Korea-Seoul Apr’19: Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, Ihwa Mural Village & Namsan Tower

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After 5 years of parenthood, misterchewy and I decided that it was time we go on a couple trip! We share a love for Korean dramas so it’s a no-brainer that Korea would be our holiday destination! Actually, the hubs wasn’t keen on watching Kdramas as he thought that all Kdramas were soppy love stories until I managed to convince him and then he got hooked when he first started watching “Familiar Wife” starring Ji Sung and Han Ji-Min in August last year. Through numerous Kdramas, we picked up some Korean words and phrases, learned a bit about their culture and also got drawn to their food and soju. As we had to trouble our parents to take care (his on weekdays and mine on weekends) of the kids, Korea is also an ideal choice of destination as one week is sufficient to cover a few tourist attractions and activities. In fact, we managed to visit Seoul and Busan over our 8D7N trip.

Blossom Airport Lounge

Even before we boarded our plane, we treated ourselves to some hot food and drinks at the airport lounge. Access to airport lounges is no longer restricted to just business flyers, priority pass holders or travellers who purchase annual membership. Through Ready To Travel app, travellers can now book a single access lounge entry to SATS Premier Airport Lounges! Some facilities of the airport lounge include buffet spread, massage chairs, widescreen cable TV, shower facilities, workstations with internet access, free flow of beverages and extensive selection of newspapers and magazines.

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Since we checked in two hours ahead of boarding time, we indulged in the yummy spread. The piping hot laksa was so good that we went for seconds!

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We even concocted our own whisky highball drinks. Hehehe.

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Perfect space if you want to have a quick nap and do not wish to be disturbed.

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Our flight was scheduled to take off at around 1am but there was a slight delay. Somehow, we were assigned the last row of seats and it got kinda irritating with many passengers visiting the washroom throughout the entire flight. Thank goodness for these Kakao hooded travel pillows which helped to block out the light and noise around us.

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We had a pretty restful sleep (not travelling with kids, that’s why!) and soon, breakfast was served! A pity the food wasn’t that fantastic.

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Happy to know that we have landed safely in the Land of Morning Calm!

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No queue at Shake Shack in Incheon International Airport!

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Boarded the Airport Railroad Express Train (AREX) to Seoul. It’s one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to travel to Seoul from the airport and vice versa. And of course, we whipped out our reliable Ready to Travel pocket wifi as soon as we touched down! Do you know that the pocket wifi comes with FREE delivery? Definitely saves you a lot of hassle especially when you are busy with your trip planning! Book yours here! Btw, please do not use Google Maps in Korea. We recommend Naver Map. You can download the app on your mobile device and input the destinations.

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Since we were not travelling with the kids, misterchewy and I decided to stay in an Airbnb! So far our experiences were satisfactory but we also hear some horror stories from time to time, so book at your own discretion! I found this cute Hello Kitty themed apartment on Airbnb and the reviews are all positive! Also, our host is awarded as a “Superhost”, and we can attest to that. She has been very responsive to all our messages and patient with our enquiries.

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Although the apartment is small, I feel that it is very cosy and fit for two people with not more than two huge luggages.

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The shower head is attached to the sink so it took us awhile to get used to it. Toiletries and bath towels are also provided but this depends on individual Airbnb hosts.

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Besides the price (only $60 per night during our period of stay), we loved the strategic location! Only a minute’s walk to the train station and we could also get to Myeongdong by foot in 10 minutes. There are also two convenience stores and many eateries just downstairs.

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After freshening up, we went for lunch at Eulji Myeonok (을지면옥). If you like cold noodles or if it’s something you think you will like, do pay this restaurant a visit! It’s very popular among locals. There is also a spicy cold noodle version.

Address: 2-1 Chungmu-ro 144-gil Jung-gu Seoul

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Ikseon-dong Hanok Village (익선동 한옥마을) is gaining popularity in recent years. It is a quaint place with a few alleys lined up with shops selling vintage clothings and some bric-a-brac, and also cosy cafes where you can sip coffee and watch the world go by.

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We had to wait a while for the crowd to clear before taking this shot. There were throngs of people even on a weekday afternoon!

