A Super Fun Day At Universal Studios Japan

Posted on April 28, 2013 by heavenliner

One day. That is how long me and my family has allocated for our attack and invasion of the first Universal Studios in Asia.

I was actually not excited that USJ (Universal Studios Japan) was in one of our itineraries in our journey to Japan this year. Two weeks before our trip I and my niece Kim checked out the USJ website. Both of us thought that it was plain, ordinary and simple run-of-the-mill theme park.

During our first visit to Osaka, we did not bother going to Universal Studios because we thought the thrill and excitement would basically be the same as that of our family’s former trip to Universal Studios in Singapore.

But we were completely, veritably and absolutely wrong!

had fun here…

the gang at the facade

look at how wide the streets are!

As soon as we reached the façade, first thing I noticed (which is unlike the Singapore version) is that it’s huge! The streets are wide and spacious! And the attractions do not looked cramped into a limited space. Thus, even though there were lots of people, the park don’t feel like it’s congested and overcrowded.

But what was even greater about this theme-park-adventure was the rides and attractions. Good thing Denden (my nephew) planned very well the sights and rides we are to take. He seems to have plotted it in a thrill-escalating manner. Except for the roller coaster Fantasy Ride which my nieces and nephews excitedly started with, imagine we (including Nengkoy, my 76-year old mother) commenced our adventure with the kiddie Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic program and ended with the viperous 85-feet near vertical drop of the hair-raising Jurassic Park ride.

luis with pink (not the singer but the stuffed toy)

after the amazing spiderman ride…

the wacky photo taken during the 85 feet drop of jurassic park ride

Among the features of USJ, the ones that I enjoyed most were the rides of Back To The Future, The Jaws, The Spiderman and of course the Jurassic Park. In all these amazing rides, I felt the cross-fertilization of fear, terror, shock, awe, astonishment and of course excitement hybreedizing down my spine. That is why while on a ride, I was screaming at the top of my lungs so as to discharge these feelings.

denden, nengkoy and ate gaying loving the parade…

And to cap the day off, USJ featured their jaw-dropping, amazingly awesome and totally fantastic Magical Starlight Parade. It was the parade that brought the same feeling I had when I personally saw the Disney Parade in Hongkong. I was so happy freaky tears of joy were running down my face.

Abot hanggang Pasay ang sigaw ko grabe.

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!!

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

Japanese Shower Room Boots

Posted on January 13, 2013 by heavenliner

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!

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

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

Sana ma-uso! LOL

Weiner in Melaka

Posted on September 17, 2012 by heavenliner

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

Posted on May 26, 2012 by heavenliner

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…

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

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