Treasure Find 27 -- The Art and Science of "Letting Go"... Tokyo's Hi-Tech Toilets!

HELLO WORLD:

Warning: if you are eating, don't read this anymore or better yet, drop your food now!  :D

Food blogging is such an enjoyable activity because we savor the taste of the food we eat and share it with the rest.  But while eating is such a fun thing to do, don't you think "moving" or "letting go" is an equally refreshing experience? :D   Di ba, iba yung feeling once you let it go?   LOL :D  So shouldn't there be another niche in blogging that deals on the last part of the digestive process? :D

Well, this blog post is really not actually about pooping.  This is about my Treasure Hunt in Japan and the marvelous thing that I found.  And that is Tokyo's hi-tech toilets!  :)

Well, I know, you may ask, why the hell am I blogging about toilets!  Haha, don't click away, let me explain first.  Don't you think having a good toilet is an essential aspect in traveling?  As much as we enjoy the places we go to and eat the most delicious food in town we visit, we also need that amenity for our bathroom break that will keep us moving.  And I was fascinated to discover these hi-tech toilets!

I first encountered this in Hotel Shinagawa where we spent our first few days in Tokyo.  I was amused that  right after that "ceremony" I won't need a toilet paper (or water and soap), as I just needed to press a button to clean you know what. :)  It sprays water in different ways depending on how you want it!  At Hotel Sakura, our second home in Tokyo, an added option is available.  This time, it can be like sprinkle or shower or bazooka shots hahaha.  Some of my colleagues were even surprised when they tried the hi-tech toilet for the first time.  Others on the other hand joked that they stayed longer in the comfort room because they enjoyed the water splash hahaha.  Anyway, we were also able to adjust the temperature of the water.  And since we were there at winter time, the warmer of the bowl, as it touches the thighs, is very relieving.  So right after moving, you just need that tissue paper and you're done. 

Treasure Find 26 -- Surviving The Heat

JUST AROUND THE CORNER:

I know the Philippines is a tropical country and the heat during summer season is something that we expect.  But I'm sure you will agree with me that the heat right now is something that's unbearable, it's as if we are being cooked inside an oven!

Haist, actually, with my work for WWF Philippines, I candidly even said that I won't have a hard time explaining what Global Warming is!  Just imagine experiencing 35++ and 36++ temperature right here in Manila?  Goodness, this heat really will not just drive us crazy, it can actually kill us! 

Anyway, I know Filipinos are very flexible and resourceful people.  We adapt wherever we are, whatever the situation is.  And with this scourging heat, I bet many have adapted, in a way, already. 

For example, I myself treated the situation lightly, (whenever possible!) and joked at it with these pick-up lines:

Manila ka ba?  Ang hot mo kase.

But when the temperature gets hotter the next day, I said:

Manila ka din ba?  Kase, you're getting hotter and hotter each day.

And it was a surefire hit on Twitter and Facebook haha.

But more than that, while everybody go to our captivating beaches and resorts or go to a colder country at this time, some people looked for means how to get through.  

And recently, I found two things that caught my attention and really made me wanting them all the time.  

It's the back-to-back electric fan and the so-called Melona ice cream from Korea!  The former is something I would really love owning!  I know it wouldn't solve the heat but I think it can be of a little help.  And besides, don't you find the fan so cool, that's literally and figuratively speaking! :)

The back-to-back electric fan and Melona ice cream

And the Melona ice cream, goodness, it just tastes so good!  The fruitiness of the flavor just blends very right with the sweetness.  Sorry though I don't know the actual retail price as I buy from my office mate who sells it.  And I get it for only PhP30!  So move over Magnum, Melona is taking your place!  And it's much cheaper!  :)

But aside from that, when you are outside, don't forget to bring water (not bottled as it will add up to our urban waste), wear comfy clothes and sun protection (shades, umbrella, sunblock).  Well, if you don't need to go out and you can avoid it, I suggest you stay inside, and make your surrounding comfortable. 

I know this too shall pass.  We will survive the heat.  And that I guess this has been my 26th Treasure Find!  :)

But while we try to survive the heat, let's be mindful next time of what we do with the environment.  You can log on to www.wwf-org.phils to know more about environmental sustainability. 

Treasure Find 25 -- Pasalubong (and you can get some from foydi's Treasure Hunt!)