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If you like collecting vintage or cutesy stuff, Ikseon-dong has plenty of these.

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I was actually quite tempted to bring Peter Rabbit home!

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The crowd at Ikseon-dong was starting to give me a headache so we didn’t spend much time there. We adjourned to Ihwa Mural Village (이화 벽화마을) and had to climb a long flight of stairs. Phew!

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The peak of the cherry blossom season was nearly over and we were thrilled that we could still see many beautiful blooms all around us.

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Stopping by for an iced cold drink before more walking.

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As the name suggests, Ihwa Mural Village has many interesting murals and art installations, revitalized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s public art “Ihwa-dong Naksan Project” in 2006.

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Definitely a nice place to visit and capture some unique photos.

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We did the love lock thingy when we went for our honeymoon in Europe a few years ago and we just had to do this cheesy thing again in Seoul! Yup we travelled to Namsan Seoul Tower (남산서울타워) for this!

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Kinda looks like we are exchanging wedding rings right? LOL.

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Since we were there and it was still quite early, we paid 10000 won each to go up the Observatory. There is no time limit so you can enjoy the beautiful view of Seoul and snap as many pictures as you want.

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Namsan Seoul Tower (남산서울타워)

Address: 126 Namsangongwon-gil Yongsan-gu Seoul

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We also made it a point to visit a few craft beer places during our trip. Almost everything on the menu contains beef, so we only had nacho chips to go with our drinks.

The Booth Sinyongsan Station Branch

Address: 100 Hangang-daero Yongsan-gu Seoul

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After a long day, we were too tired to go anywhere else for dinner and decided to settle for a fuss-free one just below our Airbnb. The hubs had jjajangmyeon.

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I opted for udon as I wanted something hot and soupy after being out in the cold.

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We have come to the end of Day One in Korea/Seoul! Keep watching this page for more updates! 🙂

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

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I’m a hugeeeee fan of cup noodles and instant noodles although these are not the healthiest food options around. I love the convenience they bring and all the interesting flavors that are constantly being developed over the years. With that, I decided to include Cup Noodles Museum in Osaka Ikeda in our Japan itinerary.

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It is also known as Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, named after the person who invented the world’s first instant noodles, “Chicken Ramen,” after an entire year of research using common tools in a little shed he had built in his backyard in Ikeda-city, Osaka Prefecture.

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Momofuku Ando, the Father of Instant Ramen, invented the chicken ramen in 1958 and dedicated his entire life to thinking about food in new and creative ways. Throughout his 96 years, he practised creative thinking and never quit until he achieved his goal. As a result, people from all over the world is still benefiting from his achievements today.

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Admission to Cup Noodles Musuem Osaka Ikeda is free of charge but fees apply for attractions like the Chicken Ramen Factory and Cup Noodles Factory.

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I bet you will be able to find all your favorite instant noodle here in this vast museum!

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I already spotted my favorite Seafood and also Tom Yam Seafood cup noodles!

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Due to time constraints, we only picked the My Cup Noodles Factory activity.

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A sample of how the final product will look like.

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In exchange for 300 yen at a vending machine, you will get this My Cup Noodles Factory cup and you can start decorating or coloring it in any way you wish using the markers provided.

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As Littlemisschewy was still napping in the stroller, only Minimisschewy joined us in the activity. Well, I did most of the drawing and coloring. As I’m not artistic, my “artwork” is very simple and minimalist!

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When we were done decorating our cup, we joined the queue to pick out the ingredients for our cup noodles. If you are not planning to eat the cup noodles, then whatever ingredients that go into the cup would not really matter.

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How thoughtful! Since most visitors are travellers, the museum has prepared a bag which you can store your cup noodles and then inflate it like an air bag, thereby protecting your cup noodles from damage.

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There’s also a string, which makes it very convenient to carry around.

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Littlemisschewy woke up from the nap and totally missed the activity, so here’s a photo of her with the final masterpiece.

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There are interesting exhibits in the museum, so it’s best to dedicate at least two hours if you are planning to pay a visit.

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There is also a drama theatre but I think it’s all in Japanese language.

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There is a small shop selling all sorts of souvenirs that you can buy for that friend who also loves cup noodles. I got myself some miniature cup noodle magnets, and trust me, they are the cutest!

