Teaser..

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As always, days leading to our trip, hindi kami magsipag-tulog due to overwhelming excitement. November pa lang may countdown na kami, even the kids said #GOsaka2018 was what kept them going through the insane last hurdle of first sem!

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We were so very worried that our dear Lelly will get sepanx & go looking for us, so I bought a Reachfar pet tracker in Lazada. That way, we were able to keep a track on her even while away, and we also uploaded her GPS into our helpers’ phones so in case she wanders off, they can easily find her. We love to travel but leaving Lelly behind is the part we hate most. Heartbreaking really -especially for her, orphaned, so kawawa. </3

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Thankful for our Priority Passes, it got us in the airport lounge (read about Priority Passes HERE). When we left for Korea last July (kids’ summer break), the aircon wasn’t working properly in Naia 3 terminal, ang init sobra sa hintayan. Ano ba yan, hanggang ngayon December na pero summer pa rin sa waiting area? And in our winter clothes too! Walang bisa ang Rexona (it let me down). Thank goodness my bank sent us Priority Pass renewals in the nick of time. If not, agnas kami waiting for our flight, hay!

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I’m always the donya in our little travel group. Ako daw kasi ang pinaka-walang silbi. Hello? Taga-pila kaya ako saka taga-bantay ng gamit???

Taga-apply pa ng mga passes at taga-bayad ng bills nyo. Tignan ko kung saan kayo pulutin kung wala ako, aber? #HARSHPEOPLE

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All along, I thought PAL lang ang (P)lane (A)lways (L)ate. Pati Cebu Pac pala. We were delayed 40 minutes before finally taking off. It was past 8 pm (9 pm Manila time) when we arrived in Osaka. We tried getting an airport transfer from Klook but it was no longer available, sayang. Ate tried elsewhere but the price came out to 9-10k for a one-way trip. Good thing our host took pity on us & agreed to pick us up to the tune of ¥10,000 (or 5k php) after some email exchanges. Masakit pa rin sa bulsa, but I kenat handle riding the train with 5 big + 2 small luggages in the cold tapos may lakad pang kaganapan bago kami umabot sa apartment. Our host was definitely a big blessing. #blessup

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Eggzoited & so very ready for our #GOsaka2018 adventure! \m/ CLICK HERE to also get a super-mura 4G Wifi connection from KLOOK (only 230 php/day!!!).

So grateful for our last-minute airport transfer accommodation. BnB hosts don’t normally pick up clients but Ko was the exception to the rule, thank God! Ko’s minivan was a Serena so pagdating namin, kasya pa sa kotse nya. Pauwi is a different story though. May dagdag kaming 3 big maletas so no can do na.

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Nangalahati ang presyo!

Ko was quite chatty & friendly too, our angel in disguise. Turns out, he’s a successful lawyer & owns the ENTIRE building we were staying in (Ikr, he doesn’t look it haha – see photo below).

He won the lotto daw several years back & immediately bought the building as an investment. Ang swerte naman. Well, I think he deserves it coz he’s really such a nice guy (as far as I can tell anyway).

He even dropped us off at Dotonbori for a late dinner after helping us up & showing us around the apartment plus answering all our questions pa. He also oriented us with the tourist area since it was our first time in Japan.

Ate was originally in contact with Aya, Ko’s wife. But Ko took over when we arrived from the pick-up to the other minute details during our stay in Osaka. Save for the 10-15 minutes walk to & from the train station (and if you don’t mind it), I highly recommend the place. <3–

CLICK HERE to see & book our bnb in Osaka. Now only Php 2,275/night ++ (from our bill of 4,934.37/night peak season huhu) and it’s BIG! <3

Amenities include: Free portable WiFi router | 2 double-sized beds (living area) | 1 double-sized bed (bedroom 1) | 1 double-sized bed (bedroom 2) |  Dining table with 4 chairs | Sofa and coffee table | Bathroom with separate toilet (with bidet function) & shower areas (towels, shampoo, body soap, conditioner & hair dryer included) | Kitchen (electric kettle, frying pan, electric kettle, cutlery, plates, glass included) | Refrigerator | Microwave oven | Air-conditioner/Heater in every room | Laundry (washing/dryer machine, bathroom heater, detergent)

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Our bnb, in case you want to book on your trip to Osaka, is 10-15 minutes away (depending on your kupadness levelz) from the Tanimachi 9-chome ICOCA station so mej malayo-layong lakaran especially out in the cold. The same distance to the nearest convenience store too, but the tap water was potable, as guaranteed by Ko, so I didn’t panic na walang tubig na mabibilihan! 😛 Straight from the tap, past the tuyong lalamunan, and into the tummy.

My SIL gave us noodle pasalubong after her trip to Osaka & we really loved it. So for our first night, and even if the line was sooo long, we decided to have dinner at Ichiran for some authentic japanese ramen! Total bill ¥5,849 for 5 bowls. Pasok sa budget ni Kap na 500 php/person/meal. Graaabe parang metro, lol.

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Even at 10 pm, we were raring to get to know Osaka, at buhay na buhay ang Dotonbori!

Make-your-own-ramen at Ichiran. From start to finish of your order you interact with a vending machine.

“The Classic Tonkotsu Ramen”

ICHIRAN is the most dedicated Ramen Company to the study of Tonkotsu Ramen in the whole World. Instead of diversifying our menu, we concentrate only on Tonkotsu Ramen.

There are over 40 specialists involved in every single bowl. We always pursue a higher level of Ramen. We only offer the highest quality and the safest products, so you can fully enjoy the authentic deliciousness of Tonkotsu.

Grabe ang haba ng pila, and not just on the day we went ha, mind you. And even past 10pm. The whole time we were in Osaka we’d pass the place & the queues were looong. Tyaga lang talaga. BTW, you can but instant Ichiran ramen from the resto itself, grocery stores, and all Don Quijote outlets.

It’s like Ramen Nagi experience. And I love Ramen Nagi here in the PI.

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Hindi pa nakakaalis kaskas na!

Followed Ko’s direction & walked home while enjoying the uber cool, crisp weather.

I was fearful of the cold so I really stocked up on Uniqlo’s HeatTech Ultra Warm Collection (make sure it says ULTRA & not just warm to get the most benefit) for the fam plus gloves, bonnets & scarves.

Hong mohol super (coz times 5 lagi ang bili), but necessary. Single digit ang weather when we got to Osaka, so nawala lahat ng panghihinayang ko sa gastos when we didn’t shiver from the cold because we were wearing the right clothes.

Wag panghinayangan ang ikabubuti ng katawan, diba?

Ang dyosa ng kalamigan, lol. #frozen #ELSAbalutan HAHAHAHAHA! (Peace, ya know I love ya, Ate!)

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It’s been a long day, bukas na uli tayo mag-kwentuhan -our first full day in Osaka. Baka lalo kaming hindi makapag-tulog sa gigil. I should have brought valium, lol. Goodnight world, signing out! :-*

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BTW, if like us you are given just a 15-day visa on your first visit, you start your count the next day (not upon arrival). I was panicking that we might have to rebook EVERYTHING ($$$$$) kung nasobrahan kami ng araw. Buti nalang pasok kami sa 15 days huhu. AND! Reli Tours in Southmall SUCKS big time. The staff were so sungit I swear, and they didn’t tell us pa na if we present our BDO credit card statements, we automatically get 3 years. Mga pakshet sila, now we have to apply (and pay) again for Tokyo (if ever)! @_@ Grrr. So I’m telling you na.

15 Days na kwentuhan, ‘Pinas, game KNB? 😉