Friday, October 23, 2015

Before The Class Started :' (Osaka)


The second day.. the first meeting didn't go smoothly as the first day was done. But I have nothing to sad about because I keep laughing all the time, and it was a good experience HAHAH how can I made the staffs of Ramen Museum worried about me, and then I made all the staff knew Mas Faisal and Ox faces and name! I made them super famous.. I would like to give all the staff of Momofuku Ando Ramen Museum a big applause of services! They even let us to finish our ramen-making session even tho the museum already closed :" Recommend you guys to definitely visit the museum if you read this!

My drawing on 3 cups!

What so funny?
We both dont have any connection. We make a promise to meet at the Mamofuku Ando Ramen Museum, Ikeda Kyoto at 2 PM. Then I came there, but LATE haha because Uniqlo Yamada Station attracted me to stop by, then, I arrived at 2.20. I couldnt see them at the museum lobby, so I just entered and sat down in the lobby waiting area. And did nothing. 10 mins past, and I became worried, many "what if" came to my mind.
What if they are still on the any part of Tokyo? (because they came from Kyoto then they travel bit there then planned to try Shinkansen) Will they make it to come at 2 pm? OR 
What if they already came and already inside? because I came late.
And until when I will waiting?
BUT THEN, at 3 PM one of the museum staff was kindly approaching me. And said "Is there anything I can help you?" I replied in Japanese though and tell her everything, some of the staff also heard my story.
Then they were thinking. "there are wifi here, and your friend also dont have connection......."
And I asked, whether they ever seen the faces of my friends. So I let them see Mas Faisal and Ox faces from my camera from yesterday's trip.
But they were hesitating it, and then one of the staff brought the idea to find them by informing it publicly. So she asked their names and origin country to make an announcement that I was waiting for them at the lobby. But after they did unfortunately no one came.
Then, I decided to get Wifi, wherever, so I can send them msg that i was waiting but I will go home if they werent reply me. Beacuse anyway the musuem will close at 4 and the ramen cup making will close at 3.30, and at the moment was 3.10ish.
So the staff teached me about the nearest family mart. Yeah if youre in Japan its a bit hard to get free wifi but you can get the free Wi-Fi in every Family Mart in Japan and also at the big station, some of them provide free wifi.
Before I went, I told them if they are see my friends came, please tell them that I go to the FM.

In FM, just hit or miss, i tried to send msg to Ox via Line. I know they dont have connection too, but just I will try, if they are READ directly thats my luck. But if no sign, its okay too.

Our Line msgs was like this:

"Where are you now?  Im waiting at the ramen museum now, HAHAHA its so funny" 
then, 2 sec later, READ!
Oh wow, Miracle! Then  he replied,
"We are at Osaka Station now, we are heading to Ikeda now"

I tried as fast as possible to tell them that the museum will close soon, if they just go from the Osaka Station they may wont make it. And I want to try to just meet somewhere else.

But, after I send it, no READ sign. Oke then I believed they already hopped on the train.

Then I decided to just waiting them until they came even the museum already closed, I can wait outside. And way back from FM to Museum was a bit raining. When I was about reached the museum, I was shocked cos some staff were still waiting at the museum gate for ME! They  asked how was it, and I told them I will waiting for my friends.

She told me that if I want to make ramen cup, I still have 5 mins to buy the cup because it will close at 3.30. So I bought 3 cups for us, I was the last customer, then after bought the blank cup, the next stage was drawing the cup, there were still many people drawing when I came, so I have a positive thought that they may made it to come while i was drawing. So~ I drawing really slowly slowly, of course while laughing I really enjoyed it though even alone, cos the staff really kind and they approched me sometimes when I was lonely drawing 3 cups by myself just to asked, "Is your friend really come" "Tika-san, Don't worry we still have staff waiting at the gate and lobby" "Tika-san, Are you a muslim? Dont eat the ramen cos they are not Halal food" OOH soooo kind of them!

I already finished all the drawing for 3 cups. After drawing, people lining up for the filling the ramen and pack area. I was not lining up yet, still sitting at the drawing area. I was waiting until the line gone at least until 3-4 people left, then I will lining up. 


