minamimusings

My husband and I haven't been to Singapore for some time, and to be perfectly honest, we've never had the inclination to visit unless it's for a specific reason like a scheduled event, an exposition or convention. So, yes, it was Echelon Asia that eventually prompted us to go for a short trip last month... well, he had to attend it and I was along for the ride. Fortunately, the National Gallery was hosting an exhibit by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama at the time, which I looked forward to, so there's that. Yayoi Kusama. In the middle of the exhibit, there's a video wall showing the artist singing a song she wrote. Image-heavy after the jump!

Sooooo, I have been on a few trips back to our favorite Land of the Rising Sun since my last entry here, but I haven't had time (or effort) to organize my thoughts and photos. Meh. In the meantime, I want to share some posts from when I went to the World Expo back in 2010. I didn't have a lot of access to the internet back then, so they were hosted by my now-deleted LJ. :) ---- The Shanghai Diary #1, also known as, "I can’t tweet, so help me God!"  I woke up in this room that’s strangely reminiscent of the room I stayed in in Tokyo with Paul, but this one has no windows, the carpet is really dingy, and I’m crossing my fingers really hard there are no bedbugs. Surprisingly, I am online! We found the ethernet cable and, consequently, the internet. (YEY!) However, I don’t know what I was expecting knowing that most of the sites I frequent and use as my sounding boards–facebook, twitter–are blocked. Livejournal, obviously, surprisingly, isn’t.  So is Gmail. (Ho...

Ok, this was a long time coming, but now that we've tackled flights, let's talk accommodations. But before all that, make sure to read my previous post on choosing hotels . Done it? Great! With the presence of the internet, booking places to stay has never been easier. There is a wealth of sites dedicated to the hospitality industry, with photos and reviews. Travelers now have better knowledge of different properties, and thus, better control over their decision-making. Plus, it doesn't hurt that because of all the competition, some websites offer special deals and discounts! Here are my favorite ones to visit when I'm looking for places to stay, whether it be in Japan or other countries.

One of the most important things to consider when traveling is having the right pair of shoes. I think that they can either make or break your trip or rather, your feet, especially in places where you have to walk all the time. I'm very particular about shoes and I tend to only bring one pair when traveling, depending on the place we're visiting. For sunnier climes, I have my favorite Fitflop sandals. These are my go-to shoes for Singapore, Hong Kong, countries in southeast Asia and local spots. They are SUPER comfy, as they're designed to cushion our feet , which means MAXIMIZED WALKING! Different styles mean you can take your pick of which sandal will best complement your travel fashion, so they can be casual or trendy. I admit that they're pricey as they average about 4000PHP a pair, but they are worth it because they last long--I've owned mine for about 4 years or so? And I've basically worn them everywhere! I even wore a pair to a wedding because they w...

This was originally part of my Accommodations post, but seeing as it got too long, I'm using it as a separate entry. Yay! More blog posts! So, how to choose where to stay? Here's what I think: 1. Choose a place near a railway station. Wherever you decide to visit, my key recommendation, owing to the nation's advanced, extensive, and hugely efficient transportation system, is to stay near a railway station. If you are near one, you can basically get anywhere. An added plus is that Yamanote Line (the train that goes around Tokyo) stations usually have affordable dining options nearby. 2. Map out your itinerary and see where you find yourself spending the most time in! Railway tickets can get pricey--the minimum you'll pay for a stop on Tokyo's Yamanote Line is 130Y or about 65PHP--so it might also be best to map out the exact tourist spots you plan on seeing, or seeing more of, and look for a good place to stay nearby. For example, when we're in Tokyo, m...

Ragnarok Online was the one of the first MMORPGs that opened up the world of online gaming for Filipinos including me. You could say RO "baptized" the gamer-that-I-didn't-know-I-had in its fun, colorful waters, and if not for real life I would have completely jumped in and never come out. But, well, things happen and have to be prioritized. The game was a big part of my life in so many ways,  so I  am proud to be among the many ex-gamers who bid it a fond farewell as it closes its doors in the Philippines permanently on March 31 . Fortunately, I was able to save my screenshots on a CD before I stopped playing and let go of an old PC. Here I am rummaging through those screenies for pRO memories. Placing under a cut because it's gonna get image-heavy...

