Category Archives: Asia

Paradise Island in Samal

Posted on February 17, 2017 by lifeisacelebration

If you have the time, there’s Pearl Farm and Malipano Island in Samal. But if you want a quick escape, Paradise Island is just a 10-minute boat ride from the jetty in Davao City. You still get the same sun … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Dining101, Family Travel, Travel | Tagged Davao, Durian, Mindanao, Paradise Island, Paradise Usland Park, Philippines, Samal, Samal Island | 2 Comments

Ate Indian Food, Did Chinatown (in Bangkok)

Posted on December 15, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

Yes, exactly. The closest thing I got to traditional Thai cuisine was that Pad Thai dinner by the hotel pool and in the wedding party. Now I’m not sure I ever was in Bangkok if not for the wedding party … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Travel | Tagged Bangkok, Gaggan, Thailand, Wat Trimit, Yaowarat | 2 Comments

Going Gaga in Gaggan

Posted on December 12, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

Bangkok. Here for a wedding. And a dinner. And what a magical dinner! Everything is a piece of art and a wonder of science. A genius play on creativity, ingenuity, art and technique. Gaggan Anand. The Asian Czar of Gastronomy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Dining101, Lifestyle, Musings and Ramblings, Travel | Tagged Asia's best restaurant, Bangkok, Best Restaurant, foodie destination, Gaggan, Gaggan Anand, Indian Cuisine, molecular cuisine, must experience in Bangkok, travel | 4 Comments

Only In Japan

Posted on October 28, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

There’s something about Japan. Its culture. Its food. Its people. Excellence seems to be the norm. No settling for anything mediocre. If your seafood is fresh, it means “just-dead-a-few-secs-ago”. If your steak is succulently tender, it means “melt-in-your-mouth”. If your … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Musings and Ramblings, Travel | Tagged Asia, bento boxes, Food Trip, Hokkaido, Japan, Japanese culture, Japanese trains, Japanese trams, Miyajima, Oysters, travel | 1 Comment

Almost Forgot You, Sapporo

Posted on October 24, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

Bad. I’ve written a series of blogs on my 2 week holiday in Japan, and missed you! Sapporo. If I visited just a week later, I would have experienced your transition into winter with your first snowfall. My friends who … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Musings and Ramblings, Travel | Tagged Hokkaido, Hokkaido University, Japan, Odori Park, Sapporo | 2 Comments

Old Japan in Kyoto

Posted on October 24, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

From bustling, cosmopolitan Tokyo, food coma-inducing Hokkaido, and rustic Magome-Tsumago to Kyoto. They say Kyoto is the heart of Old Japan. I bet those many, many tourists think so too. We did the touristy thing and visited many tourist traps. … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Travel | Tagged Geiko, Geisha, Ginkakuji, Gion, Japan, Kinkakuji, Kyoto, Maiko, Nara, Philosopher's Path | 5 Comments

Miyajima’s Oysters & Eels

Posted on October 23, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

And more. We were drawn to Miyajima because of that iconic floating Torii Gate off Hiroshima Bay. At low tide, you can approach and walk around the gate. Took the 1 1/2 hour train ride from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima and … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Dining101, Family Travel, Musings and Ramblings, Travel | Tagged Asia, Conger eels, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Mandarin Orange, Japan, Miyajima, Momiji, Oysters, Sake, travel | 3 Comments

Osaka’s Kitchen

Posted on October 21, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

There wasn’t much we did in Osaka. No trips to USJ planned. Osaka Castle checked. Day trip to Nara and Hiroshima done. Ferry trip to Miyajima enjoyed. Shopping nearly done, bags stretched to the max. And so what’s the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Dining101, Travel | Tagged craft beer, Dotonbori, Food Trip, Japan, matsusaka Beef, Minoh beer, okonomiyaki, Osaka, takoyaki, wagyu | 2 Comments

Dear Me. Deer Me. (Nara)

Posted on October 20, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

We got unlucky? Or lucky. In our 15-day travel, the gods smiled on us. Even when we got on the right train but the wrong car. As it turned out, our car got “uncoupled” from the first 6 cars of … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Travel | Tagged Day Trip from Tokyo, Deer, Japan, Kyoto Day Trip, Nara, travel | 3 Comments

What’s There To Like in Otaru?

Posted on October 15, 2016 by lifeisacelebration

A lot. A whole lot. We were completely charmed strolling around Otaru Canal, and went insane in Sakaimachi shopping for Hokkaido cookies and stuff. From Sapporo, we took the hour-long slow train which chop-chooed along the coast towards Otaru. Slow … Continue reading →