Tag Archives: japan

Japanese Shower Room Boots

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Prior to Christmas I promised myself that I would blog about all the gifts and presents I received.  But I guess that would now be next to impossible because thankfully I was able to receive quite a ton of it.  Writing each and every item I received would be too much for a task.  For sure readers would get bored to dullness.

But last Christmas – receiving presents from a simple picture frame to lavish high tech gadget – there is one item I can’t resist writing about.  It’s about the Japanese Shower Room Boots.

a unique christmas gift from denden... my own japanese shower room boots!

a unique christmas gift from denden… my own japanese shower room boots!

My nephew Den Den gave it to me after noticing that I have been so insanely fascinated by these boots.  The first time I saw these type of footwear was during the first night of my family’s stay in a hotel at Osaka, Japan last year.  I was so transfixed because we don’t have those in the Philippines.

my outrageous fashion statement! LOL

my outrageous fashion statement! LOL

The first pair I saw (inside the hotel shower room) was plain white in color.  I thought it was some sort of a plastic arinola (piss potty).  But when I figured it out, I tried it on, laughed out loud and pondered if I can kick-off a fashion trend in Manila.

I think the purpose of these boots aside from keeping yourself from slipping on the floor tiles while doing your shower is to prevent the soles of your feet from touching the frigidly cold stone tiles of the shower room (especially during winter).

Though it will be silly to wear those here in Manila, these slippers will be an awesome keepsake on how I turned bonkers when I first encountered it.  Until this plastic shower shoes becomes a fashion craze, it will for now be kept inside my treasure chest.

For the meantime, my feet will have to settle on the comfort of my indoor slippers which by the way is also Japanese branded.

my super comfy Muji indoor slippers

my super comfy Muji indoor slippers

Sana ma-uso! LOL

Weiner in Melaka

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Early this year when I was at Osaka in Japan, I found pussy in Namba Parks  (press this LINK if you wish to read this hilarious post).  Last week during a long weekend in Malaysia, I found a weiner in Melaka.

Titi is a Tagalog word when translated in English would mean a man’s love-stick, prick, or pecker.  For a nicer and more appropriate label it is the male genitalia.

While passing through one narrow street inside Chinatown in Melaka, I and my colleagues noticed the signage of Titi Art Gallery.  Without hesitation we mindlessly took a photo of it.  It was for us hilarious and was actually laughing out loud wondering what interesting pieces of art could be inside.

Initially, I thought the gallery would feature the “helmeted yogurt slinger” in various artistic media.  But of course I am wrong because the gallery sells gorgeous drawings and paintings.  The reputed art works were even hailed and endorsed by UNESCO as indicated in one of its posters.

The gallery’s owner was the one who welcomed us and instinctively guessed that we were Filipinos simply because of our laughter.  He said that he knew we were Filipinos because his gallery receives the same reception and reaction from Filipino tourists in Melaka from the past.  He was nevertheless gentle and accommodating enough to explain that “titi” in Chinese means little or younger brother and when translated in Malay language would mean a small bridge.

The paintings and drawings were actually stunning but it was a bit pricey for our budget so we simply say thanks and bid goodbye to the gallery’s owner.

But since my brain’s dendrites were functioning very well after a cup of coffee from a nearby shop, I realized that the Chinese and Malay translation for titi is basically close to that of Tagalog.  Why?  It is because a lot of androcentric jocks consider their pecker as their little brother.  Also, a man’s joystick when interloped inside a love-hole would be the small bridge where the huge army of seeds or jellyfishes will have to cross so as to create a human being.  Thus, Tagalog, Chinese and Malay’s definition of titi is fundamentally the same.

In peyrnes, di madulas sa tindahan ni manong!

Uniqlo Philippines

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Other than the company which I work for, the only Facebook Page of a company that I pressed the like button is that of Uniqlo.  This Japanese giant clothing retailer will soon open in SM Mall of Asia here in the Philippines in the middle of June this year.

I have been to a Uniqlo store in Osaka last month.  While drooling over the cool shirts and pants featured at the store two things immediately entered my mind.  That is, if I still have enough space in my luggage to fit in a couple of stuff and if my travel budget won’t be ruined out from my impulsive buying.

that white paper bag is my proof of purchase

According to their business profile, Uniqlo plans to become the world’s top apparel company by 2020.  Well, I guess at this early, I am already a fan and will be one damn contributor in achieving their goal.

Can’t wait for the opening… I’m excited!  At this early let me thank Uniqlo for putting up a store here in the Philippines, your store will definitely be an additional venue in nursing my psychic ills whose only treatment is through retail therapy.

