60 Servings of Fluffy Pancake Goodness a Day

Some pancakes are dry; some pancakes are bland; some pancakes taste better once you smother them with butter and maple syrup; and then there's Cafe Gram's premium pancake. 

Halloween Madness in Tokyo

Tokyo is known to be one of the fashion capitals of the world. For the past year and a half or so of living here, I have observed how conscious Tokyo-ites are about the little details in their everyday look. They match their outfits to their umbrellas, take time to style their hair in braids or curls, and really stick to the fashion for the season (for example, once it's autumn in the calendar, expect them to be in sweaters and jackets even if it's still warm). If you go to the Disney parks, you would see groups of matching outfits, often times Disney-themed.


Given all this, I did not expect Halloween to be so intense when I first experienced it last year. 

DMM.PLANETS: A Feast for the Senses

A creative group called teamLab has an amazing art exhibit open this summer 2016 in Odaiba, Tokyo. It's called "DMM.PLANETS" and it is AMAZING. If you'll be in Tokyo this month, this is something worth looking into.

Japan generally takes pride in its technology and this is one creative output. There are lights, sounds effects, and scents. There are also moments when everything turns black and then you feel different kinds of texture underneath your feet (nothing gross, I promise). 

The Turista Series: Proper Japanese Etiquette

The Japanese (more often than not) adhere to the norms of society. I think most people would agree that they are very polite and organized people. That being said, it is very easy for foreigners to stand out when they're visiting the land of the rising sun. So before your trip to Japan, it's best to equip yourself with some basic Japanese etiquette!

The Turista Series: Getting Lost in Japan

It is fairly easy to get lost in Japan. The train system, although very efficient, is also very complicated with a lot of transfers and exits. Shinjuku Station in Tokyo alone has about 200 exits (yes, TWO HUNDRED. It is the world's busiest train station after all); some trains even switch lines or skip stations, so if you're unaware, you could miss your stop easily (mind you, it's happened to me plenty of times). Then, of course, there's the language barrier. Planning where you're going and how to get there can easily save you a lot of time and money.

The Turista Series: Transportation Tips in Japan

Japan is presently opening up to the world and is attracting more and more tourists, especially since it will be hosting the 2020 Olympics. Living here for a year, I can say that it's a good destination to explore as the culture is so rich and yet you'd be fascinated by Japan's advancements in technology at the same time. Not to mention, the food is awesome and it's a shopping haven. One thing you have to expect though-- transportation can be quite pricey.

But! Have no fear. For the budgeting traveller--I have a few tips on how you can get around more (mostly in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka) for less. 

Valentine's Day in Tokyo

A friend once told me that Japan loves events. Of course, this month of February focused on Valentine's Day. Pocky suddenly came out with ridiculously sounding names that made me scratch my head for a while (with a few giggles here and there). Okaecy, Yorocky, Ganbacky, Sukky, Lovecky, Giricky, Tomocky, Papacky... 

I obviously had to ask what this was about. So, apparently, these are simple messages for whoever is going to receive them. For example, Ganbacky is "gambatte" (something like, "do your best!"), Yorocky is "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" (there's no direct translation for this phrase but it's something like "please be nice to me"), Tomocky is for "tomodachi" ("friend"), and Sukky is for "suki"(could be "like" or "love" although I'm not sure why there's also a Lovecky box). Oh, there's also a Thanky, but that one's pretty self-explanatory.

More interesting though is is how Valentine's Day is celebrated on this side of the world.

The First Sunrise in the Land of the Rising Sun

I'm days late, but HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! I hope everyone started the year right! It is my first time to welcome the new year in Japan, and it was definitely a unique and unforgettable experience.

Prior to midnight, I hung out with a group of travellers and we (very noisily) made our way to the Shibuya crossing... Which was apparently blocked. I found out that there used to be an official New Year's Eve countdown there but Tokyo put it to a halt just last year. Such a shame although I don't blame the government. Places get really, really trashed. It's such a big contrast to how the Japanese take care of their environment, even during major Japanese festivals. Nonetheless, there were still so many people-- some even in costumes-- persistent to have a countdown of their own.

