.

Mr. Hunter looks like he's enjoying the encounter!

Jurong Bird Park

Singapore

November 2008

Travels with Steve: Sri Mariamman Temple

Flat Mr. Hunter had a chance to see the Sri Mariamman Temple 

when he explored Singapore with Steve.

Sri Mariamman Temple

Singapore

November 2008

Three Faces in Singapore

I'm a big fan of this photo that Steve took when he brought 

his Flat Mr. Hunter to the National Orchid Garden in Singapore.

The Mist House

National Orchid Garden

Singapore

November 2008

To Be Held By a Statue: A Great Emporium

Teresa and Ghetto Mr. Hunter hang out with bronze figures in the outdoor sculpture, A Great Emporium, designed by Malcolm Kow and located along the Singapore River, close to the Asian Civilisations Museum.  

You can also see the sculpture, From Chettiars to Financiers, in the background.  These outdoor installations are part of the People of the River series.

Singapore River

Singapore

August 2008

The Main Merlion

Ghetto Mr. Hunter had already posed with the mini-Merlion at Mount Faber Park, but of course he couldn't leave Singapore without visiting the real deal at Merlion Park.

That's the Esplanade lit up in the background.

Marina Bay

Singapore

August 2008

Singapore Meals: Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice

Next up on Ghetto Mr. Hunter's restaurant tour of Singapore: 

Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice

Singapore

August 2008

More Singapore Meals: Laksa

Ghetto Mr. Hunter enjoys some laksa with his friends in Singapore.

Singapore

August 2008

Dessert at Brewerkz

Ghetto Mr. Hunter tasted some good food when he toured Singapore.  

Here he samples some carrot cake at Brewerkz.

Brewerkz

Singapore

August 2008

Durian

Ghetto Mr. Hunter samples another famous Singapore delicacy: the stinky durian fruit.

Mark Twain wrote about durian in Following the Equator:  

"There was a great abundance and variety of tropical fruits, but the dorian was never in evidence.  It was never the season for the dorian.  It was always going to arrive from Burma sometime or other, but it never did.  By all accounts it was a most strange fruit, and incomparably delicious to the taste, but not to the smell.  Its rind was said to exude a stench of so atrocious a nature that when a dorian was in the room even the presence of a polecat was a refreshment.  We found many who had eaten the dorian, and they all spoke of it with a sort of rapture.  They said that if you could hold your nose until the fruit was in your mouth a sacred joy would suffuse you from head to foot that would make you oblivious to the smell of the rind, but that if your grip slipped and you caught the smell of the rind before the fruit was in your mouth, you would faint.  There is a fortune in that rind.  Some day somebody will import it into Europe and sell it for cheese."

Singapore

August 2008

Jumbo Seafood

More moments from Ghetto Mr. Hunter's meal at Jumbo Seafood.

Crab

Jumbo Seafood

Singapore

August 2008

Geoduck Clams

Don't be too shocked.

Ghetto Mr. Hunter is just posing with some geoduck clams (prounounced "gooeyduck") while he visits the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant at The Riverwalk.

If Mr. Hunter could raise his eyebrows, he would.

Jumbo Seafood

Singapore

August 2008

Sir Stamford Raffles

Ghetto Mr. Hunter leans against the bust of Sir Stamford Raffles at the Raffles Hotel.

Raffles Hotel

Singapore

August 2008

Singapore Sling at the Long Bar

Teresa took Ghetto Mr. Hunter to the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel, where he had a chance to sample the famous Singapore Sling.

Looks like he also went a little nuts at the Long Bar.

The Long Bar

Raffles Hotel

Singapore

August 2008

Sand, Surf, and Seaweed

Propped up on some seaweed at the seashore on Sentosa Island.

Sentosa Island

Singapore

August 2008

Warning: Possible Peacock Attacks

Warning: Park at your own risk.  If you're visiting Sentosa Island, your car may find itself facing off with a peacock!

Sentosa Island

Singapore

August 2008