OSAKA: Day 1 - Welcome to KIX

the only pix I have at KIX @ the women's restroom.
sensored soap dispenser and faucet, nice :)

Arrived 7:55 PM Osaka time. Kaya pala everybody's rushing when we landed KIX, have to take a shuttle (approx 30 sec:) to Terminal 1 for the Immigration and Arrival area. No chance for pictorial :)

@ The Immigration - no questions asked but each to scan their point fingers and take a pix so there was kinda a long line but tolerable! An immigration officer is managing the queue.

Right outside the Immigration, there's an Information table. The limousine bus has gone already so no choice but to take the train. Go to 2F, go outside and you'll see immediately the terminal. Choose between JR or Nankai.

We took JR's Kansai Rapid Service to Osaka-Kyobashi. We took the 1-way ICOCA Hello Kitty card which costs us Y3,000.

10:15PM Osaka time and were still at just at TAISHO station. 2 more stations to reach NISHIKUJO where to change to JR YUMESAKI line!

10:19 BENTENCHO...

Finally, 10:24PM and it's Nishikujo line. Just changed platform to take the JR Yumesaki line. We all thought we still need to brave the cold wind walking to the hotel but to our amazement, the Universal City is connected to the JR Yumesaki  terminal :)

10:36PM  and we're now at the lobby of the Keihan Universal city! Yay!!!!

Osaka, Japan: Planning Session

Yadayada: I cannot write anymore. I lost my mojo.. I cannot reunite with my muse. So all my previous posts were unfinished. Oh, memories of those sweet travels - please do not leave me yet. I still have to write you down so that I will always remember. I tend to forget a lot of things these days, and makes me afraid, that it will be soon when I will lose them all.

We still do not have the tourist VISA. Lacking requirement is the daily schedule (TAIZA NITTEIHYO). So every night, the 3 of us keep on adding little details to our soon to be itinerary in Osaka, Japan!


Hotel - booked!

The first 2 nights are to be spent at Hotel Keihan Universal Tower. Very nice reviews! Near Universal, takoyaki museum, Hard Rock cafe, train station and Universal city mall.
Then we will transfer to Hotel Hillary's for our last night. Hotel cheaper for the last night because Hotel Keihan is kinda expensive :-)
All hotel bookings done through Agoda.
Hope we made good choices regarding our hotels :-)

Quest for the best .. Caesar Salad

Of course, Fridays is on top of my list! But in terms of affordability - well, I have other options :)

Pizza Hut it is indeed!

Here's what I've got from Pancake House today :( not worth it for P180.00

Sparty at Stoneleaf

For 4k, total of 20 hours worth of services - it's a grab! The place is small, has 3 massage rooms only. So since we were 6, we all share some waiting time. It was a great idea by Lala to have brought some finger foods so no time really went to vain. While waiting for our turn for the massage or facial, we can be seated for a foot spa with pedicure - with fingerfoods to keep our tummy also pampered. I had a wax and a pedi. I love it!

Boracay: La Carmela

It's my third time in Boracay, my second time staying at La Carmela.

I cannot remember if I have any complaints the first time I was here. Maybe because if you are travelling with your barkadas, you won't really care about every details of your accomodation as long as you have a hot and cold shower, clean beds and working airconditioner.

But not when you are with your family. Especially with an elder who you have to look after too :( The quadruple room
Is quite tiny. TV is not even a flat screen! Very tiny bathroom ( but with hot&cold shower). No complimentary bottled water (but with welcome drink). Toiletries that are useless, not even good for 4 pax. Good thing i always bring my own toiletries! But what if ididnt especially in some cases when i backpack! No free WIFI!!!!

Actually i wont mind having no wifi at all because i have an unlimited data plan. But guess what? There's no signal in the room :( haiissst

Boracay (Sep 4-6, 2012): Dinner at Le Soleil

Alol wants to treat her mom and brother to something really special for our last night in Boracay. But from another pictorial session we had for a sunset that never showed, walking from the grotto down to Sea Breeze (where we planned to pig out!) seems to be never ending.

And since it just keeps on drizzling, passing by at Le Soleil de Boracay, gave me a heave of relief. "This will do!".

At P440 nett per pax, I'd say, if we all could have walked a little bit farther, shelling out P560/pax at Sea Breeze (+vat, + service charge) could have been a money more well spent.

Food selection has chicken soup,mini salad bar, hilabos na hipon, teriyaki chicken, steamed fish, steamed vegetable and grilled liempo. Well, you can also choose between white and red sauce for the pasta. And for grillery, you can have lapu lapu, squid, chicken and pork.

For desserts, they have macaroons (which I sooo love!) and fruit cocktail jello. Bottomless iced tea.

The macaroons that I love :-)

Boracay: Lunch at Deco's

Because we have an elderly in tow :), d walk from La Carmela to D' Mall seems to be a very long walk. So for lunch, we just stopped by at Deco's for the original la paz batchoy.