Gifu Lakwatsa!

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Tinatamad akong magsulat 😛

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Natsu Yasumi (August 17): Birthday Bash for August Celebrants

We celebrated Jem (Aug 17), Lau (Aug 25) and M’s (Aug 31) birthday by indulging into gluttony at the Carne Station at Ginza. For only 1000 yen (lunch time) we got to stuff our bellies with tabehodai (eat-all-you-can) yakiniku red meat for an hour 😀 Highly recommended for meat lovers. Too bad it only lasted an hour.

Because lunch finished early and we were up for more partying, the gang went to the Big Echo Karaoke at Ginza to burn some calories we accumulated from the tabehodai. We had so much fun that I think we spent around 5-6 hours singing and dancing and shouting. Hahaha. I had bit too much Smirnoff Ice that some episodes were a bit hazy. Hehehe.

Kaladkaran peeps at the Big Echo, Ginza

After the Karaoke, Tid, Jem, Orson, Justin and I checked out an Indian restaurant at Ginza. It was a bit pricey but had the best lamb curry I’ve ever had 🙂 I so miss Prince of Jaipur back home.

After the meal at some Indian resto in Ginza

More pictures of the day’s happenings from Ramil and Orson 🙂

The week flew by so fast but it was a week well spent. So far one of the best weeks I’ve ever had. Looking forward to actually living life some more 😀 As for the rest of the week, who said you can’t live life to the fullest at weekdays? 🙂

Natsu Yasumi (August 16): BRFC sa Japan!

Ang mga ka-kosa ko sa CELda, ang mga Batang RF Cage ay nasa Japan! Ano pa ang gagawin namin kundi maglakwatsa? Namiss ko na rin ang mga ito na kasama ko sa hirap at ginhawa sa thesis at pag-overnight sa lab 😛 Sino ang kumuha ng EPROM ko?

Batang RF Cage sa Japan!

Dahil geek kami, first stop, Akihabara, kung saan kumain kami ng steak sa Pepper Lunch at nagtingin ng kung anu-anu-ano 😀

BRFC sa Yodobashi, Akihabara

Picture-picture on our way to the Imperial Palace to visit the Queen… errr, Emperor. Hahaha. Ang jologs namin pero ang saya!!!

BRFC at the Gyoko-dori Underground Gallery

Imperial Palace!!! Sa labas lang. Apparently twice a year lang binubuksan ang Imperial Palace, tuwing Birthday ng Emperor at New Year.

BRFC sa Imperial Palace!

At makukumpleto ba naman ang Tokyo tour nang di pumupunta sa Tokyo Tower?

BRFC sa Tokyo Tower (Well medyo sumisilip lang yung tower, hehehe)

Ito rin ang araw ng pagbalik ni Elai sa Tottori at hinatid namin siya ni Tinats sa Shinagawa. Awww… mamimiss ka namin, Elai! Balik ka, ha, o ako naman ang pupunta sa Tottori. 😀

More pictures mula kay Tinats at Ed 🙂

Natsu Yasumi (August 15): Yokohama!

Ito na siguro ang isa sa mga pinakamainit na araw ng buhay ko… Uhrrrm, as in literally mainit.  Ang naging trip pa naming gawin nina Tinats, Elai, Justin at Tid ay maglakad sa ilalim ng araw nang tanghaling tapat at tumalon-talon para sa mga jump shots. Wahahaha.

First Stop: Osanbashi Pier

Jumping me at the Osanbashi Pier with Minato Mirai's view as my background

Perspective shots 😀

With my toys at the Osanbashi Pier

Yamashita Koen: Just passing by 😛

Passing by the Yamashita Koen, grabe ang init talaga 😛

Next Stop: China Town!

Honestly, I was kind of underwhelmed because of all the hype I have heard about the place. But Justin told me that there were no festivals at the moment and that China Town looked better at night so the usual shebang wasn’t there. I want to see the place in all its glory. Now I have an excuse to go back (at sana di na sa summer next time) and eat more dimsum!

Justin, Tid, Me and Elai eating ice cream at China Town. Thanks for taking the picture, Tinats!

We also passed by this Indian store at China Town and checked out a lot of queer stuff. Like, whoa! A Hindu shop at China Town!

Justin, Tid and Me checking out some musical instruments at the Indian Shop. And yes, there's Tinat's victory sign in the middle 😛

Last Stop: Minato Mirai!

By this time, the sun has already practically drained me of my life force. Waaaaah, ang init talaga but after resting for a bit, more jump shots! Walang kapaguran ito!

Elai and I at the foot of the Landmark Tower, Japan's tallest building

The Landmark Tower, Japan’s tallest building was a definite must stop. Took more pictures while we waited for the skies to get dark. Minato Mirai’s view was said to be awesome at night.

