An Ignoramus in Japan: Vending Machines

I am not a complete dummy when it comes to vending machines. We do have vending machines in the Philippines but they are few and far between. And it's usually just for cold bottled and canned drinks, or coffee, or junk food.

In Japan vending machines are ubiquitous. It seems to appear every few hundred steps. One or two in every corner. Or twelve in a row! There are the usual machines that sell bottled/canned drinks. With some machines selling cold drinks only, some hot drinks only, some a combination. There are machines that sell beer only. There are machines that sell wine.

Twelve machines in a row!

There are machines that sell coffee, banana milk, strawberry milk, banana chocolate milk, green tea dispensed in a paper cup. Hot or cold.

Hmmm...what shall I have? Coffee, banana milk, strawberry milk, banana chocolate?

There are machines that sell biscuits, waffles, bread, sandwiches, milk, juice, and other drinks—all in one machine. A mini convenience store.

And then there are machines that sell ice cream. Perfect for a hot day. Or even a cold day! Who says you can only eat ice cream during summer?

Ice cream

And then there are those for the health nuts. How about some sliced apples?

Sliced apples

And if you need something to occupy yourself on your daily commute you can catch up on current events or immerse yourself in some fiction. But only if you can read Japanese.

Newspapers

Books

Too stressed from work or the rush hour traffic or something and need your nicotine fix?

Cigarettes

And when you get home you realize you have no time to make dashi (soup stock)! Just get a bottle of flying fish soup stock round the corner.

Those are what I have seen in the few days I was in Japan. My friend, Bunny, who recently went to Japan, spotted a machine for hotdogs, takoyaki (octopus balls), deep fried chicken, fries, burgers, and riceballs!

Photo by Bunny

I hear there are also vending machines for umbrellas, underwear, socks, neckties, eggs, bananas, oranges, and ramen!



Japan
Know Before You Go
Single Entry Tourist Visa for Japan
Roam Around Japan with a Swagger
An Ignoramus in Japan: Vending Machines (you're here!)
An Ignoramus in Japan: Bathrooms and Toilets
An Ignoramus in Japan: Manhole Covers
I Spy With My Little Eye: Japan's Fashion Contradictions
I Spy With My Little Eye: On the Go in Japan

From Tokyo to Hiroshima (2015)
10D/9N | Tokyo, Toyama, Kyoto, Hyogo, Osaka, Hiroshima
Tokyo Accommodation: Shinjuku Airbnb
Tokyo: Memorable Tokyo Eats
Tokyo: Odaiba
Tokyo: Doing Touristy Things in Tokyo
Toyama: A Hamlet Called Ainokura
Kyoto Accommodation: K's House Hostel Kyoto
Kyoto, Japanecdote: Wisdom from the Road: On exits #2
Kyoto: By the Thousands (Kyoto Imperial Palace, Sanjusangendo, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove)
Kyoto, Japanecdote: Turning Japanese
Kyoto: Braving the Crowds at these UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto (Kiyomizu-dera, Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji)
Hyogo, Japanecdote: If Only I Could Speak Nihongo
Hyogo: Day Trip to Himeji: Himeji Castle and Shoshazan Engyoji Temple
Hyogo, Japanecdote: Am I an Alien?
Hiroshima: Strolling and Snacking in Miyajima
Hiroshima: Remembering the Past in Hiroshima
Osaka, Japanecdote: How to Lose Friends
Osaka Accommodation: Osaka Airbnb
Osaka, Japanecdote: Where is Bentencho Station?
Osaka: Osaka Adlaw, Osaka Ako sa Osaka
Osaka, Japanecdote: Learn From Your Mistakes

Kansai Diaries (2016)
9D/9N | Nov 2016 | Wakayama, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kansai Region
Osaka: Day 0: Arrival
Osaka Accommodations: Hotel Raizan, Hotel Mikado
Wakayama: Day 1: Going to, Sleeping in, and Eating in Koyasan
Wakayama: Day 1.5: West Side of Koya Town
Wakayama: Koyasan Sidewalk Shorts
Wakayama: Days 1.75~2: Okunoin, Three Times
Nara: Sleep, Eat, and Explore Nara City
Nara: Day 3: Horyuji, Hokkiji, and Some Japanecdotes in Ikaruga Town
Nara: Day 3.5: Yakushiji, Toshodaiji, and Heijo Palace Site in Nara City
Nara: Day 4: Early Morning at Nara Park
Nara: Day 4.25: Naramachi Walking Tour
Nara: Day 4.5: Todaiji, Yoshiki-en, and Kofukuji in Nara Park
Kyoto Accommodations: Guesthouse Wind Villa, Shiori Yado
Kyoto: Day 5: Rainy Day in Uji City
Kyoto: Day 5.5: Tofukuji, Kawai Jinja, Shimogamo Jinja
Kyoto: Day 6: Ginkakuji, Ryoanji, Ninnaji
Kyoto: Day 6.75: Gion Night Walking Tour
Kyoto: Day 7: All Day in Arashiyama
Kyoto: Day 8: Last Day in Kyoto
Osaka: Day 8.75: Dizzying Dotonbori
Osaka: Day 9: Osaka, Over and Out

Toledo Treasures

Forty-five kilometers west of Cebu City or a 1-hour/100-peso van ride that cuts across the width of the province lies the city of Toledo, where one can take a barge to get to the province of Negros Occidental. But wait, don't go aboard the barge yet. Spend some time checking out this city's little gems.

