Michi Photostory

July 12, 2016

Play Dough Activity

No classes last Wednesday because of Eid’l Ftr so we have no homework. Even it was a holiday, my son cannot use the Ipad because we have rules in the house “No Ipad from Monday to Friday” so even it is holiday, sembreak or summer vacation, he is not allowed to use it.

And because of this rule, I have to make sure that my son has something to do at home so he will not complain, “I have nothing to do”or “I’m bored”.

Last Wednesday, he finally uses the Clay Tools and Clay Sheet that I bought in Japan last summer. I was glad I found the clay sheet so no more sticky floors. My son can roll his clay or play dough on this clay sheet. The clay tools are easy to store because the rolling pin serves as a tool case.

Read: The Daiso

If you want to know how to make your own play dough or if you want to print play dough mats, check my post below.

DIY: Homemade Play Dough
Play Dough Mats
Fun with Clay or Play Dough

July 08, 2016

Japan: IKEA Tachikawa

If Disneyland is my son’s happy place, IKEA is my happy place. When I was a kid, whenever I visit my aunt’s house, I always checked her IKEA magazine collection. I enjoy browsing IKEA magazine and dreaming that I will have my own house someday.

Since then, I’ve been meaning to visit IKEA and I even included that in my itinerary when we went to Singapore two years ago. But unfortunately, after getting off the train, I can’t find the shuttle bus going to IKEA Tampines. I don’t want to take a taxi because taxi in SG is expensive so we just went back to hotel ng sawi.

So I was really surprised when I saw IKEA on our way to Showa Kinen Park, a part of me wants to cancel our trip in the park and just spend our time in IKEA. Hahaha! But I have to fulfill my promise to my son so we went to the park first and rode a pedal boat.

Read: Showa Kinen Park

After our trip to the park, even my feet and legs were aching, I will not miss the opportunity of visiting the store. So while my husband and son were relaxing on the couch, I explore IKEA. I wanted to buy a lot like a cabinet, bookshelves and storage bins but I know na mahihirapan ko iuwi yun at baka may tax pa pagdating ng Pinas.

How I wish we have IKEA here in the country, I’ve been checking one local store here in the Philippines that has IKEA products but of course, mahal na siya and medyo malayo din sa amin so I’m just browsing their products online. I will visit if my budget permits.

Anyway, I still bought few stuff na maisisingit ko sa luggage. The Kalas spoon and fork, bowl, plates, and glasses are 199 yen per pack lang. The Istad 299 yen (storage bag), Graddsas Cream Sauce is 245 yen, Choklad Ljus (milk chocolate 97 yen and with nuts is 130 yen). The chocolate is yummy, sayang I only bought few pieces. Do the math and you will know that it is affordable.

I’m not prepared so I don’t have an eco-bag with me and nakabili na ko when I realized na di pala uso dun ang plastic, bring your own bag pala ang peg. So I just wrapped my stuff in the paper and pilit namin pinagkasya sa bag namin. Hahaha! Lesson learned, always bring eco-bag.

After shopping, hmmm, parang ang daming pinamili. Hehehe! I was excited to eat Swedish meatball for dinner so I was really disappointed when I saw that there is no Swedish meatball. Waah! Anyway, we still ate snacks because their meal is very affordable.

For the last few days, I’ve been buying ice cream cone/cup for 300 yen and I can’t believe na 50 yen lang sa IKEA. The hotdog with unlimited drinks 150 yen lang, Oh my goodness, ilipat nga ito sa Tama Center. Hehehe! Take note, you have to order in their food vending machine, get your food, drinks and condiments and clean before you leave.

IKEA Tachikawa
6, Midori-cho,
Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-0014

7 minutes walk from Takamatsu station for Tama monorail.
Estimated time to Takamatsu station
25 min from Tama center station
15 min from Takahatafudo station
7 min from Tamagawajyosui

July 07, 2016

Japan Day 4: Showa Kinen Park

As promised to my son, we will ride a boat at Showa Kinen Park so after our trip to Takahata Fudoson Temple we went straight to the park. We went back to the train station, ate a quick lunch, and rode the train to Tachikawa-Kita Station.

Read: Takahata Fudoson Temple

Directions: Ride the train in Tama Monorail for Kamikitadai and get off at Tachikawa-Kita Station (260 yen adult and 130 yen child). Fifth station from Takahatafudo Station. It is still a long walk from the train station, and your landmarks is Isetan, Takashimaya, and Akari Cafe. You can see a map near Akari Cafe and we just followed it.

On our way to the park, my husband called me and he said he was on his way back to the hotel, tapos na training niya. He doesn’t have the key so I said, sunod na lang siya sa min sa park and I gave him the directions.

It took him almost two hours just to get to Akira Cafe, sobrang inip na yung anak ko because he really wanted to ride the boat. He was suggesting na sa park na namin i-meet daddy niya but I said no because the park is huge so mas mahirap magkita.

