Indonesia - To Do 22April2019 Batam Holiday Inn 3D2N Retreat

Indonesia - Batam - To Stay
Indonesia - Batam - To Do
Indonesia - Batam - To Eat 

Batam - To Do/Eat
At Batam Holiday Inn
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Batam Holiday Inn 3D2N SGD208.12
(Permanently CLOSED)

Getting there:

 First time taking the ferry shuttle from Harbourfront Ferry Terminal to Sekupang Ferry Terminal. The ride itself is only about 40mins to be honest, but clearing immigration and door to door travel was as advertised, just under an hour.
Round trip of SGD147 for 2Adult 1 Chil

Holiday Inn Batam provides door to door pickup and drop off from Sekupang Ferry Terminal. Bus Ride is 20mins.
No Beach access.
30min shuttle to Nagoya Shopping Center 11am return at 3pm.
Four restaurants.
The 24hr Terrace, Japanese, Thai (Closed down) and Chinese.
Free Wifi 6 ping 3.65mbps Download, 3.88mbps Upload

 Respectable family sized rooms with a living room and separation between sleeping and living room quarters. 

Japanese

The song and dance was still pretty entertaining but the beef and salmon were overcooked.
Terrace
*Same as In-room dining menu*

 *Actually their western dishes were better than their local ones.*
In-Room Dining menu is exactly the same but a little pricier for the convenience. Average but a wide mix of options.
Chinese Closed

Click here for other short getaway in Indonesia Bintan Lagoon Resort

Osaka - To Eat (15April2019 Shabutei Shinsaibashi, Tajiyama (Shabu shabu/Sukiyaki buffet)

Japan Osaka - To Stay
Japan Osaka - To Do
Japan Osaka - To Eat 

Osaka - To Eat

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Shabutei Shinsaibashi

recommended by L.S.K

Known primarily for their in-home made sesame sauce which is also available for purchase.  

 

Shabutei Shinsaibashi, 〒542-0085 Osaka, Chūō-ku, Shinsaibashisuji, 1-chōme−4−11 しゃぶ亭ビル

Ordered On:
15April2019
Beef Pork Combo 1860Yen

*Though the beef is good, but I personally feel it doesn't justify the higher cost. If you stick to purely the pork shabu shabu, you've got tremendous value. In fact the top up single serving is very respectable in size. A pork shabu shabu double serve meal goes for only 1100Yen with taxes! The raw garlic (which packs a punch) and in house sesame sauce is amazing and goes superbly well with the meal.*

*Extra serve of pork Shabu Shabu*

Total 2200yen for mine +top up pork and
1400yen for pork only Shabu Shabu with topup portion.
Fed 2

 Food 3.5/5
Value 3.5/5
*If you go for their pork options I think it provides the most value.*
Service 4/5
*We had a dietary restriction of no beef. Staff were responsive and gave us a counter seating with individual pots to shabu-up our meats.*
Ambience 4/5

Shabutei Shinsaibashi, 〒542-0085 Osaka, Chūō-ku, Shinsaibashisuji, 1-chōme−4−11 しゃぶ亭ビル

Tajiyama
Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu Restaurant
All-you-can-eat for 60mins with choice of Sukiyaki or Shabu Shabu

recommended by L.S.K
located on the ground floor of Takashimaya Building

 *Charges more for two soup options*

 *The Japanese curry is really good with the rice. Huge tender beef chunks with a warm spice. Highly recommended to try.*

 *Now they include Haage-dazs ice cream for lunch meals*

Tajimaya 5 Chome-1-60 Nanba, Chūō-ku, Osaka, 542-0076, Japang 

Ordered On:
16April2019

Lunch is the real deal maker! All you can eat for 60mins at 1700yen(All in). At this price, the Shabu shabu selection comes with Seaweed base soup only or a choice of Sukiyaki. For two pot shabu shabu soups, it comes at a slight premium which is just as worth while for Lunch!

 *Free flow of beef, pork, chicken, vegetables and dessert.*

Fed 2 at  1706Yen(All in) Each
Food 4/5
*The cuts of meat here are really enjoyable. Good fat distribution all around. Thinly sliced and cooks in a flash. The induction cooker is super efficient as well.*
Value 4/5
*Considering the prices in Japan and what most meals go for, the lunch deal is an absolute grab. After taxes and all in goes for 1706yen. Well worth place for quality meat and vegetables. The Haggen-Dazs is a nice cherry on the top really.*
Service n/a Self service.
Ambience 3.5/5

Feeling hungry. Lunch deal is the go to option. 

Tajimaya 5 Chome-1-60 Nanba, Chūō-ku, Osaka, 542-0076, Japang 

Osaka -To Do 15April2019 (Kema Sakuranomiya Park, Japan Mint Museum Cherry Blossom Viewing)

Japan Osaka - To Stay
Japan Osaka - To Do
Japan Osaka - To Eat 

Osaka - To Do
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Kema Sakuranomiya Park
Sakura Week!

Nearly 5000 cherry trees line Okawa River for several kilometers. The seemingly endless rows of cherry trees can be viewed from a pleasant riverside promenade or from ships cruising the river. There are also lawn areas with a lot of space for picnics.  
Kema Sakuranomiya Park 1 Chome-10 Nakanochō, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka, 534-0027

*kids playing in the sand*

 

A nice long stretch of park that runs on both river side. Kema Sakuranomiya connects down towards the mint museum where every year it has its uni-directional viewing of a large variety of Sakura trees.

Though Kema Sakuranomiya park is limited by its varieties, the sheer number of trees which lines the river side is really serene. The place invites one for picnic opportunities and offers an enjoyable and leisurely stroll as opposed to Japan Mint's Sakura viewing (reviewed below)
Other Recommended Sakura Locations you might want to consider on another trip.

Fukuoka - Nishi Park (A nice condensed park with varying feels and photo opportunities. Though not as impressive as others but worth the variety.)
Kyoto - Japan famous Philosopher's walk in Kyoto and ending with Maruyama Park for a meal and soaking in the atmosphere.
Nara - Nara Park during Sakura Season.

Kema Sakuranomiya Park 1 Chome-10 Nakanochō, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka, 534-0027 

Japan Mint Museum
Cherry Blossom Viewing
Sakura Week!
A full length of 560m with about 350trees of about 130 varieties. 

 

 Before entering. No Selif sticks, food or drinks!

Mint Museum 1-chōme-1-79 Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0043

Though one gets the huge variety of Sakura Trees here, the place however is sooooo crowded that it takes away a bit of the tranquility. Interesting variety for sakura lovers and a great place to get some street food along the river bank after walking the stretch.
Note no food drinks or selfie sticks within the premises.

 

Other Highly Recommended Sakura Locations you might want to consider on another trip.
Fukuoka - Nishi Park (A nice condensed park with varying feels and photo opportunities. Though not as impressive as others but worth the variety.)
Kyoto - Japan famous Philosopher's walk in Kyoto and ending with Maruyama Park for a meal and soaking in the atmosphere.
Nara - Nara Park during Sakura Season.

Mint Museum 1-chōme-1-79 Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0043