Day four

We are to take the train today. Our destination. Osaka!

Osaka. The working heart of Kansai. Almost got wiped off the face of the earth in WWII. It is now a city that is only surpassed by Tokyo. With it’s endless chain of pachinko parlours, flashing strings of neon lights, and birth place of the famous Okonomiyaki. One cannot help but be beckoned to visit this city at least once.

Hankyu Hon-Sen Line. Switched station to Mido Suji-Sen line. Than Hommachi. Finally Nanba. And we were there.

Like any large cities. There are lots of people, all rushing off to somewhere in a hurry. Everyone in black suits. A picture perfect scene from the Matrix.

CAPTION of the DAY
We saw a man peeping in front of a tree! In broad daylight!! In view of peak hour traffic!!! What THE…..!!!!

It was hard deciding which Okonomiyaki restaurant to enter because there were so many of them. We found the nicest plastic imitation and gave it a shot.

Every booth has a hot plate and the pancakes were cooked right before your very eyes.

We ordered 3 and spent the next ½ hour watching our pancakes get fried. While desperately trying to convince little Rey [quite unsuccessfully] to not touch the iron hot plate.

But of course, like all kids. They will do the complete opposite of what you say.

I have never heard quite a wail till this day! Poor thing. eouch!

We walked out of the restaurant, fully satisfied, with little red-eyed toddler, all smelling like barbeque.

One could shop forever in Osaka. The shops stretch from miles on end. All selling fashion statements of all kinds. I celebrated its diversity and vibrancies with a jazzy silver sequenced mid-drift cardigan.

The most captivating shop was a 3 stories Hello Kitty store.

I forced Melvin to take a picture with me in front of the giant pink flat-faced cat. Seeing him strolling through the all pink and frilled shop was such a hilarious sight. Talk about misfit!

I bought myself my very first Hello Kitty and Melody key chain.

On our way back. We stopped by the Umeda Sky Building – 700 yen / pple

I was completely fretted out by the escalator ride [that is attached to both towers some 30 stories above ground with nothing under it!!! See the 2 sticks that's in the circle.].

The view was amazing! We walked round the Garden Observatory taking in the 360-paranemic view of the city.

I had a nice chat with my childhood friend while watching the city slowing spring to live with all its display of neon lights.

It will be a moment that will stay with me forever.