Place to buy Local Stuff in Osaka - Don Quijote

Icon of Don Quijote is the Mr Penguin

I believe that when we travel, we love to buy local items back home. This is the same for me when I am in Osaka recently.

Along the street, you may find lots of drugs store, small shop that sell Japanese good that are tax free.

Different store manage differently on the tax free procedure.

One of the store that I really visited the most is Don Quijote at Namba.

There is a total of 3 stores in that area and I feel each store had some unique items for sale.

In general, the common items that Tourist buy are available in all 3 stores, but favorite is the one at the main street.

Address: 

Don Quijote, 2 Chome-5-9 Nishishinsaibashi, Chūō-ku, Ōsaka-shi, Ōsaka-fu 542-0086, Japan

Click on Google map

The store is bigger which is a few storey high.

Level 1: Mainly are snacks and drugs items

Level 2: More foods (eg instant noodles, sauces etc) , toiletries.

Level 3: Bags, electronic items etc

Prices in this shop are more competitive compare to most other drug store.

The only cons are:

Drugs items eg. vitamin, supplements etc need to be pay at their drug store counter, and all items include tax must be pay upfront. After purchase, if total purchase exceed 5000yen then using the receipts we will proceed to the tax refund counter to had all the items pack and had the tax refund.

As this store is so popular, we took quite a long que to get the tax refund and they had all the item seal in a clear bag. This make luggage packing quite inconvenience especially when you buy lots of items like i do.

Above are all the items I bought during my Osaka trip.

Snacks, chocolates, shampoo and hair dyes were all bought at Don Quijote.

It is definitely a place worth to shop, just watch your pocket before it get burn badly.

Art In Paradise, a 3D Art Museum @ Bangkok

Bangkok is well known for shopping, eating and having a massage.

But today, I like to introduce 3D Museum at Bangkok call Art In Paradise. A place where you will spend 2hour there busy making a pose to get the best picture. It is also a time to be creative in order to think of the best realistic photo.

The location is easily accessible by taking the MRT and dropping off at Thailand Culture Center Station.

The Museum is located at Esplanade shopping mall. Suggest that you come in the afternoon not because it is crowded, but rather you can spend your day at there because after visiting the Museum, you can go to the Rod Fai Night Market 2 (Train Night Market 2) which is just behind the building.

So here are some pictures that I had took

Mode of Transport in Thailand

Recently I went to thailand, and with my Thai's friend recommendation, I used Grab Service.

< Please note that these is not sponsor post and mainly highlight my experience>

I guess this service is quite common in most country and I do love the service when I'm in Bangkok over the weekend.

One of the Best Ramen in Tokyo - 一蘭拉面

There are many ramen shops in Tokyo.
During my trip in Tokyo, I had been hopping from one shop to another to try the ramen. Many have their special unique broth which almost all I feel tasty.

But there is one particular shop that I love the most which is Ichiran Ramen  一蘭拉面

The Famous Ramen Shop logo ( obtain from their website)

Kaiton Pratunum Chicken Rice and Mango Sticky Rice - Bangkok

Well Singapore had many nice Hainanese chicken rice, so do Bangkok.
This is the super well known Chicken Rice by the local and tourist at Pratunum Area

People known it as Kaiton, but the actual shop name is called:

Go-Ang

What Do You Buy When You Go Bangkok??

It is alway irresistible not to buy things when you are oversea. We tend to over buy, or buy on impulse when we see things.

Below are what I got in Bangkok, after spending 3 days.

Day 1 purchase

Focusing mainly on snacks as these are the nice goodies you shouldn't miss.
Especially, Mama Tom Yum Noodle, Tow Kay Seaweed and Bento Cuttlefish. These items can be easily bought from their supermarket called "Big C"

Day 2 purchase

Time to buy some souvenirs.  I love going to Platinum Mall, where there is one big wholesale store that sold lots of fancy stationary, bags and ornaments. So here I got luggage tag back for our friends, cute notebooks for my niece.
If you wondering what are those red-orange packets.... they are the local delights which are pork floss. Some ppl say the shape they make look like "dog poop". Anyway, the cheapest place I find so far is at Platinum Mall as well. At the top floor same as the food court and is at a corner. The food goes well with porridge, so we often buy a few to stock at home.
Medicated ointment is also one of the top items to buy. ( I bought a few dozens which special request by friends)

Day 3 purchase

Last day of shopping is like a relaxing day for me. Thailand is full of nice snacks.
Since I still got some space in my luggage, so why not pack more snacks.
Pocky and Pretz is some of the most common things to pack home. They had so many flavors and the price is really cheap.
Wu Fu, is something that we first time try. But I really want to say it taste really good. Downside, such a big packaging only have 3sticks inside. I find it abit expensive for just 3 pieces.

