How To Travel To Tokyo On Budget

TOKYO, JAPAN. It may be one of the most expensive cities to live in the world, but that doesn't mean visiting it has to be. The words 'frugal' and Tokyo are hardly ever uttered in the same phrase. While it is true that most things in Japan's capital can be pricey, it doesn't mean that those on a slimmer budget should be denied a visit. The key to doing Tokyo on a budget is to a little ingenuity and finding bargains hidden in the smaller nooks around the city.

Places to Visit:

1. Imperial Palace

Home of the rarely seen Imperial Family of Japan, the 400 year old castle is a magnificent site. After surviving WWII, it was rebuilt in the exact same design. Must see at the Palace are the Nijubashi, two bridges that form the entrance to the inner palace grounds. Also not to be missed is the beautifully manicured Imperial Palace East Gardens, which are open throughout the year (except Mondays, Fridays and special occasions).

Cost: Free

Nearest station: Otemachi Station

2. Akihabara

Also known to locals as Akiba, this section of Tokyo is where you'll find all things electronic, both new and used, at an absolute steal. It is also where you'll find anime and Japanese collectibles (known as 'otaku'). Try Chuodori for new items and the back streets of Soto Kanda 3-chome for used items. Micro-sized cameras and similar gadgets can be found near Soto Kanda 1-chome. Most visitors like to peruse the stuff at Laox, but the best bargains and bigger varieties are found slightly further down the same stretch. Nearest station: JR Akihabara Station and Subway Akihabara Station

3. Daiso

If it's a bargain you're after, there's no place like Daiso. One of the most popular chain stores in the county, its biggest outlet is in Harajuku and it sells everything from tubes of wasabi to candy, kitchen utensils and quaint household necessities.

Cost: Between 80 ¥ and 1000¥ (about RM3 and RM36)Nearest station: Harakuju Station, Takeshita exit

4. Yoshinoya

Though also available in Malaysia, there is nothing like the original. Established since 1899, this chain of Japanese cuisine fast food chain is a simple, cost efficient way to enjoy local delicacy and is a favourite even among locals. Most popular here are the Japanese curry dishes.

Cost: Between 280¥ and 500¥ (about RM10 and RM18) per meal

5. Ueno Park

On the beautiful premises of Ueno Park are museums, art galleries, shopping stalls and street markets selling traditional Japanese souvenirs. But what this park is most renowned for, and for which everyone local and visiting, flock to the area for, is the cherry blossom festival. When the more than 1000 blossom trees are in full bloom (usually around April), joyous picnickers flock to the park to enjoy the magnificent sight.

Cost: FreeNearest station: Keisei Ueno Station and Ueno Station on JR and SubwayGinza Line

6. Tokyo Tower

Taking its inspiration from the Paris' Eiffel Tower, this Japanese version stands at more than 1000 feet tall. Located at Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, it has two vantage points - at 150 feet and 250 feet above ground, offering two spectacular views of the city.

Cost: 600¥ (about RM22) for the 250 feet level, 800¥ (about RM30) for the 150 feet levelNearest station: Akabanebashi Station, Akabanebashi Gate

For more infomation, please read www.mastraveller.com

Safety Alert - Letupan Habuk Aluminium

Letupan Habuk Mudah Terbakar Di Kilang Membuat Rim Motorsikal

Satu kejadian letupan habuk aluminium yang berlaku di sebuah kilang membuat rim motorsikal pada awal bulan November 2010 yang lalu. Lapan(8) orang pekerja telah tercedera akibat daripada letupan habuk tersebut dan 2 orang daripadanya mendapat kecederaan parah. Letupan habuk ini juga menyebabkan kerosakan pada bangunan dan loji pembuatan kilang tersebut, kemusnahan sistem dust collector dan juga memecahkan cermin kilang-kilang berhampiran.

Pembakaran Dan Letupan Habuk
Sepertimana juga untuk semua teori pembakaran, pembakaran habuk terjadi bila bahan api (iaitu habuk mudah terbakar) terdedah kepada haba ( seperti sumber penyalaan) dengan kehadiran oksigen. Tetapi, untuk menyebabkan penghasilan satu letupan habuk mudah terbakar pula, ianya memerlukan kehadiran secara serentak(simultaneous) 2 elemen yang lain pulak iaitu habuk terampai dan keadaan ruang yang terhad(confinement) seperti mana yang ditunjukkan di Pentagon Letupan Habuk.
Gambarajah: Pentagon Letupan Habuk

Habuk-habuk yang mudah terampai akan terbakar dengan sangat cepat dan ruang yang terhad(confinement) akan menyebabkan penghasilan satu tekanan yang amat tinggi dalam tempoh masa yang tersingkat. Jika ketiadaan elemen samaada habuk-habuk yang terampai atau ruang yang terhad (confinement), ianya akan mengelakkan berlakunya letupan TETAPI kebakaran masih tetap boleh berlaku.

