Osaka Itinerary Day 2

Morning-Afternoon: Universal Studios

You can check ticket prices here. 

How to get there: You need to take the JR Yumesaki Line and alight in Universal City.

Sample route: Coming from Shin-Osaka Station, we used JR Takarazuka Line and alighted at Osaka Station. From Osaka station, we transfered to JR Yumesaki Line and alighted in Nishikujo. From Nishikujo, we took a train that specifically goes to Universal City.

This was our view going to Shin Osaka station. 

Our breakfast! Funny story, we had no idea what to do with the raw egg. So, the waitress demonstrated that we mix the egg with the soy sauce and pour it on the rice. It was pretty weird but it was delish! 

Moments when we didn’t realize we’re already on the wrong train haha

See those girls wearing yellow at the back? We realized later on that they were gesturing for us to alight! Nakuha pa namin magpicture diba? You can really see the worry on their faces! We realized 30 minutes later that we were on the wrong route. We noticed the province-like view and random factories already. Imagine the panic, beshies! You know the aftermath already. We had to go back to point A and figure everything out. 

And finally, upon seeing Universal City signage, we knew that we were back on track.

FINALLY!!!

Hello, Universal Studios Japan! :)

The sole reason why we wanted to visit Universal Studios - Wizarding World of Harry Potter! :)

Read this in British accent: “Harry, the invisibility booster must be faulty!”

Welcome to Hogsmeade, muggles!

We seriously got goosebumps upon seeing Hogwarts Express! Who wants to board this train and visit Hogwarts?!

Never miss drinking the foaming mug of butterbeer! This popular wizarding beverage is a must-try! 

Cheers, fellow muggles! 

Who can forget the famous Chocolate Frog and its collectible cards of wizards and witches? 

From enjoying butter beer at Hogsmeade to Hogwarts! 

Now.. if we only had our broomsticks with us... 

Winter in Hogsmeade? Just fitting for the weather! 

Now some souvenirs for the Potterheads...

So Mommy wasn’t really a fan of Harry Potter, so we went to a place where she can relate... JAWS! Todo acting kami dito ha! :))

Our boots were killing our feet and tired muscles, so we decided to buy comfy shoes for 1000 yen. What a bargain!

Afterwards, we decided to return to Dotonbori. We were craving for some legit and quality sushi, and we just had to go to a restaurant that served the best ones - Genrokuzushi! 

Good thing, the line was still short when we arrived there. Lining up in the cold was definitely worth it!

The best ones indeed!

Who loves uni? 

If you’re not into Harry Potter, then you can do this alternative itinerary instead. 

Morning: Osaka Aquarium

It is hailed as one of Japan’s spectacular aquariums.  It showcases numerous Pacific Rim underwater creatures. 

How to get there: Take the Chuo subway line and alight in Osakako station.

Afternoon: Umeda Sky Building

This building consists of two towers that are connected at the 39th floor by a "Floating Garden Observatory". You can spend the whole afternoon relaxing and enjoying the view. 

How to get there: Take Midosuji line and alight in M16 - Umeda station.

Evening: Food trip in Dotonbori

How to get there: You can use either of these lines - Midosuji line, Yotsubashi line and Sennichimae line and alight in Namba station.

That’s it for Osaka Day 2 Travel diary! Up next is Kyoto! It’s our most favorite city in Japan! You’ll know why on our next post. 

Sayonara for now :)

We had 7 whole days in Japan - 2 days in Osaka, 1 day in Kyoto and 4 days in Tokyo. We made sure to make use of our time wisely. So, Demmie familiarized herself with Japan transportation system for us not to spend most of our time getting lost and finding our way going to each place. We also rented a pocket wifi that immensely helped us navigating! We also used these apps to get around: Rome2Rio and Google Maps. We recommend this site for pocket wifi rentals.

Let’s start with our Osaka Day 1 Itinerary.

Our Airbnb flat is a few blocks away from Shin-Osaka station, which housed most of the subway lines and shinkansen (bullet train) lines.Their railway system is so efficient that you can go anywhere. We highly recommend to get a whole day pass. You can save a lot of yen from this! Their railway system is very easy to understand and they have english signages and announcements. It was also a bonus that EVERYONE was so helpful. If you get lost, they will literally go out of their way just to help you.

Morning: Shitenno-ji Temple 

How to get there: You need to take the Tanimachi Line and alight in T26 - Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka.

