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En Route J a p a n Tr a v e l I s s u e • J u n e 2 0 1 7

Quiet Charms of Miyajima Island

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TABLE OF CONTENT 7

FROM THE EDITOR

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CUISINE | WANDER | THE 5TH

FOR TRAVEL: A MUST HAVE

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QUIET CHARMS OF MIYAJIMA ISLAND

LAND OF THE RISING SULPHUR

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SUGAR COATED

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En Route PUBLISHER: FIDM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Sheila Monica ART DIRECTOR: Sheila Monica PHOTOGRAPHY: Flickr CONTRIBUTORS: FIDM Sheila Monica

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n Route strives to be the voice for all travel enthusiast, capturing the hidden beauty the world have to offer and serve it as the most immersive, inspiring contents.

We would cover the whole traveler's experience—from fun activities to arts to shopping to food and wine. En Route is the one-stop travel guide you needed for your next vacation.

w w w. e n ro u t e . c o m

Neena Mittal John O’Mahony

from the7 Editor Summer break is a great time to travel to get away from the bustling life of the city. Take a rest, see the different side of the world you never know before.

I believe that there are many new travel places that people never know before.

Japan, espcially, a country rich in information and tradition, where modern technology meet traditional culture.

In this issue, we would be covering about various places in Japan, which is one of the greatest vacation place to go to in summer! I hope this issue could teach you guys about Japan.

cheers!

Sheila Monica

A Great New Way to Fly 8 Fly from Singapore to Los Angeles directly

CUISINE ♦ WANDER ♦ THE 5TH

PIZZA?

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Article by Farley Elliott | Photo by Sheila Monica

You’ve been hearing about it for more than two years, but now’s the time to actually sit up and take notice: 800 Degrees is coming to Hollywood on Monday. The quick service choose your own pizza adventure spot has expanded all across Los Angeles and even internationally, but so far has been unable to put the finishing touches on their proposed Hollywood space along Vine. That all changes next week.

Signage first went up last September, with an ABC license posted on site dating back to February 2014. The team took their time with this outlet in part because they knew the volume that it’s likely

to do, and wanted to make it as alluringly beautiful as their stunning (and equally trafficked) Pasadena location, adding marble touches, finished woods, and lots of their signature white subway tile.

The Sunset and Vine space reaches some 3,000 square feet in total, separated across two floors (the upstairs is a separate bar and private event space, apparently) and a sidewalk patio.

Once up and running the plan is to serve daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., which is a godsend for clubbers in the area needing a post-bar bite. 800 Degrees Hollywood opens Monday, April 11.

CUISINE ♦ WANDER ♦ THE 5TH

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KANSAI, JAPAN Article by Little Planet | Photo by Sheila Monica

If you had to choose only one region of Japan to explore, Kansai would be an easy choice.

It’s the heart of Japan – there is nowhere else in the country you can find so much of historical and cultural interest in such a compact area.

Osaka, the region’s hub and Japan’s third largest city, shows off Japanese urban life in all its mindboggling intensity, while Kōbe retains some of the international feeling that dates back to its days as a foreign treaty port. Nara, Japan’s

first permanent capital, is thick with traditional sights including Japan’s largest Buddha at the awe-inspiring Tōdai-ji. Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture is one of the three most important sites in Shintō, In Wakayama-ken you’ll find great onsen and hiking, a rugged coastline and the mountaintop Buddhist temple complex of Kōyasan, one of Japan’s most intensely spiritual places.

Kyoto and Osaka are the main cities of Kansai and both make good bases for exploration.

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TRAVEL WITH STYLE

CUISINE ♦ WANDER ♦ THE 5TH

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THE 5TH: ON THE surface

Article and Photo by Sheila Monica

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Speaking of “On the Surface”, what would you be imagining about ? A mystifying rainforest? A combination of desert and flower field? Or even a gloomy, sandy beach? FIDM got them all! On FIDM’s 5th floor display window currently the installation “On the Surface” by Visual Merchandising Students.

Under the guidance of their teacher, Paul Olszewski from Visual Merchandising Department, the students greatly utilize the combination of everyday objects and natural terrains. These installation looked beautiful and surreal at the same times. Come take a look at 5th floor installation this quarter, since these installation wouldn’t be displayed for a long time.

