Turning Japanese-ah!

Hi, Bambs! (Meiji Shrine Tokyo)

     Japan for the longest time has been my country crush. It had never been an option for travel because of the impression that it is an expensive place. Lately troves and troves of my countrymen are going to Japan and H and I were actually planning a trip already when my cousins told us they were going. What did I say next? "SAMA KAMI!!!!" (We'll go with you. )

     It took hours and hours getting dazed in front of my computer to plan the trip. My cousins and I ended up doing our own itineraries and agreed to just meet in Tokyo. Like H, my two kids have no patience to plan. I read a thousand reviews and travel guides to come up with a good enough itinerary. Then we were ready! 

     Our first stop was Osaka then Kyoto then Tokyo!

Bamboo Forest, Kyoto

Umeda Sky Building, Osaka

 
     Thanks to our wonderful tour guides we got to visit a good number of places given the little time we had. My family and I learned there is so, so much more to explore and learn. Japan is mystical, rhythmic and poetic. There is no way a visitor will not fall for its charms. 

     A few things about Japan from a first timer like me:

1. It is not at all the expensive place it was know for before. In fact of all the Asian cities we have been to, this is not the most pricey city at all.

2. People are not nice. THEY ARE SUPER NICE! We lost a camera and a newly bought pair of Onitsukas, went back for them and they were still there.

3. You can't go wrong with food. Every place is heavenly to eat in. 


4. Japanese walk a lot so as a tourist be ready to do so as well.

5. Trains will drive you crazy. We spent eight days there and being the poor navigator that I am, I still could not get it. 

6. Yes, you can actually live on convenience stores if you want to or if you are on a tight budget. They serve real and delicious food.

7. It's cleeeeeaaaan!!!!

       Allow me to share some of the photos from our trip. It is my way of releasing the pressure in my heart as it yearns to go back so bad. (Inhaaale!) 

With our Japan travel buddies, my cousins in Tokyo

Golden Pavilion Kyoto

Kyoto Station

This delicious beef dish H had at a small restaurant near a train station.

Daddy and Daddy's girl in Arashiyama, Kyoto

Gion, Kyoto

Yummy Inari sushi near the Inari Shrine

Nara Deer Park

Spotting a sumo wrestler is like spotting a celebrity there. Tokyo

Found this couple super cute doing a temple ritual at Sensoji Temple, Tokyo

Our crazy, noisy gang! Too noisy for Japan.

Ginza, Tokyo

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Harajuku, Tokyo

Our favorite: Ichiran Ramen

     Mata atode aimashou! 

Sisterhood of the Traveling Tummies: 14Four Cafe

      I am really thankful I have been spending A LOT (Too much?) time with a group of friends from high school who live almost parallel lives with mine. We are all moms, kids still in school, obssessed with facebook chat stickers and we all love food especially pancit (noodles). We don’t stop there though as we all love to try out new restaurants together as well.

     Over a week ago, after tela/ fabric hunting in Taytay three of us from the group tried the much-talked about 14Four Cafe.

     Behind the restaurant  is the talent of Chef Nikki Sambile whose dad owns the furniture shop next door, Stick Design. This explains the restaurant’s unusual, quirky yet homey feel. I loved it. 

   

Don't you just want to kick your shoes off and spend the afternoon relaxing here?

     Surprise! A Mondrian-ish painted facade!

   Look at the eaves! Raw GI sheets! haha! Why not?

     Inside the air-conditioned part of the cafe are even more quirky, pretty stuff!

Guess who placed the reservation.

 

     For starters we had a zero fat drink....

Smoked Fish Pate 
cream cheese, spices, smoked hard-tail mackerel, tortilla chips P130

Adobo Flakes and Kesong Puti Panini
savory adobo flakes, Laguna white cheese, garlic aioli, pandesal P160

Aligue & Tuyo
Creamy aligue sauce, tuyo flakes, hint of citrus P220

     For dessert, we had coffee and cinnamon pancakes.

     Look at the cute individual sized French press! Adorbs! I am so gonna copy this at home.

 Cinnamon Bun Pancakes
cinnamon swirled pancakes, cream cheese icing P170

Overall, the food was good. We almost did not have the pancakes since the kitchen ran out of gasul. What? Yup! But good whoever ran to get it made it possible for us to enjoy it. This and the adobo panini were my faves. The pasta was good until I added calamansi which made it taste like Lucky Me Pancit Canton. I am not doing that again next time.

     Even the washroom was not spared from the quirky, eclectic feel. Look!

On our way out, we noticed they have laid out pillows of the ledge that wraps around the big tree in the front yard. 

Hay, more lazy, siesta dreams....

     It made it all so hard to leave this place. 

My accomplices that day!

 

     

Until our next foodie...or shopping adventure, ladies! 

Learn more about 14Four here!