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

Pasalubong (Homecoming Present).  It's in the blood, vein, heart, soul (and whatever body part you can think of) of every Filipino. So if a Pinoy came from elsewhere, abroad, or a distant province, or a nearby town, it's in his system to bring home something from that place.  

You can win these shirts!  :)

And it need not be expensive.  As what the cliche says, it's the thought that counts!  :)  So back off to those who want to ridicule Pinoys for spending (a little) despite the hard life!  :)

Treasure Find 24 -- When God Created the World, He Gave His Best in Batanes (Da Best Sa Batanes part 5)

Treasure Find 24:

Two days have been spent... everyone else is tired... but Batanes is not yet through unfolding its mystique.

And on the third day of our exploration, our experience, I could say, reached an optimum high...

Batanes is indeed a living evidence how great God is...it's God's best creation!  And let me quote once more (and use it as this blog post's title) Mandy Navasero: "When God created the world, He gave his best in Batanes."  And I couldn't agree with her more.

Stored Treasure: Juan Luna Decoded

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

Stored Treasure / 19 November 2011
http://digitista.blogspot.com/2011/11/juan-luna-decoded.html

Let's face it.  The moment we hear the word museum, we get bored or sleepy in an instant.  'But I guess not for someone who loves History as he loves the Internet.  Okay, that's me haha.  And recently, I got an invite to be part of the Luna Walk organized by the GSIS Museum of Arts.  Without a doubt, I said yes.  I know that my knowledge on Philippine History will be enriched if I join this activity.  And I was right.

Juan Luna

But first, for those who don't know exactly who Juan Luna is, let me give you a glimpse of who he is.  Juan Luna, born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte in 1857, is an icon in Philippine history, arts and culture.  He is the first Filipino International Achiever and one of the greatest Filipino painters who have ever lived.  In celebration of the birthday of Juan Luna, on Oct. 23, GSIS organized the Luna Walk to commemorate the special occasion and remember the contributions of a great Filipino artist.  The annual Luna Walk was initiated by Prof. Eric Zerrudo in 2003.  By 2006, GSIS Museum took over, this time, it was expanded to include Bahay Nakpil, National Museum, Luna Monument, San Agustin Church, Metropolitan Museum and GSIS Museum. For this year, his student Michael Charlton "Xiao" Chua, a professor in De La Salle University, Vice President of National Historical Institute and Panelist in ABS-CBN's Bottom Line, conducted the Luna walk and lecture.

Stored Treasure: The Purple Taxi Cab

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

Stored Treasure / 04 September 2011
 http://digitista.blogspot.com/2011/09/purple-taxi-cab.html

While in Davao City, we saw this nice looking taxi cab.  Actually it's Misagh Bahadoran of Team Azkals who first saw this.  Then I just took a shot of the purple taxi cab as it's definitely a Scene Stealer for someone who's in Davao City for the first time!  My female colleagues at work who are obsessed with anything purple (and pink) will definitely want to ride this cab.  Paging Romsy, Ampy, Lelen, Jiejie Jane, Rach, visit Davao now girls!  =)  There are other colors as well!  =D

Stored Treasure: Yoohoo, Who Wants Crocodile Ice Cream?

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

Stored Treasure / 04 September 2011
 http://digitista.blogspot.com/2011/09/yoohoo-who-wants-crocodile-ice-cream.html

Right after the presscon of Team Cortal SQR - Azkals in Davao City, we took a time off and headed to Crocodile Park.  While having that afternoon siesta, Azkals' Yannick Tuason, who is also from Davao, introduced us to his brothers and friends including Chef Dino Dizon (also known as the Crocodile Chef from Davao) who owns a different kind of ice cream brand dubbed as the Sweet Spot!

Just in front of the Crocodile Park, Sweet Spot offers  luscious flavors with unique names such as Mt. Apo Coffee Crush, Mangomazing, Davao Chololoco, Purple Pleasure, Peanut Brittle, Melon Madness, Crazy Monkey Banana, and the new Dragon Fruit (which I usually encounter in FB's Cafe World and Restaurant City! hehe)  But what really caught my attention is the Durian Dynamite!  Why?  'Because that's the flavor we jokingly dubbed as the Crocodile Ice Cream!  Yes folks, Durian Dynamite, Davao's local gem is mixed with another local treasure, the egg of a crocodile!  =D  Perhaps, way back, I won't be as courageous to try new or exotic dishes but I was enlightened with what Travel Time's Susan Calo Medina said in one of her interviews.  She said, on taking exotic food, "I'll try it once.  If I like it, I'll take it again.  If not, then at least I experienced it."

