Gundam

Most of our childhood and adolescent years were spent watching Japanese cartoons. Part of the plan was to visit the 1:1 RX-78 Gundam Robot outside Diver City located in the Odaiba district. The RX-78 Gundam is a fictional manned robot introduced in 1979. It's a long running Japanese anime series and TV franchise.

To get here from our place, we had to ride the Keio New Line from Hatagaya station, go down Shinjuku station, ride the Toei Subway Oedo Line, go down Shiodome station, ride the Yurikamome monorail then hop off Daiba station. The whole commute takes 49 minutes and costs Y 660. The Yurikamome monorail is driver-less and felt like it runs on rubber tires. I recommend sitting in front so you can get a spectacular view of the bay and the Rainbow bridge.

It was a beautiful day. Cool weather partnered with sunny skies. When we hopped off the monorail and walked over to Diver City, a wave of nostalgia swept over me when I saw the 18 meter Gundam. It was so surreal! I'd like to see this next time at night and enjoy the light show.

Snap.Snap.Snap.

I look so tiny with Gundam.

The experience was fantastic! This is one of the highlights of our Tokyo trip.

Some info taken from Gail Nakada of Huffington Post and Gigantic Statues, 
Photos taken using Canon 550D

Shibuya Crossing

Our Tokyo trip would be incomplete if we didn't walk along Shibuya Crossing. It was an amazing sight and the feeling of crossing the world's busiest pedestrian intersection is overwhelming. Let me tell you a secret, I cried happy tears. Lol! I'm not really the dramatic type but there was something magical about the place. We crossed eight times the first day and twice on another day. The pedestrian scramble is the perfect epitome of organized chaos. We did not experience one single bump. You just gotta love the Japanese culture.

We went all the way up to Starbucks Tsutaya to get this view. This is not even rush hour. To get here, take the JR Yamanote line, go down Shibuya Station and exit at Hachiko Exit.

We were pressed for time on our first visit so we decided to come back and explore the area in more detail. This time it was raining. While people watching in Starbucks Tsutsaya, a fellow traveler mistook Mike for a local. 

Fellow Traveler : What an amazing view! Do you get to see this everyday?

Mike : You're right, it is amazing. No, I'm not from here. I'm from Manila.

Does this view remind you of Sophia Coppola's Lost in Translation or The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift?

A short, unedited clip taken by Mike. The music playing in the background was perfect timing.

This experience is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Photos taken using Canon 550D, iPhone5, Video taken using Canon 550D

Herbology 101

Have your ever experienced buying herbs and not being able to consume everything until they wilt, expire and then go to waste? This situation is a dilemma of mine. Fresh herbs can be expensive and sometimes scarce hence an extra trip to a specialty store instead of making a one stop shop at your local grocer. So, I started a small organic herb bar. I often use basil and cilantro in most of my home cooking so I bought a pot of each at a weekend market. As you can see, some of the basil leaves on the left photo below looks crumpled it's because the weather began to get hot and humid these days. But no need to worry, I have transferred them to a cooler location. It's also time to move my cilantro to a bigger pot.

I planted coriander seeds (aka cilantro) too. They sprouted after one and a half weeks and now they are on their fourth week. Alas, progress!

I got this pot of mint as a wedding favor. Perfect for making iced teas on a hot summer day in the city.

I plan to get a pot of rosemary, sage, thyme, chives and flat leaf parsley soon. Nothing beats dressing up your home cooking with freshly picked herbs. Walking by my small organic herb bar soothes me, their scents are a delight to the senses. It works like aromatherapy. It saves money too!

Would you like to grow an herb garden too?

Photos taken using iPhone5 

What's Your Yoga Story?

A timeline of my yoga journey:

2008
- My first encounter with yoga was with Bikram Yoga Manila in Makati. I did it for two months. The classes were intensive and I liked the experience. It was also nice to practice with some local celebs like Dr. Vicki Belo, Ms. Tessa Valdes, Dr. Pie Calayan to name a few. Although the heat stretched my flexibility more than what I can already do, (I did gymnastics when I was young and I used to be a cheerleader in high school and college) I decided it was really not for me.

2009
- I discovered Vinyasa Flow Yoga at Pulse Yoga Greenhills. This was the style of yoga I got drawn to and still practice today. That time, I couldn't commit to a regular practice because the classes offered conflicted with my schedule at work.

