Today I’m sharing another #lazymamacookinghack to make super super easy yet kawaii bowl of instant noodle that will make the kids go all excited! The best part? They get to take part in decorating their own lunch!
The food art today is called The Girl with Blonde, Curly Hair and Too Much Hair Accessories… Swimming in Delicious Chicken Soup HAHAHA.
Junya loves it so much he was trying to kiss her.
What you need:
❤︎1 pack of instant soup noodle
❤︎Carrot
❤︎Ham
❤︎Wakame Seaweed
❤︎Dry seaweed sheet (for decorative parts)
❤︎1 hard boiled egg
❤︎A few decorative cutters
❤︎An overly eager child with a rather growling stomach
Today I am using Myojo’s Chicken Tanmen (鸡汤面) because it is the most classic – simple, flavorful, delicious.
Did you know that Myojo is a Japanese Instant Noodle brand under Nissin, and the Japanese character for it is “明星”? It means “Shining Star” in Japanese. But I guess you can also interpret it as “Super Star” Haha. My absolute favorite from Myojo cup ramen series is Ippeichan Yakisoba!! Sooooo good!
Recently Myojo’s Instant Ramen series has gotten a new packaging makeover, it’s so much more colorful and fun now! It also comes in many flavors such as Chicken Abalone and dry Spicy Char Mee.
Here are the steps for this deco noodle:
Slice the carrot
I slice it quite thin for two reasons: 1. It’s easier to push it through the cutter 2. it gets cooked quicker!
*cut*
Cute little orange heart!
*#DecorateTogether Tip 1*
Here you can get your child to help out!! Get him or her to cut the carrot/vegetables into the shapes that they like.
Cut the ham
For ham, I use a floral cutter to make cherry blossom deco.
Cut the seaweed
You will need seaweed for the girl’s face feature. I like to use a seaweed cutter, it could be any seaweed cutter with random shapes, and then cut around the curves to make the eye, mouth, etc. I find it much easier than cutting from a square sheet.
*#DecorateTogether Tip 2*
Get your child to help you cut out the shapes with the seaweed stamp!
Yay!
Here I have the eyebrow, eye, nose, mouth and eyelashes!
Cooking the vegetables!
You can blanch/boil the vegetables in a sieve while waiting for the water to boil to save time!
Carrot and wakame
Cooking time!
My little sous chef!
Place Myojo Chicken Tanmen Instant Noodle into boiling water and cook for 3 minutes.
*#DecorateTogether Tip 3*
Get your kid to help you add the seasoning into the pot! (Of course, be very careful of the hot water and heat!)
Decoration Time
And then, important tip here: dish out the noodles first and place it in a big bowl, keep the soup aside.
Add the boiled egg as girl’s face.
*#DecorateTogether Tip 4*
Get your kid to add the decorations! Junya helps the girl with her cherry blossom hair accessories. (I know kids can go overboard, you can fix them later. Shhhh.)
Leave the delicate parts for mama. Carefully add the cut seaweed on boil egg. You won’t be needing any adhesive (such as water or mayo) since it sticks perfectly on slightly moist boiled egg.
AND DONE!!!
Wait… not yet. The girl has to go swimming, remember?
Add Chicken Soup
Add the soup that you have set aside earlier. If it has cooled down, simply heat it up again.
And… ready to serve!
Junya and his girl with blonde, curly hair and too much hair accessories.
Thank you for helping mama cook your lunch!
Junya really enjoyed this little #DecoratingTogether session. And I actually feel a little guilty because usually I would shoo him out of the kitchen as he is always very very eager to “help”, but always ends up 越帮越忙 (more help more messy haha), it would be soooo much easier to just leave him with his toys while I hurry up the cooking.
But once a while, cooking together like this is quite fun (although I ended up fixing most of his works hahaha. Shhhh.).. With him feeling involved and a sense of achievement, his appetite actually is much better too. ^^
Yeap. He finished the whole bowl!!
Junya wants to do it again!
If you flip the Myojo Instant Noodle packet, there’s actually a surprise!
There’s a tip on how to easily decorate your food, for example making this cute little chick with just pieces of cut carrot and a sesame seed.
And super super easy Tako sausage that everyone can make!
Also, if you have young kids at home and you love cute food, do check out Myojo’s #DecoratingTogether contest, where you stand a chance to win:
Weekly Prizes (announced every Friday) 8 x $10 Capitaland Shopping Vouchers to be won every week in July.
5 x $10 Capitaland Shopping Voucher to be won every week in August.
Grand Prizes (announced after promotion end on 31 August 2017) 1st Prize: 1 x Family Outing Package (valued at up to $500)
2nd Prize: 3 x Family Outing Package (valued at up to $300)
3rd Prize: 10 x Family Outing Package (valued at up to $100) Consolation Prize: 24 x Myojo Variety Packs
All you need to do is:
Step1: Cook and make your decoration noodles with Myojo
Step2: Post your decoration noodles on Social media (Facebook & Instagram) with hashtag #DecoratingTogether
Also, Myojo Limited Edition Box will be available in Fairprice from 4 August 2017!
Highlight of the trip. HAHAHA. CHEESIE SAMURAI !!! (Omg don’t I sound like a burger??)
HomeAway Accommodation
I loooove the second listing! It was also a building from the Meiji Era, which means that it has been over 100 year old, but has been refurbished to mint condition.
This is our room in the attic, very very comfy!
Stair pose lol.
One of the great things about the suburbs of Japan, is getting back in touch with nature. And also surprise guests. Surprise guests are awesome. Or creepy. Depends. Especially when they show up quietly right at your backyard lol.
This little surprise guest called on us early in the morning, politely observing our make up routine. Would you… like some tea? Or orange juice?
I do. Haha.
I cannot emphasize enough how thoughtful our hosts (Onishi san and his wife) were. The first morning we had a traditional Japanese spread. And today it was Western delight on the table.
Warm toast with layered Uchiko ham, potato salad and greens, grilled Zucchini and absolutely juicy Japanese melon. Love.
Fully charged for a day out!!
Uwajima (宇和島)
The third day is rather relaxing. We were going to this small coastal city. A little info on Uwajima on Japan Guide:
Being a coastal city, Uwajima supports a couple of industries related to the sea, such as fishing and pearl cultivating. It is one of the top pearl producers in Japan. Local specialties include Taimeshi (a dish of rice and sea bream) and Jakoten (fish cake). The waterfront around the city offers great coastal scenery. Uwajima is also known for the bull fight events that it stages five times a year.
Ok so we did the pearl cultivating, ate Taimeshi, enjoyed the coastal views but what we did not know, until right this moment after I read up about Uwajima, that there was a Fertility Shrine with a giant penis right alongside the shrine. (no you didn’t read that wrong).
Shrine and… penis?
I didn’t think that I would ever use these two words in the same sentence. That’s totally nuts.
In case you are wondering, it’s real.
And wait, that’s not all.
Apparently, next to the shrine hall stands a museum that showcases the priest’s collection of international and domestic pornographic materials.
Wait what?
Priest? Porn?
Ok this blog post is getting too weird. My apology.
But it is totally real.
But yea. Please do visit this Japanese Penis Shrine that I regrettably did not go.
Tenshaen Garden (天赦園)
We met our guide from Uwajima city and they gave us a welcome gift: a transformation.
Samurai Chiji and Samurai Chanwon.
That thing was so heavy especially the headgear, it was giving us a headache after. We headed to a lovely Japanese garden for an impromptu photo session.
有没有很有威严？ lolol
After that 摇身一变又变回姑娘 HAHAHA. Actually this was really how I was after taking off the amor. I felt like Mulan lolol. Hair bun still got volume, not bad ok!!
This is one of the famed scene of this garden. During spring in April, you will get to see “Nobori-Fuji”, the white wisteria blossoming on the arch.
Flower in season. Can you picture us posing like this, against such sweet background, in our Samurai outfit just now? LOL
Or this.
Or this. HAHAHA
Coastal
Uwajima, despite its Kanji “宇和島”, is not an island. It is though, facing the Bungo Channel that separates Kyushu from Shikoku.
On a day when weather is clear, you can actually see the Kyushu island from Uwajima’s coast.
Looking over Oita Prefecture. The little lines of floating box in the sea is actually seabream farming. Because Uwajima is famous for its Tai (seabream)!!
Yeap! That’s our “Taimeshi”, seabream rice! It’s really simple. You get slices of Tai sashimi, a bowl of warm rice, a raw egg and a small bowl of soy sauce.
You eat it just like TKG (Tamago Kake Gohan), but with fish topping. Yummy!
Uwajima has really beautiful waters.
Our guide brought us here. It was a cafe by the sea. But the cafe was closed. And there wasn’t anything around. But we just sat down here, enjoying the gentle sounds of the sea waves… It was super nice. I’d actually love more itinerary like this.
Uwajima Pearl
Another thing that Uwajima is famous for, is their pearls.
At the Doi Pearl Farm.
If you are interested, you can get a 見学 tour on how Uwajima’s pearls are harvested, and also get a DIY pearl accessory session!
We headed back to Uchiko for dinner at this traditional Japanese restaurant called Kanda. It’s pretty popular among the locals, and it was quite a surprise for us because we totally did not expect the food to look this pretty.
