Questioning Philippines

Posted on June 25, 2013 by heavenliner

A lot of my friends as well as those who follow my blog know that I love Japan. I adore their food, their weather and the strong and powerful yet charming-to-the ear language. People know that I admire their culture, their technology, their fashion and their being so organized. I have high regard to the people of Japan. They are just so nice and gracious.

i even fancy japan's vendo machines. hahaha

i even fancy japan’s vendo machines. LOL!!!

along dotonbori… fashion ba kamo? love my doc martens!!!

Too bad I can’t just go there and spend a nice vacation every time I feel like going there. Being a Pinoy citizen, I am required to process and undergo those tiresome procedures of applying for a visit visa. Being a Filipino citizen, I am not allowed to simply go there and enjoy the awesome weather. The Philippines is not one of those rich auspicious countries with visa exemption arrangements with Japan.

Well I guess, some people are fortunate enough to be born into the right nationality while others have to find their own way. Don’t get me wrong here. I love the Philippines because if I don’t I could have hopped on a plane, gone the hell out and never return. Or if I can’t have that access, I could have packed my bags, join a secluded monastery and never go out.

I am articulating on this because the recent news made me so envious with the Thais. According to news, the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that effective July 1, 2013 Japan will give Thai nationals with visa exemptions that would be good for up to 15 days.

amazing thailand… i can feel that i will soon be visiting this country again…

With this news, Thailand obviously beat and thumped the Philippines big time! While Thais can go and visit Japan with much ease, us Pinoys will have to settle with the wearisome and mind-numbing processing of visa applications.

I just hope and pray that Japan will grant the same to the Filipinos. But I guess Japan has their reasons. And such reasons are actually in the hands of the Pinoys themselves. Is it the Pinoy culture, the Pinoy urbanity, or the Pinoy civility? While I endlessly adore Japan and start being jealous of Thailand, I guess only us Pinoys can answer this question.

Pagka-sabmit ng rekwayrments diretcho novena para humiling na bigyan ng visa. Bakit Lord?! Bakit???

Modern Bowel Movement

Posted on June 8, 2013 by heavenliner

I hate winding up with thriving colonies of molds and mildews bonding together like concrete on my bathroom walls and floor. That is why habitually, routinely and tirelessly I would scrub my bathroom and my toilet.

Early today while I scour, soap-up and wash my toilet which I consider to be a medieval form of torture, I remember taking photos of public restrooms during my recent trip to Japan. It come not a surprise that this highly urbanized country has technologically advanced and sophisticated toilets. They transformed the basic toilet facilities into ingenious comfort room devices.

To prove my point, here’s one photo of buttons to press of a modern Japanese public toilet inside a mall when I answered a call of nature and do a number two.

Notice those patterns of raised dots? Those are Braille, making this toilet blind-friendly.

I was nuts about the right most button (in the photo). When I pressed it, an artificial sound of flushing waiter played on a speaker inside the toilet to disguise what otherwise obnoxious tune my butthole is producing.

Hay tek na pag pupu.

Rare Photos: A Mother’s Day Special

Posted on May 11, 2013 by heavenliner

Unless done and taken by a well-known or critically acclaimed photographer, a photo is often appreciated on what it contains. Unless you tell that it’s shot by a popular photographer, only few or even no one would ask who took your photo. May it be a good angle of your face, a suddenly slim-looking body or a surprisingly sweet smile it’s always the person on the photo who receives raves and praises and never the photographer.

So to appreciate a work done by a nonentity in the field of photography, let me post two rare photos taken by her. These photos are preciously exquisite because the one who took it is often the one photographed and never the one behind to click the camera. These photos are so rare because she never shoots photos for she doesn’t know how to operate a camera.

These photos were taken from our recent trip abroad. In our trip to Japan, I and my family were able to accumulate more than a thousand images and snapshots to chronicle our delightful adventures. And out of these voluminous shots, only four photos were made by her. I will post only two of these four shots since the “qualities” and “characters” of such photos are basically the same. Again and let me reiterate that she is always the one photographed and never the one who photographs.

no. there's nothing wrong with your vision. actually, it's very artistic.

no. there’s nothing wrong with your vision.
it actually looks very artistic.

love this shot! “may nginig paktor!!!”

These rare photos were taken by Nengkoy.