The Durian Dynamite Ice Cream which we jokingly dubbed as the Crocodile Ice Cream as it uses crocodile egg as ingredient.  Sorry for the crater, Misagh tried it first!  Haha =D

Misagh Bahadoran was not as adventurous so he opted for Crazy Monkey Banana.  But we joked at him and said that the flavor he chose was mixed with monkey milk!  And everyone laughed!  =D

The rest of the flavors though do not use crocodile eggs.   While the rest are enjoying their ice creams, I asked the Sweet Spot staff why is the Durian Dynamite the only flavor using the crocodile egg.  He said that the the one with crocodile egg is a little more pricey.   All the flavors are priced at PhP 35 per scoop but the Crocodile Ice Cream is at PhP 70. Well, I guess we can assume why a crocodile is more expensive than a chicken right?  =D  Anyway, Dino Dizon said that a crocodile egg is 80% egg yolk, which means it has less cholesterol.  And hence, a crocodile egg gives more protein and energy than an ordinary egg!  So there's a premium added into it!  =)

Stored Treasure: A Courtesy Call to Davao's Monarch, the Phlippine Eagle

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

Stored Treasure / 20 September 2011

http://digitista.blogspot.com/2011/09/courtesy-call-to-phlippine-eagle.html

I've frequented Luzon and Visayas but even if I hate to admit it, I've never landed in Mindanao.  The planned vacations (Davao City) and even work related trips (Basilan, Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City) never pushed through, whether they were always being rerouted to another location or plainly canceled.  But this time, I made sure the plan finally pushes through.  And lucky enough, I was Mindanao bound, via Davao City!

Well, the trip was primarily for work but I tried to look for a window of opportunity to make a side trip, at least for what Davao is most famous for since I really have a very limited time.  And unfortunately, I can't also extend this time around as I have something to do immediately the day after my flight back to Manila.

After a series of radio guestings (DZMM, Bombo Radyo and RMN) and lunch at Harana, I headed to one of Davao's prides, the Philippine Eagle Center!  =)

Stored Treasure: The River Cruise to Bayanihan Spirit -- Baybay Ilog, Bye-bye Basura for the Lubao-Sasmuan River Cruise

 BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

Stored Treasure / 19 June 2011
http://digitista.blogspot.com/2011/06/river-cruise-to-bayanihan-spirit.html

The Philippines is a country of rivers.  In fact, we have about 421 river systems spread all throughout the archipelago.  There is no doubt how the rivers have influenced  us as a people.  For example, Tagalog, the language, the people and the region, came from the word Taga-Ilog (from the river) as the provinces surrounding the region evolved with the river system.

A view at the Loboc-Sasmuan River

And from what I learned in my Asian Civilization and World History classes when I was studying, it is in river systems where great civilizations flourished -- Tigris and Euphrates Rivers for the Persian and Mesopotamian civilizations, Nile  River for the Egyptian civilization, Indus River for the  Indian civilization and Huang or Yellow River for the Chinese civilization.  This body of water provide communities with food, water for drinking, household chores and domestic animals, irrigation for farm lands, access to transportation, a venue for trade and a place for rest and recreation.  There's no doubt, rivers have been part and parcel of our lives.

Treasure Find 23 -- Journey to the "Lost" Island of Sabtang (Da Best Sa Batanes part 4)

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

Batanes...blessed or cursed?  Its isolation from the rest of the country preserved its pristine beauty but at the same time somehow kept it away from progress and life's advancement. 

There's no doubt, Batanes is among the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, places on Earth.  The prehistoric violence on Earth's soil and the province's eventual geographic location molded the magnificent beauty it possesses now.  As it's away from the effects of too much modernization and the wrath of pollution, Batanes was able to keep its natural gifts and the peaceful way of life of its people.

But while they are isolated, some things are left difficult to do.  Going back and forth to Batanes is costly, on the average, one must allocate around PhP 30,000.  Sometimes, one may have the money but the goods are not available in the islands.  If the weather is not good, ships won't dare to sail or go to their place to bring the things they need.