Like, really pretty!!
Tai sashimi with floral headband. That’s all the trend now right? Hahaha.
This chicken dish was so delicious!
Everything must be so colorful and festive.
Shopping
We went back to our HomeAway accommodation early, of course we could not just end our day like that.
When there’s chance for shopping, never miss any. Hahaha.
So we went to a mega drugstore and Chanwon bought her 6 month worth of tooth paste, toilet fragrance, cotton pad and mosquito coils.
Yes I’m not kidding. We visited to a ryokan the day before in Ishidatami, and the ryokan smelled sooo good so I asked the host what kind of incense she was using. She blushed a little and replied, a little embarrassed, “it’s … katori senko(蚊取り線香).” Errr.
…
JAPAN. You want to do until like this or not.😮
Mosquito Coil also must smell good. That’s too much. Just too much.
Anyway. Another thing to add to your Japan shopping list. Mosquito coils. Yeap.
So apparently the drugstore sells also frozen pasta. Awesome.
And I’m still actively brainwashing all of you how ridiculously cheap Japan is. Pasta. Ok. ONE PROPER MEAL. 178 yen.
Salt. ONE KG. Ok. 1KG ah. 88 yen. And it is Seto Inland Sea Salt. Branded salt leh. From the sparkling sea!!!
This was what I bought from the combini. Meiji “THE Chocolate”. So apparently this is really THE chocolate. Soooo good. I recommend raspberry, gianduja and dark cocoa (70%). Sooooo good. Oh and also Tomica for Junya! They sold Tomica in LAWSON omg!!
That’s all for now. Still got summore ok hahaha. You wait.
If you are planning your holiday soon, do check out HomeAway to book your vacation home.
Don’t forget to use the code “HOMEAWAYCHEESIE” for 8% off!!
We arrived at Uchiko from Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture. You may get to Uchiko from Matsuyama by express (25 minutes) or local train (1 hour), and it is covered by Japan Rail Pass if you have one. ^^
Uchiko is a traditional small town in Ehime Prefecture, which can be entirely covered on foot. It was once a prosperous center of wax and washi (Japanese paper) production.
Before that, we had a gorgeous breakfast just downstairs of our room! In my previous post I have mentioned that our accommodation is also a cafe. It was really like we were staying in a traditional ryokan! And the chef was… our host!!
Omg would you look at that!! Onishi San and his wife conjured up this amazing traditional Japaese breakfast at 7:30am so we could start the day early.
Did you see how many mini dishes are there??? There shirasu (whitebait) with myoga, tomato with sweetpea, pan fried Jyakoten fish cake (super super delicious!), Goma tofu, soybean and konbu, tamagoyaki, yamaimo, beansprout namul and yuba (beancurd skin) with sweet miso, served with steaming hot rice and miso soup.
I want to eat breakfast like this every single dayyyy 😭😭😭…
Love love love!
The cafe is connected to the accommodation’s courtyard, if you have some extra time you can also take your time to relax here.
And then we started our day with just a relaxing leisure stroll around the area.
Outside the cafe (accommodation).
Uchiko is quiet and pleasant with friendly folks greeting you as they walk pass. It is full of traditional shop houses preserved from a hundred years ago.
Of course, it is also a great place for pictures!
At Hachiman Shrine in town.
Just now I mentioned about Jykoten served at breakfast, I loved it so much that I hunted for it!! Jyakoten is an Ehime specialty, which has a long history dated back to the Edo period. If you have a chance please try it!!
Unfortunately it requires fridge storage so it is hard to bring back as souvenir. I however bought a box at Matsuyama airport and brought it back to Singapore (via Haneda) for the danna. You can request for ice packs for longer storage during the flight 🙂
Uchiko Fresh Park Karari
One of the charming spots in Uchiko is Fresh Park Karari, a road station (Michi-no-eki) that is super popular with tourists from other prefecture. Apparently it is also chosen as one of the top 6 most scenic road station in the country!
You will first past through a local farmer’s market where fresh local vegetables are sold.
SOOOOO CHEAP ok!!! I once bought a zucchini from Meidiya at Liang Court for $9. ONE ZUCCHINI.
And then you will arrive at a hanging bridge called the Karari Bridge, above the Oda River.
Wait till you see the scenery!!
It is super beautiful omg… 😭
The water is clear until… you can also see the water glistening as the fishes swim through.
Next to the bridge is a lovely restaurant called Kakari Restaurant that is brightly lit by natural sunlight and… surrounded by beautifully refreshing greeneries.
No wonder it is called the Fresh Park. I felt very, very refreshed indeed.
Ishidatami
Ishidatami is one of the smallest hamlets that forms Uchiko. Ishidatami prides itself for the Weeping Sakura in spring time, so you may want to time your visit!
One of the most famous spots in Ishidatami is this scene.
With an old arched bridge spanning a large pond, leading to Yuge Shrine (弓削神社).
This shrine is soooooo beautiful especially with rays of sunshine giving it a magical aura. It’s a perfect place to regain your peace. There’s a Torii gate in front of the shrine and if you look carefully, there are lots of tiny stones on top of the gate!! It is said that if you make a wish and throw a stone, if the stone lands on the Torii gate and stays there, your wish will come true.
Uchiko Machinami Kimono Experience
This was not originally in our itinerary. We were talking a walk in Yokaichi (八日市), the historic district in Uchiko and we saw a pamphlet on Kimono rental service at one of the handicraft artisan shophouses.
Usually you have to make an appointment, but we were sooooo lucky to be able to get a slot by walking in!!
The Kimono rental & fitting is 3,300 yen, and you can wear it to take a stroll in the traditional district of Uchiko!!
You can make your reservation at Uchiko Town Visitor’s Center (reception from 9:00-16:00), or call 0893443790.
^^
The lovely hair accessories is made with washi by volunteers in old folks home, and it was only 200 yen each omg. You can purchase it as souvenir or to complement your kimono. ^^
Uchiko Town Visitor’s Center
If you need information or brochures in your language, you can make a visit to the Visitor’s Center.
Look!!! This is where we stayed in Uchiko with HomeAway the previous night!!
And this is where we will check in on this day haha.
If you are a fan of Ghibli, you will also be delighted to know that the center displays arts from Ghibli Studio staff!
Looks familiar? 😀 The covered bridge to Yuge Shrine!
This is painted by by the Ghibli crew when they were here for their stay. It looks super Ghibli doesn’t it?
Messages from the team.
Soba Restaurant -Shimohaga Tei
You have to have your lunch at this soba specialty shop.
I had my luxurious soba set that includes a bowl of Zaru soba, a mini mixed grain onigiri, prawn and vegetable tempura, simmered vegetables and ribs, a dish side dish, pickles and… super fluffy cheesecake served with a strawberry yougurt, all for…
1400 yen.
(SGD17)
It’s so ridiculous!!! This is why, you must come to the suburbs of Japan. Everything is extra affordable and of course delicious!
Uchiko-Za
Uchiko-Za is a fully operational kabuki theater in the center of town, built over 100 years ago, and is all Uchiko residents’ pride. We were there just in time for a drum performance by the local junior high school students.
Don’t we just blend into the beautiful traditional Kabuki theatre? 😀
Visitors can enter Uchiko-za and explore the many trap doors and hidden passageways around the stage. Kabuki stages are known for their elaborate design, allowing for sudden dissapearances, dramatic entrances and the like. I was very overwhelmed, it was like I have entered a scene of the past in the olden era of Japan…
I absolutely love how beautiful the wooden ceiling is.
Waiting for the show to begin.
Haha do we look like we came from 100 years ago? 😀
Even if you are not a traditional cultural performance enthusiast, I guarantee that you will enjoy the performance just like I did.
The teenagers has put up such a fabulous show that at that point of time, I briefly considered getting Sakura to join the Taiko club in the future, because the girls (and guys, of course) are sooooooo kakkoii. Super.
I loved it. I loved it so much.
The finale left a lot of audience in tears because the graduating students gave their goodbye speech, and I, a visitor who had no relationship whatsoever with anyone there, were secretly wiping tears off my face omg.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable show, I was so glad and so lucky to be there.
Yokaichi Old Town
Uchiko town has been blessed with an ancient history district which has been lovingly restored to its former glory, and most of the buildings now serve as museums, souvenir stalls, craft shops, accommodation houses and charming teahouses. It is a little like Kyoto, minus the crazy tourist crowds. Walking in Yokaichi gives you one of the most authentic experience of stepping into the past of Japan history.
There are many interesting shophouses for you to explore. Some of the stores are even unmanned, and you buy the souvenirs by dropping the coins into a designated box. Trust is what connect the people together in this little town.
Egg… vinegar?😲
Ok this, is weird. Haha.
Apparently it’s been featured on national TV as one of the best health drinks!!
This cheerful Ojisan found this Egg Vinegar company!
The picturesque Yokaichi town.
So quietly peaceful.
Back to the Hachiman Shrine in kimono!
So yes, I would definitely recommend making a trip to Uchiko, book your Kimono rental and fitting and take a stroll and blend into the old world of elegance.
