I enjoy trying new restaurants and tasting new dishes as much as the next unadventurous chap, but there are times when the tried-and-true exerts a pull that doesn’t simply pass unnoticed. In this case, it was my favourite ramen at my favourite ramen chain … though I can at least claim the excuse that thisContinue reading “Food Report: Ichiran (Dōtonbori branch, Ōsaka)”
Category Archives: Travel
Field Report: Ōsaka, Japan (23 November 2014)
Every visit to Japan is full of surprises, but who could have imagined that a hankering for ramen would land me in a police station?
Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (23 November 2014)
Our itinerary for the 23rd of November was light, open, and relaxed – it was Sunday, after all. A hearty breakfast to start, followed by mid-morning Mass at a Catholic church in downtown Ōsaka, and then a quick day trip to see the gilded precincts of what may well be the grandest house in allContinue reading “Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (23 November 2014)”
Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (22 November 2014) – Part 3/3
After our daytime walk across Arashiyama, we headed back to Kyōto Station for some food, a bit of rest, and an opportunity to plan our next move.
Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (22 November 2014) – Part 2/3
As beautiful as the autumn leaves in Tenryū-ji’s garden might have been, they were but a taste of the seasonal splendour that had spread all across the hills of Kyōto’s Arashiyama district.
Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (22 November 2014) – Part 1/3
Let’s skip ahead a day and recount my family’s trip to Japan’s ancient capital on a glorious Saturday morning, with the sun high in the sky and the hills ablaze with the fiery colours of autumn.
Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (20 November 2014)
After our relaxing daytime visit to the historic city of Uji, my parents were happy to retreat into the comfort of our Ōsaka hotel and prepare to turn in for the night. As far as I was concerned, however, the day was far from spent … so I dashed off on my own to KyōtoContinue reading “Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (20 November 2014)”
Flight Report: MNL-ICN-MNL on Z2 884 and Z2 85
I’ve still got a massive backlog of unblogged trips to go through, but no worries: we’ll get back on track with those over the next few weeks. For now, let’s have another flight report – this one covering a round-trip journey on AirAsia Zest (Z2) between Manila (MNL) and Seoul-Incheon (ICN).
Flight Report: MNL-FUK-MNL on PR 426 and PR 425
Before continuing with my usual field reports, let’s jump ahead and review some flights that I’ve taken recently. First on the table is the latest experience: a round-trip journey on Philippine Airlines (PR) between Manila (MNL) and Fukuoka (FUK).
Food Report: Nakamura Tōkichi Honten (Uji, Japan)
The ancient town of Uji in Kyōto Prefecture is known far and wide for its tea. It should come as no surprise that, over the course of its centuries-old love affair with this soothing gift of the bush, some of the leaves harvested hereabouts began to end up in places other than your typical bowlContinue reading “Food Report: Nakamura Tōkichi Honten (Uji, Japan)”
Within striking distance 