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Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

8-25 Masumi-cho, Ikeda-shi, Osaka 563-0041 Japan

(Reception time 9:00 – 16:30 museum holidays excluded)

Non-Business Days: Tuesday (in case Tuesday is a National Holiday, the following day will be a non-business day), Year-end through New Year Holidays

Universal Studios Japan 2018

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Hellooooo! It’s been a really long time since I last blogged and I’m determined to finish up our Japan 2018 travelogue before we head off for our next trip!

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We spent the second leg of our trip in Osaka, and no trip to Osaka is complete without visiting Universal Studios Japan! Well, I guess it only applies if you like visiting theme parks!

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We started our day bright and early, so the kids were chirpy and also thrilled to be able to interact with the various mascots in USJ!

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We got our admission tickets via Voyagin, which was easy and hassle-free. All we had to do was just scan the QR codes and we could walk through the gantry! Prices are also very competitive, and Voyagin is verified by over 50000 positive reviews.

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Look at those cute Minion popcorn buckets!

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The hubs and I also purchased fast passes to enjoy rides such as Hollywood Dream, The Flying Dinosaur, Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey, and JAWS. Without the passes, I doubt we could go for all of these rides! The waiting times for the normal queue are insane! At least one hour and could even go up to more than 3 hours!

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We spent most of our time in Wonderland as this park of USJ is catered for young children. However, minimisschewy did not meet the minimum height requirement for most of the rides.

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The minion buns looked cute but did not taste so good.

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If you are a Harry Potter fan like us, you would be in awe upon stepping into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I reckon it looks even more mesmerizing at night.

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Our second (first was in London) time having Butterbeer! YUMS!

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Let’s make a butterbeer moustache and say cheeeeese! Or should we say
Wingardium Leviosa?

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Even the washroom is so cool! I swear I heard Moaning Myrtle but I couldn’t find her anywhere..

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Sumptious dinner at The Three Broomsticks! And spot that butterbeer again!

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What an unforgettable dinner at USJ, in the nice cool weather with Hogwarts Castle as the beautiful backdrop.

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Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

How the Right Furniture Can Help Your Kids Perform Better

First, congratulations on having kids. The hard part is over, what’s left is to make sure your kids don’t stub their toes into every single chair and table in your house. Instead of making the living or adult areas restricted, you can consider safer, stylish, and convenient furniture options that can make it easy to setup your furniture according to convenience, safety, color, and material. The more kid-friendly the furniture the more productive your children can be, doing homework or practicing a hobby on the right furniture can be a whole different experience than the one done on boring adult furniture. A lot of parents may not notice the relationship between the right furniture and the potential of their children, we don’t blame them, it does seem a bit odd at first.

We’ll help you understand the link between the right furniture and your child’s potential.

Ergonomic Desks

The most important thing in a desk that your child uses is providing a balanced and upright sitting position, the wrong desk height can easily make your child slouch. A simple issue like the height of the desk can make your kid lose concentration easily hurt their back, and make them feel immobilized. With adjustable kids table and chairs, your children will be able to sit in a healthy position, allowed to move freely, and feel concentrated. Some parents frown upon fidgeting, although there’s a healthy amount of fidgeting that can only mean a child being a child. Making your child sit for long durations of times can make more damage compared to letting them fidget a little bit.

A Kid-Friendly Sofa

You can’t stop your kids from having fun and causing some innocent mishaps to your furniture, but you can stop your furniture from becoming something that kills their productivity or even hurt them. Sofas are usually the center of living rooms, which means that your children spend a fair amount of time on them. Having a family-friendly sofa means that your children won’t feel restricted in movement or feel too bad for spilling something on them. If you’re not ready to buy expensive wool-blend or denim microfabrics, you can always opt for buying protective slipcovers, you may be trading your sofa’s aesthetics for safety, but it will sure allow the kids to be move freely around it and be more productive.

Recreating a Comfortable Classroom in Home

A lot of schools have great, intuitive, and comfortable classrooms, but some don’t. Whether your child is going to a good school or not yet, you can create a comfortable classroom to make them ready to study and help them remember what they took in school. Make sure the room is full of colors, ergonomic, and comfortable chairs that help them focus and perform better in homework or reading.