I mean… the entire town is yours. No waiting forever for tourists to walk out of the camera frame, (or bo bian just capture them all into your photos lol). No getting hit by other people’s selfie sticks in your face…
It was awesome.
Meanwhile, other things that you can also in Uchiko is Uchiko’s traditional art and craft such as hand-made Washi (Japanese paper), an absolutely luxurious residence called Kamihaga Residence originally resided by Uchiko’s most influential family, the Honhaga.
Day 2 HomeAway Accommodation
That night, we checked into the second HomeAway listing in Uchiko.
If you are planning your holiday soon, do check out HomeAway to book your vacation home.
Don’t forget to use the code “HOMEAWAYCHEESIE” for 8% off!!
I am 33 this year. Typing this alone gives me a little bit of a shock. Admittedly I have not really liked to mention about my age because I feel that doing this is putting a lot of limitation and attracting unnecessary stereotype on myself.
There was once, during an influencer selection for a campaign, I had to tick “NO” at the “are you under 30” column and then I was immediately rejected from the job HAHAHAHAHA. Ouch.
If only the world operates without the label of age. Imagine that! You will no longer need to shop for age-appropriate clothing, answer to your relatives why you are not married at 28 during CNY reunion dinners, have awkward “how old do you think I look” guesses, and hesitate to buy all the Hello Kitty stuff lol.
If I am not bound by the label of age, what do I want to do?
Oh boy… lots and lots. .
FIRST I WANT TO WEAR A FURISODE AND DO A 成人式 PHOTOSHOOT. It was a chance I missed a dream that can never come true… 😢)
(Furisode is style of kimono worn by young unmarried women in Japan, particularly for the Coming Of Age ceremony – Seijinshiki (成人式) at the age of 20 for a girl. It usually has very bright colors like red and pink, with cute embellishment. I wore it for a tourism job last year and the kimono shop owner said that it is an exception only because I was doing it for PR purpose. It would be too weird for a married, let alone pregnant woman to be wearing Furisode lol. Usually married women in Japan can only wear very tone-down Kimono that’s simple and dull in color…😢)
(Age 32, pregnant. lolol)
And then, I want to tie twin tails and wear pastel gingham dresses, walk down Harajuku and queue up after all the teenagers for cotton candies. And then I’ll do a summer course in a Japanese high school. I’ll pick one with really cute seifuku (school uniform). And then go chase stars and fangirl over all the cute Japanese actors. And then I want to go dating with the danna in Disneyland wearing matching head gears like Bakkapuru (Baka Couple) lol.
All of these have become dreams of the distant past that is not gonna happen because I am aware of my own age. Of course I can pretend to be 22 (and I am quite confident that I can pass off if I try hard enough HAHAHHA), but… I guess this is how self-consciousness works haha.
People always have social expectations of what you can or cannot do at a certain age. How you should behave. What you should be wearing. What you should have achieved.
But why should they? They are not you. You are the only one in this world who should be in charged of who you want to be.
I just watched this video about how most Asian women are believed to have an “expiry date”, where she becomes less attractive and less desirable as she ages.
In Japan this is especially true, as unmarried women over 25 is referred to as “Christmas Cake” – nobody wants anymore after the 25th. Although the average age of Japanese women getting married is higher and higher nowadays so they changed the term to “Toshikoshi Soba” (年越しそば), a type of noodle that Japanese usually eat on the 31st of December. So now Japanese women’s expiry date is stretched up to 31 year old haha.
Watch:
Can you imagine if we actually get an expiry stamp just like the women in this video? It indeed reflects the sad truth that “getting older” is really seen quite negatively by women especially in Asia.
In SK-II’s survey, apparently 1 out of 3 women in Asia feel that there’s a pre-decided timeline for how to live your life and when to do things (marriage, career, education, kids etc) that they are expected to follow. I too, was one of them who felt the pressure. No one particularly rushed me to find a partner or to get married, but I felt that I had to rush, for no particular reasons.
I am so unbelievably lucky to have met the danna, got married at 28 and had the first child by 30 (thank you Hakone!!). But had I been less lucky, I could have met any regular a-hole and settled down just because I felt the need to, and have an unhappy marriage just to regret it years later.
The survey also shows that only 2 out of 10 women in Asia describe themselves as comfortable with the idea of getting older. Am I worried about getting older? Yes, sometimes I am. But then I will ask myself this: Am I happier now than 10 years ago?
The answer is a resounding yes. So I guess getting older does not matter so much to me in this case. Staying happy does. Doing what I love does.
The society needs to change. It is a wonderful world with soooooo many things to pursue, and marriage is only one of them. You own your freedom. Seeing the world, doing what you are passionate about, falling in love… it doesn’t need a sequence.
Thank you SK-II for the inspiration, always. I still remember the Dream Again video by SK-II that made me so teary, because I can so so so relate to it. Thank you for reminding us women that we can always dream, whoever we have become, whenever we want.
Find out more with the hashtags #INeverExpire #changedestiny #inpartnershipwithskii #skii @ski . 🙂
I am so thankful for HomeAway because it helped me unlock my 28th Prefecture: Ehime.
First time in Matsuyama Airport!
So Chanwon and I took a flight from Changi to Haneda via JAL, which landed at 5am in the morning ahead of time, and we were in luck because we had to rush over to the domestic departure after a loooong line clearing the immigration, for our connecting flight to Matsuyama. We got there just in time!
MATSUYAMA
Matsuyama is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture. And when you mention Ehime, the first thing that comes to mind is… mikan (蜜柑) – The Japanese orange/mandarin.
So basically you get mikan everything here in Ehime. Mikan Sake, Mikan Chocolate, Mikan Juice, Mikan Rice… I’m serious. The Japanese school canteen serves Japanese-orange mixed rice. Haha.
Guess what welcomes us right at the arrival hall of Matsuyama airport? That’s right! A Mikan Juice Tower!
Completed the most important mission at Ehime prefecture 5 minutes after landing, and that is… hunting for my Gotochi Kitty!!
Bought four of it (and a couple more on the following days).
Of course, Mikan kitty.
Mikan Juice Factory
So, what was first on our itinerary?
We went straight to 10 Factory, the ultimate Mikan juice specialty store in Matsuyama.
Check this out!! This is the Mikan Family Tree (a sort-of accidental pun here?!), apparently! There are so many types!!
A whole rack of mikan juice, and there are many many different types of mikan juice which… you are gonna have a huge dilemma deciding which to get because… how do you even know they taste? XD
There’s a label stating the subtle nuances between each species, some sweeter and some more tangy…
We ordered our freshly squeezed juice from the bar. Blogger at work. 😛
Check out the colors! Different mikan species also produce a different shade. Mine is more citrusy and slightly more sour than Chanwon’s, I loved it!!
Haha there’s my shopping in the metal basket: Mikan Handy Jelly.
They have recently opened a branch in Ginza, Tokyo! So if you love your mandarins, you can now get it from Tokyo. 🙂
We headed for lunch after, at an udon place called Kotori. There’s only one item on the menu in the shop, which is… udon. Hahaha. Apparently this little restaurant has been around for decades and is very well-loved by the locals.
We had a bit of extra time after lunch, so we went shopping!!!
Omgggggg I was soooo happy because I totally did not expect to shop here in Ehime judging from how packed our schedule was and also… I kept thinking Ehime is not Tokyo and I probably won’t get a chance to buy fashion stuff but… in the end I bought SO MUCH STUFF, like, more than I ever bought in Tokyo because it was sooooo cheap (a top for 1990 yen?! A dress for 2990 yen… A bag for 3990 yen!!!)!
Matsuyama Castle is easily ranked in the Top 5 castles in Japan. (The first is of course the unrivalled Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture, which I peeked from a far on my birthday this year.)
You will have to take a rather thrilling ropeway up the hill to reach the castle.
After a while, all the Japanese castles may look the same, but each has its own amazing stories to tell.
Matsuyama Castle is one of only 12 surviving castles built before the Edo period (1627), resting on a hill top high up so you get a breathtaking view of Matsuyama city.
And and and…
This is how it looks during sakura season. *sigh* So beautiful. T.T
I suspect every castle in Japan is surrounded by cherry blossom now. There must be an angle somewhere where you can capture a photo like this!
This is when you can’t find sakura so you settle for second choice HAHA.
This is when, you spotted sakura in disguise. HAHAH. I’m serious. This, is a Someiyoshino tree. When I saw the name tag I just went up and hugged the tree. Either I was a little crazy or I was missing the baby at home…😂
Dogo Onsen (道後温泉)
Dogo Onsen is said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan, and is visited by the most prestigious guests in Japan – The Imperial Family.
This is the Dogo Onsen Honkan, a public bath house from the Meiji period. Fans of Ghibli would have to make a pilgrimage here as it is said that this was an inspiration for “Spirited Away” by Miyazaki (along with Kusatsu in Gunma Prefecture and also Jiu Fen in Taiwan).
Spot something?
Yup that’s us.
You can take a tour (with a small fee) to visit the Yushinden, a special room reserved the visiting emperors. The room includes a bath and toilet for the emperor’s exclusive use. The toilet is basically a wooden box served as the toilet bowl, where the imperial doctor would then retrieve the emperor’s “Imperial Golds” for his health inspection lolol.
