Sakura in Osaka ( day 1 )

In Japan, cherry blossoms are more than just a mark of a new season. They are a part of the national identity as Mt. Fuji, but to really understand the connection that the Japanese have to these blossoms requires seeing it in person in Japan. Seeing cherry blossom in Japan was my on my bucket list for a long time. Spring is when Japan's famous cherry blossom ( also known as sakura ) trees burst forth into bloom. Depending on the weather, the starting date and length of the blossoms varies year to year.  In most major cities in Japan, like Osaka, the cherry blossom season typically takes place around the end of March and beginning of April. The cherry blossom has a great deal of symbolic significance to the Japanese people, and has historically been an important symbol of nationalism. Although the blossoms are representative of the feminine, on a deeper level they can be seen to stand for the fleeting nature of life.

I’ve wanted to see the cherry blossoms for as long as I can remember, and I have to admit that seeing them in real life exceeded all my expectations. Today was going to be the start of my adventure to Osaka to see them in full bloom not from pictures I see from magazines but in real time. I left on a adventure trip with my cousin and three other women for Osaka. This was our first time to visit Osaka. Although we did not have enough time to see all the sites in Osaka ( we only had 3 full days )-- we had to list down our priorities on what to do when we got to Osaka. 

We arrived in Osaka late afternoon. The weather was chilly and it was a long walk from the terminal to the Nankai train station. Our first step was to find our hotel and work out how to get there from the station. There are two lines that connect the airport to Osaka, the JR Line and the Nankai Line. Individual ticket price from the airport to Osaka for the JR line is 1100yen and the Nankai line ( local  )  is 890yen. This was our first introduction to the Japanese ticket machines. They all have an English button to help you, but it was still bewildering at first. First lesson of the day, never be afraid to talk to total strangers for directions. I realized that most of the Japanese we asked directions from were very helpful to us -- they even accompanied us to where we should ride etc. If you are a bit hesitant to do so - you can approach one of the guards by the turnstile and ask for directions or you can also get help from the Japanese Tourist Information staff who speak a little English and will go to any trouble to make sure you know exactly where you are going. 

The ride was smooth and fast. It took an hour from the airport to the Namba station. With our luggages and hand carry in tow, we had to figure out what exit we should use. As we reached the street level, a Japanese girl seeing that we were lost, approached us and to our surprise -- talked to us in Filipino. We gave her the name of our hotel and she asked a cab driver for directions. We tried to ask the driver to take us in his cab to the hotel but he refused since he told us it was only a 10 minute walk from where we were. It took us more than 20 minutes trying to find the hotel. 

I was pleasantly surprised with how central our hotel, HOTEL MONTEREY GRASMERE OSAKA was, and found it reasonable for the price. After checking in at our hotel, we decided to go and have a quick meal before retiring for the evening. We went down to the subway station ( we discovered one subway entrance which was outside our hotel ). At the end of the escalator was a grocery where we bought our take out food and decided we will start our adventure tomorrow.. So join me as I take you around Japan, with photos of some of the most incredible places I’ve ever been to encourage, inspire and share this amazing place with you all.

Kumbawa everyone!

A foodie goes to Macau ( Part 3 ) Fernando's - Best Kept Secret in Macau

Fernando's is not a place one stumbles upon, you need someone to have known about it or recommended it. This restaurant was one of the places my cousin loved in one of her recent trips to Macau with her husband. We decided to have lunch here today. We got directions from the front desk of our hotel. According to the front desk manager, Jackie, we could easily take a taxi cab ( which will cost us around 80-100MOP ) or the local bus ( which costs 4MOP ). He suggested we take the local bus to get there since  Fernando's was located in front of the bus terminal of Coloane -- by Hac Sa Beach. We took bus number 25 which took around 30 minutes to Hac Sa Beach. Once we arrived at Hac Sa Beach, the restaurant was right in front. Its entrance was quite small with no obvious signs so you have to look for an entrance with a lot of ferns growing all over it. I would suggest that you come early--- Fernando's do not take reservations and most of the time it is full... and another tip is they do not take credit cards in this establishment... make sure you bring cash!!

