Hello everyone, I am back to continue my exploration on the second day in this fascinating Land of the Rising Sun. My day did not start with elaborate or luxury dishes, but rather with something deeply familiar—a legendary bowl of instant noodles with an egg that every guy from Vietnam grew up with.

Fascinatingly, right in the heart of Japan, that bowl of noodles tasted out-of-this-world delicious, even surpassing a traditional bowl of tonkotsu ramen in my eyes. Perhaps the goodness didn’t just lie in the seasonings, but was also rich with a sense of connection and nostalgia.

Near my younger brother’s place stands a small castle named Amagasaki. It features a typical Japanese castle architecture with its signature pointed roof and a moat surrounding the exterior.

Though it doesn’t possess the grand and magnificent scale of the famous Osaka Castle, this structure still carries a unique, ancient, and extraordinarily peaceful beauty in the early morning atmosphere.

As I strolled leisurely around the area, I suddenly came across a row of giant iron spheres sitting idly in the open space.

At the time, I couldn’t quite fathom the author’s artistic intent; perhaps they functioned both as modern art installations and convenient resting benches for passersby.

Public art pieces like this in Japan are always thoughtfully accompanied by a plaque detailing the story behind them.

Unfortunately, my Japanese proficiency back then was quite lousy, so I had to throw in the towel and was too lazy to read it. Had there been an English version, I would have eagerly stopped by to thoroughly understand it.

The May weather in Osaka hadn’t yet reached the peak of the sweltering summer heat, but the sunlight was starting to get harsh enough to make people look for shade. The two of us sat down to rest together under a lush, green canopy of leaves.

A gentle breeze blew past, carrying a mild coolness that completely chased away the initial scorching heat and restored absolute tranquility to the soul.

After spending some time relaxing under the tree, we continued our walk to a nearby market to shop for fresh ingredients for lunch.

Strolling through the bustling stalls always gives me authentic and vivid glimpses into the daily lives of the locals.

However, life always holds unexpected turns, and sometimes mishaps happen in the most helpless ways. A minor accident occurred that I will remember for the rest of my life.

While cleaning up, I forgot to securely lock the main door when I flung all the windows wide open, and suddenly a gust of wind rushed heavily into the house and… bang!

The glass door officially shattered into pieces in the blink of an eye. My younger brother at home must have felt so heartbroken and wanted to scold me badly, but out of respect for his older brother who had traveled all the way from afar to visit, he could only offer a helpless, wry smile.

Truly an unforgettable mishap to remember from this trip.

Putting the mishap behind us, we were compensated with an exceptionally lavish lunch. My younger brother living in Osaka is a native of Hue through and through, so any dish that passes through his hands tastes ridiculously delicious.

I myself am someone who enjoys cooking and cooks quite a bit, though the quality is not always consistent and leans more toward eating to live rather than the art of gastronomy. It has been a long time since I last enjoyed a meal so completely satisfying in a foreign land.

After a full and hearty meal, the room became lively once again when two more younger friends dropped by to hang out. We decided to gather around and play a round of the fun and dramatic game, Exploding Kittens.

The atmosphere in the room turned incredibly cheerful, with bright laughter echoing for two to three hours. Interestingly, most of the guys in the group came from the sunny and windy Central region, leaving me as the sole representative from bustling Saigon.

After hours of relaxing at home, I set off with two of the guys to head deeper into downtown bustling Osaka. Here, I had the chance to try milk tea right on Japanese soil for the very first time in my life.

Its flavor turned out not to be too different from the familiar milk tea back in Vietnam; one sip and it was instantly “Yummy.”

We leisurely walked through the busy Dotonbori district, crossed the historic Namba Bridge, and merged into the dense crowd.

The night cityscape unfolded with brilliant lights and an extremely bustling atmosphere, making anyone who sets foot here deeply moved by the city’s modern yet deeply nostalgic beauty.

Amidst that lively space, the youngest brother in the group had a moment of adorable, innocent playfulness, adding an extra layer of bonding and laughter to the trip.

A visit to Osaka would certainly be incomplete without trying the famous Takoyaki.

The piping-hot, perfectly round dough balls encased a crunchy octopus filling, topped with delicate bonito flakes dancing in the rising heat, combined with rich mayonnaise, signature tare sauce, and a sprinkle of scallions that released a wonderful aroma.

That bold and unforgettable flavor lingered endlessly on the tip of the tongue.

As night fell, that evening became even more complete with the arrival of a few more young friends to join in. And so the fun was prolonged even though the city was still in a period of social distancing.

The cozy atmosphere among the Vietnamese fellows gathered together washed away so much of the homesickness. It has been a very long time since I last felt this joyful, fulfilled, and happy throughout the course of a day.