IYO CITY
Shimonada Station 下灘駅
If you have watched Jdramas before, you may have seen a scene that goes something like two lovers standing at a quiet train station overlooking the ocean, with silent goodbye and heartbreak in the air…
Shimonada Station in Iyo city, Ehime Prefecture, is voted one of the top 3 train stations with the most scenic view, looking right at the Seto Inland Sea. How romantic…
This station is about 50 mins from Matsuyama Station, and it is actually an unmanned train station (無人駅）but due to its popularity with tourist, a rare train will stop by just to let the passenger take some photos.
This station was a shooting location for many tv dramas movies, and have also been featured in various anime!
There’s a Love Love Bench for photo opportunity, Chanwon and I borrow each other as the lover haha.
Macam movie poster!!!!
Pass or not? Teenage Jdrama about hope, dreams and first love HAHAHA.
There’s a Shimonafa Coffee Truck right across the road from the train station. It’s so scenic that we started to fake a ViVi magazine shoot haha.
❤︎
UCHIKO
After that our host fromHomeAway came to pick us up at Shimonada station and drove us to Uchiko, where we checked into our 120 year old ryokan-style accommodation.
And then it was dinner time!!
The restaurant we went was called “Enoki”, it is just a few blocks a way from our accommodation.
I didn’t have photos of the food because I was concentrating on eating. The food was so good that Chanwon, who does not eat most vegetables, told me that this day was the day she ate the most vegetables in her life lol.
Sauteed Asparagus, soooo good!
Supermarket
Uchiko is a small town which I don’t expect a lot of shopping to be done other than the usual local specialty. But don’t worry. It is Japan. Every corner you go there’s shopping. If all else fails there’s still combinis. 😀
I did my research, and found out that there was a (in fact a few) supermarket and a mega drugstore just 15 mins walk away from our accommodation. We we walked there and had a mad shopping rush before the store closed.
Yeap. BUY ALL THE CALBEE FURUGURA!!!!
My shopping is quite crazy because I basically buy EVERYTHING. From salt, miso, canned tuna, potato chips to cotton buds, toilet fragrance and sanitary pads. Everything. If I can buy the whole store I will. Hahaha.
And that’s all for day one.
There are still many posts to come! Meanwhile, if you are planning your holiday soon, do check out HomeAway to book your vacation home.
Don’t forget to use the code “HOMEAWAYCHEESIE” for 8% off!!
When I was 14, I had a dream. My dream was to visit Japan.
However that dream was held on for 10 years. One whole decade. I was 24 when I first visited Japan. And the reason why it look me so long was that Japan was way too expensive for a regular Malaysian fresh grad like me.
Yearssssssss later, I still get people telling that they are putting Japan on hold as their travel destination because it is too expensive to travel to.
So today I would like to change a little of that misconception, because nowadays, honestly, I sometimes think that certain things in Japan are so insanely cheap that I feel worried for them. Gyudon chains are rivaling to bring the price down down down down, supermarkets are all fighting to offer the lowest price. Want more customers? MAKE IT CHEAPER!!
I was like オイ、日本！大丈夫かよ？！(Oi JAPAN!! Are you really okay?!)
So, let’s say you have gotten your flights and accommodation sorted out (which budget hugely relies on how wise you are, since it could vary greatly depending on season and level of luxury) and have splurged all your glorious yen on shopping. Now you are left with a budget of S$10 (¥800) a day for the rest of your trip.
Here’s how you do it (in short):
1. Go window shopping.
2. Go for sightseeing nearby by foot
3. Spend ¥200 each for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
4. You are still left with ¥200 to buy yourself a nice dessert from 7-11 for supper, or to spin a Gatcha Gatcha machine.
5. Go H2o. Tap water is safe for consumption in Japan.
The big question is now, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO SPEND ¥200 ($2.5) FOR A PROPER MEAL?
It is. I tried.
So here are some of the things you need to know:
1. Combini
I always had an impression that combini are relatively pricier because of the premium you pay in exchange for convenience. But it isn’t always.
You can get an onigiri for ¥100+ but obviously that doesn’t really qualify as a proper meal. Most bentos go for about ¥300-500.
However I discovered something awesome, and it is hidden in the frozen section, where most tourists will just skip through.
If you stay in a vacation apartment with a microwave, here are some of your options:
Cha-han (fried rice): ¥108.
$1.40!!! RM4!!!
I bet you can’t get fried rice that tastes so awesome even in Singapore/Malaysia for that price.
I felt like being a little luxurious, so I added mentaiko on top (¥200+ per pack, I used only 1/5 of it).
So that was my less than ¥200 meal. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Other options:
Rich Cheese Carbonara Pasta and Sea Urchin Cream Pasta. Waaaaaaa sounds like a fancy deluxe meal!! It’s ¥238 for Carbonara and ¥399 for that Sea Urchin cream pasta.
I had the Sea Urchin cream pasta twice because it was too yummy.
Where to find USD2 Carbonara (that doesn’t taste like rubbish) anywhere else in the world? It is of a very good size too, I shared with with Junya.
2. Don Quijote
(called “Donki” in short by the Japanese.)
By now you should already know about this legendary Japanese discount store. It is most famed for its cosmetic/snacks/lifestyle goods, but did you also know that it has a fresh grocery section?
Check out some of the grocery prices and you will have to find your eyeballs from the floor.
Let me show you how to shop for under ¥100.
¥28 bean sprout. $0.36.
¥28 tofu. This is getting too ridiculous. Seriously like… WEI, NEED TO DO UNTIL LIDDIS OR NOT?
Well, wait for it.
¥39 Natto. And it’s for a pack of 3 boxes. That’s ¥13 per box. I don’t even. (anyway the catch is each person is limited to buying only maximum of 2 packs. The third pack onwards will cost ¥48 lolol as if it makes a difference.)
Honestly I don’t even remember the last time I paid anything equivalent to ¥13. Probably for usage of public toilet in Malaysia.
One of my favorite soy milk, usually selling ¥100+ in combini, but only ¥78 in Donki.
If you have a fridge in your hotel/apartment, buy the value box of 1000ml for 45% cheaper.
1000ml 100% grape juice at ¥98.
Matcha drink for ¥50.
At this point I wanted to beg Japan to stop being so cheap because my heart is aching. Like… STOP BEING SO RIDICULOUS. JUST TAKE MY MONEY.
Fancy some alcohol? All sort of fruity cocktails at ¥108.
Feeling peckish? Calbee Ebisen at ¥78 each.
Think you have to give up on ichigo because Japanese fruits are just insanely priced? Here’s a more budget one. Tochiotome at ¥398. This is not the cheapest one I’ve seen though.
4. Depachika/Supermarket
Depachika (デパ地下), the basement food market in Japan (if you stay in the city center) or supermarkets (if you stay a little further out).
They are the best place to score for a nice dinner at a cheap price. Food stuff at the food market is relatively expensive, but not when you go at the right time. In Japan there’s the “Depachika War” during 7-8pm, where housewives start to gather around the food corner for the shop staff to place the red and yellow sticker on their ready-to-eat packaged food.
(image from Google)
Yes! We are all waiting for this sticker! Most of the food stuff will get a discount sticker when the supermarket is about to close, from 50 yen off to half price!!
The good thing is that unlike the combini, you get a wider variety of food from Chinese dishes and onigiri to roast meat, yakitori, steak and more!!
You can buy them for your dinner or even for next day’s breakfast/lunch!
5. Lawson 100
Lawson 100 is like DAISO, except that it sells food, including fresh produce.
(image from Google)
Most of the things are 100 yen. One whole Daikon, 100 yen. One pack of mixed vegetables, 100 yen. Even their eggs are 100 yen!!!! I saw a pack of 10 fresh eggs, 100 yen. Each egg is ¥10.
Just..😯
Sometimes as a housewife, I think I will save SO MUCH money if we lived in Japan.
So, you get the idea.
Basically you can conjure up a damn awesome meal for the whole family for… something like 500 yen? And judging from the prices you have just seen, it is damn well possible to spend 200 yen or even less per meal if you cook at home. I always love TKG (tamago kake gohan), so all you need is a bowl of rice (less than 100 yen for sure), break an egg (10 yen), a choice of natto topping (13 yen). That’s 123 yen, feel free to grab that 50 yen Ocha from Donki.
True, if you live in Japan, you gotta pay a lot of things… this tax that tax, salary is so-so… they all add up. However as a traveler to Japan, the choice is all yours. It is entirely possible to spend your days very very very luxurious, or super, super, super budget. In fact I’d say you could spend less than if you visit KL or Singapore. Of course that’s IF you can resist the urge to buy allllllllll the limited edition Japanese snacks hahaha. I know I can’t. 😛
I hope that people who used to have an image of Japan being an expensive to travel to, can see it in a different light after reading this blog post.
Well, if all options failed, Sukiya’s breakfast sets start from 220 yen.
Now you only need the discounted air tickets.
Do share if you know any other hacks to survive on $10 a day in Japan!