World War II Foxholes behind the unused Toledo City Hall

A pleasant surprise awaits history buffs in Toledo City. Sitting just behind the unused Toledo City Hall are World War II foxholes, silent witnesses to a significant time. These foxholes were built in 1942 and were used by the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). You can read more about it here.

Unused City Hall

One of the three foxholes

ECAP (CEBECO) Consumers Park

This park by CEBECO (Cebu Electric Cooperative) is the local teenager's hangout. The park is not especially big, but it is free for use and has open cottages built over a pond. What charmed me though were not the open cottages nor the pond, but the island in the center of the pond: the island of Cebu! Every city and municipality of the province is represented and it was like touring the entire province in just a few dozen steps.

Providing electricity to the province

Now we're in the town of San Remegio

Then down to the southernmost tip of Cebu

Capilla Sta Ana and Museum
9AM to 12NN / 1PM to 4PM
Admission fee Php 100 for locals / Php 200 for tourists

This beautiful chapel is owned by a native of Toledo who now lives abroad. In the air-conditioned chapel is the owner's collection of antique religious items, and carvings and paintings of saints. (Taking photographs of the collection inside the rooms are prohibited.) Even the doors of the chapel are antique! If I ever get married, I want to get married here. But they don't do wedding ceremonies here, just renewal of vows.

Outside the chapel is a garden with a small hedge maze. Take my advice: Don't attempt to get in the maze in the boiling heat of the sun. It will take some time to get to the center of the maze and out the same way! But if you need to get your 10,000 steps for the day, be my guest!

Malubog Lake and Dam

Malubog Lake and Dam, located in Barangay General Climaco, is a one-hour jeepney ride from Toledo's Poblacion Market. There's nothing much to do at the lake but spend a lazy day picnicking, snoozing under a tree, and watching the locals fish. To get up close to the dam on the other side of the lake, rent a boat for Php 500 or find a passenger boat that ferries locals (weekdays only) for only Php 10 per person.

Directions to Malubog Lake: At Toledo Poblacion Market, take a jeepney to Malubog Lake. It's a 1-hour and 20-peso very slow ride. If you want to get there faster, find a habalhabal (motorcycle).

Malubog Lake

Malubog Dam

How many gallons per second?

Across the lake, up an embankment, through a tunnel, and down a few hundred steps, my friends and I stumbled into the locals' hangout: the tip of Hinulawan River. The locals were quietly fishing in their own little spot, and one or two were in the water swimming. I found it so beautiful and tranquil and I felt like Alice in Wonderland. (We went in March. I have read in blogs that this little wonderland is now closed to the public.)

Through the tunnel

Down a few hundred steps

I felt like Alice in Wonderland

Hinulawan River

Go fish!

Biga Pit

I have only seen the beautiful blue waters of Biga Pit while on a plane. I thought it was a lake and later learned that it was Carmen Copper Corporation's (formerly Atlas Mining) tailings storage facility or mine dump. And no, the pit is not for swimming! To see Biga Pit, one must have permission to enter the mining complex.

Biga Pit. Photo from the Atlas Mining website.

Big thanks to Andrew: friend, host, and guide!

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.

No Laswit in Lagoon

I visited Surigao del Sur around the third week of February with these two places in mind: Cabgan Island in Barobo and Laswitan Lagoon in Cortes. Blogs I had read mentioned that the laswit or splash of the ocean over the 30- to 40-ft tall rocks that surround the lagoon can be experienced from October to March. Man, oh man, were those blogs wrong. There was no laswit when I visited.

No laswit here, just a calm pool

On the other side of the rock wall the Pacific Ocean was doing a good job pummelling the rocky shore (but not strong enough to scale the 30- to 40-ft high rock wall of the lagoon). And that is where the handful of Laswitan Lagoon hopefuls made the most of their visit. My friend and I ,on the other hand, stayed in the lagoon, our private pool, where we soaked and caught up with each other's lives.

On the other side

The Pacific waves hello

My friend's father who lives in Tandag said the best time to go is from November to December, maybe even January. But the ultimate time would be when there's a coming typhoon. I guess I'll have to go back when there's a typhoon brewing.

Expectation. Photo from sarwrites.com

Laswitan Lagoon
8AM to 5PM
Fees:
Entrance fee Php 20
Lifevest rental Php 20/hour
Salbabida (ring buoy) rental Php 20
Open cottage rental Php 200
Table rental Php 100
Toilet and changing rooms are available for free

Location: Laswitan Lagoon is located in the municipality of Cortes in Surigao del Sur. The lagoon is about 3 km from the highway. The road from the highway to the lagoon is rough and uneven. If commuting, you will have to hire a habalhabal (motorcycle) from the highway.