TRAVEL DIARY: Jas X Osaka Part 1

Exactly a month after our Japan trip, I finally made time to write about it in this little space. It's hard when you're still not over the high from the trip because you can't seem to go through editing and sorting pics without stopping and day dreaming every memory you have through the pictures. Believe me, I attempted quite a lot of times to sort and make up a story but it comes out too overwhelming for me. 

I don't deny, Japan is my favorite destination to date-- and I think that what I feel about the place is intensified because of the fact that this trip should have happened last year. However, this year's timing couldn't have been more perfect so here's my first story of our first stopover. 

Jp and I set a 7-day vacation last Nov 21-27 for Japan. With the little time that we have, we wanted to make the most of it by flying in to Osaka and flying out in Tokyo. In that way, we will be able to take in as much as we can in our very first (because we plan on going back *crossing fingers**) trip.

Osaka is the perfect place to land if you wanted to get a feel of old and modern Japan. It's perfectly located in the Kansai region which has preserved a lot of Japan's culture dating back in Edo (you have got to read this period in Japanese history - very interesting) era. 

You know you're in Japan, when you see pretty girls holding signs like this outside establishments.

Here is the quaint little neighborhood where we are staying. It lined up with shops and little boutiques.

This is where we stayed. This is very affordable. The room is clean-- we use a shared bathroom but is very comfortable to use with really good toiletries. Jp would have wanted to ask where they buy it.

Jp at the back of the Tsutenkaku Tower-- a very well-known landmark in Osaka.

But of course, Jp gets a hall pass!

One of the shops in the neighborhood. As you can see in the right hand side of the frame, bikes are parked in the sidewalk. Most Japanese go around the neighborhood through bikes. And they're not mountain bikes, mind you. How cool is that?

After we checked in, we immediately hurried out to be able to explore Osaka. Also, I was anticipating to finally eat my first LEGIT Japanese meal. Since we are staying in Osaka for only a day and a half, I only planned on seeing the "touristy" spots first. So off to DOTONBORI we go.

Found it!

There's a lot to see in Dotonbori. My senses are extra happy. I'm like a little child on acid! 

How cute are these doggie costumes!

Some school children going home. I think the uniforms in Japan are really well though of. Can we copy this here in PI?

Ahhhh food stalls! 

Another one-- just take all my YEN!

This one is really something you need try. When you see people lining up, it must be pretty amazing.

The BIG CRAB sign. You won't miss this. From all the blogs I read, they always have this photo.

After all the little eats we had from different food stalls. This one deserved the bigger portion of my bellyyyyy! The number 1 ramen shop in Namba!

MY FIRST LEGIT MEAL! S U C C E S S! OMG! I can't even begin to explain how it tasted. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!

Dessert, anyone?

Starbucks- I dint buy coffee because I was too full but Starbucks is interesting in Japan. It almost always come with a bookstore or an electronic store. 

Inside Starbucks. The bookstore is at the back of the bar.

While we were walking, we chanced upon Don Quijote (right side). One of some famous store chains in Japan. They sell anything from food, clothing, etc etc.

My mama's namesake. E M M A 

Oh well, too tempted to buy but I stopped myself. It's still our first day. 

Original, pre-loved LV bags up for grabs.

AWWW! I was looking for you. This Glico Man sign is a famous landmark in Osaska. A lot of people tend to meet up here since it's very easy to find. This one is for the books.

Some young performers in one of the street corners. So cool. I wish Filipino upcoming Filipino artists will do this.

Just before going to the next stop, we chanced passing by a small shrine. Enthralled with the lanterns and everything their faith represents.

Wohooo! Writing this gives me so much happy memories. I literally want to hop on a plane and go back. If you happen to read this, please watch out for the 2nd installment! 

x O x O,

jb

baon idea 101

lately i have been really conscious of what goes inside my body (calorie counting that is) for the reason that i badly badly need to shed off some weight. i may still be in the normal range for my BMI but i feel that losing weight would give me more confidence and will make wakeboarding easier for me. teheeee!

i read somewhere that losing weight is really 80% diet and 20% exercise. consciousness is the key. i know it may sound paranoid to some but yes, i have established the habit of reading labels when i am in the supermarket or checking google the possible calories i take every single time i eat.

during weekdays, my diet consists mostly of crackers, banana, tuna, pork and beans, avocado, cheese, and more crackers. so today, i am sharing to you an easy variation of the tuna with egg. this is really easy even grade schoolers can make it (:

i am really picky when it comes to tuna so i recommend century tuna

just use the vegetable oil inside the can (p.s. be careful though, there is water content so there might be oil splashes)

sautee onion in low fire to caramelize

add a tsp of black pepper and a pinch of salt

jp and i prefer it dry so i just have to wait for the oil and water to soak before getting it out of the pan

there you go busy folks,  it is really easy to do and easy to pack as well for your baon. i always pair this with crackers and banana.

