Pedestrian Dude

3 Comments Posted by on October 15, 2015
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A fatter than usual, hat wearing hominid, as a pedestrian traffic light sign in Narita town, Japan.

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Can you see the outline of the hat?

Japan, Signs , , , ,

Savory Senbei

Leave a comment Posted by on October 14, 2015
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This rice cracker shop is one of the many small shops along Omotesando street in Narita town

One should never underestimate the taste of senbei (rice crackers) because when it is freshly made and still warm, the ‘yumminess’ meter goes up to about 75% more than those packed ones.

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Display case for the freshly made senbei

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Still warm

Food, Japan , , ,

Jeepney Spare Tyre

Leave a comment Posted by on October 13, 2015

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Jeepney drivers must be acrobatically inclined. Apart from the ability to drive defensively in one hand while the other hand is collecting fare, a jeepney driver can apparently go in and out with ease. One could see that the driver’s door is significantly blocked by a spare tyre. And yes, that’s the standard location for the spare.

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Driving tip: Distancia amigo, your side mirror will never be up against that spare tyre.

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Metro Manila, Pinoy Way of Life, Public Transportation , , ,

Deity Clothed in Bibs

Leave a comment Posted by on October 12, 2015
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Jizos at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Jizo is (also) a protector of children and its statues are usually carved from stone. Seeing the bibs on the Jizos presumably put on by parents gave me some sense of spirituality and connectedness to the realm of human life driven by beliefs and unaffected by science and technology.

Belief, Japan , , , , , , ,

Chicken Pedicure

6 Comments Posted by on October 11, 2015
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This lad chops off the nails from the chicken feet before selling it

A well-dressed adidas (chicken feet) is achieved by chopping off its nails one by one. And that’s what keeps this lad busy at the talipapa.

Market, Metro Manila , , ,

Temple Rain Barrel

Leave a comment Posted by on October 10, 2015
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Rain barrel at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Rain barrel of Japanese Buddhist temples is one thing that I find particularly attractive even though every section of the temple is intricate. Perhaps because something utilitarian was melded into the structure.

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Rain barrel at the right side of the temple

The simplicity of the idea to collect rainwater by means of a barrel cannot be undervalued for it’s a measure to preserve the beautiful wooden temple in case of fire. And for all other practical uses such as watering plants and cleaning, rain barrel is truly a functional beauty.

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Another rain barrel from another temple inside the complex

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Spot the two rain barrels

Fixture, Japan, Receptacle , , ,

Aling Emma

Leave a comment Posted by on October 8, 2015
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Aling Emma in her daster

For years I would buy espasol, bibingka, and most frequently the Pinatuyuan sa Gata freshwater shrimps viand from Aling Emma. Her shack of a shop is in Pagsanjan, Laguna along the main highway in the poblacion. One day the shop was gone from the old location. Then, months later I was able to locate her to this new one, still in the poblacion and not that far from the original one. It’s still a shack, which I like. I’m just truly glad that there’s still Aling Emma and her tiny food shop, my favored stop in Laguna.

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Espasol, suman, tikoy, vinegar in soft drinks plastic bottle containers, fish crackers, shing-a-ling, chicharon, etc.

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Assortment of rice cakes and the pinatuyuang hipon sa gata (inside those stypor containers at the upper left side)

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Pickled vegetables

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The gateway to Aling Emma’s shop

Food, Humans, Laguna , , , , , , , ,

Mount Fuji on the Ground

Leave a comment Posted by on October 7, 2015

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Art, Japan , , , ,

Mount Fuji Toilet Signs

2 Comments Posted by on October 5, 2015
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The phone can wait

A toilet in the mountain is like a bottomless hole, that deep I presume. What goes in is impossible to retrieve. You’ve been warned by means of a sign. Almost all toilets have no sink in order to conserve water. One needs to use the hand sanitizer (if provided by your hut) instead. No faucet showering, and no tooth brushing, even if you’ve booked a hut. Awareness have been made possible through these toilets signs, including their hope that you’ll safely climb Mount Fuji.

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Conserve water in the mountain

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Have a safe climb, says the toilet

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Unexpected freebie since everything is costly up there

Japan, Signs , , , ,

Optical Shop Signage

Leave a comment Posted by on October 2, 2015
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I see it's an optical shop.

This optical shop signage in Taguig plays with words and spelling.

Metro Manila, Signs , , ,

Pinamalhan na Salmonete

Leave a comment Posted by on October 1, 2015
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Pinamalhan na salmonete

Pinamalhan is a Hiligaynon term for stewing fish in vinegar and salt (and/or soy sauce) until all liquid evaporates, hence the dish becomes mala (dry), and that’s why it’s called pinamalhan. We normally include crushed garlic and/or sliced onions to the vinegar and fish for the stewing process. Salmonete fish is perfect for pinamalhan. Back in my growing up days in Bacolod, I recall my mother will always prepare pinamalhan na salmonete every time she can get hold of fresh salmonete from the wet market. Naturally, I get to acquire the liking for this simple breakfast viand that is totally perfect with steamed rice.

Food , , , , , , , , ,

Airborne Wishes

Leave a comment Posted by on September 29, 2015
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Writing wishes on their lantern

There is one district in the outskirts of Taipei named Pingxi where tourists flock mainly to see and experience the flying lanterns on a railroad track.