Sample route (routes we used coming from Shin-Osaka station): M13 Shin-Osaka to M20 Namba, transfer to S16 to S18 Uehonmachi, then transfer to T25 – T26 Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka.

The rain was pouring hard on our first day. The cold rainy weather wasn’t very ideal for touring the place by foot but we still pushed through with our itinerary.

Wearing masks was very helpful. The cold winter air could get really unbearable. It took us a while to adjust with the weather.

The gloomy sky seemed to blend in with the view.

Taking photos was very hard, especially when you’re trying to conserve heat!

Twinsie warmth!

For lunch, we ate at a Tonkatsu place.... probably the best we ever had! We ordered and paid through a vending machine. Aaaah Japanese technology is so efficient!

Afternoon: Osaka Castle and Osaka Museum of History

How to get there: You need to take the Tanimachi Line and alight in T23 - Tanimachi 4-chome.

Sample route: From T26 Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka, we alighted in T23 - Tanimachi 4-chome.

This museum is just right across the Osaka Castle Park. We decided to forego visiting this museum because we were running out of daylight. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t hurt if you want to spend a couple of hours learning about Osaka’s history.

This park is huge! We can just imagine how beautiful this place is during spring time.

Breathtaking view!

It will take you a 500-meter walk/hike before you reach the Osaka Castle.

TAKOYAKI IS LIFE. Do you know that Takoyaki originated from Osaka? Aaaahhh this photo is making us crave for legit Takoyaki! What a torture!

There are numerous food trucks in front of the castle. We spent an hour sitting and people watching. There were a lot of tourists here as well.

Night: Dotonbori

How to get there: You can use either of these lines - Midosuji line, Yotsubashi line and Sennichimae line and alight in Namba station.

Sample route: Coming from T26 Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka, you need to alight in T25 Uehonmachi. Transfer to Sennichimae line, S18 then alight in S16 Namba.

Dotonburi is a popular shopping and entertainment district in Osaka.  This place can get really crowded with tourists. Many would line up in the cold just to try Ichiran’s ramen, Takoya Dotonburi Kukuru’s takoyaki and Genrokuzushi’s sushi conveyor belt. But we tell you, the long lines (in the cold) are worth it!

This place is lit up with neon lights and mechanized signs. Truly inviting!

Your visit in Osaka will not be complete without seeing the famous Glico’s running man. Never miss a photo op with him!

And since it was really cold and we just couldn’t stand in line for Ichiran’s ramen, we tried out this ramen place in the area. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Srsly, is there any Japanese food that isn’t delicious???

Got these authentic Japanese makeup in Namba station. We highly recommend Heroine Make mascara and eyeliner! Best ones we’ve tried so far! Promise! 

Train ride home. Yup, masks were part of the outfit. It’s a necessity especially when the temperature already dropped to 2 degrees Celsius! 

Our Airbnb flat was near a grocery store. These huge strawberries were so inviting, we had to buy a box for ourselves! Man, they’re the best strawberries we’ve ever tasted!

That’s it for our Osaka Day 1! Watch out for our Osaka Day 2 and Kyoto travel diary. Hope this helped! See you on our next post! 

Makeup Products from @lipstickvaultmnl used:

Eyebrows: Freedom Eyebrow pomade in Chocolate

Cheeks: Blushing Hearts Triple Baked Blusher in Blushing Heart 

Highlight: Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette in Golden Sugar 2

Lips: Tarte Limitless Deluxe Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Honey

Other products used:

Face: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude

Concealer: LA Girl Pro Conceal in Creamy Beige and Light Ivory

Setting Powder: Airspun Loose Face Powder

Eyes: Juvia’s Place The Nubian Palette

Contour: Sephora Highlight Lowlight Face Contour Duo in Medium and Naked Flushed in Stripped 

Eyeliner: Cathy Doll Geisha Gel Liner and Maybelline Hyperliner 

Mascara: Majolica Majorca Lash King

Eyelash Curler: Shiseido 

Thank you @lipstickvaultmnl!