Langkah-Langkah Kawalan Untuk Mengelakkan Berlakunya Letupan Habuk

Untuk mengelakkan berlakunya habuk letupan, langkah kawalan berikut hendaklah dilakukan iaitu:
· Kawalan terhadap habuk – kekemasan tempat kerja dan loji hendaklah diselenggara dengan baik dan pemasangan sistem gantian udara{LEV} yang sesuai dan menepati kepada standard kejuruteraan antarabangsa.
· Kawalan terhadap sumber penyalaan - sumber-sumber penyalaan ialah seperti pembebasan arus elektrostatik, geseran, tindak balas kimia, permukaan panas dan juga kerja-kerja panas(hot work) di tempat kerja hendaklah dikenal pasti dan dielakkan daripada wujud di kawasan tempat kerja yang terlibat dengan habuk yang mudah terbakar.
· Kawalan kerosakan akibat berlakunya letupan (damage control) – seperti memasang “explosion relief openings’ pada mesin dan LEV.

Maklumat-Maklumat Lain Dan Panduan-Panduan Yang boleh Dirujuk:
1. Dust Explosions in Factories, Precautions Required With Combustible Dusts, Department Of Labour, 1985, New Zealand.
2. A Comprehensive Guideline to Industrial Explosion Protection Including Scientific Basics, Case Studies about Incidents, Prevention Methods and Constructive Protection Measures, REMBE’s Booklet Of safety And Security (BOSS)
3. U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, Combustible Dust Hazard Study.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Was King Ludwig II a madman or a genius? Think about it for a second. On one hand, the King spent all his fortune and then some to build fairy-tale castles for his personal pleasure. On the other hand, Bavaria is now the top tourist destination in Germany, thanks, in large part to...well, you know, the same guy.
Now, more than 130 years after the foundation of Neuschwanstein had been laid, it has become one of the most photographed, most famous, and most talked about castles in the world.

This is the photo from the Tegelberg mountain--about 20 minutes hike from the castleMany people are familiar with Neuschwanstein without even knowing it. What do you think the sleeping beauty castle in Disneyland was modeled after?
Neuschwanstein ("New swan's stone") was created by King Ludwig II with the help of a theatrical designer. Despite its medieval looks, the castle is about as old as the Coney Island Cyclone. The construction started in 1869 and was never fully completed. The King died in 1886 under very mysterious circumstances. He was found dead in the lake. Prior to his death, Ludwig II was declared insane by a medical commission. The validity of the diagnosis is still disputed today.
Neuschwanstein is an easy day trip from Munich. Many guidebooks, including the Lonely Planet, which I used, recommend getting to the castle as early as possible "to avoid the massive crowds." In reality, I think, getting to the castle in the afternoon is not a big deal, unless you want to visit more than one castle in the region in the same day.
I visited Neuschwanstein on June 26th, 2000. I took an 8:51 train from Munich and arrived in Fussen at 10:57 (German rail system is perhaps only second to Swiss when it comes to on-time departures/arrivals). From Fussen train station one has two choices: a) walk 5 kilometers, b) take a bus for a few DM (Actually the third option is taxi, but come on, we're all on the budget here). I took the bus, and in about 5 minutes I arrived in Shwangau-a tiny village at the bottom of the hill from where I could see the castle in the distance.

Another photo from the Tegelberg mountain. This hike is worth it!All I could say was, "Wow. How the hell did they build this in the 19th century?" The view was magnificent. And it was about to get only better.
From the bus stop it's about 25 or 40-minute walk up the hill to the castle, depending on which road you take--longer less inclined road or shorter but steeper road. It's a pretty decent hike, so if you know you have physical problems walking uphill I suggest you take a horse carriage for about $8.
When I got to the castle it was almost 1pm (I lingered in Shwangau a little). I went to the ticket booth, paid 12 DM (old college ID still does the trick, otherwise it's 15DM), and bought a 15:10 English tour of the castle (You cannot tour the castle on your own).

Hohenschwangau castle--about 20 minutes walk from Neuschwanstein. King Ludwig's childhood home.
I had about 2 hours before the start of my tour, but it wasn't like, "Oh God, now what? I have to wait here for two hours. I wish I had gotten here earlier." On the contrary, these two hours provided me with the opportunity to walk in the woods surrounding the castle and take great pictures of Neuschwanstein from different angles.
There is a great view of Neuschwanstein from Marie Bridge, which is built at a height of 91 meters over the waterfall. Many tourists take pictures from here. The views are awesome, no questions, but what many people don't realize is that one can take an even better photo shot if you walk to the other side of the bridge and climb up the Tegelberg mountain. The trail gets pretty rocky and steep, but if you are in average physical shape you should have no problem. About 10 minutes into the climb, you will notice a cross. Apparently, this is a monument to someone who jumped down to his death from there.

Hohenschwangau castle--up close and personal.From the cross, you'll notice a loose trail going up. A thin wire blocks this trail. I just stepped over it, and continued to climb. The higher I climbed, the better the views of the castle became. I took a few pictures from there and then just sat on the grass enjoying the magnificent view of the castle without the crowds of people. I probably sat there for ½ hour. It truly was a million dollar view.
The castle tour lasted only 35 minutes, and it wasn't anything special. Ludwig II was a big fan of Richard Wagner and he surrounded himself with paintings of characters and events from Wagner's operas. One room I found really impressive; between the living room and the study room, the King built an artificial cave! What a wild imagination!
King Ludwig II intended Neuschwanstein to be "one of the most beautiful [places] ever to be found." With all the modern publicity and fame, I had high expectations. And you know what, Neuschwanstein lived up to the hype.

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