These photos are stupendously extraordinary because it took us long arduous minutes to prolong our smile, held our breath and stay motionless on a pose. We need to stay still and wait for Nengkoy to peep through the narrow viewer and at the same time find her index finger to the camera’s shutter to shoot these atypical pictures. The waiting to hear the clicking camera to shoot these motionless moments were so gruelingly prolonged, all of us in the photo kept quiet which made the room so silent it hurt my ear.

After four shots, we gave up, no one complained and quietly proceeded to call a waiter to order our dinner. Actually after these shots were taken, I felt exhausted!

Happy Mother’s Day Nengkoy!!!

Kakaibang talento hatid sa inyo ni Nengkoy sa araw ng mga Maders…

Anna’s Cups Is Erika’s Music

Posted on April 23, 2013 by heavenliner

erika: the lady with pretty good musical foresight

This post is dedicated to my niece Erika who would frequently play this music when I and my relatives were having a fun vacation in Japan.

Last year when I was in Japan, Erika could not stop playing the song Call Me Maybe when it was still fresh and not yet a big hit. She even fell asleep in front of the computer playing that song.

This year, while having a vacation in the same country again, Erika yet again keeps on playing a song. This time its entitled Cups sang by the lovely Anna Kendrick. Though not really a new track, this song was included in last year’s musical movie entitled Pitch Perfect.

As an upshot of incessantly hearing the same song over and over which is similar to a hypnotic induction, I and my relatives were actually swayed to watching the movie via web while in Japan. And we did and we had a good laugh! The movie was purely entertaining!

Surprisingly, while we were in Japan, Anna Kendrick last April 12 actually published/released a new (director’s cut) video of this track on YouTube which as of this writing has reached more than 2.6 million hits. Though the acapella version is really fresh this remixed edition has some cool vibe it in.

Here’s another pretty cool version

Now that I’m back in Manila, Cups is starting to become a huge hit…

Tenks Ikang… Lavet…

Takoyaki

Posted on April 22, 2013 by heavenliner

Aside from having the ardent desire to revisit my dear nieces and nephew, destiny concurred and recognized that I return to Osaka, Japan because during my first visit I failed to eat Takoyaki.

Everybody knows that a trip to Osaka won’t be complete without eating the tastiest Takoyaki in the face of the universe. The best and most delicious is in Osaka for a simple reason that this lip smacking dish was invented right in the heart of the city.

cooking takoyaki

that’s my order…

It’s actually easy to find a good Osakan Takoyaki. Simply look for a store with a long queue selling this Japanese street-snack. Then you’re in the right place!

my niece (kim) behind her is one popular takoyaki store near don quixote

the popular takoyaki store along dotonbori street

the often blockbuster takoyaki store along dotonbori street

Truly, a trip to Osaka won’t be complete without trying at least one ball of hot savory Takoyaki!

Pogita bols!!! Yum Yum!!

Inari Shrine & Inari Sushi in Fushimi

Posted on April 19, 2013 by heavenliner

Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan is probably one of my favorite shrines. I love this temple of worship because of its aesthetics. The color of the structures contrasts very well with nature. It’s vermilion in color. The red-orange color of the torii gates mixes well with the bright blue pigment of the sky as well as the lush green fauna surrounding the area. It’s visually rich!

the gang entering the main gate

nengkoy in fushimi inari shrine

beautiful and impressive

i love the colors…

Maybe another reason why I unconsciously came to like this shrine is because it is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto religion’s God of Rice. I guess I adore it because I myself is a rice lover. Close friends know that given a few numbers of meal periods, I will go nuts if there would be no rice served in any of my meals.

smile …

After going around the beautiful shrine, me and my family headed towards right beside the shrine’s local village where there were quaint restaurants aligned along the narrow street. We entered one of the charming restos to have lunch. Luckily, my nephew cleverly ordered the specialty of the village, the Inari Sushi.

inari sushi with a bowl of ramen

yum!

Another landmark experience I had in Japan was my tasting of the authentic, original and genuine Inari sushi. I have tasted Inari sushi in the past but never in my wildest dream would I get the chance to eat this rice-stuffed dish in a tofu pouch in the place it was named after.

It was a no brainer! For me it was the best Inari Sushi!

Pinaghalong ganda, hanga at sarap!