And I was standing, about to go to the queue, while I heard someone-not someone but a bit chaotic at the room's door, because of Ox and Mas Faisal came! Theye were guiding by some staffs to meet me! HAHAHA. They were a bit confused about what was happening cos the staff keep saying "Yokatta Tika-san" but they were saying sorry to  me, But I just laughed and no worry cos its so funny. Then I told them everything from the beginning. HAHA they said Oh so thats why when they reached the museum, just at the gate some staffs asked their names "Are you Mr Okusu from Singapore and Mr Faisaru from Indonesia?" and then "Youre friend Tika already waiting for you since 2.30 here!" then the staffs kindly guides them to where I located.

Then, because its happened we were able to make our ramen, even they just put their sign on their cup, and we have an exclusive pics and session because no one there anymore. Time already 4.30 pm when we finished everything, but the staffs were keep smiling and servicing us with their heart !

Just for your information, this ramen museum is FREE entrance, but the services was sooo SUGOI, AWESOME! 10 THUMBS UP!





They also got us a pictre


After that, their last nigt in Japan was spent at Dotonbori, Osaka. Yeah sure they should visit the Glico-man of Osaka, until now I don;t know why the Glico-man was so popular?




The Mizuno's appearance and me while lining up with the minion from USJ


And I brought them to Mizuno, the famous Okonomiyaki restaurant in Dotonbori, and yeah like what its said on internet, there will be a long line to eat at Mizuno. And luckly we were there to try just 5 mins before the lining was closed.

The Chef will cook in front of you like this

Mamamia

I got the vegetarian Okonomiyaki! :"


For me just so-so, hehehe i mean I was expecting something more and even more after lining up for 40 mins. But yeah its just delicious, and people said so, you can read more at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298566-d1664126-Reviews-Mizuno-Osaka_Osaka_Prefecture_Kinki.html  

Then, after that a bit shopping and went to Namba Station, and we were apart there. They took JR train to the airport, they planned to sleep at the airport for their early flight back to Korea and Singapore on the next day's morning. I was chotto sad because it was so fun to hanging out with them :" 

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Before The Class Started :' (Kyoto)

Last weekend, Saturday was PSI2015, and on Sunday-Monday I did a little trip to Kyoto and Osaka with my college senior, Mas Faisal and his Singaporean friend, Ox. I was exciting to go to Kyoto for the first time (on my second time in Japan) and moreover to meet someone I knew, and more more over Sunday's plan was visiting Kinkakuji-Ginkakuji-Nanzenji temple-Philosopher Part- Teramachi that I haven't been there before.

So, from Minamisenri to Awaji Station changing line to Hankyu Kyoto for Nishikyogoku Station, the nearest station from their hostel, and also the place where we promised to meet. And everything went smoothly even without internet connection. I met them and then we continue straightly from Nishikyogoku station to Saiin Station, and took a bus from there to the Kinkakuji Temple.


My first time here! But since it was a long holiday, so many people everywhere and of course here also, soooo i didnt really enjoy the temple visit. But i was enjoying hanging out with them tho!


me with the over excited face -_-


Next is Ginkakuji, its sounds the same but different, the location is also different. Kinkakuji is Kin -> gold, and Ginkakuji is Gin -> silver. We took the bus for 20 mins from Kin to Gin. And, i should say that the silver temple has a larger and prettier garden and things to see than the gold. But not satisfied enough compared to the 1000 gates shrine, Fushimi Inari and Kyomizudera, i think. But Kin really has a gold temple, not like Gin, we really shocked to know the silver temple is just a ordinary temple.

Gin, should it be painted by silver color?

Instagram worthy?




Inhale Exhale here!


Ginkakuji's entrance.

Stopped by near Ginkakuji for matcha ice cream and chocolate dango!


And why temple temple temple? Mas Faisal apparently has a big interest to  御朱印帳(ごしゅいんちょう)a book that can be bought at any temple or shrine or souvenir shops to collect the stamp (the fancy one) calligraphy drawn by the temple/shrine staff. Really cool, even Ox also bought and collecting it. But i have no interest hehe plus each stamp that we want to get is not free, you should pay around 300 JPY for each calligraphy. I just noticed this thing is exist and many people lining up for the calligraphy!


The stamp collectors!

