Japan: Osaka Day 3 - A Day in the City

So many things to see and do. So little time. What do you do when you only have a few days to spend in Osaka? You make the most out of it and visit the absolute must visit places that are unique to this extraordinary city. That was what I do for my short 4D3N trip in June 2013 and for one entire day, I dedicated everything to the lovely city.

1. Osaka Castle
A castle in the middle of the city is not to be missed, especially for first time visitors to Osaka. To find out how to get to the castle, read my previous post on transportation means. As this famous tourist attraction is right smack in the middle of the park in the middle of the city, it took us a while to stroll through the park (famous too for cherry blossom viewing in spring) before we eventually reached the main entrance. If uncertain, just follow the signs or the hoards of tourists groups.

I was there relatively quite early at 10am and thankfully there were no tourist groups present although there was a very colorful Chinese group of friends. A steady drizzle of rain drove everyone inside the castle for cover and to the food stores that surrounded the main open space where the entrance was.

Osaka entrance view

Upstairs Cafe, Subang Jaya review

I first learned of this place when it and its brownies was featured on Capital TV. Then one fine day, I had to swing by Holiday Villa for an interview just before lunch and decided it was the perfect chance to give Upstairs Cafe a try since it was just a stone's throwaway.

Look at all that yummy desserts!

Japan: Osaka Day 2 - Nara & Kyoto

Due to the limited time we had in Osaka (4D3N), my mother and I decided to do a full day trip to Nara and Kyoto on our second day there, opting to visit their main tourist attractions. Using the Kansai Thru Pass (you can read about my modes of transportation here), we were quickly on our way to Nara via the Kintetsu Line.

Nara Park map.

Upon reaching the station, we headed for Exit 2 in order to get to Nara Park. Getting to the park was pretty easy as from the station, there is a main road heading up a hill or turn right into a covered shopping arcade that will lead to the second, less crowded park entrance on the left.

LOL with TGV this September

Warning: This post is suitable for only 18 + due its sexual suggestive contents. If you are under 18 or heavily religious or just a prude, then click away now. Now. NOW! Too late. (byreadingonyouagreethatthewriterisnotresponsibleforanymentalscarringandwillnotsue)

LOL = Laugh Out Loud.

That was for the benefit of those living in isolation for the last decade.I kid you not when I say that I have come across people that do not know what LOL or LMAO means. And they are not middle-aged adults or my grandparents either.

 TGV Cinemas is not one of those left in the 80s, thankfully as they decided to bring to you, the best of two worlds and have cleverly incorporate stand-up comedy with comedic films for the month of September.

I survived Viper Challenge 2013

Rain pelted down on us as we jogged the tarmac stretch of the Sepang International Circuit and I don’t mean those sissy drizzles of acid rain. I mean, soaked to our skin rain. To some, the rain was a cause for concern but to my Team Huh?!, we powered on, clinging on to our motivation of finishing this course, rain or shine. On top of that, the downpour chased away the previous evening’s haze (get your shit together, Indonesia, seriously).

Team Huh?!

We were in the first wave and amongst the first participants of Asia’s Biggest Obstacle Event to ever set foot on the specially designed course.

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Frosting review

When you hear the words, Lip Frosting, what is the first thing that instantly comes to mind?

For me, it was like cake frosting except you apply it to your lips and lick it off throughout the day. Perhaps Jelly Pong Pong has something similar in mind when they came up with their Lip Frosting Lip Gloss in Irish Cream Pavlova flavour.

Courtesy of HiShop, I was given an opportunity to review this product. The packaging was simple and straight to the point with the product immediately visible. However what intrigued me about Jelly Pong Pong Lip Frost was its scent. Even before opening it up, I could already smell its sugary sweetness like bubblegum.

C2AGE 2013, HELP

So in June, I got to attend C2AGE 2013 by HELP University College, thanks to Tourism Selangor. The event was held at HELP's College of Arts and Technology campus on 8 and 9 June. I must admit if I had double-checked the location, I would have ended up at the Damansara Heights campus instead. I didn't know that HELP had another campus on the other side of the Kuala Lumpur.

We are here!

Anyway, Senri and I headed out in the late morning to the venue and quickly found it crowded. There was a line already building outside for tickets and there were even more people inside the multi-storey building. Armed with our wristbands sponsored by Tourism Selangor, we quickly found ourselves surrounded by excited otakus and cosplayers.

NBrew, Midvalley review

Hey, guys!

Did you know that only about 1% of chefs and food professionals in the world uses molecular gastronomy? What is molecular gastronomy, you ask? Molecular gastronomy basically takes sciences and integrates its methods and experimental ways into the creation of food and desserts.It may seem so out of this world and would cost you a bomb to try out molecular gastronomy but believe it or not, you can actually give it a try at the latest ice-cream parlour to hit the market, NBrew.

Rent for Hope, SPCA

If someone is thinking of adopting a dog, I would always advice them to spend some time with that dog so that they can know the quirks of the animal first. Having experience as a dog owner is a plus but not all dogs are the same and first time owners should understand what having a dog entails to. 

This Saturday, 3 August, The Society For Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (SPCA) Selangor is organizing Rent for Hope where the public and potential dog-owners can get to know the dogs by playing and interact with the dogs with a donation of RM20 only. Rent for Hope lets you walk and play with a dog in the park for 20 minutes and in doing so, allows you a 'feel' of the joy of being a dog owner. I would know. I have four lovely adopted canines that I call my kiddies regardless of breed. 

Japan: Osaka Day 1 - Dotonbori

Konnichiwa, minna-san! Genki desu ne!

With the visa waiver for short-term trips, Japan had just become all the more appealing to Malaysians as a holiday destination. No longer do you need to prepare sheets and sheets of documents and forms and drive down to the middle of Kuala Lumpur to apply for a visa at the Japan embassy. Ironically, I had just gotten my Japan visa a week before the waiver was announced but no matter. The pretty sticker made a nice memento in my passport to my travel adventures for my June visit to the second biggest city in Japan, Osaka.

 After a 6 hours and 30 minutes overnight flight onboard AirAsia X, my mom and I were eager to check-in at our hotel at Swissotel Nankai Osaka, to dump our bags and start exploring.