Located on Coloane Island's beautiful Hac-Sa beach, the restaurant is housed within a simple red bricks structure, surrounded by flourishing shrubs and vines.  The decor is simple and nice, with bamboo furniture, red/white checked tablecloths and old-style ceiling fans. Upon entering the restaurant you will see walls filled with money bills, name cards from customers all over the world. Yes, there is no air-con and for us visiting in February, it wasn't a problem at all. There are huge ceiling fans at the main dining hall.


Here was what we ordered:

Entrecosto de Porco na Braza - Charcoal grilled pork ribs

Bacalao au Braz Style - The Portuguese have 1001 ways to cook bacalhau, but this is one of the best of their recipes. This definitely is a MUST TRY. It had shredded Bacalao with sliced onions, potatoes , tomatoes, scrambled eggs cooked in olive oil. It is usually garnished with black olives and sprinkled with fresh parsley. It is a very common dish in cafes and restaurants.

Macau style Fried Rice -- Macau's version of the Chinese fried rice. It had Bacalao slices, black olives and Portuguese chorizos.

Camarao Frito con Alho -- Fried prawns with garlic on a bed of lettuce. These was the best dish of the  day... it was simply the piece de resistance! They will leave you craving for more! Use the crusty bread and mop up the garlic, olive oil and other spices, and you will really understand why Fernando's commands the reputation that it has.

What I liked most about the place:  the cozy atmosphere --  it was relaxing as I enjoyed a jug of sangria and their hot bread rolls which was served while we waited for our dishes. All the dishes we ordered were outstanding. Highly recommended for those who enjoy family style dining.  Restaurant is really popular so best get there before 12pm if you want to go for lunch. Don't miss the opportunity to go there.

Restaurante Fernando
9 Hac Sa Beach Coloane
Praia de Hac Sa Macau

A foodie goes to Macau ( Part 2 ) Rebuchon au Dome

In every trip I make sure there is a highlight that would make my trip so memorable. Let me take you with me to the Grand Lisboa Hotel. I am going to enjoy a degustacion lunch at Rebuchon au Dome -- a Three-Michelin-starred restaurant situated at the dome of the Grand Lisboa Hotel. According to The Miele Guide, they named Grand Lisboa’s Rebuchon au Dome " the best restaurant in Asia ". This restaurant boasts of a magnificent view of Macau. The breathtaking crystal light chandelier cascading from the middle of the ceiling creates a dramatic ambience for a truly exquisite fine-dining experience. Reservations are made thru email or by phone in advance. There is a dress code which is smart casual (no shorts for men, no sneakers or flipflops). When you request for a table, ask them if you can get one by the window.  The decor is classy and tasteful with live piano and singing. 

You have to take the lift to the 39th floor, where the reception located, then the receptionist will usher  you to another lift to the 43rd floor, which is the highest place of the complex where the restaurant is located. The next pictures were taken as you enter the restaurant. 

Their wine selection includes over 3,000 premium wines and champagnes, some of the rarest in the world. 

a impressive hand carved ivory figurine found at the entrance of the restaurant.

We arrived at 12nn sharp, being the first to arrive. We were seated at a spacious table and enough to seat 4. The ceiling is in a dome shape (hence the name of the restaurant). The restaurant is small and in a circular shape - tables are right up next to the windows (each table is a window table) in the outer circumference of the circle.

The lunch menu they have is very reasonably priced for the fare. There were 3 different pricings (458MOP, 558MOP and 688MOP) depending on the number of courses you opted for, and an additional 500MOP if you get the optional wine pairings (which I strongly recommend). I opted for the “privilege degustation” which is 2 glasses of wine paired to the food.. I requested 1 white and 1 red. Both were quite good.

While waiting for our dishes to arrive, a waitress came over with her butter trolley. I like how their carve your butter from two enormous butter mountains nearby, offering your a choice or salted or non-salted.