Coffee Tales in Japan | Starbucks Reserve, Hoshino Cafe, Blue Bottle Cafe, Amanoya Bakery, FaSoLa Cafe and MOS Burger

Here's the cafes/coffeeshops we've tried, aside from the usual cofffee sold at convenience stores.

1. Starbucks Reserve

By far, second to my most unforgettable SB brand experience. 

They partnered with Fukusaya, a well known brand that sells castella cakes (and other baked goods). I really like their cakes! ♡

If only I live there, I'd definitely try each coffee in the menu! ☕♡

Here's my review:

Taste - 4.5/5

Great coffee and dessert choices 💯

Ambiance - 4/5

Although I like the location and ambiance, I recommend to visit this branch during lax hours. 

Price - 3/5

It is a bit pricey than the usual. 

2. Hoshino Cafe

Went here for lunch + snack. So I had pasta and coffee 😁

Taste - 4/5

Ambiance - 4/5

Price - 3/5

3. Blue Bottle Cafe

Located inside a mall.

Taste - 4/5

Good cup ☕💯

Ambiance - 3/5

As it is inside the mall, seats are limited.

Price - 3/5

Typical rates with other cafes. 

4. Amanoya Bakery

Located at the 5th Station in Mt. Fuji. Best for quick 'recovery' if you feel tired of the long travel time. 

Taste - 3/5

Coffee tastes like your usual brewed coffee. 

The bread they sell tastes okay, nothing special. 

Ambiance - 3/5

Don'r expect much as this place seemed to be made for really a very quick rest only. 

They do have chairs and tables. 

Price - 3/5

Same with other regular cafes.

5. FaSoLa Cafe

Located at the Narita Airport. 

Taste - 3/5

Typical americano/brewed coffee. 

Ambiance - 3/5

Few tables and chairs available, space was not enclosed.

Price - 3/5

Expect to be pricey than usual because it is inside the airport area. 

6. MOS Burger

Thumbs up for selling coffee😁

Taste - 3/5

Usual brewed coffee taste

Ambiance - 3/5

Typical fastfood ambiance

Price - 3/5

Same rates with other shops. 

Tara, ☕? 

♡,

Mari

My Everyday Crisis (perhaps)

Hmmmmn 'quarter life crisis?'

What about 'mid life crisis?' 

Maybe 'everyday life crisis' 

Or at some point, you just feel 'lost.'

Well, I do, I did, and I think I will always be a person who seemed lost(?), who seemed to be always in the so called 'quarter life crisis' issue.  

In every partial decision/s that ended not so well, I pacify myself that this is part of the so called 'quarter life crisis.' 

I kept using the same lame excuse, until finally, I told myself that I need to accept the fact that I'm just too lazy to do better 😅

Like I wanted something bigger, but I easily hold back since I'm fine with things being 'simple.'

Yes, I shouldn't be satisfied with just doing 'simple.'

But I am fine to just give what is due, instead of giving my best.

And the cycle continues.

Hmmn, so what? Every person has their own timeline and despite a lot of setbacks along the way, I go with the flow with an open mind and heart. 

Then my usual scenario...

Have you ever been in a situation where you opted to start all over again? 

I DO. I ALWAYS DO. 

And I keep on asking why I put myself again into something that I am not sure of when I can actually 'upgrade.'

It's like whenever there is an option to upgrade vs a chance to start a new path, I somehow choose the latter, maybe because I am a person who likes challenges (?).

Few friends would/will ask why shift into a different path again? 

I couldn't find the right words but all I know is that I have to, like I need to find more of my purpose (cliché). 

Is this part of a post-quarter life crisis phase? I don't think so. Maybe more like an everyday life crisis scenario 😅

Am I the type of person who do not care about my future? 

Certainly not. 

There were days when I felt lonely, sad, disappointed, depressed, and whatever 🤷‍♀️ (I try not to dwell on these now)

At some point, I still use the same excuses. 

But hey, one thing will never change. 

For everything was/is just a redirection (and will always be that way). 

Who knows, maybe just around the corner, I will find something that makes living more meaningful.

Don't you think so? 

 

♡,

Mari

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