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FOR TRAvEL:

B&O Beoplay H9 — $499.00 Herschel Supply Co. Retreat Backpack — $79.99

Herschel Raynor Passport Holder — $24.99

Sony Cybershot RX100 — $449.99

Apple Watch Series 2 — $299.00

A MUST HAVE Vogue sunglasses VO3997S — $79.95

ShedRain Hooded Solid Poncho — $8.99

Samsonite Black Laber Cosmolite 3.0 20” — $399.00

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En Route

June 2017

travel trough tradtion

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Tranquil shrines and temples nestle in virgin forest on the quaint island in an inland sea

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Itsukushima, also known as Miyajima, is a small island in Hiroshima Bay, western Japan. It is known for its forests and ancient temples. Just offshore, the giant, orange Grand Torii Gate is partially submerged at high tide. It marks the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine, which was first built in the 12th-century.

utumn has receded, making way for a nippy winter. Yet, the autumn colours are still vivid all around the Seto Inland Sea of Japan in December. I am admiring the winter foliage - maple trees in red-palette shades of fiery red and crimson and burnt sienna - as we approach the island of Miyajima in a ferry. Nestled by virgin forest in southwestern Japan, the quaint island hosts red shrines and temples. It is surrounded by the inland sea, which is a spectrum of blues that day.It is deeply tranquil as we step onto this “Shrine Island�, which is best explored on foot as it is just 30.39 sq km in size.

Our journey starts at Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, about 20 minutes from the ferry terminal. On our walkway, nomadic deer greet us, trudging with tourists to the shrine like escorts.The Itsukushima Shrine (free admission; visit-miyajima-japan. com/ en), a Unesco World Heritage Site, is famous for its Shinden-style architecture, notably the iconic vermilion torii gate that stands in the sea. At high tide, the gate seems to float in an azure sea.

However, during low tide, the water drains out of the bay and one can walk to the foot of the gate.

Photo by Kwanchai Khammuean

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GETTING THERE

I fly on Singapore Airlines to Osaka, then ride the Shinkansen bullet train to the city of Hiroshima, my base for the trip. To get to the tiny island of Miyajima in the Seto Inland Sea, I board the JR Sanyo rail line from Hiroshima station to Miyajimaguchi station. It is a five-minute walk to the ferry pier, where I catch a ferry to Miyajima for a day trip. It is an ideal getaway from the bustling city life of Hiroshima.

In Hiroshima, streetcars are an easy and efficient way to explore the city. The shrine is composed of multiple buildings with halls and rooms for prayer, meetings and theatre. These spaces are connected by corridors lined with cast-iron lanterns that add to the mystical atmosphere of the temple complex. The cool temperature complements the bright sun as we stride towards Senjokaku Shrine, 10 minutes away.The shrine is a library of Buddhist sutras that was built by warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi for the repose of the war dead. But construction stopped after his death in 1598 and it remains incomplete today. I realise that while the library bustles with visitors admiring the interiors, there is an eerie silence, as if the shrine is narrating the story of the war dead.

All the while, our paths in Miyajima follow the coast and cut through lovely forests. We soak in the sweet smell of maple leaves and inhale the fresh air before reaching Daishoin Temple.

This is known as the most distinguished temple of Shingon Buddhism and is located at the base of Mount Misen. Entrance is free and visitors use a series of staircases to reach prayer halls located at different levels of the temple. While climbing the first level, we touch the 600 volumes of sutras scrolled in metal and installed on the side of the staircase. It is believed that touching the sutras brings enormous fortune. Likewise, spinning the wheel when climbing another level bestows blessings equivalent to reading one volume of the Heart Sutra.

Photo by Gansan00

Photo by Sara

We then head towards the Momijidani hiking trail leading to Mount Misen, which is 500m above sea level. We walk for an hour amid maple trees and the deep-green, evergreen forest of fir, pine and hemlock to reach Momijidani Park, which means “a valley of maple trees”. Another half hour of trekking takes us to the ropeway station, where our trolley reaches the summit in 20 minutes (a ticket costs 1,800 yen or S$22). Mount Misen is the highest peak in Miyajima and offers a spectacular view of the inland sea.

The mountain is considered sacred. A fire, lit on one side of the mountain by the Japanese monk Kobo Daishi, has been burning for 1,200 years. We descend after an hour in the sparkling mountain air and take the ferry back to our base in Hiroshima.

On the ferry, I already feel nostalgic about my visit to the island, which has a perfect blend of divinity, peacefulness and natural abundance - a combination or path that leads to “satori”. This means a sudden awakening or enlightenment in Japanese.

In Hiroshima, which has evolved into a vibrant city in the years after the atomic bombing in 1945, we explore the Peace Memorial Park. The park personifies Hiroshima and is a pilgrimage for visitors from around the world. It consists of the A-Dome, Cenotaph and Peace Memorial Museum. The A-Dome is the former Industrial Promotional Hall, one of the few buildings within 2km of the explosion that remains. We pay homage at the Cenotaph, a concrete, saddle-shaped structure holding the names of the victims.