You know, sometimes I wish that I can live 100 lives, so that I can spend each life living a different existence in different places in Japan. As a farmer, as a fisherman, as a sushi master, as a popular comedian, as a ninja, as a Shiba Inu. That is how amazing Japan is. Allow me to borrow their tourism tagline: Endless Discovery. Because one life is not enough.
What is Setouchi? You have been following my Instagram feed for the past week but you still have no idea what where how why. Hahahah. Relax. In this post I am going to explain it all, the beginner way. Because this blog’s mission is to spread the love for Japan to the world. And today I am going show you how traveling to Japan does not only stop at Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido, and also how to experience the most authentic local ways of life and get a peek into the historical wonders in the lesser travelled parts of Japan.
What is Setouchi?
I myself, was confused when I was told to go on a trip to “Setouchi” (瀬戸内). I was like YAY I WANT!!! YESSSS!!! And then like, wait… where is it? (Anyway, don’t care. The less I know about the place the better! A whole new world for me to explore!)
I know that every time I see 瀬戸内, I see lemons. I saw Limited Edition Setouchi Lemon Pretz sticks and also Setouchi Lemon mixed juice by Kagome before. I also know that 瀬戸内 is related to the sea.
Alright, let’s get back to basic. Let’s take a look of the map of Japan. Most people know where Tokyo, Osaka and Hokkaido are. So here’s a map of Japan with their major cities (in blue) and regions (in red) marked:
Do you see the island marked “Shikoku“? Japan is made of four main islands (excluding Okinawa). Most people know Hokkaido, Honshu (where most major cities like Tokyo and Osaka are in), and Kyushu. Shikoku is often quite a forgotten island.
There wasn’t any cities labeled in the map for Shikoku, probably because they aren’t famous enough haha. Just like its Kanji, 四国, Shikoku is made of 4 prefectures, namely Ehime, Kagawa, Tokushima and Kochi. (Just to boast a bit, I memorized this by heart because I spent a whole day studying the map of Japan, and I know where exactly all 47 prefectures are lol.)
So, where exactly is Setouchi?
Let’s have another look again.
Actually, Setouchi is not a place or a prefecture. If you take a look at area of Hiroshima and Shikoku, you will see an inland sea in between, and the sea is called “Setonaikai” (瀬戸内海), and in English, the Seto Inland Sea.
The areas surrounding the Seto Inland Sea, is called Setouchi. So, just like the recently made popular region, Tohoku, Setouchi is also a region. Tohoku’s tourism campaign is very successful, so I think that different regional/prefectural offices in Japan are rivalling to promote their very own local cities. Which is a good thing!! Yes! More tourists to the suburbs of Japan! 😀
And just like Tohoku, Setouchi is made up 7 different prefectures.
Namely Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, Okayama and Hyogo from the north of the sea, as well as Ehime, Kagawa and Tokushima from down south.
You now know where it is!! 😀
Just to recap, here are the 7 prefectures in Setouchi:
And this time, we were going to Ehime Prefecture (only).
(I know right??? Only ONE prefecture and we already felt that we did not have enough time to explore allllll the beautiful spots in Ehime alone! This 47-prefecture bucket list is indeed a life-long mission!)
Sorry for the very long introduction. Let’s get to the real topic!
So the mission of this trip, was to explore the wondrous destinations in Ehime prefecture, while experiencing the most local ways of lodging, dining and shopping.
How often do you get to stay in a 120-year-old historic home built during the Meiji Era? I did. (In fact I was told that we were the first to stay in this listing on HomeAway!!!)
Private vacation lodgings and even farm stays are getting more and more popular in Japan. I’m so happy that HomeAway and Setouchi is collaborating to make the adventure one step easier for foreign travelers! There are many of amazing private lodgings and ryokan in the suburb Japan, but usually their websites are either in Japanese, or they do not have a comprehensive online booking system (I tried calling TWELVE ryokan in Shirakawago to book two nights for my friends who were very last minute and were desperate for my help cuz I was their only friend who speak Japanese lol). So HomeAway is bridging this gap so that more of us can discover the hidden beauty of the suburbs of Japan.
We stayed in 3 different listings during our 4D3N trip in Setouchi.
We spent 3 nights in Uchiko, a rustic little town with a historic preserved district. We met our host in the afternoon and checked into their cafe.
Wait what? Cafe?
This was our first accommodation. The original building was built in Taisho era (about 100 years ago) as Machiya (townhouse). It is now renovated to accommodate visitors, and apparently we are the first guests from HomeAway!! 😀
The first floor is a cafe open to public for dining (although it is quiet almost all the time), and the entire second floor was our accommodation. After 6pm, the cafe closes and we would have the privacy of the entire building!
The living room is soooooo spacious until!
Don’t know what we are trying to do here lol. To show how comfy it is hahahha. If you have more guests, they can sleep on the futon in this spacious living room!
The bedroom houses two semi-double bed perfect for travelers like us.
You can never guess that this building is 100 year old because it certainly doesn’t look like one!
Bed is freshly made and the room is clean with brand new amenity provided.
Love love love!
And the view from our bed room…
It directly overlooks the courtyard of this building. The only thing is that the bathroom (with a wooden bath tub) is on the first floor, so you will have to go downstairs and walk over the courtyard for your bath. If you only need to use the toilet, there’s one next to the bedroom on second floor!
The second accommodation was just a short walk from the first. This building is even older (built in the Meiji era), but has undergone intensive refurbishment 6 years ago to look sparkly new!
Already in love the moment I stepped into the entrance.
Haha look at this Chanwon who planned her outfit to blend perfectly into the picture!
This place is so Japanese yet… infused with the Western elements? The spacious double beds in the attic and the wooden setting reminded me of quaint cottages in Europe. But upon stepping into the house I was charmed by the scent of Hinoki (Japanese Cypress wood), which makes the home the quintessentially Japan.
There are a few things I really love about the house:
1.The courtyard
Ample sunlight gives the house a very cozy feel, and the little garden makes it feel like a holiday villa!
2. Efficient storage space
This may not be useful for our one-night sojourn, but I was so fascinated with the way everything is optimized for aesthetics, utility and efficiency! 😀
3. Ofuro (bath tub)
Oh. Nothing beats a good bath tub especially in the cold climate.
Hotel bathtubs are good, but the cypress wooden tub gives it a whole “onsen” feel!
This is the final accommodation we stayed on our last night in Uchiko. Actually it is in the same building as the above, just next door! ^^
The interior is pretty much the same, just slightly different layout 🙂
It has the same star-case storage! ^^
This is Onishi san, our very gentle and charming host for all three nights. He not only helped us with all the lodging matters and showed us around the area, he also cooked our breakfast daily and it was sooooo delicious😱. Chanwon was like omg… so multi-talented haha. (By the way his daughter’s name is also Sakura!!😍)
Anyway I will be slowly posting our journey in Setouchi in the coming posts.
My baby boy turned 3 today. It really feels like I’m fast-forwarding my life and living in 8X speed.
36 months also feels like graduation. Many baby products are made for 0-36 months. Some of the baby apps end at 36 months. Because after the 36th, it feels like the big puzzle is now clear enough for you to figure out and putting small pieces together.
So he really really isn’t a baby anymore. He is a big boy who can do many things on his own.
Although he still feels so much like one, when I look at his peaceful sleeping face.
There are many new things that happened in the month before he turned 3!! Most of the time he is learning about independence, and here are some of his new challenges/milestone before turning 3:
1.Sleeping in own room
On his own bed, in his own room (room-sharing with Sakura). When we first moved in to this new apartment in Singapore, our plan was to have the kids eventually sleep in their own room. We started by putting Junya there with all his toys and books. It was ok for a week, until we started waking up every single morning with him lying next to us. After that he was very reluctant to sleep in his own room until I suspected whether the room was “clean” enough 😒. (You know… got “dirty things”?) Or really got monster in the closet😒. So we gave up and moved his bed into our bedroom, and four of us slept in one room again.
But on Sakura’s birthday last month, I decided to just make a big leap and give it another try. This time I threw two petits into their own room altogether. Surprisingly it worked until now.
I guess Junya feels that it is fair enough that Sakura too has her own bed and is not special enough to always get to snuggle between mama and papa.
So yes, this works perfectly, that I successfully get both the kids to sleep in their own room.
(His fav pajama)
But soon enough I discovered another problem: Sakura usually goes to bed first. If Junya creeps into his bed, he may end up waking the little sister up because he just talks SO.MUCH. So now I have to wait for him to fall asleep on the couch in the living room and then carry him to his bed, half the time. -_-.
2.Fully feed himself
He has been eating on his own for about a year now, ever since Sakura was born. He just had to do it because I really, really don’t have octopus arms to be feeding Sakura, Junya and myself all at the same time. He feeds himself every time until his popo (grandma) comes to visit, of course. Then all of a suddenly his arms just decide to lose their functions to pick up chopsticks/spoons/forks😒. Can anyone tell me why grandparents ALWAYS want to chase the grandkids around and feed them like they are babies?😑
3.Go to toilet by himself
Toilet training was a bit of an ongoing battle for both me and Junya since he was 18 months, so I decided not to pressure on to this matter until very recently. The school did not encourage toilet training for the first term (maybe they think it will put extra stress on the child’s new school life?), so he was on diaper full time during school. I mean, it wouldn’t be very nice to have the teacher clean up after your child’s excrement all the time lol.