Hayaan nyo na akong magpiling-sosyal paminsan-minsan…

Pussy of Namba Parks

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On our way to Namba Parks shopping complex in Osaka, me, my sister Joecel and my niece Erika passed by a store named Kiki.  “Kiki” being a word that means vagina in Tagalog – out of fun – took the opportunity to take a photo with the store’s banner.  Don’t be too assuming on what the store sells, because when I checked they sell ladies’ ready-to-wear clothes!

After marveling on the aesthetic architectural sensation of the building’s park and garden rooftop and had a huge hamburger snack inside the mall (a delicious break from all the Japanese meals we had and will be having), we decided to head back to Erika’s house.  However, the three of us had some difficulty figuring out the correct exit door so as to have a short walk from Namba Parks to Erika’s apartment.

With nervousness starting to build up inside me (being in a country where the English language is seldom spoken by the locals), I was reminded that we passed through the Kiki store.  Out of tenseness and uncontrollable edginess, I told Erika that we should look for the “puke” (the blunt and vulgar Filipino way of saying the word vagina).  Still confused, I reminded Joecel and Erika that “we earlier pass through the pussy of the mall!”

When we found the Kiki store… I was relieved.  We happily headed back at my nephew and niece’s apartment.

Pag nerbyusin ka din, kung ano-ano din naman ang nasasabi mo ‘di ba? 

Sakura in Osaka

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Late in the afternoon on our way to Super Tamade, a local store in Sennichimae Dori in Osaka to buy food stuffs to be cooked for dinner, I asked my nephew Denden if Japanese people are still amazed with and still looks forward to Sakura (the blooming of cherry blossoms).  Since it is a yearly phenomenon, I supposed people in Japan must have been so used to it.  I supposed that it was just like an ordinary occurrence in Japan similar to the blooming of bonggambilya or kalachuchi flowers in the Philippines.  It’s nothing to celebrate about.  However, he replied, “Definitely Tito, because autumn is such a gloomy cruel season.  It is so depressingly dull it makes people feeling down and heavy.”

After our first night, walking along the streets of Osaka in the morning, I was a little disappointed because I can actually count few trees whose flowers has bloomed.  Majority of the trees were just brittle branches with dark buds and whose leaves have totally fallen off during the autumn season.  Erika, my niece who’s also based in Japan told me that we arrived too early and should have scheduled our stay in Osaka on the latter days of April to witness the amazing flowers.

On our sixth and seventh day of staying in Osaka we went to Kyoto and Nara, I noticed that only few trees has bloomed with cherry blossoms flowers.  I started to feel the depressing dullness of winter.  I already set in my mind that I need to be back in Osaka some other time and make sure that those days will be the time when cherry blossoms are on its best.  I told myself that the trip in Osaka, Japan could have been more perfect if the cherry blossoms are in full glow.  The Osaka trip could have been like tasting the greatest cake in the world but without the cherry on the top.

On the day prior to our flight back to Manila, my family’s itinerary is to go and visit the Osaka Castle.  I was looking forward to seeing one of the most famous castles in Japan that played a great role in the unification of its people during the sixteenth century but has set my mind that only few cherry blossoms in the area has bloomed.

But when we were about 200 to 300 meters away from the yard vicinity of the great castle, I saw that the color of the trees were strangely different.  I started to feel lighter and a little delighted.  And as we moved in closer, swarms of people – young and old – started to walk in the same direction that we were heading.  I was very glad and very happy because everybody were all heading towards the immense occurrence of Sakura!

 

Denden was all along correct!  Sakura elicits a cheerful feeling pointed towards the core of someone’s heart.  Witnessing the Sakura on the last day of our stay was just like putting the freshest cherry on top of a cake, it was like seeing the Reigna Elena and Reigna Emperatriz combined of the Pinoy Santacruzan, it was like hearing the last yet the greatest hit song of a singer during a phenomenal concert, it was like the highlight of the highlight!

 Grabe! Ang ganda!

Hey Japan, I’m A Fan

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It’s official.  I’m a fan of Japan!

