A Sumptuous Okazu Experience

Posted on October 31, 2014 by heavenliner

There is one plain and simple food establishment in Osaka that my family has dined at. It is so plain and simple that we actually failed to inquire with their very few and quiet staff on what the name of their intimate restaurant was.

Sorry if I cannot read exquisite Japanese kanji but this is how it looks from their façade…

the facade of my sumptuous okazu experience. will somebody read that lighted sign for me…

What is so striking about this place is that it obviously does not seem to cater to tourists. As we have observed me and Nengkoy were the only tourist guests inside while the rest of the dining folks were the uncomplicated locals of the city.

Uncomplicated meaning the unfussy office workers and blue-collared souls that keeps the economy of Osaka running. They are the austere Osakans who seem to have simply gone hungry and decided to grab a delicious meal prior to heading back to their respective homes. They are the type who seem too tired to prepare their dinner and instead settled for a low-cost yet sumptuous Japanese meal.

happy nengkoy (feeling like a local) with denden

Another strikingly divine about this restaurant is their food. It features dishes that are not the mainstream and well-known Japanese cuisine yet considered classic. These are the diverse varieties of Okazu. If the Philippines got ulam (viand), Japan has Okazu. The side dishes of Japan that are usually accompanied with rice. But since Okazu are commonly small in portions, these are comparable to tapas or the small dishes of Spain.

okazu!

yum!

no conveyor belt machine… an old and reliable self service japanese eatery

I particularly like the fact that each dish are served in small portions. This makes the customer enjoy, explore and savor varying dishes in one seating as if having a grand feast yet still very desirable for it will not result to gaining too much weight.

It is so obvious that preparing these beautiful dishes at home would take so much time, skill and effort. Thus, it is not surprising that regular Osakans would rather flock these types of modest yet charming eateries.

Karinderyang sosyal… Daming ulam…

3Coins +Plus: An Inexpensive Cure To My Shopping Madness

Posted on October 20, 2014 by heavenliner

When I was still undecided whether the recent long holiday weekend will be spent in Osaka, there has been a bunch of souls who keeps on telling me to go domestic. A lot has been suggesting the City of Pines, Baguio. I told them I’d rather go to Osaka because the trip (from Manila) is shorter by four hours. And besides, Baguio has yet to have a 3Coins outlet.

3Coins Store is the more stylish version of 100-Yen shops. 3Coins basically signifies 3 pieces of one hundred yen coins. Thus, all items found in this store is worth 300 Yen (around 150 Philippine pesos or 2.80 US dollars). Since it is three times more expensive than the usually substandard items found in 100 Yen shops, the ones found in this store is of course of superior quality.

those cute socks for tables and chairs is such an ingenious idea!

those rugs were beautiful…

super nice…

love this store!

And since the items are reasonably priced, this is the ultimate store in Japan where deficiencies in my overall recurring retail therapy are fulfilled. It’s like the final doze of medicine to cure my shopping madness when my pocket can no longer cope with it. Thus, 3Coins is a testament that shopping in Japan need not be expensive.

3 Coins according to their website actually has variety of stores. Correct me if I’m wrong here… They have 3Coins Ooops. The 3Coins Station. The 3Coins+plus. The classic 3Coins. And the somewhat high-end Colle.

The one me and Nengkoy shopped at in Osaka was at 3Coins +Plus outlet. This is the outlet that offers not just items priced at 300 yen but also superb stuffs priced at 1,000 yen (500 Philippine pesos or roughly around 10 US dollars).

I so love this place because this is one of those rare stores that me and Nengkoy seem to have a shopping truce. My mother would usually attack the penchants and the inclinations of my shopping selections due to its absurd and ridiculous prices. But when we are at a 3Coins store, there seem to be a cessation of hostilities between us. It is because she does agree with me on how nice the articles for sale are at a very reasonable price.

nengkoy at the bottom of the stairs... she got herself a couple of cool-looking earrings!

nengkoy at the bottom of the stairs… aside from some bathroom thingies, she got herself a couple of cool-looking earrings!

The store offers daily utilized good as well as lifestyle home interior decors. I particularly love their shower curtains, bedroom slippers, bathroom rugs and storage boxes. And most recently, I discovered that their colorful selections of socks are just so adorable!

Wanpibti lang… Murang mura…

Capricho of a Caprichoso at Comme Des Garcons

Posted on October 16, 2014 by heavenliner

I admit. I have considerable volumes of shirts in various colors, prints, styles and designs. My mother even consider my living quarters as nothing but a humongous cubbyhole of articles of clothing. She would often allege and accuse me of storing some inside my fridge because my closets and boxes of garments are all so choked-up and full to its brim. That is why the last thing I need is another piece of tee shirt.