Midnight struck, greetings were made, hugs were given. Everyone was happy although we barely knew each other. A joyful riot ensued, then the group broke into smaller groups. Most wanted to go dancing in a club but I ended up in a pub with a few people.

Disclaimer: My New Year story isn't about drinks and loud music. I had a few beers but the real celebration started at 2am when I set off for Mount Takao to catch the first sunrise of the year, which is very important to the Japanese. I fell in love with this perspective the very first time my friend told me about it. From my side of the world, people just party 'til late night and sleep in the next day. Initially, I did not know who I was going to go with on this adventure. I was mostly told that I was crazy to want to hike a mountain when I should just be celebrating under the influence of alcohol. Luckily enough, I found outliers who wanted to try this cultural experience.

Human Body Accidents (人身事故)

A few days ago, a friend and I were rushing to catch our usual train. When we reached the platform, she shushed me as someone made an announcement (in Japanese of course) over the speakers. Afterwards, she tells me casually, "the train is late. Somebody committed suicide." I froze for a moment with my eyes wide open and my mouth hanging. I can't even point out which one shocked me the most-- the fact that such an incident is still announced to the public... Or the reaction (or lack of) of the general public to this kind of announcement. I already know how common suicide cases are in Japan, but this one struck a different chord.

My friend told me that this is a common reason for delayed trains and advised to listen to announcements in the future. The term for it is "jinshinjiko" or if translated directly, "human body accident". It's a euphemism, though everyone understands that it means suicide. If it's a failed suicide or if someone dropped something accidentally on the tracks, a different announcement would be made.

My mind was blown. 

The Magic of Mount Fuji

I'm only 5 feet tall but there I was, 12,000 feet high! Climbing Mount Fuji has been one of the most challenging, tiring and overly amazing things I've ever done in my life. It's definitely not an easy feat, but it was all worth it.
NOTE: This is going to be a long post. But... I have pictures and loads of information so I do hope you read on!

Ameya-Yokocho: The Last Black Market

Mention "Ueno" and, more often than not, tourists would instantly think of Ueno Park and Ueno Zoo. But not a lot of people know about the last black market in Tokyo: Ameyayokocho.


"Ame" is short for "America", and the market was originally for selling American army goods after the second world war. Now, Ameyayokocho-- or Ameyokocho for short-- has opened up to an entire range of great bargains.

Japanese locals are usually very quiet and space-conscious, so it was a nice cultural icebreaker exploring a rowdy, crowded place where you can get good deals for clothes, shoes, souvenirs, street food and fresh sea goodies (a bag of maybe 6 big pieces of juicy salmon costs only 500 Japanese Yen). My eyes were wide open as I walked from stall to stall. I was especially impressed to see fruits on sticks (for at least 100 Japanese yen) as street food. I also had the best matcha ice cream to date. Of course, I tried eating as much as my pocket could handle it. Some vendors even made efforts to speak in Filipino! How refreshing.

The market is open daily from around 10:00am to 8:00pm. Try not to go on a Wednesday as a lot of the shops are closed during that day. Getting there, just take the Ueno Park exit (signs are very easy to read as this is a popular tourist area) and just look for the "Ameyayokocho" arch (you can refer to the first photo of this post).

Central Perk in China

If you've watched even just a couple of episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. then Central Perk is going to ring some bells! Obviously, the TV series was filmed in NYC, but if you happen to be in Beijing, China, you might want to visit a quaint, little replica of the famous cafe.



The owner did a pretty good job in copying the original and it's got the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. vibe all over the place, with framed photos of the cast on the brick walls, cupcakes named after the characters, a guitar to release your inner Phoebe and even a cat called-- you guessed it-- Smelly Cat. 

Culture Lessons

Not a lot of people know that I have moved to Tokyo, Japan. In fact, by tomorrow, June 29th, it will be exactly 3 months. I feel bad about not being able to update this blog as much as I should and want to, but I'm pushing myself yet again to change that (and hopefully, keep it consistent). I can't promise that things will be chronological around here, as I would love to share both recent and past adventures. It's better late than never after all!

