OSAKA!

***HAPPY 2011 everyone!!! I had wanted to put up a new post b4 the new year but in the end I was so caught up in my Kobe trip. Anyway, if you follow my Twitter at the side you would probably know that I had a super tough 30-hour journey from Shinjo to Kobe, cos I was stranded in Tokyo for 1 night! Oh well, will elaborate on that later and meanwhile, I just wanna share this old entry about my first time sight-seeing & shopping in Osaka. In fact I will be going there tomorrow so it's kinda to refresh my own memory! Hee~*** (2/1/2011)

9th July 2006: it's Sunday, and C & mi had decided to make a trip down to Osaka.


it's not exactly my first time here, as i had passed by Osaka last yr to board the bus to Hiroshima. i could sorta recognise this station. but it's my first time really touring in Osaka. anyway, after a stop in the tourist info centre...


we took the subway to Shinsaibashi 心斎橋, the main shopping street.


went to the Sanrio shop, where everything is oh-so-pretty-&-cute, and bought a little towel for En's bday pressie.


also went to the Disney shop, and took pics with these stuff toys.


then passed by a river, and passed by 道頓堀 Dotonbori street...


and we walked thru the shopping street to the end, where Takashimaya is, turned right, and stopped by at a very big Muji store. looking at all these Muji foodstuff brought back memories for mi as i often like to buy these snacks from the Muji in Bugis junction.


then we came to Den-Den Town, the "Akihabara of Osaka". it is filled with electronics shops and maid cafes.


couldn't resist looking at Sony products whenever i enter electronics shops.


walked a big round and landed back at 道頓堀 again. it's so crowded and lively!


ate Takoyaki, and took pic with this famous figure of Osaka.


then went to the 道頓堀川 river with the big ドン．キホーラ ferris wheel. there was a boat sailing thru the river, live band performance on the opposite side, and also some ppl praying for the 七夕 festival.


walked back 心斎橋, which by then was crazy with ppl!
took the subway back to Umeda, and shopped at some shopping centre there. it was the last day of Summer sale and nearing closing time of the day, so many shops had girls standing outside and shouting "lelong". i bought a cap there. then har, something unhappy happened to mi. i accidentally walked out of the shopping arena while C was still inside. when i wanted to go back to look for her, i was stopped by the security guards as they were closing. i tried to explain in my limited Japanese tt i juz wanted to look for my fren, but they refused to budge. they were like spreading their arms wide, and kept blocking mi no matter which way i went. so irritating!! finally i saw C and called out to her and ran inside. but i felt v angry at the way i was being treated. damn!

oh well, putting tt aside, we moved on to our nx destination - Umeda Sky building! after some checking of map and walking thru a long underpass, we finally reached this famous landmark of Osaka.


tickets bought with the 10% discount coupon from the tourist info centre. we followed the guided route and took the very long escalator up to the top floor.


wat a sweet backdrop! if onli i were here with a bf...


spectacular night view from the top floor


hee~ we spent quite a long time to get these! there we were, piling up the chairs to act as tripod so tt we could take a pic together. =P
Umeda Sky building closes at 10.30pm, and we were almost leaving at 10.20pm, when we suddenly realised tt we could actually go up to the rooftop! so we rushed up and woooww~~ the view was even better! made full use of the remaining time to take more pics until we were chased out by the security guards. ooops. =P

by then, we were already famished. had dinner at Yoshinoya b4 taking the JR back home. wat an enjoyable day in Osaka!