But because of my caprichoso-ness (capriciousness), I know that I simply have to satiate my capricho. That is why when I was planning my little shopping in Osaka, my odd obsession was focused towards buying a simple yet over-priced piece of shirt. The Comme Des Garcons Play t-shirt.

I was so determined to acquire one, I even googled where in Osaka a Comme De Garcons outlet is. Good thing my nephew Denden knew exactly where in Namba Parks the store is located. Armed with unbendable willpower and fortitude, I, Nengkoy and my niece Erika trekked to the high-end portion of the mall.

caprichoso at comme des garcons osaka

As soon as we found the outlet, I selected from among the limited designs and supplies hanged on the racks. And since I look broke and penniless, the shop attendant did not allow me to wear and test fit it. I got infuriated I wanted to buy the shop attendant himself.

But since I was so focused on my target, I brushed him aside. With irrational conduct, I procured a piece. And with closed eyes, I paid the somewhat unreasonable worth as printed on the price tag.

my proof of purchase…

what i had…

Erika and I went back to the apartment with satisfied and happy faces. Nengkoy however was perplexed, maddened and enraged! Not with the shop attendant but with my capricho and being a caprishoso.

Awtpit pamalengke… Hahaha!

Pablo Cheese Tart Got a Bright Spot Light

Posted on October 15, 2014 by heavenliner

Osaka is known all over Japan as having the best gastronomic courses and culinary entities. Thus, it is not farfetched that the best cheese tart in that part of the planet originated in Osaka. I am talking about the luscious cheese tart from Pablo.

Falling on queue at Pablo’s take-away shop to purchase the famous cheese tart has been part of my last three visits in Japan.

nengkoy while on a long queue at pablo take-away store last spring of 2014

where magic happens…

Served in large spherical portions good for sharing, my theory why this cheese tart has gone so admired and popular is because its flavor and texture is never overpowering to the taste. Unlike the usual cheese tarts when consumed in large amounts would result to nauseatingly cloying feeling, Pablo’s version is subtle, light and delicate to the palate.

Pablo store has gone so swell, I was amazed to learn that they have progressed from a take-away store into a casual dine-in shop serving various drink concoctions, pastries, cakes and desserts. These pastry diner shops also became a hit, it has started to mushroom around Japan.

spherical pieces of heaven!

what a luscious selection!

During my recent October 2014 visit, I told my dear nephew and nieces (based in Osaka) that I and Nengkoy would not miss the opportunity to dine in one of the Pablo shops before going back to Manila.

However, our first venture at Pablo’s Shishaibashi branch was a failure because there were no seats available and we have to fall on a long line of patrons waiting for their turn to be given those precious table. Me and my mother settled on buying the premium version of the cheese tart and have it devoured at my nephew and nieces’ house.

new dine-in pablo branch in shinsaibashi

Our second try was a success! After accomplishing a long walking tour of the majestic Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture, we agreed to have a snack before going back to Osaka. We were glad to find out that a Pablo dine-in branch has just opened in Himeji.

Pablo in Himeji was a true winner. Aside from the good food and drinks we had, I specifically loved the restaurant’s beautiful interiors! The aesthetic elements of the shop were remarkably trendy, cool and stylish!

welcome to himeji branch!

super nice…

glad to have discovered this branch in himeji…

cozy corner…

happy…

With the light enchanting flavors of their appetizing dishes combined with modish designs of the interiors, it would not be a surprise if Pablo would cross ocean borders and establish its shops at other places around the world.

Aysimplilabit…

A Rare Glico Moment in Osaka

Posted on October 12, 2014 by heavenliner

A tourist when in Osaka will never be considered a complete holidaymaker if he misses taking a photo of (or with) the iconic Glico neon signboard. The ginormous nightly lighted panel is located at downtown Dotonbori district. The Ezaki Glico Company’s triumphant running man with raised arms on a blue track with Osaka Castle, Tsutentaku Tower and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in its background has long been considered an amusing landmark in Osaka.

my sister joie during our april 2012 visit

my sister joie during our spring of 2012 visit

glico in the spring of 2013, shot from afar of ebisu bridge

glico at night, during my spring 2014 visit

But during my trip with Nengkoy this October 2014, while walking along my favorite Shinsaibashi strip, my pamangkins (nieces and nephew) shocked me when they said that Glico has transformed into a woman. I just brushed their story and obviously did not believed them. But when we get to the Ebisu Bridge of Dotonbori-gawa River, I was stunned!

The massive display panel was covered with a tarpaulin, in which printed on it is a lady in exactly the same position of Glico with the same background. When I asked my pamangkins – with a very worried face – on what happened, they smiled and told me that the iconic signboard is undergoing revamp and overhaul.

rare, odd and singular!
glico relieved by a woman

They immediately told me to take a photo since it would be one of the rarest events in Osaka when the treasured symbol is temporarily bugged and preoccupied. True enough, according to news the well-adored signboard will no longer be made of neon lights but will instead be LED powered already when it is re-lighted.