Tokyo is actually known for having a lot of museums, and my first museum experience was at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, which features the British Museum's "A History of the World in 100 Objects". It was very interesting as the objects wove a story of how human creativity and innovation developed over 2 million years. What was more interesting, however, was the experience going through the whole museum with Japanese locals.

It was a Saturday, and the exhibition is only until the 28th, so it was expected that the place will be packed. And indeed it was, but it wasn't bothersome at all.

People were actually lined up in a very organized manner, going from one object to another. Nobody asked them to, they just did, and it was a very effective system. Everybody talked in hushed voices and patiently waited for their turn to view. To add, before entering the exhibition room, we were told that taking photos is not allowed inside, and I swear, I did not see a single soul defy this rule. There were even kids inside the museum and they weren't unruly or restless at all. The museum offers drawing boards to children so they can walk around to doodle the things that they see.

I am utterly amazed by the Japanese people's discipline and courtesy. Here, they stop and patiently wait for you to take a photo, voluntarily move to a different seat if your friend is sitting next to them so that you two will be seated together, keep their phones on silent mode so as not to bother others, wear masks when they have a simple cold or cough, follow traffic rules such as slowing down when there is a pedestrian lane, and always bear in mind to say polite words like "I'm sorry" (gomenasai), "excuse me" (sumimasen), "please" (onegaishimasu) and "thank you" (arigatou gozaimasu). I could go on and on but I'll probably just write more about this as we go along.

On a final note, as we embark on another busy week ahead, let's not forget to stop and be considerate to others. There are always little things that you can do to make this world a happier place. Goodnight, everyone. :)

Each passing day I am out exploring the world by myself do I come to learn about its diversity; some eye-opening, some liberating; some that lead me to a gazillion questions, and some which I am not in favor of. I then come to realize the importance of having an open and strong mind to withstand tests of character. To constantly remember that you always have a choice.

For what is each day but a series of conflicts between the right way and the easy way. ... You're in a fight against an opponent you can't see. Oh, but you can feel him on your heels can't you? Feel him breathing down your neck. You know what that is? That's you... Your fears, your doubts and insecurities all lined up like a firing squad ready to shoot you out of the sky, but don't lose heart. While they aren't easily defeated, they are far from invincible. Remember this is the grind, the Battle Royale between you and your mind, your body and the devil on your shoulder who's telling you that this is just a game, this is just a waste of time, your opponents are stronger than you. Drown out the voice of uncertainty with the sound of your own heartbeat. Burn away your self doubt with the fire that's beneath you. Remember what you're fighting for.

- excerpts from a motivational speech entitled "Rise and Shine". Been trying to search for the writer, but failed.

Also! I was fortunate enough to have time to go to mass again yesterday, and the homily closed with this thought: "Live today as if it were your last day. Live today as if it were your only day. Live today is if it were your first day."

I am more than happy to continue spreading sunshine in this world. May I never lose heart for it.

1 Year

I haven't written on this blog as much as I had wanted to, but I deem it only appropriate that I post on this very day, which marks my 1st year in China.


In a year, I have become smarter in getting around. (If you know me well, you would know I'm not the best person when it comes to directions). I have become more responsible in taking care of myself and of my own home. I've discovered I can still ride a bike and have conquered my fear of riding it on the busy streets of Beijing. I have experienced the four seasons. I have learned how to cook. I've ditched the gym and have become more disciplined in keeping fit by myself. I've ridden an overnight train and, not to mention, a camel. I've gone to the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Shanghai, Taishan Mountain, Inner Mongolia, and a lot of other places. I have learned just about enough Chinese to get around. I have learned how diverse people can be. I am now a Disney Trainer and have conducted at least 3 academic trainings for my team; being a teacher has extended from delivering fun learning experiences inside the classroom to helping co-teachers in what we do.

