Archive for the "Simply Osaka" Category

Osaka Mint

April 16th, 2008
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I thought I’d never see more Sakura this year. I planned on going to Kyoto but I canceled it because of the rain. I still don’t have a new job but I had other things that kept busy so I’ve been away from blogging world for a few days, and I didn’t have much time going around Osaka to see Sakura. Thanks to Osaka Mint. With 370 trees and 125 varieties of Sakura Trees, my short trip there was really worth it. They opened the place to the public starting today, April 16th, until April 22nd.

Here are some photos:


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Simply Osaka, Spring

Osaka Castle Park and Sakura

April 7th, 2008
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The weather was great last Saturday so I went to Osaka Castle Park to take pictures. The Japanese love to do “hanami” or Sakura viewing, so the park was crowded. I couldn’t get decent photos of Sakura because some of the food stalls were placed near the trees. I think they spoil the beauty of the Sakura.

Last year, a couple of friends and I went to Kyoto for Sakura Hunting. Indeed, Kyoto is still far better than Osaka Castle Park for Sakura viewing. Anyway, here are my favorite close-up photos using my camera phone:


More photos:
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Simply Osaka, Spring ,

Wordless Wednesday #12: Macro Mode and Peach Blossoms

March 26th, 2008
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This wouldn’t be wordless anymore but I was just happy with the output of my phone camera’s macro mode. I’ve finally tried using this feature to take close-up shots of peach blossoms at Osaka Castle Park.



Check out the Wordless Wednesday HQ

Please check out my other Wordless Wednesday entry.

And here for a related entry.
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Photohunt: Metal

March 22nd, 2008
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I’ve always thought that mannequins are made of either wood or plastic. But there’s this high-end shop center here in Osaka that has mannequins that appear to be made of metal. I haven’t touched it but it sure does appear metallic to me…

Please click here to view my other Photohunt entry. Thanks!
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Photohunt, Simply Osaka

Plum Blossoms

March 17th, 2008
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I can now see some pink colors from the ladies’ toilet at the office. I don’t want to miss the peach blossoms so I went out during lunch break to take a walk at the Osaka Castle Park. Well, I was actually running because I only had about 25 minutes! I wish I could go back there and take more pictures.

Please visit my other blog, Exploring Kansai for more photos.

 

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Maruho Duo – The Reunion

February 18th, 2008
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I was really surprised, but was of course, delighted when I heard Mayen was coming to Osaka. She arrived last month but I’m really busy nowadays that I only got to meet her yesterday! We went to Osaka’s electronic gadgets haven in Den Den Town. As always, I almost drooled over those really cool gadgets but for now, they’re for my eyes only. :) Mayen already made mental note on what to buy on her next visit. We concluded our reunion with a quick tour at Namba parks and of course… pictures! Here they are….



Why I call ourselves Maruho Duo? We worked on the same project before, code named “Maruho”. That project was really unforgettable. I experienced staying in the office for more than 24 hours and there were occasional “ghost” encounters…

I forgot to mention that I haven’t seen Mayen for almost 4 years!

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Friends, Simply Osaka, Things I love

Photohunt: Heavy

February 9th, 2008
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Miraculously, there was a heavy snow fall here in Osaka this morning until late in the afternoon. Look at the wide grin I’m wearing. Like almost every person who grew up in a tropical country, I’ve wished of seeing snow and it came true today! :D I actually recorded two short videos but I still have to find a way to rotate it.

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Experiences in Japan, Photohunt, Simply Osaka

A Night With Okonomiyaki

February 4th, 2008
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Akane-san, some Filipino friends, and I were supposed to meet at Tully’s Cafe in *Umeda but almost everyone had to work overtime, leaving Akane-san and me to splurge in one of my favorite Japanese food: okonomiyaki! Okonomiyaki is considered as the Japanese-style pancake or pizza. But it is far from being a junk food as its ingredients mainly include chopped cabbage and some bits of sea foods.

While waiting for our okonomiyaki, there’s nothing better to do than take photos with our food-endorser wannabes pose:


And the star of the night, the mouth-watering okonomiyaki:

Please check out this entry for more pictures of okonomiyaki.
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Food, Friends, Simply Osaka

Bike Limbo

January 13th, 2008
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I was thinking of a title for this post when I remembered Rolando’s post about limbo.

Merriam Webster’s definition of limbo:
a: a place or state of restraint or confinement
b: a place or state of neglect or oblivion
c: an intermediate or transitional place or state d: a state of uncertainty

Below is a “limbo” for the bicycles in Osaka after they’ve been taken away by the city government for illegal parking. Have you noticed those yellow tags? Those serve as “warnings”.

If the government does another “bike operation” and if your bike still has that yellow tag, then prepare your 2,000 yen to get it back. Most of the Japanese would rather buy another bike than go through the trouble of finding the right one in this sea of bicycles.

How about you? Are you willing to go through the trouble of finding the right one or would you rather buy another one?


These bicycles face two destinies: they could be reunited with their owner, or they could fall into the hands of second hand shops.

But, I don’t know how long these bicycles are allowed to wait here…

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Simply Osaka

Glassed Princess

January 5th, 2008
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Last week’s Wordless Wednesday, I featured a photo of the princess display at the Shin-Osaka train station:

I’m sorry Pete I could not provide more details as I couldn’t read those writings behind the figure. Now, look at these photos of a lady (a live one!) we saw during our Sakura Hunting last Spring in Kyoto. She’s wearing a princess’ kimono from the Heian Period. Don’t you think this lady and that glassed figure’s kimono “style” have some similarities?
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Simply Osaka

Wordless Wednesday #1: Princess at the Train Station

January 2nd, 2008
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Check out the Wordless Wednesday HQ
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Simply Osaka, Wordless Wednesday

Let It Snow

January 2nd, 2008
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Winters spent in Japan: 3
Heavy Snowfall experienced/seen: none
Wet flurries experienced: 2-3 times (but for only about an hour. Not enough to pile up!)

Biting cold, numb fingers and toes… these seem pointless without experiencing snowball fights or slippery roads even for at least once a year!

For two days, I’ve been “snow-catching”. The weather forecast said that there’ll be snow in Kyoto so, I’ve been taking the train to Kyoto with the hope of seeing snow, but came home disappointed.

I can hear some of you telling me to go to the northern part of Japan to find what I’m looking for. I wish I could! I’d love to! But due to many circumstances, I still couldn’t. So, I’m now singing at the top of my lungs: “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! “

Please, let it snow in Osaka this year at least for once!

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Simply Osaka
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