Wicked places in Asia
Harajuku is the place for both mainstream and alternative fashion. Jingubashi (the bridge from Harajuku towards Yoyogi Park) used to be the place to see people dressed up on Sundays in cosplay, Lolita Goth and visual kei fashion, but nowadays you only see a few here and there. They are top stylized and what might look like a sweet Little Bo Peep can turn out to be middle aged man doing his thing. It is one those refreshingly weird things, which Japan is so famous for.
Toilets in Japan come in two versions. The old squat one, which is getting harder and harder to find, but the further you get from the big cities, the bigger the chance (risk?). The other version is the modern fully automated one. The toilets are western style, but equipped with a fully automated seat with heat, which can both spray, blow dry and camouflage sounds with bird tweets. Note that there are a male and a female (person with ponytail) button on the display. A push on the male button will direct the spray to one fixed point, while a push on the female button will result in a full "underbody wash". Obviously, pressure and angle can be adjusted.
Kazurabashi Bridge is constructed of mountain vines, just like bridges used to be in the past, although this one has been reinforced with hidden steel cables. It's probably the biggest attraction in Iya Valley, so expect to stand in line with japanese tour groups to cross it. The bridge spans 45 m and the gaps between the narrow wooden steps gives a nerveracking view of the raging river below.
Japan is infamous for many weird cultural things, and one of them are the Love Dolls. Full size silicone sex dolls for the lonely man. The cheaper ones are not very convincing, but the more expensive ones are true masterpieces. You can of course customize your doll so the proportions and features fits your wettest dream. Sex shop also sells different scents you can spray on your love doll depending on your fetish. Some of the popular ones are "stockings smell of beautiful leg office lady" and "stained panties of school girls".
Nara is famous for its gigant Buddha and UNESCO World Heritage enlisted temple Kasuga Taisha, but most visitors have more fun with the huge population of deers, which roam free in the park. You can feed them with special deer crackers, which are sold everywhere in the park. In return the deers have learned a few tricks, like bowing (like you would do in a temple). Though the deers mostly are super calm, also around small children, they can get a bit pushy, if they feel cheated or you hide some crackers for them. So always be alert.
Kappabashi street is lined with shops selling restaurant related items. Knives, pots, chopsticks, ceramics, ice shaving machines, uniforms, signs, lanterns, you name. But the most famous things are probably the plastic dishes many restaurants have on display outside their shops. The realistic masterpieces don't come cheap, but you can always settle for a nigiri sushi fridge magnet.
Leafy Yoyogi Park is a favourite among people who need some space (or an audience) for their activity. On Sundays (usually between 2 pm and 5 pm), Rockabillies are congregating at the Harajuku Gate. They are dressed in 50s clothes with slicked-backed hair. The different "gangs" have names like Strangers and Tokyo Street Rebels, which are sewn on the backs of their jackets. They dance to rock'n'roll hits and each "gang" have their own dancing style and routines, some very energetic. They don't perform for money, just for their own sake.
It can be difficult for us to physically see environmental damage. Temperatures rise, but we can't see it. Nuclear radiation spikes, but we can't see it. But on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan it is VERY easy to see the environmental impact man has had. The Aral Sea was once a bountiful fishing ground providing food and jobs not only for locals, but the entire country. However, during the Soviet era, the two main tributaries were blocked to irrigate fields of cotton. This caused the Aral Sea to shrink and shrink and shrink. So much so, that the formerly bustling port town of Aralsk now lies more than 100 km from the sea's shore. A short stroll out of town, travellers can see the rotting corpses of fishing boats that simply got stranded, like fish out of water. A truly bizarre sight.
In the Duman Entertainment Centre, in Kazakhstan's new capital of Astana, is something you would never expect. Kazakhstan is one of those countries in the running for the "furthest away from the ocean" competition. So who would think they have an awesome aquarium? The aquarium is very well done. Clean, good displays and a surprising number of fish species, but a visit here is not necessarily for the fish life. Instead, it is an supremely surreal feeling to be wandering through the labyrinth of underwater tunnels, watching divers feed the animals, all the while reminding yourself where you are.... Kazakhstan!!
Border crossings these days tend to be little more than formalities. They rarely pose any real challenge and more often than not might even go unnoticed. This is certainly not true for the Torugart Pass. This crossing, bridging a very remote part of the Kyrgyz-Chinese border, is truly remote. But the major draw for many travellers is the fact that it is technically illegal for foreigners to use. However, there are ways around this. If a traveller is on a "tour" (a car with a pre-arranged guide, with a driver to the border and another driver to meet you on the other side), the pass may be used. This involves a series of permits, transport connections visas and other logistical challenges which spice up the typical border crossing routine. There might not be any better endorsement than beautiful, remote and illegal.