When I asked who the lady on the photo was commissioned to pose ala-Glico-like, my nephew told me that she was like the Marian Rivera of the Philippines. (Marian Rivera, the two-time FHM Magazine’s sexiest Filipina is a mega icon celebrity in the Philippines who is also very popular in other South East Asian countries).

This turn of events just added to the exceptionality and uniqueness of my recent Osaka visit. Imagine, Osaka’s Glico lighted nightly for the last 80 years is momentarily absent and was temporarily relieved by a woman? ? It’s like temporarily replacing the Statue of Liberty while it undergoes refurbishments with an effigy of Brad Pitt wearing a robe and holding up a torch. That I think is truly rare…

Nangawit lang pala kaya nagpahinga… Aym shur, estatwa ni Rizal sa Luneta pag-nirepeyr, rebulto ni Kris Aquino ang ipapalit.

A Surprise Visit to Himeji Castle

Posted on October 9, 2014 by heavenliner

The highlight of my October 2014 Japan trip with Nengkoy was something unexpected. When my mother and I flew to Osaka for an extended long weekend, the only thing that’s both in our mind was to do a little shopping and visit nearby walking distance places where my nephew and nieces are based. We did not even had plans of riding the modern, intricate and very efficient subway trains!

But my sweet nephew Denden had a different agenda. He along with his sisters (my nieces) Erika and Thatcher brought me and Nengkoy to one of the first World UNESCO Heritage Sites of Japan, the famous Himeji Castle located in Hyogo Prefecture (about an hour by speedy train from Osaka).

Upon reaching the Himeji train station, people will definitely not miss this magnificent architectural jewel for it dominates the whole place. The 20 minute walk from the train station to the castle along a wide boulevard was also enjoyable for you will encounter arty pieces of sculptures lining the whole Otemae-dori pathway.

with my niece erika, enjoying the breezy walk along otemai-dori

with my niece erika, enjoying the breezy walk along otemae-dori

And when we reached the entrance, we were at awe on how magnificent the site was. What I particularly loved was the bright white color of the building that contrasts the dusky overcast sky during the day of our visit.

There was a Japanese guy at the ticket vending machine who spoke in excellent English who explained to us that the castle is still under renovation and that we would not be able to enter the main castle’s interiors. Notices posted around indicated that the renovation is expected to be finished by March 2015. I guess in time for the peak ‘sakura’ spring season.

magnificent!

picture perfect!!! hahaha!

Nevertheless, we still purchased tickets and settled on what can be seen inside. Indeed the view of the castle was spectacular while the Bailey and the accessible grounds that allows visitors were all fantastic.

To compensate for the restrictions to enter the main tower, the bailey and storehouses were converted into dazzling museums showing off many historical artifacts such as armor suits of shoguns, various building as well as the living quarters of Princess Sen and her multitude of female servants.

nengkoy and her beautiful grandchildren exploring the himeji castle complex

sakuramon bridge at the entrance and the moat surrounding the whole himeji castle complex

beautiful cobblestones leading to the west bailey

beautiful cobblestone stairs leading to the west bailey

Though we were not allowed entry inside the tower, I still was very impressed on what we have explored. The whole surroundings and the atmosphere seem to remain authentic and true to its historical roots. Indeed, our surprise visit was an overwhelmingly great experience.

Himeji Castle, is truly worth visiting when in Japan! It definitely possess a grandiose class of its own.

Tenk yu Denden… sa uulitin…

Nengkoy & I: A First Travel Tandem

Posted on October 4, 2014 by heavenliner

Thanks to Muslim’s tradition of observing the Feast of Sacrifice, Monday has been declared a non-working holiday in Manila. Since it will be a long weekend and we both possess multiple entry visas, I and Nengkoy decided to go on a short trip to Osaka, Japan to visit my dear nephew Denden and pretty nieces Erika and Thatcher.

This is gonna be the fourth time that I will be travelling with Nengkoy in Japan. However, this will be the first time that only I and my mother will be travelling in tandem, this is because in the past we would usually be accompanied by hordes of members of our family.

I don’t know how things would go out. I don’t know who between me and Nengkoy will lose patience first. Members of my family are actually worried. They think our travel tandem is like mixing Skittles and M&Ms in one bowl. Same shapes and colors but totally different whiffs and flavors.

Prior to this trip I have been told by my sisters to pack with me oodles of patience, as if I am really to observe the upcoming Muslim’s Feast of Sacrifice. Likewise, my sisters forewarned Nengkoy to completely observe conduct at all times during the duration of the travel if she don’t want to be left right in the middle of the journey.