The decision to come and work here has been a good one as I have clearly grown so much. The lessons I have learned are endless. I am looking forward to more days of adventure and surprises ahead. :)

What's in a Name?

I once had a student named Peach, whose name was given by her kindergarten teacher, who, apparently, named all of her students after fruits. Later on, Peach just didn't want to be Peach anymore, and so, told her mom that she wants to be Angela.

Presently, I have a class with little Disney princesses named Ariel, Anna and Elsa, who decided to change her name from Fiona about a week ago, and stepped into my classroom yesterday wearing the Snow Queen's dress.

Yup, changing English names in China is as easy as changing t-shirts!

Avocados and Soy Milk

I transferred to a new (super cozy) apartment and inherited a new (old) bike, which I use to bring me to work. Today, I felt brave and decided to bike outside the Fengtai area and get myself some avocados and soy milk and other delicious goodies at the Sanyuanli Market in Liangmaqiao. I checked my map app and it told me that it's about 20 kilometers away from my place. And I said, bring it on. All for avocados and soy milk. I started today's adventure at around 7:30 in the morning.

I enjoyed the bike ride going there. The air is cool and relatively good today (AQI at about 50-60... Yes, that is good for China standards). I got even more amused to realize how easy it was to travel from my place to the busier parts of Beijing. I felt so accomplished when I started seeing familiar places; areas that I would go to back to when I still lived in the central business district. Being out on the road gave me the opportunity to actually see Beijing's charm. I usually just take the subway... You can imagine how not so pleasant that could be.

Finally, I reached Sanyuanli Market, and it was already 9:30. It took me two hours. WOW. But I didn't feel tired at all! After getting my goodies, I hopped on my bike and started to pedal home.

...But I didn't go home. I was bursting with energy! I went to Sanlitun, stopped by Yashow (the less aggressive version of the Silk Market) and got myself a sim card for my pocket wifi (Side story: When I got home, I realized I paid less than what I was supposed to and felt awful. I bargained for it at the beginning, but the guy who attended to me said it's at a fixed price. He was really nice and spoke English, too. I'm sorry!), looked for Jenny Lou's, got lost, went to U-Town, found Jenny Lou's, got myself 3 cartons of Vitasoy and sunflower seed bread.

Only then, did I start my journey back home. This was at around 12:30.

By 13:00, my legs were already dying. I had to talk to myself a lot (don't judge) to distract myself from my aching right knee (which always hurts whenever I run for a long time... Apparently, when I bike, too) and also to push myself to just keep going. It worked for a while. Eventually, I just got dead tired and slowed down. I made some wrong turns again. Totally expected, but I was just dying to get home.

I went through my apartment door at around 14:00.

That's six and a half hours. Around 50 to 60 kilometers in total.

All initially for avocados and soy milk.

I conclude that I will never do that again.
But I have a feeling that I most probably still will.

AQI 33

For the first time in my OFW life (HAHA), I took a jog around my neighborhood for about 28 to 30 minutes then walked about for a few more. I thoroughly enjoyed the relatively clean air and the thought of burning calories whilst feeling the sun on my face. I get extremely happy when air pollution isn't bad around here. In other parts of the world, the air that we breathe really is something that we take for granted, and I pray that Beijing will find a way to get around it.... FAST.

I'm missing home more than ever. I have been here for almost 8 months now, and still can't believe how terribly fast things are going! I am very proud to say though that I have learned and grown so much from living alone, working for Disney, and meeting different kinds of people. Keeping my fingers crossed on my professional growth. Maybe I'll expound more here in a few months once things work out! HOPEFULLY!

Past the Halfway Mark Along with 10 Significant Learnings

1. I can cook. Before I moved to China, I could only bake cookies and brownies. I didn't even know how to steam rice nor make eggs. But to date, I've already learned how to make adobo, steamed salmon, pancakes, giniling, and pasta, among others, and I have a bunch more line up for kitchperimenting. This leads me to my second point...