No one said raising a child was going to be easy, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Making sure their home is safe and helps them perform better in whatever they’d like to do; children spend a lot of time at home, especially the younger ones. When you buy new furniture, always keep in mind how it’s going to affect your children and if it will help them perform better.

How Parents Can Get a Hassle Free Loan Approval

Many parents need to provide for education as well as tuition expenses for their children. The problem is that educational costs are going through the roof. That is why; there is no other option for a parent, but to opt for a loan. The loan approval is highly dependent on the credit score which parents have. If their credit score is not proper, it is difficult to get the loan.

Many parents think that because they do not have a high credit score, they have no option to get a loan. However, there are a few choices which they have when it comes to getting loans with bad credit. We will discuss a couple of such options below.

1. Payday loans:

Payday loans are short-term loans which most of the salaried employees can quickly get. The merchants who disburse the payday loans do not take the credit score into account. It is one of the very few financial products whose approval/disapproval does not depend on the credit score.

If you’re planning to apply for a payday loan, it is a good idea to apply it through the merchant website. It will save you a lot of money and time. Many merchants are providing online payday loans for bad credit. You have to fill the application, and most likely, you will get a reply within 48 hours. The disposal of the loan amount is equally quick, and you can get it within 3 to 4 working days.

The advantage of payday loans is that you have to pay them in 1 or 2 installments. As long as you do so, the interest is on the lower side. All you need to do is to submit proof of your salary, and you’re good to go. When looking for hassle-free loan approval, payday loans are one of the best options for you.

How to get a payday loan?

You can get the loan in 4 simple steps.

1. You have to visit the Turbo Payday Loans website and select the amount of money which you need to borrow.

2. You have to enter your residential state.

3. You have to submit your personal details in the form.

4. Now submit the form and wait for the merchant to call you back.

In total, it will just take you 10 minutes to go through the entire process. Applying for payday loans is not a difficult task. The merchant will take over after that and let you know about the approval and the disbursal.

2. Parent PLUS loan:

Parent PLUS loan is a federal grant which parents can apply to pay the college costs of their undergraduate students. The procedure to apply for such loans is pretty simple.

How to apply for the Parent PLUS loan?

1. You have to fill out the FAFSA application

2. You need to fulfill the eligibility criteria of being a biological parent and should not have defaulted student loans before.

3. The College cost/fees will determine the amount of money which you can borrow.

4. You have to choose the amount of the loan which you need. The maximum amount can be the entire college cost. You have to also look at the monthly payments which you need to pay before selecting the amount which you need to borrow.

5. You have to submit your personal details in the parent plus loan application through a Gov website. Depending on the college which you have chosen, the institution might ask for some additional information before approving your loan.

The advantage of Parent PLUS loans is that you can get the approval more easily. It does not have stringent requirements when it comes to credit score. Moreover, you can complete the loan application online which will ensure that you can get the loan in a shorter time.

It is easy to meet the criteria for the parent plus loan and to get the credit in a short time.

So, if you’re looking for a loan and do not have the perfect credit score, these are the two options which you have. With the help of these loan options, it is easy for you to get the loan irrespective of your credit score. It is time to fulfill your financial obligations regardless of your credit score. You can easily use any of the above options to get the loan in a short period.

Regain That Youthful Skin with These 4 Ways

Having the perfect skin is quite a challenging task. You more often than not get stuck trying out different skin care routines, and then fail in most. It doesn’t help if you have demanding skin types like oily skin or acne-prone skin. Still, many people neglect taking care of their skin and don’t even take it into consideration, which results in them looking years older than they actually are. If you want to maintain a youthful looking skin, then it’s an effort you’ll have to make.

These are four ways you can regain that youthful skin of yours, because it’s never too late.

Stay away from the sun

While the sun is a necessary source of vitamin D, it’s also the number one cause of skin cancer. Most people aren’t aware of that fact and as a result spend too much time in the sun. Long hours of exposure to the sun can have catastrophic effects on your skin and would cause it to deteriorate at a rate faster than normal. That is why the sunblock is your best friend. If you want to maintain a youthful looking skin, apply sun screen whenever you’re leaving the house in the morning, even if you don’t plan on sunbathing before work.