The Peace Memorial Museum displays belongings left by the victims and other materials that convey the horror of the event. Each displayed item seems to express the grief, anger and pain of its deceased owner and the experience is sombre for us. On a lighter note, we stroll to the downtown area at Peace Boulevard

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Photo by Pernilleskokken

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Photo by pspechtenhauser Photo by DocChewbacca

for a beautiful Christmas illumination in the evening. On both sides of the road, the Dreamination display includes more than 400 exhibits lit up by approximately 1.4 million solar-powered light bulbs.

The illumination is on display each year from late November till early January. We admire the radiance in chilly weather.

On our list the next day is the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum. We see artefacts of famous Russian-French artist Marc Chagall, along with Japanese and Asian artworks. Even more colourful and arty is Shukkeien Park, adjacent to the museum. It is an ideal spot for a breathtaking dose of winter foliage. The park was built in 1620 and destroyed in 1945 during the atomic bombing. It was restored in 1964. The garden is the epitome of beauty, containing more than 10 islets skilfully landscaped into miniature

mountains, valleys, bridges, cottages and arbours, all connected by a walkway. The cherry and plum trees have the last vestiges of autumn leaves, their colours looking diluted as if the trees are enduring the chill.

To get a glimpse of the Hiroshima lifestyle, we hit Hondori Street, a popular downtown shopping street. We spend an evening there delving into Japanese nightlife and culinary culture. The street is bright and lively and bustling with youngsters. We indulge in okonomiyaki grilled pancakes prepared with a flour and egg mixture and topped with fried soba noodles, eggs, cabbage, meat and seafood.

And no Japanese meal is complete without a few shots of hot sake to beat the winter chill. Seasons influence lives and present us with variety and colour and it has been mesmerising to experience Japan’s melange of winter hues.

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Land of the Rising Sulphur Article by John O’Mahony

Hokkaido island is Japan’s wild frontier, a volcanic wonderland of ash-spewing peaks and hot springs. Just don’t expect company, says John O’Mahony

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ight at the tip of Hokkaido, deep in a lush tract of forest known as the Shiretoko peninsula, is a true natural wonder: the thermal waterfall of Kamuiwakka-no-taki. Translated from the local Ainu language, as Water of the Gods, it bubbles out of the volcanic earth high up in Io-zan mountain before surging past a system of steaming vents and then gushing out into a channel through the trees. But perhaps the most glorious aspect of Kamuiwakka-no-taki and the hot springs that cascade out of the ground all over Hokkaido, is the unparalleled opportunity they offer for natural lava-fuelled immersion. We venture deep into the forest to find a smattering of boiling sinkholes known as rotenburo, almost obscured by mist and vapours. A few other stark-naked souls are already there and paying homage. The Japanese describe this state of hot-spring nirvana as yude-dako or boiled octopus. But as my wife Masha points out, the Russians get closer to the elemental poetry of the waters when they say a steaming bath is like a second mother. As we strip off and slide in to the gurgling temperatures our bodies are relieved of every stress and strain: the pleasure is close to that kind of spiritual, all-enveloping, amniotic bliss.

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Photo by Yasunobu Ikeda

The most northerly and remote of its four major islands, Hokkaido is Japan’s wild frontier. Colonised just 150 years ago, and until then the homeland of the aboriginal Ainu people, its landscape is radically un-Japanese - barely a temple or gravel Zen garden graces its entire 84,000 sparsely populated square kilometres.

What the visitor to Hokkaido gets instead is a vast natural repository of forestlands, endless mountain ranges, constellations of glittering lakes and stunning little satellite islands. There is also a rich diversity of wildlife, including foxes and sables, sealions and cranes and, famously, thousands of brown bears. But most impressively of all, Hokkaido, which lies right on the cantankerous Kuril tectonic chain, is a volcanic wonderland, boasting an embarrassment of ash-spewing peaks, including one of the world’s youngest volcanoes, Showa-Shinzan. There are also some of the most sensational hot springs in Japan, not just the marvellous Kamuiwakka Falls but also Noboribetsu Onsen and its legendary Hell Valley, a lunar-like expanse of spitting sulphur.

Every summer, the Japanese migrate north in droves to this natural

Photo by Cedrik Strahm

idyll, considering Hokkaido to be the perfect playground for hiking, climbing and camping. But Hokkaido is almost ignored by foreign travellers. Our aim was to spend two weeks camping, hiking and, to reach the parts that the local transport system doesn’t cover, hitching our way around the island. The idea of camping in the wilderness was viewed with horror by my wife Masha, a devotee of luxury hotels. “Camping! Hitch-hiking!

