Japan 2019 | Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival, DisneySea, teamLab Borderless, Mt. Fuji etc.

Finally! Travel with my coffeemates again 😊

Although we have different plans, we surely made sure to have time to visit few places together!

Not much plans on the day of arrival due to lack of sleep.

  

So we just went to the observatory and ended the day eating edamame and bbq.

The next few days were spent at shrines and parks.

 

One of the highlights of our trip was to see the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival. 

It was one of the biggest fireworks festival held in Japan. We didn't booked a ticket at the Tokyo Skytree since it was a bit pricey.

We watched near the river. As you can see in the video, the view wasn't that okay. However, we still had fun even if our legs were in pain. 

We did a lot of walking 😅 So the street foods and snacks that we ate prior the event, were justified.

By the way, I really love Suzukien's premium matcha gelato! Totally worth your money!

We've visited two shrines and part of my prayers were actually answered (after the trip!).

We also spent a day at the Tokyo Disney Sea and another day at teamLab Borderless.

 

Trully amazed how teamLab Borderless made it (not sure what their theme now is). Although the moving designs all over the place made me dizzy, I still enjoyed our time there. There's this sense of being one with nature and I guess, the background music also helped.

As for DisneySea - more on Disney characters related to water! (Very obvious 😁). It was summertime, so the weather was nice and good to walk around. We watched a musical play by Ariel and the 'effects' were great! 

Amusement parks brings out the 'child' in me.

Last, we availed a day tour trip to Mount Fuji.
 

I like the scenery around Fuji. Happy to see Mount Fuji from afar. We stopped at the 5th station and it was cloudy, we saw a glimpse of the alps, but hooray! You can still see the mountain if you're at Oshino Hakai.

The fruits that they sell seemed sweet and fresh, but we didn't buy any. (I regret not buying!)

Other videos:

 

Check my other Japan travel posts! 

Nikko, Japan
Tokyo, Japan

Day Tour in Kimono

Sashimi, teamLab Planets etc.

Makata by lettersfrommari

Makata (poet) is a brand name suggested by my Aunt Sharon (thank you 🤗) and I really like it! ❤

Since young, I am like writing or expressing myself through poems and letters.

Sometimes, I feel that every poem sounds alike, but I know deep inside that it meant different.

Each poem, regardless of length, represents my sincerity, though I know that some lines may sound negative (I don't plan to hide it).

Same goes with my letters or quotes.

Since I wanted to make gifts meaningful, I've decided to print my poems or quotes on notebooks, notepads, pouches and tote bags.

 

At the same time, I am now trying to sell the items 🙂

Drop a mail or comment if you're interested 😁

Thanks in advance!

♡,
Mari

Manila Buffet | Hosaku - Yakiniku Hot Pot International Buffet and Soy Yummy

Ensure that you follow healthcare protocols and guidelines.

Since we came early - hot taho first at Soy Yummy:
 

They should have added more sugar syrup 😁

At 5pm, we went inside Hosaku to try their yakiniki and hotpot.
 

 

For soup, we chose mala (slightly spicy as per their staff's explanation) and sukiyaki (tastes sweet).

(I'm a bit disappointed, the mala soup was not really spicy. Still, both soups taste okay.)

Throw the veggies and meat into the pot! 

We also grilled different types of meat but had more beef 💯

For sashimi - saba, salmon and tuna 🤤 

if only I can eat more! 

Choices for dessert are not that many, but I like their tiramisu. 

Also, for drinks, I recommend hot tea or fruit juice.

I still prefer Shaburi, another hotpot restaurant.

♡,
Mari

Christmas Holiday 2020 | Intramuros, Manila

We spent Christmas in Intramuros 😁

We planned to make a day tour video but it didn't happen. Still, we had a great time!

Spent a pleasant 2 nights at White Knight Hotel (health protocols were observed during our stay).

Day 1 -  We didn't do much other than buying few stuff for noche buena. We also dropped by Kapetolyo for coffee and snacks. By evening, we had a simple dinner and joined the family gathering via online.

  

On Christmas day, we walked around Intramuros and re-visited the different historical sites. 

Informative day since my Dad will simply tell us bits and pieces about the buildings or streets. 

We had lunch at Ristorante delle Mitre.
  

I consider this place as one of our 'go to' for meals whenever we are in Intramuros.

They serve delicious home cooked meals.

On our last day, we had breakfast at La Cathedral Cafe. Sort of eggsilog breakfast - sunny side up egg, rice and beef tapa. 