From Akira Cafe, we walked to the park. We passed the Akebono Entrance where Green Cultural Zone is located. Green Cultural Zone is a free area so if you don’t want to spend money, you can just stay in this zone for free and it is open as early as 8:30AM.

We proceeded to Tachikawa Gate, where we bought ice cream at Tachikawa Gate Shop at 300 yen. My husband bought tickets at the ticket vending machine and when we entered the park, they gave us a guide map (English version).

We only have 2 hours and the park is really huge. For two hours, I think we only explored 1/3 of the park. You can rent a bike or ride a train so you won’t get tired easily. I wish I knew how to ride a bike, hehehe! Sayang, we were not able to ride the train.

I like the park, it is really a nice place to relax and unwind. The place is clean and well-maintained. There are vending machines and restaurants if you want to eat and drink.

Finally, we reached the Boat House. Again, we purchased the ticket at the ticket vending machine. The ride is good for 30 minutes only so you are responsible for going back to the dock. When you dock, the staff will check your ticket where the return time was printed.

I was convincing my son to choose the rowing boat and not the pedal boat but he wanted the pedal boat. It’s been a long day for us and our feet were really tired and aching already. Kung pwede lang magreklamo ng paa ko. My husband was wearing leather shoes pa. Waah! In the name of love, sige push natin ang pagpepedal.

Waterfowl Lake

This is the Waterfowl Lake, parang Burnham Park lang in Baguio City. There are more attractions inside the park but due to limited time, we need to end our trip. If ever we will go back again to Japan, I will include this again in our itinerary. It is a good place to bond with your friends and family. Pwedeng magpicnic.

The next stop is IKEA.

Park Opening Hours

3/1-10/31(*1) 9:30 17:00
11/1-2/end 9:30 16:30

*The park is closed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (Dec.31,Jan.1) and the fourth Monday/the following day of February.

NOTE: Opening and closing hours may be altered due to public events.etc., so please confirm with the Park Administration Center.
(*1)4/1~9/30 (Saturday·Sunday·Public Holiday) 9:30~18:00

Park Entrance Fee

General Groups

Adult (over 15 years old) 410 yen 290 yen
Child(6 to 14) 80 yen 50 yen
over 65 210 yen 210 yen

NOTE: Children under 6 years of age are free.
A group is considered as 20 or more people over 6 years of age.

Park Train

Adult 310 yen
Children 150 yen (4 years old to JH)
All-day passes are available for children ages 4 and higher at 510 yen.

Bicycle and Unicycle Rental Fees (3 hours)
Adult 410 yen
Children 260 yen (under JH)

Showa Kinen Park
3173, Midori-cho,
Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo
Tel. 042 524 1516

July 05, 2016

Pasalubong

Pasalubong is a Filipino tradition wherein we buy something from our destination so we have something to give to our family and friends. It is very common to balikbayans, OFW, or even travelers.

My husband is not an OFW but he is always out of the country twice or thrice a month because of work and because of this, may pasalubong kami lagi. Lol Though I don’t really demand pasalubong at magastos ito. Mamumulubi kami because 2-3 times na gastos ito.

But there are times I asked something especially if I’m interested in trying delicacies or food from that country or place like lechon in Cebu, Kaya Spread in Singapore, and Royce in Brunei or Japan. Most of the time my husband will buy chocolates especially if there is a sale.

Sharing with you some pasalubong that we’ve got during the last business trips.

Pasalubong from Singapore

When he went to Singapore, I asked him to buy Kaya Spread so I can make Kaya Toast. I tried it before when someone gave me a bottle of this coconut jam and I liked it. He bought some at the Changi Airport and unfortunately I didn’t like it, it is not sweet and parang walang lasa.

I just can’t remember the brand that I’ve tried before na ok ang lasa. Let me know if you know the best brand of Kaya Spread. Sayang, this is expensive pa naman, parang P1k+ itong Kaya Spread.

So I told him, don’t buy pasalubong na from Singapore kasi ang mahal, even the chocolates are expensive mas mura pa sa Pinas.

Pasalubong from Thailand

The famous pasalubong in Thailand is tamarind so he bought a few packs only since we will be going to Japan in a few days na rin.

Pasalubong from Indonesia

Every time he goes to Indonesia, I don’t ask anything because I don’t know what is the best pasalubong from Indonesia. So I was surprised when he bought this Monica original layer cake 55,000 rupiah.

In Indonesia “lapis” means layer and this is a traditional snack which can also be found in Netherland because of colonial links. The taste is just okay.

Pasalubong from Brunei

He just came back from Brunei, initially I asked for Royce chocolate but before he left, I told him wag na lang para tipid but still, he brought something home kasi may tira pa daw siya Brunei dollar, hehehe!