From Gin, we walked through a philosopher path. Nicely named. I think this path will be very very pretty during Sakura season on Spring. But now, its a time about to change to Autumn, so just so so, but walking there was really peaceful,  somehow i can get it why its named Philosopher Path.



At the end of the Path, there were many temples. More temples. One of them that we visited is Nanzenji temple. There, we found a different things than other temple, that was a huge wall that looks like build by European. But I don't know the fact.




Enough with the temple, we need a break. Our legs also need a break. HAHA. And we went to Kyoto Station, randomly to find a sushi restaurant, since my guests really want to eat sushi. And after a long long searching, (because we kept lost our way, also we almost gave up) we found the only one sushi restaurant that open at the moment. When we arrived, we straightly got seats. And after that people lining up. That Kaiten Sushi (Conveyor belt sushi) named Musashi Kaiten Sushi. And then we ate. 1-2-3 everything taste so good for me, a way way better than others kaiten sushi i had before. Ox and Mas Faisal also felt the same way. At the end we ate approx 10 plates each. Then, until we left the restaurant while kept talking about the good taste, we never realized that sushi place was a famous one in Kyoto. HAHA so randomly LUCKY!






Of course I will go eat this sushi again if I go to Kyoto Station next time XD

After that we visited Kyomizudera, my second time there, and again I visited this temple during the evening, when the temple almost close. But the different this time so many people still entering the temple even 30mis left before its closing. And also we met some funny guy-geisha there!



Kyomizudera



That day ends after we visited and shopped at Teramachi and also got a snack there!


Nom nom nom, we really get trapped by the cute foods figure in the front of the restaurant! HAHAH

And, the second day.. the first meeting didn't go smoothly as the first day was done. But I have nothing to sad about because I keep laughing all the time HAHAH how can I made the staffs of Ramen Museum worried, and then I made all the staff knew Mas Faisal and Ox faces and name! I made them super famous.. really i would like to give all the staff of Momofuku Ando Ramen Museum a big applause of services! They even let us to finish our ramen-making session even tho the museum already closed :"
*to be continued


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Pentas Seni Indonesia, PPI Osaka Nara, PSI2015 PPION








The last Saturday, 10 October, the Community of Indonesian Student in Osaka-Nara held a very successful event called, "Hanuman Journey Cross Indonesia ハヌマン修行の旅” at Minoh Green Hall, Minoh, Osaka. In this journey, Hanuman banished by Kamisama and departed to Indonesia. He first went to Sumatra, and met Malin Kundang, and saw Saman Dance, Rantak Dance, etc then He came to Java Island. There, He saw Jaipong Dance, took part of the Angklung performances, etc and in Bali, He met Rama-Shinta, then have a fight with Rahwana while Kecak Dance perform. But at last, Hanuman back to live and with Rama-Shinta they went back home to the Kayangan (Kamisama Place). This 3 Hours performance was worth to see i think, its complete in a package, funny, very entertaining moreover the Hanuman, and FREE, of course :"


At 12.45 Hall already half-filled with the people :"


At the back-stage.

Luckily, I was being a part of this awesome event, even though I only took a small part of costume team. So I went there at 9,00, with friends that live in Tsukumo Dorm, to take part of the preparation. But at 1 PM I went out to the audience hall and accompany my Japanese Dad, Okamoto-san, to see the performances.






Then, after the performances, took pics with the role player and, you can said I may runaway hehe, but what can I do when, Okamoto-otousan asked me to join him for sushi dinner?




My first time to Kappa, a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, this one is located in Minoh City. I gave them 4.5/10 points, hehe the other chained restaurant sushi, Sushi-ro was better for me. I only ate 5 plates there. But they have interesting shinkansen train that bring your order to your table! :")


And back to the perfomances, I took a lot of videos, so I don't want to waste it for nothing, so I tried again for NET CJ I hope this video is good enough to publish on TV. HAHA but I didnt do any interview though. You can check the video here: http://sg.netcj.co.id/moment/video/49950/pentas-seni-indonesia-di-osaka-jepang

Really nice to meet and work together with the Indonesian student in Japan even though only in the short time :( But still, I'm waiting for the next event!

#PSI2015 #PPION