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Readying the hot air lantern by putting fire on bunch of papers inside

To do the lantern experience, I’ve observed that first, you choose and buy a lantern from one of the many vendors in there, then write anything that you (and your companions if lantern sharing) hope or wish for, afterwards stand on the railroad tracks (when there’s no passing train of course), it is there that fire will be lit on a bunch of papers inside to generate hot air. Just before releasing, smile at the camera (100% of those I’ve observed have their photographs taken, and they were all smiling, the lantern must be expensive, I suppose), lastly let go of thy wishes into the air. Goodbye. I wonder where all those lanterns end up.

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Couple smiling at the camera with their lantern on the railroad tracks

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Released lantern

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Assortment of lanterns

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Bye bye lantern

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Trio lantern sharing

Belief, Taiwan , , , ,

By the River Tamsui

Leave a comment Posted by on September 27, 2015
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To pause for a while and watch the sunset

One fine afternoon, in place of long walks, it was the perfect time to ride leisurely by the river Tamsui and watch the sunset in my rented bicycle. Then I’ve come to understand that I take delight inTaiwan more than in Hong Kong or Macau.

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Sunrise Sunset, Taiwan , , , ,

Post Boxes in Taiwan

Leave a comment Posted by on September 26, 2015
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Red and green post boxes in Ximending, Taipei

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Cat themed post box in Houtong

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Two-toned post box in Pingxi

Receptacle, Taiwan , , , , ,

Taiwan Sausage

Leave a comment Posted by on September 24, 2015
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The pale looking ones are actually sticky rice inside a sausage casing. The rice sausage is being grilled, then it would be sliced lengthwise partially so the pork sausage can be wedged on it.

The pork sausage in Taipei (and around) is a savory and tempting snack whether skewered or placed inside a sticky rice sausage (that serves as bun). Quite an extraordinary sustenance because it is deliciously fatty.

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Nearly each time I could smell it, I buy. For at least five times as I can remember that I ate grilled pork sausage, I could say that I had a gratifying street food snacking experience in Taiwan. So I thought of collecting few pictures about this subject.

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Why does pork sausage taste even better at night?

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Skewered pork sausage

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For a longer satisfaction

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Of various sizes

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Pork sausage inside the sticky rice sausage. A meal in itself

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Comes in bite sizes too

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Food, Taiwan , , , , , , , , ,

White Ampalaya Juice Stand

Leave a comment Posted by on September 22, 2015
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One of the many ampalaya juice stands in Taiwan

Only in Taiwan where I have seen the ampalaya being sold widely as beverage. The physical appearance of white ampalaya in its relatively considerable size is such a curiosity. With honey or sugar added, the ampalaya juice is refreshingly good because of its clean taste and with no overpowering bitterness.

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Another white ampalaya juice stand

Beverage, Taiwan , , ,

2-Step Toilet Flusher

Leave a comment Posted by on September 20, 2015
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Floor toilet with 2-step flusher

Taiwan is particular in saving water as one can observe from most of their sink faucets where the flow is powerful spray instead of steady stream, which means less water is needed in effectively removing soap from hands in just a short time. They also have this 2-step flusher so unlike the usual two buttons we normally see in Western toilets. This one in Taiwan is more hygeinic as I don’t need to use my hand. As you can see from the instructions below, one flusher is for urine, and another one dedicated for stool.

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Instruction and trivia inside the toilet. Now you know if frogs do poop

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Another toilet with 2-step flusher

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Really nice to do one’s business on the floor toilet while looking at that cat picture

Fixture, Taiwan , , ,

Gastropod Shell Pot

Leave a comment Posted by on September 18, 2015
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Snail meat is for snacking while its shell is for potting

Grilled snails are for snacking in Jiufen town. One house I happen to pass by has this idea of repurposing the gastropod shell as plant pot. Cute.

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Grilled snails at Jiufen Old Street. I see lots of potential pots

Food, Garden, Repurposing, Taiwan , , , , , ,

Railway Boxed Lunch

Leave a comment Posted by on September 17, 2015
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The store that sells bian dang (boxed lunch) at the railway station

Twice in separate days I bought TRA’s (Taiwan Railways Administration) carton boxed lunch at the train station for the purpose of convenience and experience. Going around Taipei and its neighboring towns via Metro and TRA, I’ve observed and verified by myself that it’s very handy to buy boxed lunch at the stations and then have a quiet meal on park benches or any seating one can find in public spaces.

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Another TRA boxed lunch store

The boxed lunch typically consists of pork chop, tofu, rice, stir fried vegetables, and stewed egg. At NT$60 it was satisfying and simply delicious. I ate my bian dang (local term for railway boxed lunch) on a bench in Houtong, a cat village in Ruifang District. I also had bian dang on a bench in the grounds of Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall before touring this monumental memorial.

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This one has English signage

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Boxed lunches are usually located near the checkout counter

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Yet another boxed lunch store. The TRA logo is an indication

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One of the many passengers who bought bian dang

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The carton lunch box dimension is similar to that of paperback pocketbook

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Stewed egg, rice, stir fried vegetables, tofu, and pork chop

Food, Packaging, Taiwan , , , , , ,

Watermelon as Menu Medium

Leave a comment Posted by on September 15, 2015

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One papaya milk please…as I pointed to item number 1 of the menu written on a giant watermelon at a shop in Tamsui, Taiwan.

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The shop with watermelon menu

Improvisation, Taiwan , , , ,

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