<3

| Topshop velvet crop top, Forever 21 palazzo pants, Daniel Wellington watch, Furla bag and Primadonna strappy heels (not seen in photos) |

Some of the makeup used to achieve this look are from @lipstickvaultmnl :)

Brows: Freedom eyebrow pomade in Chocolate and Rimmel Brow This Way Brow Styling Gel

Contour and Highlighter: Sleek Makeup Highlighting Palette in Solstice and Sleek Makeup Creme Contour Kit in Medium

Lips: Whirl from MAC Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lipstick Kit 

All of these are available at @lipstickvaultmnl! Check out their Instagram account for more! :) 

Foundation: Mix of Shu Uemura Face Architect foundation and Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer

Setting powder: Airspun loose face powder 

Eyes: Kylie Kyshadow The Bronze Pallette, Cathy Doll Gel Eyeliner and Maybelline Hypercurl Volume Express mascara (on sale at Lazada!)

Blush: NARS Orgasm

I hope you all had an amazing start of 2017! Here’s to reaching our goals, boss ladies! <3

ON DEBBIE:

This is the season to dress up! I was a bit hesitant to wear this body-hugging dress because to tell you honestly, I’m not that comfortable showing off my curves. :( But with a little confidence from alcohol (LOL), I think I was able to pull this look off! When I saw this in Power Plant, I instantly thought that this would be the perfect holiday dress! I know we’re used to greens and reds for the Christmas season, but I love how Silver can also make you stand out. I completed the look with a cream colored Balenciaga and white strappy heels. 

| Silver body-con dress from Rockwell, Archaeology, Balenciaga bag and Charles & Keith heels |

ON DEMMIE:

‘Tis the season to don on anything shiny! I opted to wear this emerald green velvet off-shoulder top and high-waist black and gold lace shorts to ooze with sultry festive vibe. Velvet fabrics are making a scene lately and they just look apt for this jovial season. To tone it down, I chose to add black accessories. Black is the perfect color to make any look sexy and classy at the same time. 

| Copper emerald velvet top, Furla gold chain sling bag and Nine West heels |

‘Til our next Holiday Dressing Series! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 

It's rainy season once again, but this fickle weather wouldn't stop us from bringing out our babies. We protect our bags from the rain with this super innovative bag raincoat!

We always bring our bag raincoats with us. They come in this envelope that you can easily unfold! So handy! 

With this unpredictable weather, Oh My Bag Ph got us covered! :)

Now, let’s go to handle wraps. 

Their shop also has handle wraps that help protect the leather and bring your bags a level higher.

These handle wraps give your bags more oomph and character! They’re available in different designs and colors too. It’s like dressing your baby! :)

Now, let’s go their chic Bag Filers. Organizing our bags is now a breeze. You know those moments when you’re looking for a particular bag and you end up messing your closet? This clear bag filer helps you organize your bags by color and size. :)

Lastly, to maintain our bags’ form, we use bag stuffers. They come in different dimensions perfect for your bag size. No sweat in maintaining your bag’s original shape! 

If you are as keen as we are when it comes to maintaining our bag's quality, then shower them with TLC with Oh My Bag Ph products. 

Follow them on instagram: @ohmybagphils

‘Till our next post,

DISCLAIMER:  We will be answering your questions based on our experience. We are no geniuses. We are not top of our batch but it’s safe to say that our grades fall on the Top 100-ish out of 500. We were exempted in some of our subjects, meaning, we didn’t have to take the final exam because our average is 90 and above. But there were also days when we feared for our survival. Yung 1 point na lang pasado  na at sana may correction na in favor samin. Haha! There were also days when we were so “pabibo” na recite ng recite and there were days when we just brushed it off and said this famous line, “Alay na to”  - meaning pinapasa-Diyos na lang namin dahli hindi kami nakaaral.

1. MAHIRAP BA? (Is it difficult?)

Mahirap is an understatement. We will not use sugarcoating here. Mahirap talaga. It will challenge your whole being. And sometimes, you will end up asking yourself, “Ano ba ‘tong pinasok ko???”. The amount of readings, reports, examinations, and whatnot for a week can equate to a whole semester in college. We’re not exaggerating here. Yes, it is overwhelming and challenging. That is why, surviving a day is already an achievement. If “mahirap” is synonymous to no sleep, no eat and no social life, then it is indeed mahirap. It is a never a walk in the park but you’ll be surprised how much you could push yourself to surpass your limitations.

2. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR ME TO BECOME A DOCTOR?

It depends. Pre-med courses usually take 4-5 years. There are also universities, like UP and La Salle, that offer 2-3 years of pre-med then you go straight to med school. However, the rest of the universities offer programs lasting for 4-5 years. After finishing pre-med, med school is 4 years, granting you don’t fail any courses. Let’s put it this way:

Pre-med: 4-5 years

Med school: 4 years

Post graduate internship: 1 year

Residency: 3-5 years (depends on the specialization)

Fellowship: 2-3 years

Consultant, #GOAL: FOREVER

So, to become a consultant, it will take you around 12-15 years. Wow. At least, we are halfway there!