BEARS!” was her reaction, in ascending decibel-level order. Things became rather more unprintable when I broke the news that Hokkaido is also home to a nasty water-borne parasite called echinococcus, which eats the lungs and brains of its victims. Only by convincing her I was a survival expert did I finally persuade Masha to come. So it was with both excitement and trepidation that we flew from Tokyo to Sapporo for our grand outdoor adventure. Along the way, it splashes from one turquoise rock pool into another, filling the woodlands with steam and haze and the faint aroma of sulphur. Still carrying the heat of the volcano, the waters finally tumble over a cliff and dash against the shore, to be extinguished with a hiss and a

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Photo by Robert Thomson

fizz by the chilly Sea of Okhotsk, before being swept away as if the miracle had never happened.

But perhaps the most glorious aspect of Kamuiwakka-no-taki and the hot springs that cascade out of the ground all over Hokkaido, is the unparalleled opportunity they offer for natural lava-fuelled immersion. We venture deep into the forest to find a smattering of boiling sink-holes known as rotenburo, almost obscured by mist and vapours. A few other stark-naked souls are already there and paying homage. The Japanese describe this state of hot-spring nirvana as yude-dako or boiled octopus. But as my wife Masha points out, the Russians get closer to the elemental poetry of the waters when they say a steaming bath is like a second mother. As we strip off and slide in to the gurgling temperatures our bodies are relieved of every stress and strain: the pleasure is close to that kind of spiritual, all-enveloping, amniotic bliss. The most northerly and remote of its four major islands, Hokkaido is Japan's wild frontier. Colonised just 150 years ago, and until then the homeland of the aboriginal Ainu people, its landscape is radically un-Japanese - barely a temple or gravel Zen garden graces its entire 84,000 sparsely populated square kilometres.

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Let your nails do the talking! No need to sugar coat it, unless it’s literally.

Dipped in glitter, decorated with candy, or even if you’re just mixing up some new patterns your nails are a way for you to tell a story. We should use them to express our inner selves, so why not go crazy? For those who may be a bit more timid and afraid to step outside of their comfort zone, nails are the way to go.

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eeking inspiration from the hottest new nail trends is always a good idea, but why not try something that you normally never would. If you were thinking about getting some new body jewelry but are still hesitant, work those jewels into your style through your nail designs. We have all witnessed celebrities, friends, and even people we pass by in the streets with killer style that’s really out there and like nothing we have ever seen before. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to make a drastic change in your style that’s a little more avant-garde, but you don’t know how. Start slow and use your nails as a transition into a style much different than the one you are used too. 3-D glass nail trends are a great example of how to amp up your style!

This beautiful nail design creation started in Korea and can now be seen all over the world. These nails incorporate shards of glass layered on top of a coat of polish to create a mosaic effect.

The end result is phenomenal, this trend is sure to turn heads. Try ‘em on for size, no harm no foul right? If you don’t absolutely love it, who says you have to keep them? Changing up your look is as simple as a quick change of color. Recently ‘bubble nails’ became trendy but were definitely a matter of taste.

Followers of this trend applied acrylic to their nail tips in the shape of bubbles. While most people did not understand the trend, those who were daring enough to try it knew they had nothing to lose.

We can all agree that commitment isn’t for everyone, especially when you are someone who changes their mind as much as they do outfits. Luckily unlike a new hair color, your nails can change as often as you like! After all, nails can be one of your best accessories.

Still not sure what to do with your nails? Use your nails to complete your outfit! If you find that your wardrobe tends to fall in the neutral or dark tones color pallets, throw in some color.

Maybe you would never wear a highlighter yellow blouse, but having that color as an accent on your nails may help pull your outfit together. Wanting more? Try going for a slightly neutral color as your base to keep the nails from looking too out there, and then pile on the sprinkles. Not really, but feel free to add any cute decals, and if you’re feeling daring go all out! Kawaii nails are great inspiration as well, these designs include sugar, spice, and everything nice and that’s not an exaggeration. Although they are best known for their use of 3D bows, hearts, and pearls, Kawaii nails incorporate everything from animal shapes to fruit slices.

Don’t bother planning your designs, just have fun, and change up the colors and the patterns on each nail and grab yourself some cool 3D accessories! The possibilities are endless and you can never go wrong. Nail design is an art form and you are the artist, so take your canvas and create something that speaks to you!

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the end see you next issue