Yodogawa (Yodo River)

The Yodogawa (淀川) or Yodo River is one of the two longest rivers that runs through Osaka, and I live close to it. The Yodo river banks had been reconstructed to look like just any other river bank in Japan. But this made it more suitable for jogging, strolling, and biking. I have only gone to the banks during the fireworks displays in summer, and recently, I have bid my initial goodbye to Osaka by strolling along Yodo River. Here are some photos and sorry for the quality. I only used my phone's camera. The first picture became like this and I don't know how it happened.

houses near the river..

the setting sun...

it's getting dark...

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Litratong Pinoy: Bag

Sobrang mahilig ako sa sling bag. Kaya nung nagkaroon ako nang pagkakataong bumiyahe sa Australia, bumili akong nang isang sling bag sa SM Makati. Kahit na ito ay nagkakahalaga lamang nang mas mababa pa sa 300 Pesos, sobrang napaka-durable nito kaya ginagamit ko ito halos araw-araw. Ang mga larawang nasa ibaba ay ang mga magagandang ala-ala ko kasama ang pinakapaborito kong bag:

I really love sling bags. When I got the chance to travel to Australia, I bought a sling bag at SM Makati. It only cost less than 300 Pesos but it is so durable that I "sling" it almost everyday. The pictures below are my happy memories together with my most favorite bag:

Sa Sydney, March 2006:

Para sa mas marami pang detalye tungkol sa byahe ko sa Sydney, pumunta lamang sa isa ko pang blog, ang: Unforgettable Sydney.
For details about my travel to Sydney, please visit my other blog, Unforgettable Sydney.

Sa Kyoto, Japan, March 2007:


Sa isang department store sa Osaka, 2008:


Sa Universal Studios, Japan, February 2009:


Hanggang ngayon, ay kasa-kasama ko pa rin ang sling bag na ito.
Until now, I still have this sling bag.

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Litratong Pinoy: Bulaklak

Ang tagsibol ay palagi kong inaabangan dahil makikita kong muli ang kagandahan nang Sakura (Cherry Blossoms). Pero bago pa man namumulaklak ang Sakura ay nauuna ang Plum (Ume) Blossoms. Ang mga bulaklak na ito ay makikita mo sa Plum Orchard sa Osaka Castle.
Spring is on the things I look forward to because I get to see Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) once again. But before the Sakura appears, we get to see Plum (Ume) Blossoms. The flowers below could be seen at the Plum Orchard in Osaka Castle grounds.

closer...

closest...

Ang lahat nang mga nasa itaas ay larawan nang Ume (plum) blossoms. Pero hindi ko pa rin matukoy ang pagkakaiba nila nang Sakura (cherry blossoms). Pareho naman kasi silang magaganda.
The photos above are those of the plum blossoms. I still can't point any difference between the plum and cherry blossoms. Both are so beautiful!

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Litratong Pinoy: Puso (o hugis puso)

Pebrero: Sa mga theme parks tulad nang Universal Studios Japan, nakikita ang mga hugis puso sa maraming sulok nang park.
(In February, something heart-shaped is almost everywhere in theme parks such as the Universal Studios Japan.)

Tulad nang fountain na ito na may nakasabit na mga palamuting hugis-puso:
(Like this fountain, which is adorned with heart-shaped ornaments:)

O etong hugis pusong kuwadrado. Gusto ko sanang magpa picture kaso ayokong pumila. Nakakahiya ding ako lang mag-isa ang magpose. Kaya kinunan ko nalang nang litrato ang Japanese na magsyotang eto. Medyo malayo kasi ako kaya siguro hindi ako pinagalitan. Grabe kasi nilang pinapangalagaan ang privacy nila.
Or this heart-shaped frame. I wanted to have my picture taken here but I didn't want to fall in line. It would also be really embarrassing to pose there all alone. So I just took this photo of a random couple. I took this from a distance, maybe the reason why they were not able to reprimand me.

Pati sa may entrance kung saan nakatayo si Charlie Brown...
(Even at the entrance where Charlie Brown stands...)

Maligayang araw nang mga puso sa lahat!

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

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Litratong Pinoy: Tsokolate

Malapit na ang Araw nang mga Puso kaya mabentang-mabenta dito sa Japan ngayon ang mamahaling tsokolate. Alam ba ninyo na dito, ang mga lalaki ang sinusuyo sa araw na ito? Ang pagbibigay nang isang babae nang tsokolate sa lalaki ay maaaring nangangahulugan na may gusto ang babae sa lalaki. At kung gusto din nang lalaki ang babae, "sinasagot" nang lalaki ang babae sa pagbibigay nang tsokolate sa babae sa March 14 o White Day. Pero meron ding tinatawag na "Giri Choco" o "obligatory chocolate". Ang giri choco ay binibigay nang mga babae sa mga kaopisina nilang mga lalaki sa Araw nang mga Puso.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and chocolates are in demand now in Japan. Do you know that on Valentine's Day, the ladies are the ones who should give chocolate to the guys? This could mean that a lady feels something romantic towards a guy and on March 14th or White Day, the guy gives his answer by giving that lady chocolates. But, there's also the Giri Choco or obligatory chocolates. These are chocolates given to the guy officemates during the Heart's Day.

Eto ay ang pinakapaborito kong tsokolate dito sa Japan, ang Aero:
Below is my favorite chocolate here in Japan:

Ang Snoopy Choco cookies na ito ay binibenta sa Universal Studios Japan. Gusto ko pa sanang kumuha nang maraming litrator pero akala ko kasi bawal:
The Snoopy Choco Cookies below are sold at Universal Studios Japan. I would have liked to take more photos but I thought it wasn't allowed:

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Litratong Pinoy: Lila (Violet)

Spring 2007 ay nagkaroon ako nang pagkakataong bisitahin ang Kyoto Botanical Garden. Duon ay makakakita ka nang iba't ibang klaseng halaman, lalo na ang Sakura (Cherry Blossoms). Makakakita ka rin nang iba't ibang klase nang tulips.

Spring 2007. I had the chance of visiting Kyoto Botanical Garden. There, you could see different kinds of plants, especially the Cherry Blossoms. There are also different kinds of tulips.

May lila:

dilaw (yellow):

at pink:

At kahit na walang bagay na kulay lila, sinama ko na rin po ang blogger nang Exploring Kansai:
Even if the following photo does not have anything violet in it, I've chosen to post this one, too, the Exploring Kansai blogger:

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Litratong Pinoy: Kahel (orange)

Sa Pinas, ang kahel na prutas na ito ay nilalagay sa hapag kainan kasama ang iba pang prutas sa pagpasok nang bagong taon. Sa Japan, ito ay pinapalamutian at sinasabit sa may pintuan o sa labas nang bahay:

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