Mama always said "Life was like an Instant Ramen"

Well, the few days that have followed Summer Sonic have been equally as amazing. The first day was a bit of a right off. We were really tired after dancing and being baked by the sun for 11 hours so we simply walked around a district of Osaka that we had not come across yet, Shinsekai. The area was actually quite cool. Although unclean and a bit of a mess, Shinsekai evokes a lot of Nostalgia, it reminded me personally of Blackpool, especially due to the large tower that stands in the middle of the area.

Shinsekai

Source: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4012.html

It was almost like we had walked straight into the 70`s, which I liked. Also there are a lot of Fugu (puffa fish) restaurants around there. But due to my cowardice nature, I was afraid to try, in case you know, it was cut incorrectly and I died.

The day after we went to our second Ramen Museum of the trip. However this was a museum that worshipped the Instant Ramen, that is right. A whole museum dedicated to noodles in a cup, or Pot Noodle as you might know them. The museum itself lacked english translation so was difficult to understand, but that was not our main reason for visiting the museum. We went purely for the workshop you could get involved in. A "make your own" cup ramen. It was awesome, and maybe one of the best hand on experiences ever. You simply pay 300 yen for a cup, then draw on the cup and design it in whatever way you like. Choose the flavour, and four ingredients, it is then sealed and placed in a bag for you to take away! I love it! I choose curry flavour, with pork, cheese, sweetcorn and onion. I know cheese and curry might not go, but I don't care, I'm still going to love it anyway.

Today was amazing too. We went for dinner, an early present for Hayley`s birthday in the Universal City, part of Osaka. We headed to a restaurant called "Bubba Gump" and it is probably the best restaurant I have ever been to, a "Forrest Gump" style restaurant that takes inspiration from the films plot.

Source: http://vivalifestyle.blogspot.com/2009/10/bubba-gump-shrimp-co.html

In the film Gump buys a boat to go shrimp fishing and when he manages to haul a large amount of fish, he secures his promise to his friend Bubba. The restaurant sells a lot of shrimp dishes and we chose two beautiful ones. I had "Coconut Batter Shrimp", which had a tag line of "Bubba's Favourite". They were delicious, it was incredible. Coconut and Shrimp is truly delicious. Hayley had Spicy Shrimp Gumbo, a pot with soup and shrimp, and some bread for dipping, that was also pretty damn amazing. I loved it, all the Forrest Gump references. From ping-pong racket drink menus, to "Run Forrest, Run" signs you had on your table, and when you wanted the waitress or waiter to serve you, you switched it over to "Stop Forrest, Stop" truly amazing.

Another overnight bus tomorrow will get us to Yokohama, for 6 nights and then it is off to Tokyo, for our second time, and overall last destination of the trip. It is not long till we are home, so we are going to make the most of it.

Thanks for Reading
Arigatou, Sayonara.