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Japan 2017: 11 hours in theme park
posted : Monday, June 26, 2017
(Another picture heavy post)
So we arrived at Osaka at about 5.30pm.
Hello Osaka!
Not going to try to mince words but as it turns out, this is the worst Airbnb place we got out of the three. Could make a long list of what went wrong, starting with the fact that the address given on the listing was wrong. Came out of Namba station (which didn't help coz there are like 30 exits) and spent a long time roadside on google maps, walking around, asking around, before we finally got some clue on the reviews of the listing and ended up finding it on google street view. All this while the owner remained radio silent when texted on the AirBnB app.
Turns out the place is about a 15minute walk from Namba station and is actually closer to Nippombashi station.
Checked in to find two double beds, and one futon. That's space for 5, not the 6 which was advertised. Though there are many blankets and made another bed out of it. No curtains, so hung one of the towels which covers like one quarter of the balcony doors. And they probably just swept everything under the two double beds, enough said. No washing powder either so we bought our own. I think he eventually replied with regards to the washing powder saying he will top up but it never happened. Oh well. Guess that's the price we paid for a cheap deal (I think this was only about $15 per night). Made do with it since we are only there to sleep, anyway.
Interior. Had to get rid of the dining table to make space for two more bed space, too.
Headed out for dinner at a tempura restaurant, which is pretty good, if not repetitive. And spent the rest of the night at another drug store sweeping snacks coz they were the cheapest we have seen so far, before calling it a day coz of early start the next day. 
Walking towards Dotonbori
People mountain people sea
Glico Man!
Along Dotonborigawa River. That's apparently a ferris wheel at Don Quijote building
Mikino Tempura Restaurant, at Namba area
Got the chef to take pic for us
Mixed veggie tempura, quote Val "那gao yeh"
Assorted tempura. Stel and I shared two sets but she ate all the vegetarian options like veggie and eggs, while I sapu the fish and prawns
Some fish.
Rikuro cheesecake! We didnt have it that night and by the time we had it for breakfast the next day, not nice alr.
Next day is designated USJ Day! Supposed to leave at 6.30am I think, ended up a bit late and by the time we reached the entrance, the entrance queue is really long already. Duno why all these people dun need to work one. Gates opened, we entered, and ran straight to Harry Potter World because according to guides, we needed to get the timed tickets first. Turns out they weren't handing out timed tickets that day (probably coz it was a weekday = less people?) so we queued for the 4D ride first. Got separated early on while running so me, Val and Stel were in a group again and when it's our turn, they gestured us away for what we thought was a security bag check because of language barrier (and the attendant was making this gesture like she's lifting a bag or sth). Turns out it's to check if Val can fit into the car seat with the security belt properly fixed on hahaha. So lost a bit of time there. Ride itself was good! Though there was a point when our car was suspended and we were left facing a green screen wondering if we are stuck there lol.
Entrance. It's USJ's 15th Anniversary!
Hogwarts Castle, daytime
Reunited with the rest for a mild ride (Escape of Hippogriff) and on to our longest queue of the day, the Flying Dragon ride. Queued a solid three hours for this urghhh. The ride was really good but still, 3 hours?! 
Escape of the Hippogriff
Of course there's Hagrid's Hut
Hogsmeade
Didnt go into the shops
Flying Dragon ride. Still can't believe I survived...the wait. The ride was good.
Parade early in the afternoon
Confetti explosion, i like the colours.
One of the shows we sat down for a bit has this Violin Trio
Went back to Harry Potter World coz KH wanted to see Beauxbatons girls
There.
Hogwarts Express!
Leaving Hogsmeade
Time to squeeze in one more ride coz there is no queue. Though water was coldddd. But photo was epic hahaha.
"The globe"
Ended up spending a solid 11 hours inside the theme park. My personal record.
Popped by Takoyaki museum near USJ and found out the so-called museum is basically a food court selling only takoyaki. So we just grabbed from one stall and that's about it. Food hunt brings us back to Namba area for Omu rice and this rendition, while not visually impressive, was okay.
Along the way out of USJ.
Takoyaki again. Cant remember the difference between those two.
This was highly recommended and the fillings reminded me of siewmai. Those Ajinomoto brand one which mom used to steam in the morning as breakfast
Speed calming measures heh. Probably another of GD's inspirations
I don't remember what this was called?
I think we were envisioning the kind where the fillings exploded when you cut a slit haha but apparently that was a gimmick in Malaysia. Taste wise, so so nia.
Made time for Pablo! Quote San "哪里有半点好吃噢??"
That's it for the day!
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