(1 can lasts for 2 meals because i pair it with fruits and crackers)

Stay Healthy! xx

vintage photo

because i miss our morning's after work, i will share a photo of a random morning jp and i share a year ago when we still work at the same office (:

we both look sleepy since our work requires us to stay up all night (:

this local resto is located at j center in mandaue. it's cozy and vintage and the food is good!

brekkie, anyone?

i love breakfast food is an understatement! (i mean who doesn't?) 

although it's true that not most people can wake up early and have breakfast on it's appropriate time. it is however a fact that most people love (again, an understatement) pancakes, silogs (tapsilog, spamsilog, chorisilog, danggitsilog), coffee, milk, hot chocolate, bagels, and waffles, and of course the sauces and dips and those liquid-y thing that comes along with it (peanut butter, cookie butter, maple syrup, caramel, chocolate, etc)! haaha sorry, but i couldn't find the right words in describing my love for breakfast (i mean food and yeah i should stop talking in parenthesis!)

and so because of my enthusiasm for brekkie i want to share to you my newest find in the best breakfast place where you can just forget about the world and not think about anything else but the food laid in front of you. you will even forget instagram (trust me..or not!) haaha!

DAViD'S

sunday after vday, jp and me went for a drive around it park to have a little breather from a cray work week and a crazier work week ahead and we got hungry so we looked for the nearest breakfast place around. david's is relatively new in IT Park but they said there is actually an old david's place in some part in the city (which i obviously wasn't aware of). and this was a perfect timing because we have been wanting to try out their steak for a while now. however, when we got there, the waiter (who was very kind by the way) suggested that we get the salpicao because it was their best seller. so salpicao i got but since jp was really wanting to try the steak, he got himself one. their meals come with unlimited steak rice and IT WAS THE BOMB! i mean the steak rice was the bomb! haaha don't trust my take on this too much though because i am just really a rice person (is there even a term like that?) and by the way, the salpicao i ordered did not disappoint. jp ended up getting more from my plate ((:

my breakfast buddy X 

table set-up 

the bar, cos yes, they have wines and different cocktails too

menu on the wall

dessert display

my happy tad X

EARLY BiRD BREAKFAST CLUB

this place is located in bonifacio high street and man we walked around for a while just to find it. ok, so when jp booked tix for manila just for a day, i started researching for the best places where we can eat and i came across this place in my favorite blogger's page, pattylaurel.com

she said this was newly-opened and being the crazy follower that i was, i told jp that we are not coming back to cebu unless we try this place out. the initial plan was to go there directly from the airport so it would really be a "real breakfast" feel for us but we were really surprised to find out that the place was packed and they couldn't accommodate us for the next hour or two. so we headed to italianni's instead but vowed to go back for dinner. (yes i was that desperate)

i should say that it was really a good decision to come back because the ambience, the food, and every little detail about the place was really what i expected it to be. although the place was really pricey (around 275php-350php/serving) it was a treat really to be there!

their location is near fitness first in boni high. it is to it's right when you face the fitness first bldg.

this was prolly the best tasting tapa i ever had. it was soft and not too dry and was just perfect!

the chorizo was equally tasty. i actually like it there because their chorizo was served with vinegar which i couldn't find here in cebu.

of course, who else was i with? food is such a common denominator with me and jp!

our other companion is carl, i have know him since high school and he was so kind to drive us around manila

we chose to sit at the 2nd level to get a good view of people coming in

these kids also had their breakfast at past 5:30pm already!

WORD!

CAFE SARREE

this is a little breakfast nook in escario (cebu city) which jp found accidentally. just right at the back of this cute place is nice day carwash which jp frequents every weekend. so when this place opened he asked me out on a date and ever since, we look forward to sunday morning carwash cos it means breakfast at saree! yeyy! (happy dance) the place is a resemblance of early breakfast place in boni high but it is way cheaper and also very accessible. if you happen to follow my instagram, you will see posts of the food we order (yeah, i'm just really like that, i post food photos haaha).

just this morning, i took sherah, my pretty friend from bacolod, to a breakfast date in this beautiful cafe so we can catch up. we haven't seen each other for quite a while now so instead of going to a night out (which we used to do a while back), i decided to share stories with her on a breakfast. yes, i'm a little tired of going out at night because i'm getting old and boring (what other excuse can i say?) haaha but kidding aside, i really think that breakfast dates are way better cos the day is just starting and a lot of positivity is present so it makes the catching up more fun and saner too! haaha

they say to eat like a king during breakfast, but who cares? when it's breakfast food, i always eat like a king even if it's served in the middle of the night. 

what about you? what's your favorite breakfast place?

✗ o ✗ o

♡jas