Author: Jeffer

Coron in August: Lusong Shipwreck & Marile Coral Garden

If there is one thing that is sure to ruin even the best laid plans, it’s rain. However, if you are in a place as sublime in its beauty as Coron, the raindrops hardly matter. (I am writing this post as I am listening to news about the magnitude 4 quake that rocked my world – and I don’t say that lightly – this morning as I was headed for work. It lasted for a couple of seconds, but darn if it didn’t make my heart jump out my throat!) Continue reading “Coron in August: Lusong Shipwreck & Marile Coral Garden” →

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Coron in August: Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hotspring

Taking a quick break from my Japan posts to talk about this trip to beautiful Coron with my awesome girlfriends at work (hey that’s rare, working with people you actually like! Haha!) several months ago. More than several, actually, because as you will see from the photos, this trip was BEFORE Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck the area and wrought destruction.  Continue reading “Coron in August: Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hotspring” →

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Osaka, Japan 2014: Shitennoji Temple

Osaka had soooo many interesting places worth checking out, but we had soooooo little time to spend here, so we had to just go for the choicest ones. And by “choicest”, I meant the ones that are closer and would not take so much time to get to. And we also had to make sure that we visited the first Buddhist temple, and the oldest administered (state-built) temple in Japan, the Shitennoji Temple.  Continue reading “Osaka, Japan 2014: Shitennoji Temple” →

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K-Drama Review: Misaeng (tvN, 2014)

“Misaeng” means “An Incomplete Life”. From the title, you would think this is an angst-filled melodrama. The typical Kdrama. Once in a while, it’s great to be proven wrong. And, in my case, to find a gem of a drama that will be firmly engraved on my virtual wall of “favorite dramas of all time”. In fact, if you are to ask me what Kdrama I would recommend anyone to watch, this would be the first thing I’d lay out on the table, no questions asked.

Continue reading “K-Drama Review: Misaeng (tvN, 2014)” →

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Spinning Rainbows at cafe & bar Arasick

As much as planning is a very good thing, sometimes having bouts of spontaneity also makes every experience even more special. We weren’t planning on going to the cafe and bar Arasick, primarily because we didn’t know how to get there, not even if we had the address written down somewhere. I keep saying Arashi was instrumental in opening up a lot of doors to wonderful and unforgettable experiences for me since I became a fan more than 9 years ago. I’m so glad that, nine years on, that still holds true. Continue reading “Spinning Rainbows at cafe & bar Arasick” →

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Osaka, Japan 2014: Sumiyoshi Taisha

This was probably the day that I did the most amount of walking during my Japan trip. Seriously. We set off at 6:30am, then went home later that night close to midnight. At the end of the day, my feet were literally killing me, and I was unconsciously apologizing to them (and, by extension, to my shoes) for putting them to so much abuse. But a happy explorer is happy, and that’s what counts most, eh?  Continue reading “Osaka, Japan 2014: Sumiyoshi Taisha” →

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Lessons I Learned (The Hard Way) On My Travels

More often than not, it is almost always the lessons learned the hard way that stick with us. While I was reviewing for the Board Exams, one of our reviewers actually said that we should be thankful for every wrong answer we make on our mock exams; because it is those questions that we answered wrong that will be remembered when the real thing comes. I couldn’t say for sure that it was 100% true, but I know for a fact that there is a grain of truth to it. But when applied within the context of my wandering feet and wandering mind, it works. Continue reading “Lessons I Learned (The Hard Way) On My Travels” →

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JapanEats: Daiki Suisan Kaiten Sushi (Dotonbori)

Think Japan, and one of the first things that will likely come to mind is sushi. In an earlier post, I shared about my first encounter with this quintessential Japanese food IN Japan when I hunted for Genki Sushi. That was an experience I enjoyed immensely, but that did not stop me from wanting to try a kaiten sushi place. And I’m glad I got to try it when I was in Osaka, right in the middle of Dotonbori.

Continue reading “JapanEats: Daiki Suisan Kaiten Sushi (Dotonbori)” →

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Osaka, Japan 2014: Dotounbori Street

Foodies frequent Osaka to get a taste of its culinary delights, and one of the main destinations is Dotounbori Street, or what is often simply referred to as Dotonbori. Since it is basically clustered together with the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, Amerikamura, Namba Walk, and Den-Den Town a bit of a distance away, Dotonbori has become a major shopping, entertainment, and food destination. To be honest, my friend and I weren’t actually able to explore the entire complex. It was THAT vast. Dotonbori, however, we visited twice. Continue reading “Osaka, Japan 2014: Dotounbori Street” →

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Osaka, Japan 2014: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Part 2)

If you ask me, they could have simply set up a separate theme park altogether, all devoted to Harry Potter. You see, while walking around other parts of USJ, I did not have any sense that there is a “wizarding world” close by. In fact, I wasn’t even able to get a glimpse of the Hogwarts Castle from the outside. And then, when you enter the Wizarding World, you’ll immediately forget that just around the corner were the other rides and attractions. It’s definitely a theme park within a theme park.

Continue reading “Osaka, Japan 2014: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Part 2)” →

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Osaka, Japan 2014: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Part 1)

Personally, I had a bigger goal for checking out Universal Studios Japan. It is to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an attraction that opened on July 15, 2014. I’m not an expert on Harry Potter lore, so I am going to apologize in advance for any mistakes or errors I am likely to commit. Also, this will be another two-parter, since there were simply too many photos I wanted to share and putting them all in one post will result in an image-heavy post. #ExcusesExcuses

(Oh, and I can’t believe it’s February already! I was just lamenting being broke over Christmas, like, yesterday! Time, slow down, please?)

Continue reading “Osaka, Japan 2014: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Part 1)” →

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Don’t Forget To Bring These On Your Travels Or Adventures

A pocketful of anticipation mixed with a dollop of excitement, with a dash of mischief thrown in. Oh, if only I could flit and fly anywhere with just these, then life would be so much better. And lighter. Alas, that really isn’t doable, so we’re forced to improvise.

Just as a sumptuous dish requires the right ingredients, every adventure also requires certain elements to make it a success. In my book, successful adventure = fun and memorable adventure. Everything may not have gone according to plan, but everything turned out right in the end.  Continue reading “Don’t Forget To Bring These On Your Travels Or Adventures” →

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