osaka: where my caffeine addiction met its match
so i landed in osaka and immediately regretted not packing thermal underwear. i just checked and it's... well, let's just say your face might freeze if you smile too wide. hope you like that kind of thing. the locals are walking around like it's spring, but i'm bundled up like a homeless penguin. if you get tired of this concrete jungle, kobe and kyoto are just a train ride away - perfect for escaping when the wind feels like tiny knives.
the real osaka hits you like a ton of takoyaki - overwhelming, greasy, and kind of addictive. found this tiny alley cafe that smelled like burnt beans and hope. *matcha latte was decent, but the real shocker was their katsu sandwich - deep-fried heaven. someone told me that the owner used to be a salaryman who quit to chase his dream of crushing pork between bread.
heard a local sushi chef ranting about how foreigners ruin the 'flow' of namba market. he said 'they take too long with the uni. uni is not for instagram, it's for eating quickly before it gets warm.'
overheard this backpacker girl arguing with her friend: 'no, the ramen museum is NOT a tourist trap! it's educational! i learned how to slurp properly!' her friend looked like she wanted to pour miso soup over her head.
tried this street food stall near dotonbori where the guy wouldn't stop talking about his grandmother's recipe for okonomiyaki. i swear the batter had crack in it because i ate three and still felt like i could wrestle a bear. humidity at 64% means your clothes get sticky faster than a melted ice pop.
found this hidden jazz bar in shinsaibashi where the bartender looked like he'd seen 10,000 bad karaoke nights. he recommended this whisky bar* around the corner called 'the last pour' and said 'if they offer ice, run.' also discovered that osaka's underground shopping district is basically a human anthill with better lighting.
p.s. the pressure's at 1009 hpa which apparently means the sky might cry soon. not that that stopped anyone from eating octopus balls in the rain. you can find decent coffee at this place but real talk? the vending machine coffee hits different here. also, if you're into weird finds, check this local flea market and this underground board for events that make no sense but are awesome.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/seasonal-weather-in-pyongyang-what-to-expect-throughout-the-year-and-other-stuff
- https://topiclo.com/post/how-to-find-an-apartment-in-okayama-without-getting-scammed
- https://topiclo.com/post/eskiehir-for-families-heres-the-real-deal-on-parks-schools-and-whether-youll-sleep-at-night
- https://topiclo.com/post/the-nightlife-scene-in-porto-alegre-best-bars-and-safe-zones-dont-ask-me-how-i-know
- https://topiclo.com/post/dust-echoes-in-jaipur-a-slightly-broken-trip