3. WHAT’S THE BEST PRE-MED COURSE?

Demmie took BS Nursing while Debbie took BS Medical Technology. We cannot speak for other pre-med courses. In med school, everyone is back to zero. Some may have an edge over others, but med school is med school. We even have classmates who took Commerce and Physics, and even Culinary Arts. If you take Physical Therapy, Anatomy will be a breeze to you. If you take Medical Technology, Laboratory medicine is easy peasy. And If you take Nursing, you know a little of everything especially in clinical subjects.  End point: We graduated all the same. Some even had honors, regardless of the pre-med course they took. It was just about how much work you are willing to put in and how dedicated you are to achieving your goal. 

Btw, we took national licensure examination for our respective pre-med courses while in med school. Ano bang pinaglalaban namin at pinahirapan pa namin sarili namin? Haha Btw, we never used our licenses. #MemaLang

4. DO I NEED TO JOIN A SORORITY OR FRATERNITY?  

We personally think it’s not necessary. Our number 1 reason is we don’t have any extra time. It all depends on your priorities and your type of personality. We want to have plenty of time in our hands, and we want to spend it in our own liking. In matters of connections and benefits, yes it helps. However, we got by without joining one. It’s all up to you.

5. WHAT DO I NEED TO GET IN AND SURVIVE IN MED SCHOOL?

Practically speaking, you need financial support from your family or a consistently good average to back you up for scholarship application.

You should be 100% sure that this is what you want. A lot of challenges will come your way and they will always test your desire to be a doctor.

Surround yourself with positive people who will keep you sane and at the same time will influence you to study harder. High-yield group studies help.

TIME MANAGEMENT.

Equip yourself with strong will and discipline.

Not everything is about grades. Have fun.

At the end of a crazy week, pamper yourself. Eat whatever you want. Splurge. You deserve it.

Of course, never question the power of prayers. There were moments when a day was just so exhausting that we found ourselves in the chapel crying. Yup, we reached that point.

6. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO GIVE UP?

Sleep.

Family time. Get used to missing out on family events. Don’y worry they’ll still tag you on Facebook.

Money. You have to accept that fact that your college friends are getting filthy rich while you’re still dependent on your parents.

Adult-ing.  Your high school friends and college friends are getting engaged. Some are getting married and having children and there you are, having date with your book and handouts.

Weekends. If you’re the type who loves to party and stay up late drinking on weekends, that won’t work. You’d want to study in advance or cram your way through the week.

Love life? No. You might even meet your future husband/wife in med school. :) wink wink

7. HOW DO YOU BALANCE BLOGGING AND MEDICINE?

Actually, it’s not balanced. Medicine will always weigh more. There were a lot of sponsors and events that we had to say no to and missed out on because our schedule just didn’t permit us. It is saddening to turn an opportunity down, but we have our priorities straight. Do we want us to be more “influential” in the blogosphere? Definitely. But is it our dream? Not really. Yet we are still very grateful with the understanding and acceptance that although we did not blog consistently, you readers were still there whenever we have a “come back”. 

We are getting sentimental because we started this blog right before we went to med school, and look where we are now? We already graduated and earned our MDs. It has been 4 years, you guys! Thank you for supporting us since day 1. We love you all!

We hope that we answered all your questions. To all the future doctors reading this, it is an honour to be an inspiration to all of you. Keep on dreaming! And we wish you all the best!

<3

Debbie and Demmie

It may be tedious but plan ahead and take photos of your outfit per day. This will save a lot of your time especially when you’re always on-the-go. The photos will serve as a reference for your outfit. 

Upon arrival to your hotel/AirBnB flat, arrange all the clothes you planned per day and hang them. Prepare as well the bags, accessories and shoes you are going to match your outfit with. This will help you avoid opening and closing your luggage. 

The night before, think of your makeup peg.

Know the history of the landmark you’re going to visit. Dress appropriately.