Recently though, I notice that he actually will go to toilet by himself when he was pants-less at home, but as long as he had his diapers on (in school), he would FOR SURE let go in it. So one day I just decided that this is it. It’s time to save some diaper money. I told the teachers that I am starting him on training pants the next day, and prepped him repeatedly by telling him, “Junya, you are on training pants today, it will get wet if you pee in it. You will tell teacher when you need to go to toilet, okay? You can do it.” He nodded.
And miraculously he followed through and made no mistake. It took only one day to have him fully toilet trained in the day.
So yea, I guess when they are ready, they are ready. Parents, just relaxxxxx.
I really saved a lot of diaper money lol. Sakura’s turn soon HAHAHA.
4. Get changed by himself
Junya can get dressed fully by himself. His shirt, underpants, trousers, socks and shoes. It’s just that 50% of the time he gets it: inside out/ front-back opposite/left-right opposite -____-. And going to school in the morning is a race against time so I still end up dressing him most of the time.
Plus, if I ask him to choose his own outfits, he will FOR SURE 100% choose his Gudetama shirt. -_-
Erm…
5. Into the pool
It may not mean a lot to other people but I was so, so happy when he finally can jump into the pool on his own without clinging on to me like I was about to murder him.
He was even willing to put on the goggles!!
If there’s one thing I wish Junya will excel in, it would be sports. Both the danna and I really don’t care so much about academic success (for now lol. Who knows we will turn into Tiger mom and dad later on!!!), for it did not mean anything much to us in our lives. My straight As all my school life (HAHA sorry ah humble brag) did not contribute much to who I am today, while the danna’s lack of any As at all did not make him a less capable person he is now. So yea, “A”s don’t mean anything to either of us.
Perhaps it is a Japanese thing, but the spirits of sports is deeply connected to the success in one’s life. I admire little school kids in Japan who go on outdoor adventures, and seeing them working and training hard in sports makes my heart flutter. Not to mention all the touching moments I see on TV during sports events, the Samurai Japan, Nadeshiko Japan, legendary figure skaters… all brought tears to many many people. Sports makes one strong, physically and mentally. That’s something that I don’t have and unlikely to ever have.
This is a video that went viral in Japan which gets me all teary every time I watch it, sharing it here!
You can watch it from 2:10 onwards:
Junya will be 6 when Tokyo 2020 Olympics takes place. I hope that he would be inspired to take on more interest in sports (unlike his mama hahaha).
JunJun says
(lying on his bed)
Junya: Mama I’m the small robot I cannot move. Mama you fix me!!
Mama: How? Ok I use a screw driver to open you up?
Junya: ok.
Mama: What should I do?
Junya: you put battery ok. I no more battery.
Mama: *inserts imaginary batteries into son’s back* It’s all fix now!
Junya: no mama! You cover! You cover the battery.
Mama: *puts back imaginary battery cover* -_- Ok all done!
Junya: mama you press start.
Mama: *presses imaginary button* lol
Junya: *starts moving*
*
Mama: Can you hold this bag for me? I have many bags and they are very heavy.
Junya: Mama, it’s not so heavy. Ganbatte!!
Mama: 😞
*
(lying on his bed being lazy)
Mama: Junya get up! Let’s eat dinner.
Junya: *not moving* mama I dropped into the river. You pull me up.
Mama: 🙄
Remember last month I wrote that when I said some words, she will try to mimic although totally not accurate at all? I said “banana” and she would say “appa“.
Actually I finally found out what appa is.
It is “oppai” (boob in Japanese). She says “appa” while pulling and tugging my shirt, means she wants to nurse. That’s the word she says the most now lol.
She can also say “ah ter”, when she wants water. And “tttt” (phonic for T) for “star”.
Nod
After months of head-shaking, she finally learnt how to nod! One day I saw her doing an awkward neck exercise, turned out that she was practicing nodding!😂
Itadakimasu
Surprisingly, she picked this up without us teacher her! One day I found out that she put her hands together when we say “itadakimasu” before eating. I guess she learnt it by observing us at meal times ^^. She will also do it when I say “gochisousama deshita”.
Pointing
She has also turned into a single-handed Chinese zombie, like Junya when he was 11 months old. She is stretching an arm pointing to a random item at all time ^^.
Standing
She can now stand on her own!! She can’t walk on her own yet but she can walk pretty stably while holding my hand. ^^
Time to break out those fancy shoes! 😀
Eating
Sakura eats 3 full meals a day. Whatever I prepare for her, she usually finishes all. And then half an hour later I will either nurse her or give her a bottle of milk on top of the snacks in between. And whenever she catches us eating anything without offering her, she will be barking at us in a loud voice (“AHHH!”) until we share some with her😂…. In fact I am pretty sure that she eats more than Junya.
But… why isn’t she gaining any weight? T____T.
Sleeping on own bed
Sakura now naps and sleeps on her own bed (next to Junya)!
She typically goes to sleep at about 8pm, and will for sure wake up once before dawn (around 4-5am), I’ll have to pat her to sleep, and then she wakes again about 6am to drink milk.
Weaning Koala
One of the parenting questions I get asked the most is, when and how are you planning to wean?
Answer is, I don’t know.😂
When? I don’t know when I will be finally emotionally ready.
How? This one I may be able to share my personal experience.
Sakura was breast-fed since day one and had never taken a bottle until almost 1 year old. I have tried many times, she either spat it out at once, or chewed on the teat like a teether. She just won’t take it more than 1 sip.
I thought it may be the bottle’s problem, so I tried switching to straw cup. She would sip, and then spit it all out -______-. It was a lot of work every time I have to feed her.
The only way that worked (a little) was to let her drink from the bottle without the teat. For some reasons she was okay with this, but still she won’t be able to finish the whole bottle.
God knows how much formula I had wasted testing and trying all sort of methods -___-.
Recently I found out that she will take the bottle and drink at least half of it if I carry and rock her like a small baby lolol.
For Mama
Weaning
Read my previous post on how I successfully maintain my milk supply while traveling without my baby😂.
Traveling without cheesiepetit
I thought hard and long before I accepted the work trip to Japan. One, of course I needed to still have an income. Two, IT IS JAPAN. No question asked.
It would be the first ever time I am leaving Sakura for more than 30 minutes.. since the day she was born. So it was a big leap of faith. And to have things transiting smoothly, I started training her a month prior to my trip. Sleep train, bottle train, and to have her get more comfortable with people other than me.
Then, I had to trouble my mom to come all the way from Seremban to SG to help me with my petits because she was the only one who could take care of the kids (the danna had work commitments). And in order to help me jaga my kids, she had to trouble other relatives to jaga the two dogs… so it is really quite 大工程。
Before I left for the departure, Junya hugged me very tightly and said goodbye to me with a smiley face.
“Bye bye mama. Ganbatte mama. Love you mama.” Just like what I say to him every day before school.
He didn’t seem to be upset at all. He’s quite cool like that.
Sakura on the other hand… she had no idea what was happening. Why mama will disappear for a few days… why she cannot smell mama anymore… why she only can drink from a bottle now… T__T
I said goodbye to her but she didn’t want to let go of me before I left, so I had to put her down, had papa carry her from the back while I ran away the opposite direction.
My heart aches as I was overwhelmed with a thousand worries.
I could not sleep at all on the plane 😭😭😭.
And then the next day I texted my mom to ask how she was.
“Very good! No cry at all, drink milk and sleep.” she replied.
My face was like:😮
Good good good, may it hasn’t sunken in yet.
Then later in the night, my mother reported to me again,
“She’s fine! No cry!!”
I was in disbelief… I replied, “no cry… at all?!😮 IMPOSSIBRUUUUUU“.
The next next day, her reply got even shorter, she was just like, “fine!”😂
I thought my mom probably just didn’t want me to worry so that I could enjoy my trip. So I asked the danna. He said, “totally no cry and drink milk very well.”
I was relieved and slightly disturbed at the same time. Sakura… can live without me?🤔
She doesn’t need me?😮
SHE DOESN’T MISS ME?😥
Or… it is my problem?(that she only cries when I’m around?)😭
Moral of the story is…
Your kids will never miss you as much as you miss them. (sad but true.)
Haih.
NEVERMIND. That means more Japan work trip for me! WAHAHHAHA.
3rd Birthday for Mama
So it has been 3 years. Today I am celebrating my 3rd birthday as a mother. I have cried lots, but I laughed and smiled more. Sometimes I feel so tired and I wonder if this will ever end. Or I am just gonna die a tired mother. Sometimes I thought I was gonna just collapse and lose it all. Sometimes I wonder if I am doing enough, or good enough. Sometimes I hated being a mother, but most of the time I love it and am proud of it.
Sometimes people say that you shouldn’t compare yourself with other mothers because that’s how pressure and stress happens. I feel that it is just a lazy excuse to not do any better than you are now. Kyaraben is probably unnecessary and may be all for the social likes, but how awesome is it to master a new skill? And it takes A LOT of effort and time. I know because I didn’t have that kind of dedication to continue lol.
