A Very Instant Noodle Holiday

Thursday, March 20
We met Clay, Dylan, Heather, Stuart, and Harrison at Umeda Station at 10 in the morning. Chris nearly didn't wake up. Everyone would've been upset if he were late: as group organizer, he chose the early start time.

We caught the train to Ikeda Station and visited the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, dedicated to the man who invented that most cheap and convenient of foods--hot noodles in a cup! The museum was filled with creative noodle displays, as well as crowds of children taking advantage of the make-your-own-cup-noodle activity. Our group, however, opted to skip the instant and to eat the real deal at the ramen shop down the street.

Heather, Stuart, and Harrison educate themselves on the many wonderful varieties of ramen.

Do you know how much ramen Americans eat every year? A lot.

The make-your-own Cup Noodles station. We didn't make any. (*Sniff.*)

Mega Ramen! (It's about 3/4 of my height.)

I was initially startled by the prices--800 yen for a basic order of shoyu ramen--but once the steaming bowl arrived, I was sold. Check out those gorgeous globules of fat, my friends.

Full of noodle goodness, we returned to Umeda for desserts of chocolate croissants and coffees. We then walked around, "shopping" before dinner at El Pancho in Shinsaibashi, where I stuffed myself on nachos and chicken enchiladas.

Altogether a wonderful holiday, despite that we all gripped about returning to work the next day.