From the category archives:
Here I am, showering before I soak and relax in a tub of warm water. This is the best thing to do after a long day – spending quiet moments with myself, just to make sure that I’m squeaky clean.
I can’t tell you how much I love this washlet (ウォシュレット)!!! These buttons are pretty self-explanatory and serve multiple purposes. Heh.
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Tucked in a quiet corner of Naruto Park Hills, California Table is must visit if you’re in the vicinity. I enjoyed my dining experience immensely and their service was impeccable! This was our last meal at Tokushima before we head to Osaka.
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Winning SOYJOY’s GI Joy contest has not only got me a free trip to many parts in Japan, but it also gained me the access to check out how SOYJOY is made at Itano factory! The OCD me liked the super clean factory as we had to wear a mask and use the provided hand sanitizer before entering the building. Ever corner of the building was spotlessly clean and the yummy air smelt of baking and apple fragrance!
Even though we were not allowed to enter the actual production area, there was an viewing place where we got to watch the entire process from a higher level. It was a pity that photography was not allowed but I supposed that made our experience more exclusive. Thanks to the staff at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for bringing us around!
P.S. I’m trying to find the super cute and mini SOYJOY deco that you can attach to your mobile phones or lanyards. If I can find them, I’ll throw in a simple contest for this ok!
P.P.S I was wearing braces then.
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Meet the lovely people whom I travelled with! (from left to right) Pak Suhendar, Nadnut, Machiko, Parita and me.
I’m throwing in a mystery prize for the person who can guess my favourite dish of this particular breakfast set.
Is it…
Take your pick! Closing date: 26 March 2010
UPDATE: As of 17 March 2010, I’ve decided to give EVERYONE, who can give me the correct answer, a mystery prize EACH!
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At Tokushima, we were lucky to have the opportunity to stay at Otsuka Shiosaiso. This beautiful guest house (which you can see above), is located beside The Otsuka Museum of Art in Naruto.
Surrounded by endless pieces of carpet grass and small houses (like the one you see above), I felt naturally at ease whenever I took a scroll stroll outside the guest house. In fact, I felt so carefree and zen.
Before we get too carried away by such zen sight, the highlight of the evening was actually the sumptuous, mouthwatering 12-course dinner at Otsuka Shiosaiso.
Greeted by a long table with an impressive Japanese dinner menu that even our linguist friend, Machiko-san from Otsuka (Japan), could not figure out what some of the kanji characters were. I decided to stop bugging her for translation and gave her more sake instead. Who knew that I was more impressed by her drinking capacity! She said drinking is a mandatory entertaining skill in Japan, which I couldn’t disagree. The only other table in the restaurant was filled with Japanese and Taiwanese who were cheering non stop throughout the entire epic dinner. Some of us were glad that we were not at their table. But not me. Not the alcoholic sake-loving me.
If you could count, 2 dishes did not make it to my photo montage, but let’s not get too obsessed with the numbers here; these were just some of the close ups of the food we had during the dinner. The actual presentation of each dish was bigger with more food and space to breathe. (Photo note: I went for close ups because there wasn’t sufficient lighting nor clean background to accentuate the fine artwork of these authentic Japanese food, in full view.)
From jelly covered with gold pieces to dishes made from their fresh morning catch, such delicacies were so delightful that each course never failed to surprise us with something new.
Since the Japanese menu was untranslated, I’ve folded the piece of paper into a paper crane and kept it in my wallet. Till today, what we had that night remains a mystery.
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Instead of getting hosted at the actual restaurant, we were welcomed to a lovely conference room which was meticulously decorated for our lunch meeting (before we messed them up in the midst of the meal).
I was pleasantly surprised when we were served with non-Japanese food during our SOYJOY trip in Japan. The kind folks from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group told us that they specially had their chef to prepare something which they thought, would be more familiar to us…
~ MENU ~
Conger eel & crab cream croquettes
Pumpkin soup served cold
Seafood grill
Smoked salmon salad
Ice cream with tapioca coconuts
Coffee, tea (or me?)
~
This was supposed to be our very formal lunch meeting, but we were totally spoilt by the Otsuka people’s wonderful hospitality, fantastic food and world class restaurant service. The food portions were perfect and each dish was a piece of art with freshly prepared ingredients – satisfying both my visual appetite and choosy taste buds.
I also had the chance to check out the actual Restaurant Diana which I’m now unveiling on my blog:
This was the sight to behold for; and even though it was summer, the highlands made it cooling enough for anyone to enjoy a relaxing outdoor dining experience during their lunch break. Wouldn’t you love to visit and dine in such restaurant too? I personally dig the calming effect that it does to me.
Restaurant Diana is located at Naruto, Tokushima, Japan. Strictly for invited guests or staff of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group only.
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Before Tokyo Disneyland, the only other Disneyland Park that I’ve been to was in Anaheim, California. Incidentally, these trips were taken care of by really awesome people – the former was a Blizzcon trip, sponsored by Blizzard and the latter was the prize of SOYJOY’s gi-joy contest, which I’ve won in the Judges’ Choice category.
Unlike my first trip to Disneyland, I was more prepared this time round and I knew that even the most thrilling ride would still turn out to be a child ride to me. Obviously, Disneyland is not a place for adrenalin junkies, unless your adrenalin comes from seeing Disney characters, Japanese girls in ridiculously cute uniforms or… simply kids.
Located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, Tokyo Disneyland is actually near Tokyo, but not in Tokyo. So, if you’re planning to spend a couple of days in Disneyland and Disney Sea, I’d advice you to stay in the popular Tokyo Disney Resort where you eat, live and breathe Disney, literally.
As for myself, I had the pleasure of spending a hot summer day at the Tokyo Disneyland with a fellow contestant winner, Nadnut, Parita (Ogilvy) and Pak Suhendar (Otsuka) last July.
We had so much fun racing with time for the rides, screaming, laughing, breaking the rules and getting away from it, and ultimately, getting a awfully bad tan line, because everyone was too carried away and forgot about sunblock!
I love how each Disneyland is able to deliver such abundance of positive energy, happiness and even though I’ve been to a Disneyland Park before, it was a completely different experience to hang out in a Japanese Disneyland. Its culture, language and people made everything – which were already so childlike heavenly – seemed even cuter and more endearing to me. And don’t you think I look like one of them too? *winks*
It was only unfortunate that most of my Tokyo Disneyland photos were corrupted in the SD card and I was left with these photos to share with you. My favourite moments in the 2 Disneyland Parks that I’ve visited, were the feelings I got when I was close to the entrance of the park, and when I entered the park. I felt a crazy good feeling down my spine, and up again… before I realised it!
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