The anime-ish hairstyles; the remarkable efficiency; the tranquility of the intricate subway trains; the quietness of train stations despite presence of swarms of people; the matchless technology yet preserved rich culture and heritage; and the unrivaled fashion.

a calm train station in Osaka

covered street in Namba

Kinkakuji, the temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto

The cute Japanese school uniforms; the efficient weather bureau; the smart looking young office workers dodging on thick manga books; the melodic language; the fine art of Kanji;  the people’s civility, honesty and good manners; and the remarkable cleanliness and ecologically aware streets.

one of the colorful stores in dotonbori

an afternoon walk at dotonbori (nengkoy in white pants)

Don Quixote - a famous landmark in Osaka

wet market in osaka

The wet-less wet market; the people’s courteousness in using the escalator; the ladies’ fake eyelashes, wigs and fingernails; the composure of geishas; the blushed cheeks of cute little children; the aesthetic splendor and freshness of dishes; the serene temples; the wide roads with long tunnels penetrating the mountains; the wonderful cherry blossoms; and the Nissin Chicken Ramen TV commercial I posted below which caught my full attention while I was lazing at the hotel in Osaka.

geishas in kyoto

Todaiji (the Great Eastern Temple) in Nara

my nephew Den Den with cherry blossoms and Osaka Castle in the background (i love this shot!)

 No doubt Japan is all very Zen.  I am so impressed with Japan I sometimes wish I were Japanese.  I could die happy even if I died because of a tsunami as long as in my next life I will be a “delicious” Japanese.  But I guess the Japanese themselves wish they were something else.

Hay nako walang duda… Da gras is griner in Japan.    

Eating Art

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May it be pieces of priceless art found in the famous museums, unique chunks of architecture or praiseworthy monuments my usual tour out of the country always includes finding good or amazing pieces of art of the place I visit.

But in Japan, pieces of admirable art can be found right on the dining table.  Japanese people I suppose have the liking and inclination of utilizing first their sense of sight when dining prior to using their senses of smell and taste when consuming a meal.  I know that culinary craftsmanship is a creation meant to communicate and appeal to the taste buds but chefs here in Japan seem to put so much effort in details of food arrangements in their repertoire. Aside from being so yummy, I adore the aesthetically beautiful food presentation!!!

Walking through the streets of Osaka, I found various food presentations that are not only a banquet for someone’s palate but a feast for the eyes as well.  There are moments when I would not want to take a bite of the food I ordered but instead wish to preserve it and have it donated to a local museum for others to see and appreciate.  Dining in Japan is just like eating pieces of art.

classic japanese food

 

egg soup with shrimp & mushroom

 

green tea cake

this Mister Donut sign board is so cute I want it printed on my shirt

i love their window displays... truly mouthwatering...

the japanese versions of "espasol" with various fillings

"burrrrppp"

Busog pati mata mo!

Instant Ramen Overload

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One of the exciting places me and my family visited is the Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda City, Osaka, Japan.  The instant digestive solution of the hungry may it be a quick emergency snack, a late-evening nibble or after hunting for giant dinosaurs an emergency meal instant noodle no doubt has become indispensable in our daily lives.

Momofuku Ando was the Japanese dude responsible in the invention of the instant noodles right after the World War II on the time when Japan was a literally hungry.  The museum showcased various features starting from the humble beginnings of how ramen was invented, how it was mass produced and was even one of the vital elements in the history of Japanese space exploration through the sustenance of its astronauts.

The most fun part was when we were all given the opportunity to design our own Nissin cups and got to choose four flavors that will be added in our noodles to have it truly personalized. Love it!

neil "delicious"

left most cup is nengkoy's cup

inside the noodle tunnel

Dapat sa Pinas meron ding ganito, Da Suman Myusiyum! 

A Letter to Akihito

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To His Royal Highness who sits on the Chrysanthemum Throne,

Good morning.

Let me take the pleasure of sending you a word and your imperial army that the most delicious earthling is due to arrive in your splendid land and noble empire anytime soon.  In so doing, your gracious directive and decree is hereby in order which your dwellers have to ensure:

First requirement: Ensure that the delicate flowers that signify the welcome of spring season in your dynasty will be in its full bloom.  The delicious earthling would like to witness this incredible phenomenon.

Second requirement: Your land being at the zone of the planet’s ring of fire must ensure that no tectonic-shaking circumstance must take place at any time during the length of stay of the delicious earthling.  The delicious visitor hates the feeling of disequilibrium and whirling sensation.

Last and final requirement: Your kingdom is known to have preposterous fees and sky-rocketing prices.  The delicious earthling plans to trade his wealth and richness with your abundant commercialized treasures.  In other words, he plans to go on shopping!  Therefore, ensure to assess and lower down the financial value of your land’s commodities during the delicious earthling’s stay.  Otherwise, the delicious earthling will carry with him tons of Ma-Ling (canned luncheon meat) and large boxes of ensaymada (sugar-sprinkled buttered pastry bread).

Your Comrade in Wealth,

The Delicious Earthling

Dahil malamig dun, magbabaon din ako ng Kopiko tri-in-wan copi.