Thailand is famous for tom yum soup, so suggest to get some of the tom yum paste so that you are able to cook at home. No harm trying out right... if you buy in Singapore will be more expensive.

So that all for my small intro on the things I bought.

Tokyo Disney - Part 2

DisneyLand

Tokyo Disney @ Nov 2015

This is a little backtrack post where i got to DisneyLand last year. Wanted to post it up but hmmm...

Nevermind, what important is Disneyland is a place that you will never get sick of.

As the period i go is near Christmas, Disneyland is all dress up to welcome this day. Immediately I feel like, I'm like travel back to kid day. Where you immerse in those fairytale stories, happily jumping around and giving the big wow here and there.

Some Tips

1. Get hold of their map. This is extremely useful as you get information on when the show start, which rides have fast pass
2. Obtain Fast Pass (will further explain in this blog): These are rides that are very popular. Don't waste time keep queuing. Use your Disneyland entrance ticket to scan for Fast Pass ticket and come back later for the ride.
3. If it is Autumn/Spring period, even the weather forecast show cooling, get a warm jacket. You never know how the temperature falls at night. especially at Disney.
4. If you had space in your bag, get a picnic mat. Everyone does that to get a nice spot for the parade.
5. Most Important, don't be shy, enjoy the ride like a kid. dress yourself up in Disney hat, headband or clothing. No one will laugh at you, as we are supposed to enjoy our Childhood Moments.

Tokyo Disney - Part 1

Let The Magical Begins....

This is a long overdue post I should make.

Tokyo Disney is a place that will be love by Adults and Kids. A place that should not be missed. The park is designed to be family oriented, that you could enjoy a whole day just at the park.

Before I start to highlight about the Tokyo Disney, I shall highlight where I got the tickets and how I get to Disney

ART BOX @ Bangkok

ART BOX

For the past 2 years, everyone is raving about ART BOX when they are in Bangkok. This is consider one of the newest night market. But before you go, do check out where they are locate at through their Facebook. as these night market is mobile, there is no fix location.

For this time, i went to the ART BOX at EM District. The location is very convenient where i take BTS and alight at Phrom Phong. Just follow the crowd and less than 5min walks will reach the ART BOX.

The moment you reach the entrance, you will see the neon light where you cant miss it. In fact they have staff to guide us in and also they seems to check the bag for security reason when you carry large bag.

We were there quite early, thus able to snap lots of photo to show the area before nite fall.

The place is segregate into few sections where you had the food, live band, live dwg and fashion buys. I would say that for the ART BOX @ EM district is not huge, maybe within an hour you can tour finish unless you sit back relax and have a beer there, listening to live band.

Also for those who are looking for bargain buys, this is a wrong place for you. Over at ART BOX, it is more about fashion and unique items. A totally different environment and feel compare to those night market where you expect things selling at 100 baht. 

 This is what i call creativity, where they sell drinks in the drip/transfuse bags.

 Another items i try is their drink, where maybe they had add some special ice to have the smoke effect.

Also we pack back some korean fried chicken which i feel super awesome. Great taste at minimum price.

If you like to have a drawing of yourself, get hold of any artisit here to have your caricature drawing. 

Found a spot to have some cool picture taken.

People sitting around waiting for live band

Does it worth the Hype???

Well i would say, do come to experience a different feel of night market.  Probably the food attract me more as they are really good and unique compare to other place i went.

Srinakarin Train Market @ Bangkok

Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin

If you ask any Thai people, where is the interesting night market that they go?? Srinakarin Train Market or also known as Talad Rot Fai Market is what i get from my Bangkok friends.

The place is all about Retro and Vintage, where not only you can go shopping and eating, photo bombing is what everyone does there.