Happy New Year! It's the first month of 2015, and if you're Pinoy and planning a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun this year, well, there's no better time to start than now. Trip planning always starts with a little research, and here I am joining the number of blogs that have shared their insight on which airline to take and which room to get. Flights There are a number of airlines that fly direct to Japan from Manila, and here's what I think of the most popular ones. Cebu Pacific is the budget airline famous for its piso fares that have made it possible for the average Pinoy to travel. They run out quickly, but if you're fast and extremely lucky, your round-trip will only amount to four whole numbers, which gives you room to book extra baggage for the trip back. Even if you don't get the cheapest fare, anything below 30,000php (which is the usual price for a Japan trip) already saves you money, although personally, Cebu Pacific is only a steal if I p...

For us wee Asian muggles who missed our letters from Hogwarts and despaired of ever setting foot in anything Harry Potter-related, the news of Universal Studios Japan building its own Wizarding World theme park came as an answer to a prayer. Finally! We can fulfill our Hogsmeade dreams of drinking butterbeer! Notwithstanding the obvious language barrier, WWHP in USJ is... in a very cliched term, several kinds of awesome. Several different kinds of awesome. It's like unicorns and rainbows and chocolate and winning the lottery all at the same time. (On second thought, maybe not so much winning the lottery... but it's close!) Here are some hopefully helpful tips for first-timers on their way to demand their much-sought-after letters from Japanese Dumbledore.

Here's a random thing I thought of sharing: I have a love for cute things, so when I saw these bags at Rustan's, I was immediately drawn to them. They were bright and colorful and they starred chibi-wildlife! The brand is called Okiedog , and these animal-themed luggages are from their Wildpack line. It looks like the bags are made of rubber to make them lightweight and easier for children to carry when traveling. They're so pretty, and I couldn't stop gushing over them, that the husband bought one for me. (We "argued" a little over it because, like most things in Rustan's, they're a tad expensive.) I'm going to eventually let the Munch use it for a trip, but until then, it's going to double as a mini-carry-on for me. LOL. Inside the bags.

Honestly, I wasn't prepared for Europe. I thought I was, I thought I had read everything I could to prepare, but the continent threw me for a loop that left the pompous, arrogant, thoroughly pampered Asian traveler in me reeling. So, basically this is a LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES blog post for you who might stumble onto my humble site looking for a few more tips from recent travelers. Apologizing beforehand for the messiness of it all. ----- Don't bring a super-large or heavy suitcase unless you're sure you're going to be on one of those escorted coach tours with its own bus and baggage handlers tipped and paid for. Basically if you're doing-it-yourself, but still not qualified as a backpacker, a small-sized suitcase will do. Prepare to do laundry. Bring a foldable bag you can use for souvenirs when they won't fit in your suitcase anymore. Take note: There's a " tourist tax " for being in Europe, depending on which country or city you...

Here's a delayed hotel post about the place we stayed at in Jakarta. Because the trip to Jakarta was more of a business trip than anything, the choice of hotel was already predetermined by my husband's company. The Rasuna Icon is a quaint little boutique hotel (only 6 floors!) located in the middle of Jakarta. I would say it's near the business district, except there doesn't seem to be exact boundaries on where certain districts are, and so everything looked like the business district to me. It was also partly residential, when I think about it. I can say for sure that it's not near any of the major tourist spots. Also, going there is a bit of a pain because the taxis don't seem to know where it is even if you give them the complete address and a mini-map. And even though the place is at the end of a very long, narrow, two-car, two-way street, I noticed that the drivers like to take the long route and enter it from the opposite end, but I chalk this up to the...

Our big Eurotrip was coming up and I didn't have a single thing packed into my suitcase. But because I am an avid fan of the saying "When in doubt, check the internet", that's exactly what I did, hoping it would give me some answers. I concentrated my search parameters on the three countries we would be visiting and the period of time we would be there--during that crazy transition phase between spring and summer when the weather gets SO unpredictable--and came up with TWO conclusions: One, "Layers!" and, two, "Scarves!" "Scarves" is easy. "Layers" was tricky. It meant clothes that you could mix and match and wear over each other in different ways to create new looks so you don't end up looking the same. They should be light enough to stack on but not add so much weight to your luggage. I understood that part. What I did have a problem with was that most of the samples people posted on their parts of the web consisted of...