2. Cooking is fun! I'm extremely happy when my food is beyond edible, and the same goes for my taste buds.

3. It pays to be OC... Or at least to get into the habit of planning and organizing things in advance. Like writing a menu for each week before heading off to the supermarket just to make sure you don't buy too many ingredients or food items, especially vegetables that can rot in a matter of days. Or Or bringing out your subway card before leaving the house to make sure you have it and to save time. Or taking note of deadlines for bills and sticking them on the refrigerator door.

4. Drinking more than enough water makes a whole lot of difference. There was a time when I lost my voice completely, and it was because the weather was dry and I wasn't drinking enough water. Not only that, keeping myself hydrated helps improve the condition of my skin as well.

5. Sleeping early and waking up early make a big difference, too. Waking up early means I get to do more chores and then have plenty of time for myself right after. Waking up early also means I get to sleepy early in the evening, which is good for the body! There was a time when I would sleep late and sleep in until around 9 to 10am and I'd feel very lazy. Waking up early, on the other hand, makes me feel really energized!

6. Get rid of the habit of converting another currency to Philippine peso whenever buying groceries and other essential items. Things are just more expensive here. So for a while, I tried to be as thrifty as I could by not buying too much. But then, I would always have a very noisy tummy simply because I didn't eat enough food. So I just decided to set a reasonable budget for each month, and it's helping me so far.

7. You are responsible for disciplining yourself, and if you do it right, you'll pat yourself on the back for it. Back at home, I had the gym and dance classes to keep myself fit. I would go to work, then go on whatever fitness activity I could do right after, then just go home, maybe eat dinner, take a shower and go to bed. Here, however, I have to do chores on top of my day job... And the tendency is to get really lazy to do anything else. So I later on realized that I have to develop the habit of exercising again, and discipline myself into doing so even if it's just by myself. So I downloaded some fitness apps and now, I really make sure that I get, at the very least, 30 minutes of exercise a day.

8. There is more to life than the internet. I'm trying to read more books, watch more movies, engage in different activities, and even explore more places around Beijing.

9. Take every opportunity to learn something new. For one, I've taken interest in learning Chinese. As advised by a fellow teacher, I carry around a small notebook to jot down Chinese words and translations. There are a bunch of other things that I would like to venture in-- some just for fun while others are work-related.

And lastly...

10. Sunny skies are beautiful. I can't deny that air pollution is horrible here, and it covers up the whole sky most of the time. Sometimes, you can't even see buildings from a distance anymore because of the smog. It's very different compared to Manila. I rejoice every time the sun is up and the sky is a clear blue.

Kocoon Spa: A Relaxing Experience

Living in a city that has dry winter season and bad air pollution gave my oily skin quite a challenge. So I decided to head out and hunt down a spa for a facial. I particularly looked for one that could speak English and uses high-quality products-- I wouldn't want just anything on my skin.

So a friend recommended Kocoon Spa, which has two branches, the nearest one closest to me being the one along South Sanlitun Road (past the Worker's Stadium), and is owned by a French-Japanese mother-daughter tandem.

Your filthy shoes won't be allowed inside.


And the moment you step in, the staff serves you a cup of tea. In my case, I was offered one of the most delicious teas that I have ever tasted. Apparently, it came straight from Japan (and, sadly, was not for sale).


The interior is very simple and cozy. I lingered around the lounge area for a while because I felt so comfortable, especially with an awesome cup of tea in hand.


The woman who attended to me was very pleasant. I felt so relaxed during my facial, which included a quick neck, shoulder and leg massage. She used different kinds of scented oil that added up to the calming experience. When the treatment was finished, I didn't even look the least bit swollen or red, which is unusual since my skin is sensitive. Days after, I noticed my skin looked brighter, and impurities lessened slightly.

To top the experience off, they, again, offer refreshments (I opted to still drink their tea even if they offered juice and others) as well as a simple snack from Japan before you step out.


Aside from facials, Kocoon Spa also offers massages and waxing services. The price list isn't cheap, but at least it's foreigner friendly, and you have an idea of what it is you are paying for as well as the products that will be used. If you want to learn more about Kocoon Spa, you can visit their website here.