Even if both of us have tremendously fierce personalities, one thing is sure though. This is going to be one fun and memorable voyage.

As of this writing, everything seem to be doing well. As a proof, here is a photo of our stylish shoe selfie – which by the way has the same color tone – while at the Manila airport waiting to board the plane.

ready to conquer the streets of osaka (again)

Pssst. Nengkoy beheyb!

An Okay Eight Years

Posted on June 20, 2014 by heavenliner

This blog has not put healthy food on the tables of poor families neither has it placed a roof on the top of their heads. Others actually find these writings a big BS. But I am proud to convey that this blog today has been running for eight years already.

It initially ran for three years under Friendster (an extinct tacky social media site) and then transferred to WordPress.com five years ago.

I know that the pieces of writing that I have done for the last eight years are just but okay. Those are not remarkable neither awesome posts. But being okay is still remarkably and awesomely fine. Besides, not all people had the chance to chronicle their life’s snippets, encounters and experiences the way I just did for the past 8 years.

walong pampa-swerte (8 lucky charms)

I really don’t know if this blog is aligned with my soul’s purpose and how this blog will be to me in the future. It has never been that clear. Although I wish it would, I am not expecting such vividness will come that soon.

But what is so imperative about this blog is that it has been a truthful expression of myself. It may not have maxed out my being a human being, but nevertheless, this blog has displayed a segment of who I am, what I am and why I am.

To those who found time reading my posts in the last 8 years, let me convey a massive thanks. Though there will still be a lot of spiky attitude, let me promise that in the future, there would be more gratitude.

O sha. Tama na drama. Salamat sa pag basa.

Goto on Father’s Day

Posted on June 15, 2014 by heavenliner

yum yum!

Some would sneak out of the bedroom to have a bar of chocolate or a decent pint of ice cream. Others would have a bag of cookies or even prepare themselves a hearty sandwich. These are some of the common food chows people eat if they would have a midnight snack.

I never have cravings for a midnight snack, and if I would have one, I would go for a super bowl of “goto”. I don’t know the English word for goto. But it’s a hot rice porridge with meat innards (usually ox tripe and intestines) topped with chopped leeks, toasted garlic and a squeeze of the ever versatile calamansi fruit.

Psychology reveals that patterns for adult food choices is based on childhood influences, socio-economic life course and obviously the physiological state of hunger. I believe on all these three factors. But my choosing goto as a midnight snack is based on the first. My childhood influence. This is basically because of my father.

a true dad knows how to and not ashamed to do the laundry… happy father’s day tatay!

During my days living in Pasay, my father religiously fetched Nengkoy from work when she would render overtime reaching until the wee hours of night. Before my parents would head home, they would drop by a goto store to purchase this superb rice soup.

And when they would arrive home, both would wake up all of us (their children, including the maid) so as to enjoy the tasty goto. Heavy-eyed, lethargic and drowsy, I would slurp a mouthful which would definitely wake me up. This has become a very long habit of my family in Pasay until my father has gone sick and Nengkoy retired from work.

Now that I am an adult, has lived independently from my family and my father has gone to heaven, today’s Father’s Day I guess would be so nice to have a midnight snack. Definitely, that would be some big bowl of hot delicious goto.

Happy Father’s Day to everyone…

Ano nga ba inglish sa gowtu?

Nengkoy’s Movies, Sarah’s Wigs, My Day-Off

Posted on June 9, 2014 by heavenliner

nengkoy: a great tagalog movie buddy

Are you the type of Philippine inhabitant who has difficulty looking for a friend whom you can drag to a cinema to watch a Filipino movie?

I am.

Fortunately, I have Nengkoy. This is because every time I crave to watch a Filipino flick I could easily drag my mother to the nearest movie house. Aside from her senior citizen discount, what is good thing about Nengkoy is that she doesn’t want to watch any Hollywood movie!

Thus, if I am channeling the “persona of every domestic-helper-on-a-day-off”, she could be a great movie buddy and companion.

In actual fact, I along with a couple of the members of my zany family was with Nengkoy at SM Mall of Asia. We watched the cheesy movie of Sarah Geronimo and Coco Martin entitled Maybe This Time.

maybe this time movie poster (taken from google images)

I would not want to be critical and diagnostic on how bad the movie was. What is good about this types of movies is that you need not bring a lot of brain cells to analyze, digest and comprehend it. Besides, I had too much thinking and analyzing already. So in general, I enjoyed it. I liked it because it gave me a couple of laughs.

Coco Martin was surprisingly comical, diverse and atypical! But the big revelation was Sarah Geronimo. The sweet girl can act. Too bad she no longer sport those ill-fitting wigs she wore in her movies with John Lloyd Cruz. I miss those atrocious wigs! The movie could have been more hilarious if she did!

Na relaks naman ako impernes…

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

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