So I compare anyway. All the time. Or rather, I call it “reference”. Every mother is an inspiration to me. If I see other mothers who are doing less than I do, I feel good that I am doing extra, or learn to be more chill like they are. If I see other mothers who are doing more and better than I do, I take their tips and push myself to improve. Because you can never be the best, but you will always try to be the best for your kids, and you are the best.
So let’s all be the best for nobody else, but our kids.
Please don’t flag my blog for having suspicious content based on the title above. In fact, This blog post is gonna be so useful for many people, that I think it deserves a medal.
So, if you followed my Instagram for the past week you’d know that I have been away for a trip to Japan without the cheesiepetits.
One of the hardest thing for me to be away other than emotional guilt, was to maintain my milk supply while I was not with Sakura. I was not ready to give up breastfeeding just yet. Our travel schedule was quite packed so it would not be very wise to keep asking for toilet breaks to pump. Plus there’s no way I would be bringing a breast pump. So I devised a plan:
1. First, cut down day feedings. Two weeks prior to the trip I nursed Sakura only before her sleep and when she wakes up, so this way I won’t be getting engorgement during day time, yet still able to maintain the supply. Good tactic!
2. During the trip, express at the times when feedings are due (ie: before Sakura’s sleep and when she is supposed to wake)
So I went on my trip feeling confident that I could do this with ease.
Just so I thought my plan was perfect, I encountered a few hiccups right away:
1. My hand-express yield very shockingly little. Well, this was unexpected. Because I have never done it before!!! The first night I expressed only 60ml. Then 80ml in the morning. My face probably went pale when I saw it lol. Judging from the momentum, I was going to lose my supply very soon.
2. Since that hand-expressing was so inefficient, I ended up spending a lot of time in the toilet. Usually at least 20 minutes, which was not conducive at all for traveling.
3. I forgot about it sometimes. You know, it is not easy to wake up 6am to express when you are not sleeping next to your baby T__T. The other night, we went to a snack bar for Karaoke until 11pm (I was supposed to express by 8pm)!!! And I was panicking that my boobs were gonna explode.
4. Expressing is SO MESSY! And so tiring T_T. Hand-express means that you will need to hold a container (if not the milk is gonna be splattering everywhere omg… So you can only express one breast at a time. The ONLY way to do it without messing anything up is to do it inside the bathtub full of water. You can express to relieve while enjoying the hot bath and also letting the warmth ease your engorgement AND adding nourishing natural milk essence to the bath water at the same time… HUH THAT’S LIKE 50 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE?! Best. Idea. Ever. You are welcome. Except that… I was sharing the bath with my co-traveler Chanwon, and it won’t be very nice if she knows that she is soaking in Cheesie Milk Bath (sounds gross and unsanitary..!? HAHAHAHAH), so… this method was out.
I had to do something before I run out dry.
So one morning I woke up late and had no time to express before heading out for our activities. Worrying about engorgement, I stuck two breast pads into my bra and headed out. During a short toilet break, I went to the cubicle to express but I did not have an empty bottle with me, so basically I was aiming at the toilet bowl and boy was it hard!!!!! (Come to think of it boys probably do it a looooot easier at aiming the toilet bowl. I know Junya does it perfectly HAHAHHA.) While wiping drops of milk all over the the toilet cover, I thought, screw it, I’m just gonna express into the breast pads what the hell.
AND THAT WAS WHEN I SAW THE BEAMS OF ENLIGHTENMENT.
Yes. Express into the pads!!! I can’t even count the merits:
1. You can express both breasts at once.
2. You won’t mess anything up.
3. You can do it very discreetly.
4. YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE IF YOU DO IT DISCREETLY ENOUGH.
5. You can relieve engorgement at any time, a little at a time without having to excuse yourself go for a long toilet break.
6. You can do it all day, all night long as you wish to boost your supply.
7. Your breast pads will be very full and it will make your bosoms look wonderful.
(in fact nobody will need chicken fillets anymore. Milk-filled breast pads will be the new bra-inserts! Omg do I see a business opportunity here??)
I am a genius.
I am guessing this is how toasters and rockets are invented. Sort of. Although probably of different scale, with or without the involvement of boobs.
Boob problem solved.
Thank god for breast pads. (I was using Pigeon, in case you are wondering. Never a single leak.)
(This may as well be and ad for breast pad godammit.)
(It is not.)
So basically I was squeezing my own boobs all the damn time, and if someone who did not know the reasons behind it saw what I did, they will either think I was a hentai freak, or I was Mitsuha in “Your Name” who just got body-switched with Taki.
It saved my life (the life of my milk supply at least). Please don’t tell the trip organizers and my sponsors, but I have secretly expressed on car rides, on flight, in our room (when I was too lazy to do it in the toilet), while doing my make up (and have no extra time), while watching TV and feeling bored, and sometimes just when nobody is looking.
Actually this post is about the most loved castle in Japan, Himeji Castle, and the most coveted beef worldwide, Kobe Beef. But it was also my birthday. So I win the title. But I still love you, Himeji Castle and Kobe Beef. You are welcome.
So for the past two days (31st March and 1st April) we had been traveling to different places in the Kansai region to fulfil my #47prefecture life mission. We had another day free for traveling, but I couldn’t decided where to go. Okayama for fruits? … Wakayama? It’s kind of a very unpopular place for tourists but that’s exactly why I wanted to visit, because I’d probably not get many chance to do it 😅. Hmmm… perhaps the lake in Shiga?
In the end we went to bed without a decision. And I was secretly in shock because… the danna really went to bed without wishing my happy birthday (it was past midnight).
(It was past 1st April midnight so it couldn’t be a joke anymore.😒)
I sighed in my heart, but I didn’t take it very seriously. I mean, coming from the danna who doesn’t even remember his wife’s phone number, this is nothing much of a surprise. Never mind la. I am already very used to being forgotten 😒.
Maybe tomorrow he will suddenly remember and feel very guilty about it. Then I can guilt-trip him into changing Sakura’s diapers for the next 3 months wahahaha.
2nd April
We woke up, I settled the kids, and the danna told me that we were going to Himeji. Ok boss.
So we took the train to Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture!
Solving an early sibling situation, ep.1 “Why Is My Ticket Bent“.
“Really? Let me have a look.”
“Oh it IS bent! Let me unbend it.” *works magic*
“There you go!”
Yeap. That’s how you solve a train ride crisis.
Himeji Castle
The most spectacular castle in Japan that has gone through a major renovation 2 years ago. It’s sparkly perfectly white and beautiful.
It was a perfect sunny day too!
Ooops. Photobombed by Himeji Castle at the background lol.
The castle has one of the most famous cherry blossom views in Japan, and sadly it was still too early. That was one lone sakura tree quietly blooming though.
Cute little blossoming buds
Himeji Castle in full bloom is supposed to look like this:
Managed to catch my version:
Haha. CLOSE ENOUGH!
Quite nice what. ☺️
And that was our hanami at Himeji. Admiring from afar.
Snack time: Road side oden. Yummy!!!
Kobe Beef
The danna was really looking forward to eat his Kobe beef for lunch. He actually worked in Kobe for four years as a stylist many years ago, and he knows all the best eats here so I was leaving the entire itinerary up to him. We took a train to Kobe city.
Two days ago we just had Matsusaka yakiniku in Matsusaka, so we were really excited to do a comparison. I mean, what a luxury to be able to even have this comparison done!!! 😀
Seriously, Kobe is full of Kobe beef restaurants. Left right up down center all Kobe beef. All of them looked pretty touristy because of the Chinese menu they have. Sometimes I feel a little bad because whenever I see Chinese translation I sort of automatically assume that it is a less authentic business that thrives on tourists’ impulse. But the danna said this one is pretty much the real deal. My bad.
Honestly I don’t even really know the restaurant’s name. The shop front shouts “THE KOBE BEEF”. Wa very direct lol. So yea I think that’s the restaurant’s name? Haha.
It was quite a fine-dine setting so I was very cautious with photo taking. Who knows the chef immediately shove this plate in front of us and asked us to take photos. Really, this Instagram generation is changing the world.
Award-winning Kobe beef. Yeah baybeh. Come to mama’s tummy!!
Starter – beef consomme and salad.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh. That was my tastebuds moaning in pleasure.
The end.
HAHA it was a bit potong steam ok honestly, like… how come end so fast??? The beef was of course, extremely delicious but… it was so little!!!! In case you misunderstand, of course it is not just that 4 pieces la. It’s Teppanyaki style so the chef grills while you eat, and keep refilling your plate so I couldn’t get a full picture of the whole course.
I paid about 19000 yen for this, so if you ask me for a verdict, I say Matsusaka Yakiniku, any time. It feels waaaaay more value-for-money in terms of quantity. Quality wise… I’d say my tongue is not godly enough to pass a judgement yet. 😛
After lunch we went for a stroll in Kobe city.
Oh ya, noticed that I said “I” paid? Yeah, I was feeling really generous so I treated the danna (and Junya and Sakura haha) and was feeling very superior about it lol. So that when he finally realize that he had missed my birthday I’d be like, nah, you are welcome😊😊😊😊😊 <– like this. HAHA.