I rarely get to catch it on its late night time slot, but on the off day I turn on the TV to Star World and a rerun of Asia's Next Top Model is on, I make sure to watch. Currently, the series is on its seventh episode and half of the 16 girls have already been sent home. Fellow Filipinos will rejoice and wave their #YEYPINOYPRIDE flags knowing that both our representatives, Jodilly Pendre and Katarina Rodriguez are still, and I quote, "in the running to be Asia's Next Top Model." Here's what I think about the girls that are left. Jodilly . I guess, being Pinoy, I'd have to comment first about Jodilly and Katarina. I actually prefer the former over the latter, and part of it has to do with her life story. I know. I know. I've read people online saying "Stop it with Jodilly's sob stories!" "Ugh, her life is SO sad... like duh. Whatever." And while she's not exactly an underdog among the contestants, having already won one Best...

So this is where I get to share my most awesome day of wearing an actual kimono and walking along actual temple streets in actual Japan. LOL. Obviously, I love kimono! The color, the pretty designs, the formality, the elegance and daintiness of it all... One of my big dreams has always been to wear one, and specifically, wear it in its native land. Back when we first travelled here in 2007 , my goal was to own a set, however, I balked when I saw how much a new one (or even an old one) costs; I decided to purchase yukata, the summer kimono, instead. Because we were headed for Kyoto for this trip, I thought, well, why not see if I can wear one while touring their amazing temples? Magpaka-ilusyonada nang nasa Memoirs of a Geisha or Rurouni Kenshin!   It took procrastinating and a lot of very-rushed, should-I-shouldn't-I decision-making before I made reservations with Okamoto Kimono's branch in Kiyomizuzaka. At the time, I thought we could maybe visit three or four temples, an...

Girls in kimono in Kiyomizu-dera. There are a number of shops that rent out kimono in Kyoto and offer kimono-wearing services. Because Kyoto is a big tourist area--currently Conde Nast's top Asian destination for the second year --they cater mostly to travellers and tourists both foreign and local, although the Japanese are also apt to acquire their services for special occasions due to the expense of owning the actual garment. (Also, renting offers more variety.) Here are links to some of the stores with english websites: 1. Sensho Kitamura Location: 470 Shimokawaracho Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi kyoto 605-0825 Price: 5250Y (includes dressing, accessories and hair setting) Return on or before: 6:00PM 2. Yume-Kyoto Location: ( main shop ) 300 Gion-cho Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi ACROSS Yasaka building 4F ( Kodaiji shop ) Masuya 2F, 362-5 Masuya-cho, Higasiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi 605-0826 Price: for female, 3500Y if they choose for you, 5250Y if you choose for yourself (...

I've been meaning to join this, which I discovered courtesy of my friend, Meann . I just keep forgetting to post. Oh well, better late than never, right? :) Incidentally, I have a small collection of bookmarks from my childhood. I'll see if I can manage to find some of them and take photos to share here. But first, let's start with these anime bookmarks my husband brought home from Singapore. I think he managed to drop by Suntec while a convention was happening and saw these. One of them's Kagome from Inuyasha. The other is a character from Naruto. Sorry for the poor photo. We also had Inuyasha himself, which the hubby used. Then one day he checked his book and the metal bookmark was still there but the Inuyasha charm was gone. I guess that means I won't be using these any time soon.

Well, this is interesting. From site: Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines Following Japan's slight lift of visa restrictions last June , now Taiwan has decided to be more lenient with Filipinos entering their territory. The condition that you have never worked in the country means they're ensuring you're not there to become an OFW (or eventual TNT). And the one for having a valid first world country visa means that if those stricter, go-through-your-application-with-a-fine-tooth-comb embassies can let you in, then maybe you're good enough to temporarily visit them as well. Honestly, and let me get sidetracked here for a moment, I think it makes their job sifting through applications easier. Let's face it, the US, Japan, and Europe's applications cost, plus they're not very generous with giving away those fancy rectangular stickers. We have a friend who, despite his history of European travel, wasn't granted a visa this time around. And...