2011 - 2012
- The urge to go back to practice became stronger probably due to the demands of my previous career in the oil industry and the stress it brought me. So, I found myself at the doors of Bliss Yoga. When I resigned and took a break from the corporate world, I traveled for almost three months when I returned, I looked for a yoga studio close to home.

2012
-  After arriving from the States, the first thing I did was to sign up for yoga class. My regular practice started with White Space Wellness. Their studio in Katipunan Avenue felt like my second home. I was very happy to finally find time to practice and was able to do it for six straight months.

2013  
- I signed up for the 15 day trial at Urban Ashram Manila - High Street when I started juggling appointments, running errands near the area. As I have said in a previous post, their studio is one of the most beautiful and creative yoga spaces I have ever seen! I admire their conscious effort in preserving the environment.

Then I came back to the corporate world plus two businesses on the side. I continued my practice through YouTube videos in the confines of our bedroom and attended free classes sponsored by the company I worked for taught by Louie Pilapil.

2014
So, here I am today practicing at Urban Ashram and plan to consistently do so until I am ready for teacher training.

Yoga has transformed me in many positive ways. Maybe not yet physically (lol) but I came to know myself better, deeper. I became calmer, saner, centered and stronger. I have been blessed with excellent teachers along the way. I am very thankful for that. Soon, I wish to share this passion with you.

Namaste!

How about you? What's your yoga story?

Photo taken using iPhone5

Garosu-gil

There are plenty of things going on around here lately, I can't wait to share them with you. But first, I have a confession to unload today. Remember my no to cold coffee-drinking challenge? I was able to abstain until October 26 then...Epic FAIL. Boo! At least I tried. I was able to make it for more than three weeks.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped and supported my fellow countrymen who were victims of the Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. As a Filipino, I will forever be grateful to all of you who've been there for my country.

Anyway, a week ago, we were in the beautiful city of Seoul. I believe in the law of attraction. I think a post I made about Seoul a few months ago worked its magic and we ended up staying in the Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu district. Two words to describe how I feel about the area? I'm in-love!

We chose to stay near Garosu-gil (meaning tree-lined street). The studio apartment we booked through AirBNB was perfect in every way. When we arrived, the place was immaculate, furnished with IKEA and equipped with all the basic necessities. It was just a 3-5 minute walk from the trendiest and hippest street in Seoul. Proximity is one of the factors we consider when traveling to save time and energy.

Photo taken from AirBNB (Julie & Karen Sister House in Gangnam-gu)

Garosu-gil is a change of pace from the other districts in Seoul. I am totally smitten over the artsy cafes, quirky names of establishments, cozy wine lounges, unique shops of local designers and the Ginko trees lining the whole street. It is also known as Little Europe. It has a romantic vibe.

I like how South Koreans put a lot of effort into the aesthetics of their shops!

Cork for Turtle, Mug for Rabbit. The first floor is a coffee and cupcake shop. The second floor is a wine lounge. 

Aren't these pigs adorable? I wanted to bring them home.

We spotted a Korean model/celebrity having a photo shoot who kept waving to the public in between takes despite the nippy weather. I wonder who could he be?

Despite the language barrier, we were able to communicate effectively and got the right stuff we ordered during our whole stay. The food in every place we ate were delicious. The people are very friendly, gracious and respectful. The photo below shows our first official lunch in Seoul. 

We were so lucky to be in Seoul on the first day of snow. Wohoo!

We shared a mug of hot chocolate in Coffeesmith while watching the snowflakes fall. It was breathtaking! 

According to the locals, Coffeesmith is a landmark in trendy Garosu-gil that is a see-and-be-seen cafe.

They say pizza is popular in Korea. So we ordered a margherita in Sognare. Yum!

Garosu-gil at night. It's so full of life!

We capped our first night off with chocolate muffins from Paris Baguette. They say Koreans have an affinity for pastries and anything French-y.

During this trip, we decided to ditch the palaces and museums and focus more on the local culture and lifestyle. We are probably going to see them next spring should our schedules permit it. Stay tuned for more of our Seoul-ful adventures!

Be a traveler, not a tourist!

Most of the photos were taken using a Canon 550D