Japanese Food Tripping

3Willings - Japanese Edition

Well I'm back from Japan.

What a great trip that was. Such a great country with awesome people and culture.
Definitely putting trip #2 down the pipeline.

Blogging about Japan is difficult because its such a big experience.

(Coz I'm big in Japan?)

I wouldn't do the country justice if I fit it in one big (and boring) entry. So I guess I'll blog about it in little pieces - starting with what I loved about Japan the most - FOOD!!

Food, glorious food!!

I read somewhere that Japan has surpassed France as the food capital of the world.
That wouldn't surprise me coz food there is simply awesome!

[50% of our time in Japan was spent eating. The other 40% was sleeping. And the other 10% was walking towards the next eatery.]

Thankfully, in Japan food is almost always displayed by pictures or plastic models. So you can just point to what you want - excellent when you're starving and can barely speak Japanese :P

Plastic food can make your mouth water

Japan has the bestest sushi. Its always fresh and tasty.

This guy will make 'any sushi you want'

This is 'any sushi you want'

Unagi is Japan has no fishy taste. Sugoi!!!

Koreans catching the sushi train

Sashimi me
I voted this best sushi in Japan. Grilled salmon with cheese and pepper. Grilled salmon with mayo is a close 2nd.

Of course if raw fish is not to your liking there are tons of alternatives!

Curry can come with fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, eggplant, or anything else you fancy

Okonomiyaki - Japanese pancake/omelettes!

Or make your own Okonomiyaki - Teppanyaki style!

Yes, that's right! This Katsu chicken has melted cheese inside!!

Omurice - Japanese rice omelet. The wonders Japanese can do with egg and ketchup.

Takoyakis with Cheese

Takoyakis with more cheese.

And if thats not enough! Japan offers the best cuisine from all over the world. They have Chinese, American, Australian, French, Indian, Italian restaurants everywhere.

In fact, this marina pasta was the best pasta I've tasted in MY LIFE!

My whole life flashed before me when I ate this.

Phew. That was a mouthful.

Stay tuned for Fast Food Japan and Japanese sweets.
Now I'm hungry.

3Willing Japan

3Willings
1) Holidays!
2) E=MC2
3) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

On holidays :)

Have fun everyone.

Budgety

3Willings
1) Joes Oriental Diner
2) Need for Speed: Pro-Street (Spanish Version)
3) The Eye

Probably one of the best things I learnt from my dad is to keep a track of my daily expenses.

I use to think my dad was nutty for writing down how much he spent every day. He'd scribble in his note book every little thing. Shopping, parking, fuel, bills and even postage stamps cost. My sister hated it because she thought it borderlined OCD.

But really, when you start earning (doesn't matter how much), its important to know where your money is going.

Its kinda like eating where budgeting is like counting calories. If its not balanced right, you can end up being very thin... financially.

Okay, maybe that analogy wasn't good. But you know what I mean.

I've been doing this for about six years now and its fascinating seeing where my money's been going.

My 2007 budget results. Heading up is good, heading down is bad

Every year, I seem to get the same kinda pattern. I lose out heaps during April, June and September. Blasted birthdays! Hehehe.

But looking back, its quite surprising that I spent a lot more money when I was single than with a girlfriend. (Hmm... this could get me into a lot of trouble... I hope she's not reading this....).

Blame it on those boozy saturday nights with the boys.

Blame it also on being too self consciousness.

When single and out on the prowl, you're always a bit more conscious about the way you look. So you spend a bit more on joining gyms, latest gadgets, buying clothes, hair care products like puttys/paste/mud/gel/sweet n sour sauce thickener. Plus you go out to dinners and clubbing more often.

Once you have a girlfriend you kinda 'let go', if I can put it so loosely.

Now I'm saving heaps by not looking after myself, not exercising, not washing my hair and not using soap.

So here's a money saving tip for guys out there - go get a girlfriend***.

Browsing through my records, I thought I'd share some of my best and bad buys over the years.

Wastes of money
Low rider - I spent a huge amount of clams getting my car lowered. Looked nice. But not cool when the car grated every speed bump and curb over an inch high. I spent another lot of clams to get my car raised.

VCD Player - I was pretty sure I was going to buy lots and lots of VCDs when I visited Philippines (think naughty). But I didn't a chance to. So I was left with a VCD player with no VCDs.

and Booze - hundreds of clams spent on alcohol multiplied by number of wednesday, fridayssaturdays with the boys. Yes, that's a lot of money. Especially waste of money when you throw up (makes for very expensive vomit).

Vandalism - Wasted a lot of clams paying for insurance because my car was vandalized. I could have used that money on hotdogs...

Best Buys
Socky Socks - I'm still smiling from the 3 pairs of socks for 2 clams that my brother bargained in Singapore. Love them socks.

Hunsa American Hotdogs (with cheese) - best quality hotdogs in my local supermarket. I read somewhere (a fictitious article) that hotdogs were good for you.

GPS Navigator - Lost without you, honestly.

Playstation 2 & laptop - these boxes provide for so much entertainment its not funny. Definitely worth every clam invested (I'm foreseeing the PS3 will be a bargain too... when the good games come out).

*** only works with low maintenance girlfriends.