Osaka, masquerade of food

Osaka is one major city without that complicated and sophisticated kinda feeling you get while walking the streets in tokyo.

Upon arriving a sense of confusion smack me in the arse as i walk aimlessly around the train station trying to find the line that will take me to my hotel. The osaka tourist information center caught my eyes and i decided that those kind ladies in there will definitely give me a direction. just minutes away from the awaza station i found my hotel and the location is pretty good with a round the clock yoshinoya restaurant, a family mart and another convenience shop just across the road which i usually buy my apple juice and some snacks at night as i head back after a long day.

Umeda is the office district of osaka while Namba is entertainment playground. the sun sets at around six in the evening and as the day felt somewhat already nearing the time of the darkness, i headed for shinsaibashi and walked down to dotombori. what seems like a maze of small alleys of shops which my shopping crave got me a good looking tee, slowly open up to a road of departmental stores. and just across you could see throngs of people.

Streets of shops and cafes practically unfolds as you walk closer and past the departmental stores. this playground has several wide streets and endless alleys that leads to everywhere often leading to another street. there is one particular alley that somehow catches my eyes with its red lantern like lamp, the surprise that awaits me at the end, honzenji shrine. well not really a shrine, just a small roof with an incense pot and a coin box, those you see in shows where people will toss the coin and make a prayer.

this small shrine has a fudo-myoo statue covered in moss of green so beautiful its almost delicious only that when you come to think about it, moss don't particularly taste nice. the ritual of making your prayer followed by the graceful arc of splashing some refreshingly cold water on the moss and around the statue. once in a while you will chance upon a unique shop amongst the streets and alleys. i kinda love one small alley lined with restaurants on both sides just parallel to honzenji. the street is a quiet one and the shop front is simply decorated with lights that glows and vaguely light up the alley.

how can one come to osaka and not taste the true authentic takoyaki so nice on a cold spring evening that the sweetness of the octopus simply leaves you smiling. i splurge 1600 yen on an okonomiyaki of fresh scallops that tasted of nothing complicated but simply satisfying. a batter of finely chopped cabbage and daishi mixed with beaten eggs and poured onto a hot plate to cook. the finish result is something like an omelette. there was i sitting in the small and cramp shop facing the chef while they work their magic on the hot plate.

the streets was gradually getting busier with people and as i felt the weary of travelling to osaka, i decided that it was time to retreat into the comforts of my hotel room. now's the time that i have to express my delight in watching the 2007 figure skating championships in tokyo and the 2007 international fin competition held in melbourne. every night without fail after i return from the adventures of the day, i'll switch on the television and watch these exciting sports that leaves you in awe with each jump over the ring of ice or those legs flamingoes dancing above water surface.

the district of umeda is nothing but a cluster of office buildings and shopping centers of departmental stores and restaurants. really, there's nothing much to explore besides the basement where a world of deliciously tempting food awaits you. lunch was at this restaurant which is said to have good udon and the set meal with tempura was not bad. the view from the top of the daimaru building from the restaurant showed a barren piece of land with a huge blue logo of japan railways. what's to come in the near future is osaka's largest underground shopping mall.

the umeda sky building is an architecture kinda thing that is bound to catch your eyes with that huge circle of hollow. the view from the top is kinda nice although the weather is somewhat cloudy and oh the flight path to osaka kansai was pretty near the sky building. without much ado i made my way with haste to my next destination. commuting on the subway to the osaka aquarium or in other words the kaiyukan.

the pacific ocean tank held my gaze as the schools of fishes twinkle under the rays of light shining in. the watery world is indeed something that will catch the attention of many. there were even comfy chairs at every turn for people to sit and simply gaze into the dreamy blue as you as sense of calmness of the world kisses you. now i so wanna visit two oceans aquarium in south africa as they are one of two aquariums that has got a kelp forest exhibit. you know the feeling of peace and calm from being surrounded by the watery world is so different from sitting under the blue sky or under the stars at night. a feeling i have no idea how to put it properly in words but its as though in that world of blue, you are alone yet the feeling of solitude is missing.

japan has some great walks amongst nature too and although i did not have the time to embark on some really beautiful ones, i stroll to minoh falls. a small waterfall about an hour from the train station in a really small town. as i listen to my music on the ipod and made my way up, the sound of the stream in the distance seems lovely too. there were wooden benches infront of the falls and the cool refreshing air brushing against your face is really enjoyable. a little so called picnic with a hot can of coffee was priceless as the late afternoon sun was casting its rays upon the trees all ready for dusk.

the macaques around the falls were really naughty as they seek for food, a great opportunity to photograph these snow monkeys, something not every singaporean will chance upon. the shots were great as these furry friends seems oblivious to my presence. on the way back i notice this tea house with charmingly traditional design sitting along the stream near this pretty red bridge, too bad that night was still some time away or the picture would be beautiful as soft rays of light spills out from those wooden windows and maybe onto the forest of trees around it.

one good thing about staying in hotels is that you can take away some sinfully delicious cakes and savor them in the comfort of your bed while watching those ladies skate in style and grace on ice.

the sky was grey with rain falling lightly from the heavens blanketing everything in a watery shine. my trip to himeji castle seems kinda ruin as i sip my coffee at a doughnut cafe in hope that the clouds will clear. oh i love days like this when the rain is dancing on the roof and all you have to do is read a book in a comfy armchair with a hot cuppa tea with cookies to simply pass the day in bliss. but at times when you are gonna visit somewhere that sunshine and blue skies are everything, rainy weather is depressing.

however i must say that the only thing that made my day was the chance to photograph a japanese crane fishing for fishes by the canal in kurashiki. there was a number of people around looking at the crane but the feathery friend seems unconcerned, supporting my umbrella using my neck and shoulder, i manage to get one gorgeous shot with green ferns acting as the backdrop before the crane flew to the other side of the canel. with that my mind was made up, to return another day when the sun is shining and the birds are singing.

my return to himeji and kurashiki was sooner then i expected and it was a sight to behold as the castle gleams under the sun. there were people having picnic in the field fronting the castle as i made my way to the entrance. the castle was huge but the colours were simple, with every turn along the path to the main tower comes a different angle and view of the castle. somehow the path seems to circle the castle like a maze.

like a precious stone in a small part of town preserved in the state of the feudal era with rows of those traditional warehouse architecture . the place is kinda beautiful though with willows and stone bridges. the scene would be priceless with some shinsengumi walking around.