Berlin Wall

Reichstag Building

On Debbie: Midnight blue long blazer/coat from Stradivarius | Gray ribbed dress from Zara | Coach bag | White sneakers from Nike | Michael Kors gold watch | Sunglasses from Sunnies Studios

On Demmie: | Clubmaster sunglasses from Ray-ban | White polo from Ralph Lauren | Black long cardigan and belt from H&M | trousers from Stradivarius | black flats from Zara | bag from Coach |

Charlotten Palace

For those who have been following us since day 1, this format may look familiar to you as we are posting again TOGETHER! The planning for these travel outfits took us an entire week because there were several things that we considered. These are:

Come up with a theme and MATCH

Be apt for the weather

Put comfort as a priority 

Blend in with the city

Berlin is a modern city which has a very rich history. This city holds a dark past but courageously owns up to its mistakes. Now, this city is standing strong and united but has never forgotten. Ergo, we chose to play on the palettes of olive and black to exude sophistication and maturity.

On Demmie: | Clubmaster sunglasses from Ray-Ban | black strap watch from Daniel Wellington | Black ribbed dress from an online store | Olive long sleeveless vest from Stradivarius | Alma Louis Vuitton bag from Ig @luxeforlessphilippines | black gladiator sandals from Report |

On Debbie: | Elsa sunglasses from Sunnies Studios | black spaghetti strap and scarf from an online store | Olive green formal harem pants from Topshop | tweed blazer and black ballet flats from H&M | gold watch from Michael Kors | Coach bag |

Old denim jacket

Patches

We bought these cutesy patches from Stradivarius. They have various patches you can choose from! Each pack makes every look cohesive. Each pack is quite pricey - P495.00. You can check from the pack if the patches are for iron, for stitching or simply for stick-on.

On the other hand, these patches were from Tutuban Mall, Divisoria! Such a bargain! You can buy piece by piece and the price ranges from P10.00 - P40.00.

Iron

Sewing materials and clean cloth

Some patches are meant to be sewn. These patches are those who don’t a sticky film underneath.

Next step is the planning. Before ironing and stitching anything, you should have a layout in mind.  

Demmie’s

Debbie’s

(Captain America is my favorite avenger! :) - Debbie)

Once you are sure with your layout, you can now proceed with the ironing. All our patches have a sticky film at the back, so everything will be placed through ironing.

Once your iron is hot enough, place the clean cloth over the patch.

Press it with the hot iron for around 20 secs. REMEMBER to be careful and if you are not used to ironing, have someone to assist you. 

Repeat the procedure for the remaining patches. You can check if it’s properly placed by carefully checking the edges. If its not, just press it again for 10 secs. 

The finished product! Ta-dah! Looks brand new! :)

Oozing with 90′s spirit! We’ll be wearing this in Europe, so just check on our Instagram for our OOTD’s. Teehee

‘Till our next post,

Debbie and Demmie, #TwinMDs

Mi-Pac is a British brand born in the summer of 2012. It is available in over 20 countries across four continents. What we love about this brand is that it is embodies creativity and individualism. They have variety of designs that can suit one’s personal style. This brand redefines the classic “backpack” by combining fashion and function. 

Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the team behind Mi-Pac Philippines and gave us Mi-Pac sling bags for which we can design on our own choosing, using patches and quirky pins. It was so artsy and fun!

We both chose the M.D. initials because we just got those letters affixed after our names (UST Med represent!).

Here we are with our revamped sling bags! Enough said? Yup! Let the bags do the talking! :)

This is their latest collection. We love all the designs! 

Their collection has variety of prints and patterns. They also utilized different fabrics to make every design unique. 

This leather collection is our favorite! Besides from their amazing designs, the bags aren’t just limited to backpacks. There are pouches, duffel bags, sling bags, handbags and even bucket bags. They really make sure that each design can match any personality. 

And of course, we enjoyed the snack stations. These treats are so yummy!

We joined their Enough Said With Mi-Pac challenge wherein we were asked to write 3 words to describe Mi-Pac and post it on instagram.

Young and Fresh!

Fashion and Function!

And luckily, we both won! Yay! Here, we are with Ms. Charmaine Chua, the Bratpack Merchandiser, and Zara Carbonell, the event’s host. 

To end this post, here are the backpacks we won from the challenge! Woohoo! 

This bag has a laptop compartment. It’s a perfect school bag! :)

This design makes us wanna go out of town!

When it comes to bags, we both look for these 3 things: value for money, fashion forward design and quality construction. Mi-Pac has all of them! Thank you for inviting us. We really enjoyed the event. ‘Til next time! 

xx,