This market is open Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to midnight. An interesting place where i highly recommend to go if times permit. At the moments, this market is mainly patronize by their local, which price are still low compare to many places like Chatuchak which is more like a tourist spot.

The only down side, the location is not very convenient as there is no BTS within walking distance.

Address: Srinakarin Road Soi 51 ( behind Seacon Square)

How to get there: Take BTS to " On Nut"  station and from there, take a taxi down

The size of this night market is very huge that almost everything can be found here. You could find pubs, restaurant, street bites, clothing, barber shop.....and many more that you will feel one night here is not enough for you.

I suggest that you carry an empty stomach here to enjoy all the nice snacks that you can find and eat while you shop. If you need a rest, hang out at their pubs listening to live band or even cafe to take a break. Of cos there are also those small stalls that they setup tables behind for you to take a seat when you purchase your favorite tom yum, phad thai from them.

Whole Stretch Of Yummy Snacks

Nice BBQ Squid... Price is base on size

 I got one for myself as cant resist the temptation

 

Selecting cute kitty clothing for my niece. It is so cheap for 100Baht ( Sin dollar $4) you get top and bottom set of kitty pyjamas

There are Outdoor and indoor Shopping area, just comb through and you may find gems there

While Shopping maybe your objective here, do stop by at one of their containers where they create Vintage since inside. You could find Retro Car, scooter, all the way back to 60s... Most important, it is free. So just enjoy your time for photo bombing

   

Frankly speaking, this is my favorite night market as of now. area is big and spread out. Also as it open from evening, we will not feel the heat like what we get at Chatuchak. So do check it out when you are in Bangkok.

Favorite Hotel Stay in Bangkok -Berkeley Hotel

Bangkok holiday is a once in a year event for me.
A short get away where eating and shopping is a paradise to many Singaporean.
Typically people will ask me where I usually stay, Pratunam is always my answer.
There is about hundreds of hotel at this area, from backpackers to 5 star hotels all within the same area.

Since is a holiday, I recommend staying at a proper and nice hotel to relax.
Price range is usually from S$80/day onward for a decent hotel.

For me Berkeley Hotel is always the choice for me. But of course if budget permit, I would recommend Novetel @ Pratunam, Holiday Inn and most of people like Glow as well.
My hotel stay is S$83++ without breakfast. ( if you like to have breakfast, that will be additional of S$20 for 2 pax)
In bangkok, I don't think food is an issue and I like the freedom to wake up and choose the food I like at the nearby street stall or food court.

So here is a over view of the hotel I stay this time round.

The view is from the main tower. Berkeley Hotel is spilt into 2 tower. North tower is abit old and need to cross over at level 11. Thus I always choose the main tower.

Japan Hual from Daiso, 100Yen Shop ( Can Do), 3Coins and Natural Kitchen

Japan had many dollar store, and if you did not control yourself well, you might burst your wallet easily.

I went to some of the stores and here what i got from Tokyo:

Daiso
This is super popular all over the world and I went to the store at Harajuku.
All items is typically at 100Yen before their tax so is like SGD1.26 / item

But for Daiso, i just got a few items as follow:

100 Yen (Can Do)

This is the shop that I prefer more than Daiso. Actually they sell almost similar to Daiso, but I find I'm able to get more items that does not sell back in Singapore Daiso. And most important they carry more sanrio products like Pom Pom Purin or My Melody. This are items you won't be able to find at daiso. They also carry snacks from Meiji.
So here a snap shot of items i got from there:

3 Coins

As what the name say, 3 coins of 100 yen which make all items selling at ¥300. This shop is targeting at selling items at a better quality of those 100Yen shop. Is also a place where you are able to get all sort of items. But this time round I only get some Christmas ornaments as a gift for friends.

Natural Kitchen

I would say this shop selling more of home decoration items. They are like pop up store, where they often change the items according to festive season too.
Price can range from ¥100 to ¥1500. But most of the items is at ¥100 or ¥300. If you do not see any price label, that mean it is selling at ¥100.
So far in Tokyo I only manage to find it in Shinjuku some where at 2nd floor between the connection from My Lord to Odakyu department store.

So if you are in Tokyo and pass by all this shops, pop in and take a look.

With so many choices of dollar shops... you just can't have enough shopping at Japan.

I'm already start missing it.