I prefer to go here in the evening as it is much cooler, given the location (roof top).

We then went to Barbara's cafe for coffee and dessert, to capped the day.

Tara na sa Intramuros!

♡,
Mari

Manila Buffet | Sambokojin, Dad's, Kamayan and Saisaki in one!

We had lunch at Sambokojin last month and availed offer for the buffet crossover priced below Php 1000/pax. 

Overall, the experience was good and we stayed for almost 2 hours. 

Next time again!

Another quarantine buffet experience:

Kintan BBQ Buffet

♡,

Mari

2020 List of Merienda, Dessert, Snacks (shop online)

Hello everyone!

I'm sharing below list of desserts that we've tried last year for merienda! Have you tried any of these too?

Which one tasted best?

1. big AL's Chocolate Caramel Loaf Cake (below Php 500)
 

Moist and chocolatey cake. It melts in your mouth!




2. Everyday.ph Macaroons

 

Best macaroon I've had! A close friend sent a box for Christmas (thanks Aline 😘) 😊

It was so good! Soft with balanced sweetness and coconut bits, perfect with Ka Bernie's Kopi Kapeng Barako 💯

I also found out that she bought it from our friend! (Patty, ang saaaaraaaap!!! Mixoo 🤗)

3. Plantita cupcakes by Panaderya.ph
(below Php 200)

Cheeseroll, ensaymada and pandesal - my constant breads from this online bakery. 
Now they've launched cupcakes with a specific theme - plants.

For plantitas out there, you can check this out!
 

I like that their cupcakes were moist.



4. Mang Tootz' Banana Rhum-a (not new but definitely will not pass a chance to eat this!)

 

Turon turned fingerfood, glazed with their special sauce of sugar and rhum! Topped with sesame seeds and cinnamon powder.

We bought 5 pieces each and was satisfied!

Bought 20pieces for take away 😁 

5. Weirdoughs PH

Are you in for something weird?

Yes?

Then try Burong Santol flavored donut by Weirdoughs PH. It's sweet with little sourness in taste.

 

6. Burnt Basque Cheesecake by Chele Gonzales

Get a slice at their booth in Mercato High StrEAT!

Tastes like eggpie 🙂 

7. Salta
 
Ever heard of panbombs?
  

 

SALTA sells panbombs in different flavors, as well as other breads (check their website).

We tried panbombs in 3 different flavors - hazelnut, matcha and shortcake. We certainly love the hazelnut flavor amongst the 3.

We also tried their cheesepillows and can attest that its really good! Pair it up with your pasta 🙂

8. Kermit Pizza 

 

Been craving for pizza and saw that Kermit sells frozen pizzas!

I bought mini margherita pizza to try and other than the crust that turned hard after I toast the pizza, I don't have any problems.

I still prefer pizza fresh from the oven vs frozen pizza!




9. Lola Nena's 

I first heard this shop from friends because of their trending triple cheese donuts!

We've tried their classic donut, toasted siopao and pancit.

Brings back childhood memories! I recommend this to those craving Pinoy merienda 💯

Did you get hungry? 😁

♡, Mari

Japan Nov 2019 | Daiwa Sushi at Toyosu (Tsukiji) Fish Market, and teamLab PLANETS TOKYO

We spent a day each for sashimi, sushi and an interactive museum.

 

We were supposed to eat at another sushi place but the restaurant was fully booked. So, after spending a lot of time checking and being disappointed, we chose to visit 'Tsukiji' market (now relocated at Toyosu) and try our luck at any of the sashimi places.

Fortunately, we went there very early and need not require waiting/queueing in line.

For sashimi, we chose Daiwa Sushi

Salmon and tuna that melts in your mouth. Way to go for breakfast! This really made our day and totally completed the trip. I wish I can go back and eat sashimi again.

Thanks to my bestie 🤗

Last stop after going wherever: teamLab PLANETS

We got lost and thanks to the bus driver and locals for helping us!

I'm totally amazed and inspired! This interactive museum is much better than teamLab Borderless, in my opinion.

I like the idea of playing water and arts together. So cool!!! I wish mama bear was able to join us! If ever, I'll be happy to do another visit with her 🙂

From the simple sandbags, to threading waters with arts, and then moving borders and lights - really! They're all awesome! 💯

Let's go back!!!

More of Japan: 

Nikko, Japan
Tokyo, Japan

Day Tour in Kimono

♡,
Mari