Elai, Me, Justin and Tid at the foot of the Landmark Tower, Minato Mirai

Finally, gabi na, now we’re finally able to see the lights. Hehehehe. Too bad we weren’t able to go to the Landmark Tower’s top floor (more reasons  to come back, hehehe) but we still enjoyed Cosmoworld 😀

Elai, Me, Tinats, Tid. Cosmoworld!

A very tiring but fun day. If you think the gimmick ends here, you are greatly mistaken. That night was also Laiza’s Sayounara Party and we have the host, Justin, hostage. Hehehe. Inuman naman! And yes, we stayed until the wee hours of morning. Best wishes, Laizee!

More pictures from Tinats, Justin, Elai and Tid. Obviously tamad ako kumuha ng pictures 😛

Natsu Yasumi (August 14): Tokyowannoryosen – Tokyo Bay Cruise!

It was a night of nomihodai (drink all you can) and yukatas for the Kaladkaran gang when we joined the Tokyowannoryosen last August 14. It was also the first Kaladkaran Japan event I’ve ever organized.

Me in a yukata 😀

Almost everyone was wearing a yukata and I must say we all looked so cute! Wearing a yukata also earned each of us a 1000 yen discount, hurray! Di lang kami cute, nakamura pa kami. Hehehehe.

The Kaladkaran gang donned in full yukata regalia for the Tokyo Bay Cruise

The tour gave a fantastic view of Tokyo at night and we were able to see the Rainbow Bridge up close.

(L-R) Elai, Apple, Me, Ish and Tid with Tokyo's night time view in our background

The crowd was lively, everyone was having fun and the Yukata Dancers sure did sizzle up our summer night 😛

Yukata Dancer

Too bad the tour only lasted for 2 hours. Uber bitin talaga. Anyway, after the boat docked, the gang conducted around two hours worth of picture taking to  grab the momentous event of Kaladkarins in yukatas. Hehehehe. This is one night I’m sure I’d never forget 🙂

The gang inside the boat 😀

More pictures from Tinats and Ed and a really cool video from Lau 🙂 Salamat sa pictures at video, guys!

Natsu Yasumi (August 13): Tokyo Disneyland!

Tokyo Disneyland!

Elai, one of our CELmates back in UP Diliman was in Tokyo all the way from the far away land of Tottori for the natsu yasumi. The Disneyland tour kicked off her 4-day Tokyo stay with her rather lunatic co-Batang RF Cagers, me and Tinats. Lau, also one of our CELmates joined us for this day of frolicking.

(L-R) Lau, Elai, Moi at Disneyland!

Our day started by taking our picture with Pooh! When he hugged me I thought that he would not let me go anymore. Hehehe, crush ako ni Pooh! Thus the Aileen-Pooh scandal series of pictures (here and here :P)

With Pooh!

It was an unbelievably hot and humid day and Disneyland was swarming with people that we were practically sapped of every bit of energy.

Lau and I tempted to jump into the fountain

Nevertheless, we all had a great time (maybe except that time when Elai and I had to periodically check if our fast passes at Space Mountain were still going to be honored – Space Mountain suddenly underwent maintenance when it was time for our fast pass schedule – arrrgh, we never got to ride).

Lau and I onboard the Mark Twain

Without fast passes, the rides and tours involved a tremendous amount of time for queuing (hello Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion!) . I think it took us about an hour and 45 minutes in line for a mere 10 to 15 minute ride (and it was also freaking hot at that time, too) at Splash Mountain and about an hour of queuing for the Haunted Mansion tour. Well, it was the summer break afterall and we joined the rush of people so shouganai. Anyway, it was all good since the rides were all worth it. The tour inside the Haunted Mansion was my favorite. The effects were just awesome! This is truly something you should not miss when you are at Disneyland.

(L-R) Elai, Moi, Lau - gabi na!

It was fun, fun, fun even if it was terribly hot. Hearing Goofy and Donald Duck speak in Japanese was really something else 😛

Me at Disneyland!

Another highlight was the Electric Parade which ended our unforgettable day. It was by far the best parade I have ever seen in my life 😀

Me and Elai on our way home

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The pictures used in this post were all taken by Tinats. Salamat, Tinats! More pictures here and here 🙂

Natsu Yasumi (August 10 – 12): Izu!

It was a fun and relaxing 3-day vacation at Izu 🙂 Thanks to Ma’am Janette for organizing the trip. I would definitely want to go back  😀

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August 10

Jogasaki Coast – great view! Always loved the sea. Was quite tempted to jump off the cliffs though 😛

Ma'am Janette and I at the Jogasaki Coast

Izu Kougen Station – Breakfast and foot onsen 😀 Ang init nung onsen promise

Izu Kougen Foot Onsen

Grandpal – Kiddie rides galore! Tried this cage-swing like thing which you can maneuver to rotate 360 degrees 😛  Too bad I’m such a wuss and just screamed the whole time while M did most of the work. Hehehe. Weeee! Uber fun!