We went shopping a little until evening, and it was time to head back to Osaka. At this point I have already given up to have my birthday even celebrated today judging from how things are going. But I was really having a great time! My intestines are happily digesting those fatty Kobe morsels right now. I mean, I AM LITERALLY SMILING INSIDE.
On the way back to the train station, we passed by a public park with little kids performing, and there was a huge ass banner at the background that says, 2ND APRIL, AUTISM AWARENESS DAY 2017. So I actually can’t resist the temptation to throw him a hint, so I casually mentioned, “look!” and pointed to the banner and then told him about an acquaintance who has an austistic child. He had a glance and just casually ackowledged. I was getting close to feeling disbelief because… even looking at the date means nothing to him? 😂 So yea. The day has come. This is what 5 years of marriage does to you.
By the time we reached Osaka station, it was almost 7pm. The danna asked what I wanted to eat so I said ramen (I was really craving for ramen). He said ok. Then we took a taxi and I was busy posting pictures on Instagram.
And then the taxi dropped us at Ritz Calton Osaka.
Huh.
Where’s my ramen?
Before I could delete those ???? hovering above my head, I was promptly escorted into a fancy Italian restaurant with designated seat and a beautiful pink bouquet on the table.
Wait, is this…
HOMAIGOD.
It was all along planned, after all.
Now *I* am the one who felt guilty for thinking that my husband would forget about my birthday. He has just turned the whole table around.
Fine. I lost. Again.
Danna: 923876481491
Me: 0
Anyway, I asked the danna why he pretended to not remember my birthday?!!? Is this some new twisted romantic trick?!
He said, “no I wasn’t pretending anything in particular.”
Omg… Was it a test?? A test to see if his wife is those crazy type that would go berserk over a forgotten anniversary?? Luckily I didn’t fall for his trap!
Now I think that marrying this man is very stressful lol. I have to constantly think in multiple layers because that’s how his brain works. Layer after layer after layer. Sooner or later my brain is gonna turn into Baumkuchen. (The hole in the middle is for blanking out during moments like these.)
It was a happy ending for my birthday this year. The Italian dinner was lovely.
Full menu as below. I’m lazy to type out every single dish so you could refer to this course menu:
(click to enlarge)
Happy birthday to mama.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Wa suddenly very awkward to see my own face so big.
Yeap. That was the story of how my husband did not forget about my birthday.
I am feeling very powerful now, because I have just visited the most sacred shrine and the second most sacred shrine in Japan, one after another in two days.
In the previous post I went to Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture, and the next day I thought, let’s keep rolling and I decided to travel to Hiroshima. Hiroshima is one of the more popular destinations in Japan that I have not visited, and I was very excited to tick it off my #47prefecture bucket list.
Hiroshima is my 27th prefecture. 20 more to go.
It’s more than 300km from Osaka (about KL – SG kind of distance), but it took only 1.5 hours on Shinkansen.
Sorry I will have to repeat again. I really, really love Shinkansen. In fact the whole world should be connected with Shinkansen lol.
(5-storey Pagoda at the background)
I was quite sad that we only had an afternoon to visit Miyajima, a small island in Hiroshima Bay, as we departed quite late (lots of parenting havoc ongoing in the morning, showering kids, feeding, emergency diaper change, endless coaxing etc lol). I would really love to spend more time in Hiroshima city and to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Never mind, next time!!
We headed straight to Itsukushima Jinja, best known for its floating torii gate, and also ranked no.2 as best power spots in Japan. AND, also is voted one of the most scenic views in Japan. Wa wa wa need to bag so many accolades or not!
This, is one of the most scenic view for me, though. 😀
Early bloomer sakura <3
When you come to Hiroshima, of course oyster. 😋
Grilled oyster AGHHHH THIS WAS SO SO GOOD.
500 yen for two. I should have eaten 10 plates!!!
Another stall selling grilled oyster with rice. I prefer the previous one.
HAHAHAH Sakura totally not interested at all.
Deer.
Junya really loves animals.
Sakura buds. It was still a little too early.
World’s biggest rice scoop!!
Itsukushima Shrine.
So so amazing! I’ve never seen any shrines with so many pillars and broadwalks.
Torii gate at low tide.
Taken with danna’s iphone on portrait mode.
It was evening time when we left. We didn’t have time for dinner in the city so we headed back to Hiroshima station for Hiroshima Okonomiyaki.
It was really good!! But perhaps we have over-ordered because after the first slice, everything sort of tasted same-ish. It’s the sauce’s fault again 😅.
Anago, oyster and sardin.
Oysterrrr!
Bought some Hiroshima souvenir too. This is their famous Momiji Manjyu, in Doremi shape.
Heading back to Osaka. Junya had his Doremi snack.
Haha Junya please don’t squeeze anymoreeee.
That’s all for today! Next up would be Himeji and Kobe. It was my birthday and the entire day I was wondering how to punish to danna for forgetting my birthday… HAHAHA. Story next.
During our 3 week’s stay in Osaka, the danna asked if I had any request to travel anywhere within the Kansai region, since we hardly come to this part of Japan. It had to be a day trip because we have booked our accommodation in Osaka throughout the stay.
I thought about it and I said, ALL!!!!! Mie, Shiga, Wakayama, in addition to the prefectures I have visited (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo) to complete the whole region. But that’s not really possible, given the tight schedule. In the end I have decided that if there’s one place I’d like to visit, it has to be Ise Jingu, which is said to be the most sacred shrine in the entire Japan.
There are many unofficial power spot rankings for shrines in Japan, and although each shrine is specifically powerful in certain aspect (for example wealth, relationships and baby-wishing), Ise Jingu champs every ranking as number 1. If you are curious, here are some of the regular top shrines in Japan:
I am not someone who is very spiritually connected, but each time I visit a shrine in Japan I feel safe, peaceful and content. And I feel like I keep wanting to go back, and that I am attracted to them in some ways. And this time I had a specific wish to make, and it was a very very big wish, and I thought I just had to do it in the most powerful spot in Japan, which is Ise Jingu (Ise Grand Shrine).
So we traveled by Shinkansen from Osaka to Ise Shima, Mie prefecture. The journey took about 1.5 hours.
Weather forecast said it was gonna rain the whole day but I didn’t care. It was a pilgrimage I had to make.
I know I have said this many times before but Shinkansen is really one of the best things ever invented. I have a feeling that I can complete my 47-prefecture life mission pretty soon!!
Geku
There are two main shrines in Ise Jingu, and they are Geku (Outer Shrine) and Naiku (Inner Shrine). It is advised that you visit Geku before heading over to Naiku.
At Geku.
Since it is deemed the holiest shrine in Japan, many people expected it to be ultra grand and unique, and disappointed to find out that it looks just like any other shrine (in fact, much, much simpler than many other shrines). Like, “…that’s it?” hahaha. Just know that if you are here to pray, all you need is a true heart.
Naiku
It’s a walk towards the inner shrine, similar to the path you experience in Meiji Shrine.
It was unexpectedly uncrowded, given how popular it is.
This is the only picture I could take before the no-photography point.
I made my prayers and then we we walked over to Oharaimachi, a stretch of traditional shophouses, for lunch.
Most restaurants were full and it was still raining, so we went inside the only restaurant that could accommodate our family. Junya fell asleep and skipped his lunch.
My Hitsumabushi. It’s like Unagi Don but it’s eaten differently with spice condiments and dashi soup. Something like ochazuke over unadon! I had been craving for this sooooo badly for a very long time, that I paid over $90 to have it in Chikuyotei, probably the only place thats serves good Hitsumabushi in Singapore.
Over here it is only less than 3000 yen. 😀
Dessert was yokan and hanami dango.
Ok you can have one tiny bite!!
Matsusaka
Matsusaka is so famous for its namesake beef that many people didn’t know that it is a city, located in Mie prefecture.
My only mission in Mie was Ise Jingu. What else is Mie famous for? Ise Ebi (lobster), pearl (Mikimoto), and… ninja? But the danna had another mission. Which is to go on his yakiniku hunt.
Many of you probably heard of Matsusaka Beef. Well, it’s just the most expensive beef in Japan. 🤤 I remember having it in Malaysia before, and it was RM240 for 100gm…😮😮😮
The restaurant the danna settled for was Isshobin, after reading many reviews.
This was 5000 yen I think. CHEAP OR WHAT???
Check out those marbled morsels…. 🤤🤤🤤
Yes Sakura ate too. Conquered best beef in the word at 10 months hahaha.
Junya skipped lunch so he was feasting real well.
Both the danna and I agreed that it was one of the best beef we have ever had, but realistically, you can get the best beef anywhere in the world as long as $y$o$u $c$a$n $a$f$f$o$r$d$. We can have the same beef in Tokyo or even Singapore, just that it probably costs 2X or 3X more.
Here at Matsusaka we were eating it like buffet lol. Order and order and order and order until I could not swallow another sesame seeds. The total bill came up to 16200 yen (about $200). Too damn worth it.
Two days after this trip, we headed to Kobe for a day trip and guess what we had? of course, the famed Kobe beef. That would be in the next post. 😀
