Japan adventure I (Osaka)

It took us a long time to do this. We've been extremely "busy" for the past few weeks, that's why. Finally, here are some of our pictures from Japan!!!

We entered Japan through Osaka (Kansai Airport). A ticket to Kansai Airport from Manila (NAIA) is about a few thousand pesos cheaper than a ticket to Narita (we got ours for around Php25000 through Phil Airlines or PAL), including taxes already. So you might want to consider flying there instead. It's also easier to book a ticket and hotel.

Osaka is part of the Kansai region. In the Kansai region, you have many interesting cities that are only about an hour away from each other. These cities are Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Hiroshima is a little bit further away.


From Kansai Airport to Osaka

Osaka

If you're looking to eat well, watch Japan's most interesting bands, and visit a few penguins while you're at it, Osaka is the place to be. Japan's second largest city is known as an excellent place to eat. Be sure to try the okonomiyaki and takoyaki. It is also the city where most of the country's comedians and musicians come from and is home to Kaiyukan, one of the world's largest aquariums.


right outside our Ryokan (traditional inn)


We stayed in a Ryokan and this is our humble room (very Japanese!, right?). The owner used to work with Filipino seamen and so he is very friendly towards us.


Yay! drinking my green tea in lotus position ;)


Kaiyukan Aquarium




the biggest ferris wheel


Penguins outdoors!




fishes in the aquarium




Shark!


Shark's egg?








jelly fish

Other places worthy of visit are Universal Studios, the hip Amemura district, shopping at Namba Parks, and Umeda Sky Building.


Osaka mall

Osaka is an industrial city where most factories and manufacturing houses are. They say it's the nation's commercial district and Japan's "gourmet kitchen" or food capital. True enough, there were shopping malls in every corner and bargains everywhere!!! We stayed there for a few days and headed to Kyoto, which is just 30 mins away by train.


This guy helped us find our way through Japan's huge and confusing railway system!He doesn't speak English well but we got by through hand signals and Nunu's "little" Japanese =P


Japanese MRT!


Next: Off to KYOTO (our favorite city in Japan)

Happy New Year!

We haven't written a new post for more than a month now due to a lot of things; mostly due to the Christmas holiday preparation and our trip to Japan for the New Year.

We just arrived a week ago and we have fabulous pictures and wonderful stories about Japan to share with all of you!!!

Watch out for Nunu's first post about Japan soon! =)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Saigon!

I learned a valuable lesson in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh). Before getting a massage, verify first if you want a masseuse or a masseur. On our second day in Saigon, I and two of my girl friends, were very excited to try their massage parlors and spa - so we hopped at the nearest and most affordable one near our hotel area. It looked decent and nice and since the staff don't really speak English, we were just getting by through "hand talk."

After choosing the massages we wanted, we were led up to the second floor of the building and some women helped us settle into a dimly-lighted room. They asked us to strip and so we did. We were lying down on the beds (face down) and getting ready for our massages when two people entered and started to massage us. I didn't know what to say when I realized that the person massaging me was a guy! I mean, in ordinary circumstances, I would have been delighted to experience that (*uhmmm*) but what happened was just totally unexpected!

It was too late to react. I looked at another friend on the next bed and saw her staring at me too! We started talking in tagalog (so they won't understand) and we were just cracking up. It was hilarious but disconcerting at the same time. So for you women out there, ask first before you get a massage in Vietnam ;) Ohh, and make sure you don't choose the head to toe massage like we did. =(((


Aside from what happened though, SAIGON was a beautiful experience. Here are some interesting pictures:


walk/bike in the park




Notre Dame Cathedral?


high-end mall


tree-lined streets


funny signage


try the cyclo, it's the best way to go around town


familiar name?



In Vietnam, you have to leave your passports at the hotel reception. It was weird but that's the way they do it there. We met a lot of expats (British and French guys, mostly)and Filipinos too. We went to a bar called Acoustic Cafe ( the dorques, Nunu's band played there) and it was FUN, FUN, FUN!!!




NEXT: JAPAN!!!

Makati Standoff: Coup d'etat?

The standoff in Makati has ended. A lot of my friends and learners (I teach English to French, Italians, Germans) had been texting and emailing me about it. Well, it's nothing serious, really. Antonio Trillanes IV had been arrested, together with his cohorts. There's a curfew until 12MN today, just to stabilize the situation. It will be business as usual by tomorrow.

Visit this link for more updates about Manila and the Philippines:

http://www.inquirer.net/

Breakfast in HK

As I was walking back home last night, I saw a new ad from McDonalds and I was agog about this new product. I'm not really a fastfood fan (not anymore, especially since Nunu cooks really well!) but their marketing strategies amaze me. They adapt to the culture of any country and they're really good in doing so.

Just look at this meal from McDonald's HongKong:




Ham and egg with noodles!!!

From HK to Shenzen, China

Take the KCR East Rail from Hung Hom in Kowloon to Lo Wu, the last station at the border of Hong Kong and China. The KCR ride takes roughly half an hour.



At Lo Wu, you would have to stand in long lines at Hong Kong immigration counters. After crossing the Hong Kong immigration counters, you have to walk towards the Chinese immigration counters (few meters). However, to enter China, you need a visa. A five-day visa for Shenzhen is easily obtained for 150 HKD (for Filipinos) at the China Visa office in the same building.

The visa office opens at 8am. Obtaining a visa takes 15-30 minutes (depends on how long the line is) and you need to stand in another line to cross the Chinese immigration counter. Expect a total of 1.0 to 1.5 hours to cross the Hong Kong and Chinese immigration counters.

There is a big shopping complex right in front of Lo Wu train station (where Nunu and I got stuck).



You could either shop, eat, or go to tourist attractions like Windows of the World and Chinese Folk Culture Villages. These attractions are next to each other and are around 15 km away from Lo Wu. You can hail a cab to reach these destinations; just make sure that you have the name and address written in a piece of paper. They don't speak English there and the few people who do (guides) ask for payment.


Nunu is sad that we are leaving China already


Next: Off to Saigon(Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam!

Hong Kong

the double-decker bus in HK

You might get a bit bored in Macau if you're not a gambler so we recommend you take the ferry to Hong Kong which is less than 90 minutes away by ferry. You can also take a helicopter (expensive) if you're filthy rich. But since we're not, we decided to take the ferry. It was around P800 ($19US) for a one way ticket. By the way, you don't need a visa for HK/Macau if you have a Philippine passport.



Hong Kong is more expensive than Macau (especially cigarettes and transportation). So keep that in mind. If you have pesos with you, you might be able to find a decent exchange rate around Tsim Sha Tsui or Wan Chai.



*Nunu says to check exchange rates before travelling so you don't get ripped off. Try www.oanda.com.


In Hong Kong, there many things to do. Here's a top 10 list:

1) go shopping in Ladies Market of Mongkok (a very crowded place)
2) take the tram to The Peak
3) have a few drinks and party in Lang Kwai Fong
4) take the ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island
5) buy Royce chocolates at City Super in Times Square, Wanchai
6) check out Stanley Market
7) go to Disneyland!
8) try the local food
9) enjoy the cityscape from the midlevels
10) go shopping in Shenzhen and go there by train.





NEXT: How to go to Shenzen from Hong Kong