M and I at the cage-like swing thingy at Grandpal

Ito Hanabi – Best hanabi ever! Way better than Sumida. First time to wear a yukata 😀 Amazing fireworks display, more relaxed atmosphere, better, closely knit crowd. The comical announcer also added spice to the show making the overall environment more lively. Wasn’t able to take pictures of the actual fireworks display, though. Left Gabby’s SLR camera which I borrowed specially for the event because I was too frustrated with the pictures I have taken earlier 😛 Turned out to be a good thing because it rained exactly right after the display and neither one of us had an umbrella. Got soaked to the skin and realized that it was a really bad idea not to wear anything under my yukata 😛 I looked like a character from some Japanese soft porn. Arrgh. We went to some izakaya to dry ourselves up and had beer and chu hi and tea and lots of finger food 😀 yum! It was a tiring but super fun day. I couldn’t wait for the next day to come.

All dressed up for the Ito Hanabi Taikai

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August 11

What I really love about this trip was the relaxed nature of out stay. We were not bound by any strict itinerary so there was no need to force ourselves to wake up too early 😛 It was a freaking hot day but like that would stop us from gallivanting, right? Hehehe.

Mt. Omuro – Conquered Mt. Omuro! The view from the top was just a lot like what I see from our backyard in Baguio so it was kind of underwhelming but what the heck, Mt Omuro, weeeeee! The experience itself was fun 😀

(L-R) Kei-san, Ma'am Janette, Me and M before riding the cable cars

Rode the cable car. I admit it wasn’t a very thrilling ride 😛 hehehe

M and I at the cable car

Had my picture taken with the Jizo statues (There was supposed to be this really bad superstition against your picture being taken with the Jizo statues. Didn’t quite pay attention enough if you were to be visited by ghosts or that you would be cursed until your fourth generation. In retrospect, I think I should have listened more closely. Hehehehe. To my future heirs, if there are actually going to be some, I am truly sorry. Hehehehe :P)

Me beside the Jizo Statues

Archery at Mt Omuro’s crater! Harder than it looks. I am indeed no elf. Joe, paano mo na-uno archery mo sa UP? Hehehe. Uber fun! Would want to do it again. Want to become really good at it 😀

Trying my hand at archery

Shaboten Koen – Cacti galore! Was able to see some Agave tequilana species where my good friend, the tequila is made of 😛 Saw a lot of beautiful birds. First time to see flamingos! Too bad all the cameras I’ve brought got depleted of battery and I wasn’t able to take a picture of them. Waaaaah! First time to see my kin, the two-toed sloth, too 😛 T’was a really big park with shows and lots to see. I particularly like the aviary section and the Aztec inspired garden which by some twist of fate (or stupidity), I wasn’t able to take pictures of :((

(L-R) Moi, M, Kei-san and Ma'am Janette's official photo at the Shaboten Koen

Watched the show 😀

Daigo: Hello World!

Held a baby kangaroo 😀

Me and the baby kangaroo

Fed the daddy kangaroo 😀

Feeding the daddy kangaroo

My cameras’ batteries got depleted after this :((

Barbecue and More Fireworks at Kawamura-san’s residence – probably one of the best barbecues I’ve ever had 😀 Tried some curious-looking, colorless, coconut flavored rum and actually liked it. Tried another brand of chu-hi, HiBoy(?) which by far is the best chu hi I’ve ever had. Realized that I can’t have enough of fireworks 😀

Sparklers, weeeee!!!

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August 12 – We were supposed to go swimming this day but it rained so we just decided to relax inside the house and go home early. Because it was the summer break for most people, the roads leading to and from Izu were congested. It was my first time to experience heavy traffic in Japan. Having experienced worse traffic jams in the Philippines, I wasn’t even a bit irked. I don’t think Kei-san felt the same, though. Hehehe. We stopped over some place along the way for kaiten sushi. It was also my first kaiten sushi experience 😀 Yipee! The best selection was some crayfish sushi. I would definitely have some of that again. The uni in the Philippines tastes so much better than Japan’s though 😛 One thing I would never taste again would be the mashed salmon mixed with corn oil. I already consider myself quite adventurous when it comes to food but I had a really hard time swallowing that one 😛

Outside Kawamura-san’s residence at Izu

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Overall, it was a really fun 3-day stay. Great company, great experiences, great food. Let’s do that again, shall we? 😀

Thanks to Ma’am Janette for the pictures 🙂 More pictures here and here.