Read: Royce Chocolate
Royce Nama Chocolate

In fairness, we liked the Munchy’s Oat Krunch cookie and Loacker “Rose of the Dolomites”chocolate. Ubos agad. Hehehe! The Munchy’s are made in Johor Malaysia and of course, Loacker is an Italian company.

July 01, 2016

Japan Day 4: Takahata Fudoson Temple

Five story pagoda

My initial plan is to go to Kidzania Tokyo, my son enjoyed Kidzania Manila so I’m pretty sure he will have a great time in Kidzania Tokyo. Wednesday is the perfect time to visit because half of the activities are in English, it is called English Wednesday.

Read: Kidzania Manila

There are also English speaking staffs walking around to support and help the kids. You can visit on other days but expect that the instructions are in Japanese language and we don’t know how to read, write or speak the language so I put it on our Day 4 which is Wednesday.

But when I checked the app, it will take 1 hour and 30 minutes train ride just to get there plus we need to transfer train. I’m not really comfortable in transferring trains because trains in Japan are very confusing. I don’t want to get lost so I research another tourist spot which is near the Tama Area.

Good thing that Tama Monorail website has suggestion “Fun Sites”, sites that you can visit by riding Tama Monorail train.

1. Sanrio Puroland
2. Showa Kinen Park
3. Takahata Fudoson
4. Tama Zoological Park
5. Seibu Dome

So I replaced Kidzania Tokyo to Takahata Fudoson + Showa Kinen Park. I know that my son doesn’t enjoy temples but I told him that we will ride boat in the park after our temple visit. Hehehe!

Side story: My son has his own bucket list in Japan, he wants to ride Shinkansen bullet train, visit Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. I was surprised when he said Shinkansen bullet train and I asked him, where did you learn that? He said, "alam ko yan, kita ko yan sa journal/magazine then he showed me the journal. Hmm, may silbi din pala yung binabayaran kong P1300+ journals sa school. But I told him that we will not ride bullet train but we can go to Disney Sea. So he was really patient to wait for Day 5 so we can go to Disney with his dad.

Takahata Fudoson Temple

I was glad that we did not have any problem in commuting when we visit Tama Zoological Park and Keio Rail-Land Museum so my son and I pursue our Day 4 trip even without hubby. I activated my roaming surf again so I can update my husband.

Read: Tama Zoological Park
Keio Rail-Land Museum

Takahata Fudoson Temple is the oldest temple in Kanto region. According to Tokyo Handy Guide, the precincts of the temple of the Shingon School of Buddhism are scattered with cultural properties such as the Fudo-do, the Nio-mon Gate, the Goju-no-to Tower (Five story pagoda), the monument of Shinsengumi and the statue of the Shinsegumi’s Vice Captain Hijikata Toshizo.

This is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Admission is FREE but Dainihi-do Main Hall (200 yen) and Okudono Hall (300 yen) have a fee if you want to enter.

Directions: Walk to Tama Center Exit 1, ride Tama Monorail for Kamikitadai. Get off at Takahatafudo station (6th station from Tama Center). 20 minutes train ride. Five minutes on foot from Takahatafudo Station.

Fare is 310 yen adult 160 yen child

Upon getting off the train, I saw an arrow sign to turn right to Takahata Fudoson Temple and so we went down the stairs and I saw a small arc, feeling ko lang yun yung way so we walked there and I felt relieved when I saw the five story pagoda. Yey! We found it.

Sharing with you the pictures.

Takarawa

I saw cute little kids again, it seems that kids in Japan like exploring places. Again, teachers and kids lang ang nandun.

I also saw a group of hobbyists, they are sketching temples and nature.

We did not stay long because my son wanted to ride the boat at the park.

Penetralia

Taishi

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On our way back to the train station, I saw C&C Curry Shop again. If you’ve read my previous post, we’re supposed to eat here but I don’t know how to use the vendo. When I saw that the food vending machine was inside the restaurant, we entered the restaurant and asked for help so I could place my order. The staff gladly assisted me and she showed me the menu for curry sauce, I chose mild curry.

Side story: I know that my son doesn’t eat that much so I only order 1 pork katsu and I will eat the leftover. But when the staff served the order, kinakausap na naman niya ko at tinuturo na mag-order ng food sa vendo. Hindi niya ko maintindihan na 1 order lang talaga so ending, nag-order na rin ako just to end the conversation.

2 cups of rice yata ito per serving
They are mixing the curry with their rice but we're not into curry, kung gravy ok lang.

She can’t understand me and I can’t understand her. It was our first time to eat katsu with Japanese curry. The food was good but the serving was big for our tummy so ang dami namin leftover, binalot ko na lang sa tissue yung katsu namin. Sayang ang food and it is not cheap pero dun affordable fastfood na ang C&C Curry Shop.

Next stop is Showa Kinen Park.

Takahata Fudoson Temple
733 Takahatafudo,
Hino-shi, Tokyo 3173
Midori-cho, Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo