Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Week 18
KYUSHU TRIP
Mon 17 Jan HAKATA (FUKUOKA PREFECTURE)
We arrived in Fukuoka at about 6.30am-ish after like an 8hr bus ride from Sannomiya. Made our way to the ryokan and managed to get our room before 3pm (luckily). Checked out our room. Very Japanese style. nice spacious kotatsu in the middle of the main tatami room. Napped a bit. Some boilolo pics were taken.
Then we headed towards a shrine that was nearby because it had an old ginkgo tree. Then on the other side of the shrine was an entrance to Canal City, which is a shopping centre that is supposed to have a 'canal' flow through it, but they were doing maintenance at the time =[
had some tonkotsu ramen, which is what kyushu is famous for. the difference was that they use pork bone for the soup instead of the usual miso or shoyu soup base back in osaka. it was CHOU OISHIKATTA. the place we went to was awesome. you could choose how you wanted your ramen: if you wanted spring onion, chashu meat, level of spiciness, how much fat/oil, whether you want your ramen soft or hard, etc. bloody awesome!
then we walked around the shopping complex. pokemon centre, body shop, played taiko, had some ice cream, etc. then we went upstairs to taito station thinking that there would be the [gundam] pods, but there wasnt. BUT evelyn and i did some cosplay for purikura (since it was girls only). we did matching goth loli teehee lol. then rushed to the cinemas next door for Tron in 3D. After watching Tron we had more ramen in Ramen Stadium on the same floor, before going home. tried to work on my political economy essay that was due 11.30am that day, but got freaked out being by myself in the cold lobby downstairs.
Tue 18 Jan MT ASO (KUMAMOTO PREFECTURE)
We went to see MT ASO!!! aka active volcano in Kumamoto prefecture.=]
it took a bloody long time to get there.
Travel advice for kyushu: Travel in groups of 4 --> the way to get discounts on your transportation
For some odd reason it makes quite a difference travelling in a group of 4 in Kyushu. Travel discounts apply for groups of 4. We took a train from Hakata to Kumamoto station (1.5hrs), then another train from kumamoto to aso station (express is about an hour, normal train is 1hr 45min), and then we took a bus (30min) to get to mt aso where the ropeway was.
paid 1000yen for return on the ropeway (i got jipped!) which took like 5min to get to the top. and it was just white everywhere. it didn't smell like we heard but it was goddamn cold at -6 degrees celsius. me being the genius that i am didn't wear enough clothing to sustain the cold. me and my chucks, pair of jeans, tee with a jacket was obviously adequate to withstand the cold.
i couldn't hold it out longer so i gave up while the others continued to walk to the peak of the crater. so i walked back (alone). saw some korean tourists so decided to follow them cos they were obviously trying to get back inside some building. turned out that by the time i reached the end of the path/ saw a building it was the bloody foot of the ropeway so wasted 500yen for going on nothing, and waited for the others to come back.
we then made the long trek home to our cosy ryokan. watched a pokemon movie on darkrai, enjoyed a freezing cold shower, then had our little pudding with baileys party before going to sleep. another failed attempt to work on my now overdued essay.
Wed 19 Jan NAGASAKI (NAGASAKI PREFECTURE)
Woot! 3rd prefecture in 3 days. Checked out of the ryokan, left our stuff there and then commuted to Nagasaki by JR train again (2.5hrs). Ate some Champon then caught a tram to check out a cathedral, saw the bombed Mary, then walked to the peace park to check out the big statue, some more statues promoting peace, the fountain of peace, and then made our way to the hypocentre.
then we hopped on a tram back towards .... somewhere where we took a long diagonally moving lift to the lookout point. took photos of the scenery before rushing back down to the tram station. took a taxi back to nagasaki station to make in time for the train back so that we (prob more because of me > < gomen) could have enough time to get our stuff before catching our buses. tried to work on my essay again during the long train ride but fell asleep at some point.
rushed back to the ryokan, picked up my stuff before heading back to Hakata Station for the lonely bus ride back to Kobe. [the others went to shikoku]
Thu 20 Jan
Arrived in Sannomiya at about 6am. Went home and just rested up, did laundry, etc
Fri 21 Jan NAGANO TRIP
finally finished my now grossly overdued political economy essay (fingers crossed its still accepted). then packed for Nagano trip with host mum.
Sat 22 Jan ZENKOJI
We arrived in Nagano city at about 6.30am. first thing i noticed was snow. SNOW SNOW SNOW EVERYWHERE!!! caught a taxi to my host mum's daughter's place. met up with the rest of her family again. had some breakfast and then napped.
Woke up and left to visit Rika-chan's primary school because it was like an open day.
then masao-san picked us up to take us to the restaurant for lunch. then host mum and remi-san took me to zenkoji, which is absolutely beautiful. went into the dark corridor downstairs (where there's absolutely no light) upon which you're supposed to find a key in the wall and if you touch it you will receive enlightment. well managed to touch something that felt like a metal chess pawn attached to the wall so i guess that was it. =S
rubbed a wooden buddha looking statue upon which the body part that you touch will be protected or won't have any injury happen or something.
the buddhas inside remind me of the temples i saw in hong kong and back home in sydney.
then had some soba flavoured soft serve as well as miso flavoured soft serve. tried some shochu (japanese wine) and amazake (sweet wine). before going home for dinner and bed.
Sun 23 Jan SKIING
went to a ski-jo to go skiing. but because im scared about my weak knee i chickened out from the skiing and went on the sled numerous times on the gentle slope as well as making my first snow angels, and snowmen. chatted a bit with a young father and received a really cute small snowman from his 3 yr old.
after lunch with the family, we made a snow totoro. before going home at about 3 something since my host mum couldnt stand the cold any longer. stopped by a supermarket on the way home and finally found some konnyaku jelly.
Mon 17 Jan HAKATA (FUKUOKA PREFECTURE)
We arrived in Fukuoka at about 6.30am-ish after like an 8hr bus ride from Sannomiya. Made our way to the ryokan and managed to get our room before 3pm (luckily). Checked out our room. Very Japanese style. nice spacious kotatsu in the middle of the main tatami room. Napped a bit. Some boilolo pics were taken.
Then we headed towards a shrine that was nearby because it had an old ginkgo tree. Then on the other side of the shrine was an entrance to Canal City, which is a shopping centre that is supposed to have a 'canal' flow through it, but they were doing maintenance at the time =[
had some tonkotsu ramen, which is what kyushu is famous for. the difference was that they use pork bone for the soup instead of the usual miso or shoyu soup base back in osaka. it was CHOU OISHIKATTA. the place we went to was awesome. you could choose how you wanted your ramen: if you wanted spring onion, chashu meat, level of spiciness, how much fat/oil, whether you want your ramen soft or hard, etc. bloody awesome!
then we walked around the shopping complex. pokemon centre, body shop, played taiko, had some ice cream, etc. then we went upstairs to taito station thinking that there would be the [gundam] pods, but there wasnt. BUT evelyn and i did some cosplay for purikura (since it was girls only). we did matching goth loli teehee lol. then rushed to the cinemas next door for Tron in 3D. After watching Tron we had more ramen in Ramen Stadium on the same floor, before going home. tried to work on my political economy essay that was due 11.30am that day, but got freaked out being by myself in the cold lobby downstairs.
Tue 18 Jan MT ASO (KUMAMOTO PREFECTURE)
We went to see MT ASO!!! aka active volcano in Kumamoto prefecture.=]
it took a bloody long time to get there.
Travel advice for kyushu: Travel in groups of 4 --> the way to get discounts on your transportation
For some odd reason it makes quite a difference travelling in a group of 4 in Kyushu. Travel discounts apply for groups of 4. We took a train from Hakata to Kumamoto station (1.5hrs), then another train from kumamoto to aso station (express is about an hour, normal train is 1hr 45min), and then we took a bus (30min) to get to mt aso where the ropeway was.
paid 1000yen for return on the ropeway (i got jipped!) which took like 5min to get to the top. and it was just white everywhere. it didn't smell like we heard but it was goddamn cold at -6 degrees celsius. me being the genius that i am didn't wear enough clothing to sustain the cold. me and my chucks, pair of jeans, tee with a jacket was obviously adequate to withstand the cold.
i couldn't hold it out longer so i gave up while the others continued to walk to the peak of the crater. so i walked back (alone). saw some korean tourists so decided to follow them cos they were obviously trying to get back inside some building. turned out that by the time i reached the end of the path/ saw a building it was the bloody foot of the ropeway so wasted 500yen for going on nothing, and waited for the others to come back.
we then made the long trek home to our cosy ryokan. watched a pokemon movie on darkrai, enjoyed a freezing cold shower, then had our little pudding with baileys party before going to sleep. another failed attempt to work on my now overdued essay.
Wed 19 Jan NAGASAKI (NAGASAKI PREFECTURE)
Woot! 3rd prefecture in 3 days. Checked out of the ryokan, left our stuff there and then commuted to Nagasaki by JR train again (2.5hrs). Ate some Champon then caught a tram to check out a cathedral, saw the bombed Mary, then walked to the peace park to check out the big statue, some more statues promoting peace, the fountain of peace, and then made our way to the hypocentre.
then we hopped on a tram back towards .... somewhere where we took a long diagonally moving lift to the lookout point. took photos of the scenery before rushing back down to the tram station. took a taxi back to nagasaki station to make in time for the train back so that we (prob more because of me > < gomen) could have enough time to get our stuff before catching our buses. tried to work on my essay again during the long train ride but fell asleep at some point.
rushed back to the ryokan, picked up my stuff before heading back to Hakata Station for the lonely bus ride back to Kobe. [the others went to shikoku]
Thu 20 Jan
Arrived in Sannomiya at about 6am. Went home and just rested up, did laundry, etc
Fri 21 Jan NAGANO TRIP
finally finished my now grossly overdued political economy essay (fingers crossed its still accepted). then packed for Nagano trip with host mum.
Sat 22 Jan ZENKOJI
We arrived in Nagano city at about 6.30am. first thing i noticed was snow. SNOW SNOW SNOW EVERYWHERE!!! caught a taxi to my host mum's daughter's place. met up with the rest of her family again. had some breakfast and then napped.
Woke up and left to visit Rika-chan's primary school because it was like an open day.
then masao-san picked us up to take us to the restaurant for lunch. then host mum and remi-san took me to zenkoji, which is absolutely beautiful. went into the dark corridor downstairs (where there's absolutely no light) upon which you're supposed to find a key in the wall and if you touch it you will receive enlightment. well managed to touch something that felt like a metal chess pawn attached to the wall so i guess that was it. =S
rubbed a wooden buddha looking statue upon which the body part that you touch will be protected or won't have any injury happen or something.
the buddhas inside remind me of the temples i saw in hong kong and back home in sydney.
then had some soba flavoured soft serve as well as miso flavoured soft serve. tried some shochu (japanese wine) and amazake (sweet wine). before going home for dinner and bed.
Sun 23 Jan SKIING
went to a ski-jo to go skiing. but because im scared about my weak knee i chickened out from the skiing and went on the sled numerous times on the gentle slope as well as making my first snow angels, and snowmen. chatted a bit with a young father and received a really cute small snowman from his 3 yr old.
after lunch with the family, we made a snow totoro. before going home at about 3 something since my host mum couldnt stand the cold any longer. stopped by a supermarket on the way home and finally found some konnyaku jelly.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Week 17
last week of class!!!
Mon 10 Jan
public holiday but worked on papers
Tue 11 Jan
class
Wed 12 Jan
- Kanji Final
- Society final report due
- Society class test
Thu 13 Jan
- Speaking final (oral at 9 bloody am!)
- grammar final
- language and culture final exam
Fri 14 Jan FALL SEM CLOSING CEREMONY + WAYNE'S FAREWELL PARTY
- Holidays begin
- Closing ceremony for Fall semester =[ an emotional evening listening to all the ppl who are leaving's farewell speeches. took lotsa photos, before heading off to ippudo (ramen place somewhat close to uni) for dinner before all-night karaoke
MISS YOO WAYNE!!!
Sat 15 Jan TAKARAZUKA REVUE + FAREWELL PARTY 2
Went to Alexa's host family's place for nabe lunch party with Jacky, Anin, Katie, Frank, and Vicky. it was soooo derishious.
then we went to Takarazuka Revue to watch the latest performance by the Yuki-gumi (snow troupe) and their version of Romeo and Juliette.
summary: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANYONE GOING TO JAPAN TO GO SEE A TAKARAZUKA REVUE PERFORMANCE
it was SOOOOO GOOD!!! the singing was superb. and ive totally fallen in love with the top star, Otozuki Kei, who played Romeo. i would pash her any day. i was totally mesmerised by the otokoyaku (male-role). although they're all women, the way they act, body language, posture, speech are all very otoko-rashii. they even sing in deep voices as well! although it's friggin expensive, im so going to get the dvd when it comes out even if their dvds are like 8400-10 000yen each. and im gunna keep an ear out for any other yuki-gumi performances while im still in japan.
afterwards, we met up with the others -Valerie, Isaac, Alanna, Caitlin, Michael, Anin, Andrea, (and if i forgot your name gomen ne) for farewell dinner and bowling. andrea and myself both won the strike thingo and got a group photo and frame each. =] and then we all rushed for the last trains home.
GONNA MISS YOO ANIN!!!
Sun 16 Jan
met up with Evelyn, Jehki and Petter for the night bus to Kyushu!
Mon 10 Jan
public holiday but worked on papers
Tue 11 Jan
class
Wed 12 Jan
- Kanji Final
- Society final report due
- Society class test
Thu 13 Jan
- Speaking final (oral at 9 bloody am!)
- grammar final
- language and culture final exam
Fri 14 Jan FALL SEM CLOSING CEREMONY + WAYNE'S FAREWELL PARTY
- Holidays begin
- Closing ceremony for Fall semester =[ an emotional evening listening to all the ppl who are leaving's farewell speeches. took lotsa photos, before heading off to ippudo (ramen place somewhat close to uni) for dinner before all-night karaoke
MISS YOO WAYNE!!!
Sat 15 Jan TAKARAZUKA REVUE + FAREWELL PARTY 2
Went to Alexa's host family's place for nabe lunch party with Jacky, Anin, Katie, Frank, and Vicky. it was soooo derishious.
then we went to Takarazuka Revue to watch the latest performance by the Yuki-gumi (snow troupe) and their version of Romeo and Juliette.
summary: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANYONE GOING TO JAPAN TO GO SEE A TAKARAZUKA REVUE PERFORMANCE
it was SOOOOO GOOD!!! the singing was superb. and ive totally fallen in love with the top star, Otozuki Kei, who played Romeo. i would pash her any day. i was totally mesmerised by the otokoyaku (male-role). although they're all women, the way they act, body language, posture, speech are all very otoko-rashii. they even sing in deep voices as well! although it's friggin expensive, im so going to get the dvd when it comes out even if their dvds are like 8400-10 000yen each. and im gunna keep an ear out for any other yuki-gumi performances while im still in japan.
afterwards, we met up with the others -Valerie, Isaac, Alanna, Caitlin, Michael, Anin, Andrea, (and if i forgot your name gomen ne) for farewell dinner and bowling. andrea and myself both won the strike thingo and got a group photo and frame each. =] and then we all rushed for the last trains home.
GONNA MISS YOO ANIN!!!
Sun 16 Jan
met up with Evelyn, Jehki and Petter for the night bus to Kyushu!
Week 16
Mon 3- Tue 4
Papers
Wed 5 Jan HOSPITAL
Thu 6 Jan BACK TO SCHOOL
Had speaking class final (written paper) and then jigged 2nd and 3rd period to work on the language and culture paper (due 5th period)
Fri 7 Jan
did a presentation on vegemite and arnotts biscuits in economy class
Sat 8 - Sun 9 Jan
'tried' to study and work on papers
Papers
Wed 5 Jan HOSPITAL
Thu 6 Jan BACK TO SCHOOL
Had speaking class final (written paper) and then jigged 2nd and 3rd period to work on the language and culture paper (due 5th period)
Fri 7 Jan
did a presentation on vegemite and arnotts biscuits in economy class
Sat 8 - Sun 9 Jan
'tried' to study and work on papers
Week 15
HIROSHIMA/MIYAJIMA TRIP 2
Mon 27 Dec HIROSHIMA
went to Hiroshima castle and Peace park again. while the others went inside the peace museum i tried to get some readings done, only to be bothered by this ojisan who kept trying to get my perspective on why the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. He asked me questions like "Why was America, China, UK, Australia, [insert more countries] against Japan?...we [Japan] only went to war because we wanted more food...we didn't do anything wrong...why did America drop the bomb on Hiroshima?" etc etc etc. And then he showed me his deformed pinky from the radiation [he survived the bomb]. i really didn't want to answer because i knew that he wouldn't like my answer either way and i tried to give a neutral answer but i guess he wasn't satisfied with it.
after the others were done with the museum we went to the Dreamination, which was Hiroshima's illumination where one of their main streets was light up with different wire sculptures covered in lights. lots of camwhoring happened. Then we stumbled through the red-light district before arriving at an okonomiyaki restaurant to eat some hiroshima-style okonomiyai =] nomnomnom
Tue 28 Dec MIYAJIMA
Visited Miyajima (again)!
slipped on some stairs that was near the water and got seaweed on my arse and new jacket. then Anin and Jacky helped me clean it off (in public >___>).
went inside itsukushima shrine and camwhored.
then went back to hiroshima and had some ramen for dinner before giving Jacky a birthday surprise =) Enjoyed some german wine and cake made by the lovely Frank Frank =]
Wed 29 Dec IWAKUNI
We let bday boi decide where/what we do that day so we went to Iwakuni, which is near the border of Hiroshima prefecture and the neighbouring prefecture, to check out a bridge.
camwhored
then went back to hiroshima and had some anago and more oysters for dinner before heading back on the bus home to Kansai.
Thu 30 Dec
arrived in Osaka at 6am-ish (i think). was thinking of going to spa world with Frank Frank and Jehki, but Jehki got food poisoning when we got off the bus so we all headed home.
Arrived home to discover the house infiltrated with kids! nah jk jk. my host mum's daughter's family came down from nagano to visit obaachan and ojiichan. the kids are sooooo CUTE!!! unfortunately i still had like 4 papers and 5 exams to prep for before uni started on the 6th, so i couldnt go out with them much =(
Fri 31 Dec NEW YEARS EVE
spent most of the day 'trying' to write up a paper. had a big festive dinner with the host family with osechi, ozoni, mochi, soba (represents longevity), which is traditionally eaten on the 1st but because the host-sister's husband had work and was only free for a day we ate it a night earlier.
then went out at 11pm-ish to meet up with Anin, Vicky, Roger, Nicole and Katie in Sannomiya to go to Ikuta Shrine for hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year). The shrine was super crowded and there were police monitoring crowds. also experience one of the crappiest countdowns ever. since there was no official clock nearby you had to rely on your own watch to know when to start the countdown. so basically there were groups of people going off saying 'Happy new year' at different times.
then the shrine gates opened and we just got pushed forward by the crowd behind. it was pretty cool listening to a row of taiko drums being hit as we edged closer to the front where we throw some money and make a wish, before heading off to the side and getting out omikuji (fortune). i scored a daikichi (=super good luck) !!! =D then headed home
Sat 1 Jan HAPPY NEW YEAR HELLO TWENTY-ELEVEN
didn't do much except trying to work on papers again (i knoe eh, what a depressing way to spend new years day.... studying)
Sun 2 Jan
Papers again
Mon 27 Dec HIROSHIMA
went to Hiroshima castle and Peace park again. while the others went inside the peace museum i tried to get some readings done, only to be bothered by this ojisan who kept trying to get my perspective on why the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. He asked me questions like "Why was America, China, UK, Australia, [insert more countries] against Japan?...we [Japan] only went to war because we wanted more food...we didn't do anything wrong...why did America drop the bomb on Hiroshima?" etc etc etc. And then he showed me his deformed pinky from the radiation [he survived the bomb]. i really didn't want to answer because i knew that he wouldn't like my answer either way and i tried to give a neutral answer but i guess he wasn't satisfied with it.
after the others were done with the museum we went to the Dreamination, which was Hiroshima's illumination where one of their main streets was light up with different wire sculptures covered in lights. lots of camwhoring happened. Then we stumbled through the red-light district before arriving at an okonomiyaki restaurant to eat some hiroshima-style okonomiyai =] nomnomnom
Tue 28 Dec MIYAJIMA
Visited Miyajima (again)!
slipped on some stairs that was near the water and got seaweed on my arse and new jacket. then Anin and Jacky helped me clean it off (in public >___>).
went inside itsukushima shrine and camwhored.
then went back to hiroshima and had some ramen for dinner before giving Jacky a birthday surprise =) Enjoyed some german wine and cake made by the lovely Frank Frank =]
Wed 29 Dec IWAKUNI
We let bday boi decide where/what we do that day so we went to Iwakuni, which is near the border of Hiroshima prefecture and the neighbouring prefecture, to check out a bridge.
camwhored
then went back to hiroshima and had some anago and more oysters for dinner before heading back on the bus home to Kansai.
Thu 30 Dec
arrived in Osaka at 6am-ish (i think). was thinking of going to spa world with Frank Frank and Jehki, but Jehki got food poisoning when we got off the bus so we all headed home.