Beauty products

There are natural tips and hacks to keep your skin looking young and healthy, but that’s not all there is to it. You need to have a regular skin care routine if you want to maintain that young look. This one you’ll need trial and error for. Keep trying out different products till you can reach the perfect formula for your skin type. Buy facial creams and moisturizers from your pharmacy and Buy Authentic Dermal Fillers Online. You need a collection of products to take care of your skin.

Food and water

Believe it or not, drinking water is probably the most important tip you can have in your skin care routine. You need to drink 3-4 liters of water per day to ensure your body has enough water intake to maintain its normal cycle and to keep your skin looking young and wrinkle free. Food also plays a major part in the skin condition. You need a healthy, balanced diet full of vitamins, proteins, minerals, and so much more. The type of food you eat can make a lot of difference in how your skin looks –– high fat food and sugar can have a negative effect on the skin condition.

Sleep

Yes, sleep is crucial when it comes to looking young. Forget the exhaustion and the strained brain; lack of sleep can cause your skin to deteriorate at a fast rate. The average adult needs a minimum of 6-8 hours of sleep per night. Make sure to get as much sleep if you want your skin to look fresh and healthy.

If taking care of your skin is important to you, then you need to inform yourself on how to do such a thing. Read beauty blogs about what skin care routine to follow and keep an eye out for new products that could help the skin look young and fresh. Also get to know the natural requirements your body needs in order to maintain young looking skin, from food to water and other ingredients. Learn about the different array of cosmetics that could do your skin harm or good, because you’ll need to shop accordingly.

Advice for Making Your Relationship Work

It is no secret that relationships are not easy and even if you have been married for many years there are sure to be challenging days. Relationships require a lot of work from both parties no matter how long you have been together and it can be particularly challenging to handle difficulties when you have kids too. Here are a few tips for making a relationship work which will hopefully help.

Communication

Communication is the key to success for all relationships. If there are things that are bothering you then it can be easy to bottle these feelings up, but this is not healthy and they may surface in unhelpful ways. Instead, you should make sure that you are both open and honest with each other so that you can work through any problems that you are having. If communication has broken down, couples therapy can be helpful for improving your relationship and working through issues.

Independence

Although every couple should spend quality time together, it is also important that you are both able to be independent and have your own lives as otherwise there will be issues of dependency which can be problematic in any kind of relationship. This means that you should both allow time away from each other – this could include socializing with friends, exercising or simply spending some time by yourself.

Date Nights

As mentioned, it is also essential that you plan time where the two of you can enjoy one another’s company. A regular date night is a great idea and a good opportunity to get out and do something special – going to new places and trying new things is important for any relationship.

What to do if it Doesn’t Work Out

Unfortunately, sometimes a relationship does not work out even after many years of marriage and if you have kids. If you have tried couples therapy and everything that you can to salvage the relationship but it is clear that it is not going to work then as a last resort you should speak to reputable divorce lawyers . Importantly, you need to make sure that the kids come first in this situation and that you try to establish a healthy co-parenting strategy.

Relationships are not like they are in the movies and they require hard work in order to make them work. Hopefully, this information will help you to build a healthy and happy relationship that is able to withstand any difficulties that you may encounter down the line.

10 Must Eat Food at Kuromon Ichiba Market

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If it’s your first time to Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka, there’s a high possibility that you will be overwhelmed by the wide range of food offered there. There’s sooo much to eat but insufficient stomach space to enjoy everything. In this post, we will show you the top 10 must eat food at Kuromon Ichiba Market.

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1. Maguro Don

Upon entering Kuromon Ichiba Market, you will be greeted by a long queue at this stall. It is no surprise as they are renowned for their various types of maguro sushi and rice don.

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Their maguro slices are thick, fresh and melt-in-the-mouth tender.

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This is voted number one on their menu, the Maguro and Negitoro Don. It was really yummy and we were tempted to get another bowl but decided to save space for other food.

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2. Uni (Sea Urchin)

If you are a fan of uni, this stall has different grades of uni for you to try. We decided to go for something in the middle.

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The uni was so fresh and it tasted really heavenly. You can either eat it straight off the shell with a spoon, or wrap some with seaweed.

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3. Unagi (Freshwater Eel)

They may look brown and dull, but will never be able to escape the eyes of someone who truly loves eating unagi.

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I was surprised that the entire slab of unagi was popped into the microwave oven but was starting to be convinced when the unagi was torched and then coated with a layer of savory sweet teriyaki sauce. You can also opt to have it with a bowl of steamed Japanese rice at a small additional cost.

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4. King Crab Legs and Crab Meat

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As we were walking past this stall, we were naturally drawn towards the sexy pairs of gigantic king crab legs. If you don’t mind the hefty price tag, go for it!

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If not, the jumbo crab meat is a pretty good alternative. Plump, juicy and oozing with sweetness, this was definitely bang for the buck.

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5. Grilled Lobster

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Grilled lobsters at less than SGD20 each?! Shut up and take my money!

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6. Grilled Scallops with Butter Soy Sauce

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Grilled scallops + butter soy sauce = HEAVEN. #nuffsaid

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7. Seafood – Raw, Grilled & BBQ

What’s the best thing about having a variety of fresh seafood in front of you? You get to decide if you want to have them raw, grilled or BBQ-ed!

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8. Tempura

What’s feasting without some piping hot tempura? Everything is less than SGD10! Cheap and good!

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9. Grilled Fruits & Sweet Potatoes

Do you know that fruits can be grilled? Grilling gives the fruits a different taste which is slightly smoky yet fragrant at the same time. Try it to believe it!

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Grilled sweet potatoes are also a popular choice, especially if you are visiting in the winter season.

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10. Sashimi Platter

If you are still feeling peckish after all that, stop by Kuromon Sanpei, the biggest fish market in Kuromon, and pick a sashimi platter! There are seats indoors so you can enjoy your food with a cup of hot green tea.

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Apart from sashimi platters, Kuromon Sanpei also sells sushi, seasonal products, and packaged snacks that you can buy home as souvenirs.

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We hope this list of Top 10 must eat food at Kuromon Ichiba Market is helpful if you are heading to Osaka!

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Kuromon Ichiba Market
Address: 2 Chome-4-番1号 Nipponbashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0073, Japan  
Nearest Station: Nippombashi Station
Opening Hours: Daily from 9am to 6pm
Admission Fee: Free

Namba Yasaka Shrine: Lion Head Shrine in Osaka

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We considered our trip to Japan in 2018 to be a very eventful one as we managed to discover many interesting places despite having been to the Land of the Rising Sun a few times before. When we were in Osaka, we paid a visit to a very photo-worthy (or should we say Insta-worthy) place, the Namba Yasaka Shrine, also known as the Lion Head Shrine.

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Namba Yasaka Shrine is very conveniently located within a 8-minute walk from Namba Station. As our Airbnb was also around the area, we stopped by early morning before heading to Kuromon Ichiba Market.

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The Namba Yasaka Shrine is the home of the Namba’s guardian deity and is also well-known for its enormous lion head-shaped architecture, which is often seen as something different and unique from most other temples and shrines in Japan.

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Inside the 12m high by 11m wide lion head is a stage where several events are held throughout the year. The lion head is believed to ward off evil spirits by swallowing them, and hence brings good luck to worshippers.

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Always remember to cleanse your mouths and hands before praying at a Japanese shrine or temple.

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The temple beside the lion head structure reminds me of Osaka Castle because of its white, light teal and gold colors. What do you think?

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Praying for good health, safety and happiness for the entire family.

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Amulets are available for purchase at the temple.

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There is also a small shop that sells a variety of amulets and wooden wishing plaques.

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Write your wishes on the wooden plaque and tie it up at the temple.

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Every temple and shrine has its own unique wooden plaque design. Of course, the lion head is featured here at Namba Yasaka Shrine.

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We also chanced upon Hello Kitty omamori and decided to get one each for Chanelle and Cayla.

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If you have time to spare, do explore Namba Yasaka Shrine and immerse yourself in its beautiful architecture.

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Namba Yasaka Shrine Osaka 難波八阪神社
Address: 〒556-0016 2-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City
Nearest Station: Namba Station
Opening Hours: Daily from 6am to 5pm
Admission Fee: Free

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Akiba Kart Osaka: Street Go-Karting in Japan

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One of the major highlights of our recent 2018 trip was being able to take a couple of hours from parenting duties (thanks to my parents for helping us with the kids at our Airbnb) to experience Street Go-Karting in Japan! It has always been misterchewy’s dream to try out this activity, and now, he has finally fulfilled it! Psst.. Check out his ear-to-ear grins in some of the photos 😉

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Since we had planned to dedicate three days in Tokyo Disney Resort, we didn’t have much time in Tokyo for street go-karting and decided to experience it in Osaka instead. Upon Googling, Akiba Kart Osaka is one of the more renowned and popular street go-karting tour service providers in Namba area. Guess what, the shop is a mere 7-minute walk from Namba Station!

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The hubs and I are both huge fans of the Mario Kart Nintendo game, so we purchased and brought our own Mario and Luigi costumes to Japan. Do take note that Mario Kart costumes are not available at the shop.

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Fret not! There are plenty of other costumes to choose from at Akiba Kart Osaka, such as Spiderman, Hello Kitty and Pikachu. We also noticed some quirky Sushi costumes.

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Before the actual briefing, we were made to watch a safety introductory video on an iPad, which is very informative and easy to comprehend.

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Customers of Akiba Kart Osaka from all over the world.

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Taking more photos while waiting for everyone to get settled into their costumes. We were told that there would be 10 of us joining the street go-karting tour.

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What a perfect day to for street go-karting in Osaka!

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A briefing was conducted before we set off.

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Our guide, Isao, taking the lead. If you notice, all go-karts have its own license plate.

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Just in case you are wondering, the standard driving rules and regulations apply even for street go-karting in Japan. No driving beyond the speed limits, no using of mobile phones (including taking photos) while driving, and of course, no throwing of banana skins at other drivers. It is alright to take photos after your go-kart is put to a complete stop at the red light. However, you need to be quick and able to gauge when the green light comes on, if not you will risk getting horned at.

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With kids, it is like a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to experience street go-karting in Japan for misterchewy and I, so we took many photos at almost all the red lights. LOL!

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We drove in a single file unless Isao signalled for us to line up in pairs when approaching the traffic lights. There was also another guide right at the back to ensure that nobody was left behind.

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It was such an exhilarating experience being able to try out street go-karting along the busy streets of Osaka! Since all of us were in costumes, we attracted quite a bit of attention from passersby who stopped to wave at us and also took photos of us. Of course, we were sporting enough to wave back and pose for photos too!

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It is also very memorable for misterchewy and I as the weather was quite cold then, and we were kinda freezing our butts off as we drove along the streets. However, being able to enjoy the view of Osaka city while street go-karting in our costumes also gave us that adrenaline rush we will never forget.

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We had a stopover at Osaka Castle, where we took a short break for some photos. Are you able to identify all the characters?

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Time to head back to Akiba Kart Osaka shop at Namba!

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We are very lucky that Isao kept taking photos for us at every chance whenever we stopped at the red lights.

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Passing by Namba Station while making our way back.

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Important point to take note of: In order to be able to participate in street go-karting in Japan, Singaporean drivers MUST apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. Without presenting your IDP, you will be denied riding the go-kart, even if you have paid for your reservation online. We applied for ours at the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS). IDP online application processing and delivery via local courier will take 7 working days, while IDP can be collected on the spot within an hour for walk-in application.

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For walk-in application, do remember to bring along your NRIC and Singapore Driving License. Applicant’s picture will be taken on-site at no extra charge. The fee for IDP application is $20 and is valid for one year from date of issue.

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For more information and reservation for street go-karting in Osaka, visit Akiba Kart Osaka. The Osaka Castle Park Tour is about 2 hours long and costs ‎JPY¥9000 (SGD$112) per person. There is a discount if you post a review on Facebook. If you have always been thinking of trying street go-karting in Japan, hesitate no more! Sign up now with Akiba Kart Osaka!

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!