A Siopao In Kobe

Posted on April 13, 2013 by heavenliner

Food has always been an integral part of my travels. Though I have a limited ability to explain my wondrous experience about food in all of my travels, I try as much as possible to describe it.

Just like what I just had. It`s about the tastiest siopao (pork meat buns) in the face of Kobe, Japan. Thanks to my niece Erika for bringing me and my family to have this amazing palatal experience. At first I had doubts when she told me that we should try the best pork meat buns in Kobe.

But when we reached the middle of Chinatown of Kobe, I was surprised. I was surprised to see that there was actually a long queue and these people were patiently waiting for their turn to have the chance to enter the very small yet infamous Rosyoki store.

blockbuster!!! pila balde ang peg!

waiting in line with kim and luis (two of my monster pamangkins)

how i wish i can bring all of these back to manila

packing the taste of heaven

happy and excited with our purchase (with erika & luis)

what a palatal surprise!!!

Rosyoki store only sells siopao (known in Japan as butaman). It is a bite-sized pork meat bun with taste that can actually bring you to the doors of heaven. On my first bite, I knew that Erika and the people who fell in line were all correct. It was one of the worthy waiting that I had to do in my life.

Walang sinabi ang asado ng mamunlok at chowking…

Hanami in Osaka

Posted on April 7, 2013 by heavenliner

Some people believe that blossoming of flowers at the start of spring is one of life’s simple pleasures. But not in Japan, because here in Japan, the blossoming of cherry blossoms (known as Sakua) is such a BIG DEAL! It is such a big deal that they were able to establish one fantastic tradition known as Hanami Picnics.

hanami

During limited number of weeks when the Sakura are in full bloom until the latter days when it falls of from its branches, people of Japan gather under the cherry blossom trees to watch and appreciate the beauty of cherry blossoms. This tradition of barbeques, bento boxes and Japanese alcoholic drinks in the park ushers the start of colorful spring.

notice the ochiba (fallen sakura petal) at the left side of the blue plastic mat

me and my niece (japan’s ms. congeniality)

Today, I personally experienced what it is to experience an Hanami Picnic. Thanks to my niece (Japan’s Miss Congeniality) who brought me and my family along to the Hanami Party organized by her Brazilian-Japanese friend. Our picnic spot was at a park around the Osaka Castle in Osakajo. I can definitely say that Hanami is one rare experience. Yes I can have a picnic anytime in any part of the world, but this event is one authentic adventure.

Piknik na ibang level…

Happy Morning In Osaka

Posted on April 6, 2013 by heavenliner

Its my first morning on my second trip to Osaka, Japan. The mood is great. The morning is fine with cool drizzle outside.

I`m so happy to be back, I want to dance to this fine tune…

Ang soyah soyah…

A Letter to Akihito (Again)

Posted on March 27, 2013 by heavenliner

cherry blossoms from my last year’s adventure

Once again, to His Royal Highness who sits on the Chrysanthemum Throne,

Ohayou gozaimasu.

I, the Delicious Earthling is writing you again to let you graciously be aware that I will visit your splendid empire for the second time. No worries must be felt for I don’t intend to inflict harm nor wreak havoc towards your courteous dwellers.

In fact I, the Delicious Earthling, totally adored and fancied the experiences and adventures the last time I was in your delightful kingdom. However, in my upcoming trip one worry has been lingering since the time I decided to be back.

It’s your ever famous Cherry Blossoms. I learned and led to believe from various readings and manuscripts that the full bloom of these illustrious flowers has already fallen off the branches on the day of my arrival. Therefore and unlike my previous correspondence (press LINK) to you when I demanded three requirements that your dwellers need to ensure, I instead will be petitioning for only one single yet simple demand.

I want your kingdom to ensure that fresh Cherry Blossoms are still on the sturdy trees right in its proper branches. If not then I guess you will have to make use of your powers to impose that fresh cherry blossoms are glued and fixed on their respective branches.

I suggest you summon your people to stick and glue these flowers with cooked grains of your sticky tasty rice to keep it in their respective places. Otherwise, this will be the source of disappointment by the Delicious Earthling.

Your Comrade in Wealth,

The Delicious Earthling

nengkoy from last year’s trip

As yuswal di paiiwan ang Nengkoy

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

Tag Archives: japan