Arrived home to discover the house infiltrated with kids! nah jk jk. my host mum's daughter's family came down from nagano to visit obaachan and ojiichan. the kids are sooooo CUTE!!! unfortunately i still had like 4 papers and 5 exams to prep for before uni started on the 6th, so i couldnt go out with them much =(
Fri 31 Dec NEW YEARS EVE
spent most of the day 'trying' to write up a paper. had a big festive dinner with the host family with osechi, ozoni, mochi, soba (represents longevity), which is traditionally eaten on the 1st but because the host-sister's husband had work and was only free for a day we ate it a night earlier.
then went out at 11pm-ish to meet up with Anin, Vicky, Roger, Nicole and Katie in Sannomiya to go to Ikuta Shrine for hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year). The shrine was super crowded and there were police monitoring crowds. also experience one of the crappiest countdowns ever. since there was no official clock nearby you had to rely on your own watch to know when to start the countdown. so basically there were groups of people going off saying 'Happy new year' at different times.
then the shrine gates opened and we just got pushed forward by the crowd behind. it was pretty cool listening to a row of taiko drums being hit as we edged closer to the front where we throw some money and make a wish, before heading off to the side and getting out omikuji (fortune). i scored a daikichi (=super good luck) !!! =D then headed home
Sat 1 Jan HAPPY NEW YEAR HELLO TWENTY-ELEVEN
didn't do much except trying to work on papers again (i knoe eh, what a depressing way to spend new years day.... studying)
Sun 2 Jan
Papers again
Week 14
This week was kinda weird. We had class from mon to wed and then we were on holidays from Thurs till the 6th Jan.
Mon 20 Dec
Religious Rites final exam
Wed 22 Dec GERMAN MARKET AGAIN
Stayed back a bit after Society class cos we stood in the queue at the travel agent for over an hour (guess everyone else was organising their trips last minute) to further discuss about our Hokkaido plans.
Then afterwards we went to the German xmas market again cos Evelyn hadn't been before. Got to see Evelyn and Jacky drunk again =D Then went to Namcoland again and took purikura. Then learnt later that night that Jacky made some epic spew at Kotoen =)
Fri 24 Dec XMAS EVE
sadly stayed at home 'trying' to work on my papers
Sat 25 Dec XMAS DAY
spent the arvo shopping at the outlet park in Tarumi with Frank Frank and Jehki =)
Sun 26 Dec BOXING DAY
spent most of the day at home sleeping in, cleaning out my sd card, backing up photos, etc before leaving for Hiroshima (again). Met up with Frank Frank and Jehki at Nishikita at 6pm-ish only to remember that i forgot my nengajou that i stayed up the night before writing up. So rushed back to Sannomiya, and met up the others in Shinsaibashi at about 7-8pm-ish. bought a pair of thick framed glasses, and wore them to meet up with the others at Big Man Umeda to catch the night bus to Hiroshima.
Mon 20 Dec
Religious Rites final exam
Wed 22 Dec GERMAN MARKET AGAIN
Stayed back a bit after Society class cos we stood in the queue at the travel agent for over an hour (guess everyone else was organising their trips last minute) to further discuss about our Hokkaido plans.
Then afterwards we went to the German xmas market again cos Evelyn hadn't been before. Got to see Evelyn and Jacky drunk again =D Then went to Namcoland again and took purikura. Then learnt later that night that Jacky made some epic spew at Kotoen =)
Fri 24 Dec XMAS EVE
sadly stayed at home 'trying' to work on my papers
Sat 25 Dec XMAS DAY
spent the arvo shopping at the outlet park in Tarumi with Frank Frank and Jehki =)
Sun 26 Dec BOXING DAY
spent most of the day at home sleeping in, cleaning out my sd card, backing up photos, etc before leaving for Hiroshima (again). Met up with Frank Frank and Jehki at Nishikita at 6pm-ish only to remember that i forgot my nengajou that i stayed up the night before writing up. So rushed back to Sannomiya, and met up the others in Shinsaibashi at about 7-8pm-ish. bought a pair of thick framed glasses, and wore them to meet up with the others at Big Man Umeda to catch the night bus to Hiroshima.
Week 13
Yosh! Finally back in Kobe after a couple weeks of travelling and a bunch of papers and exams just before that (combined with laziness in uploading photos and updating blog).
Mon 13 - Fri 17 Dec
So this week was the second last week of the Fall Semester, so had a bunch of quizzes for Japanese, speech presentation for Speaking class, a group presentation for Language and Culture, and a make up class for Society =___=
Had dinner with Kristin after Language and Culture (a ridiculous extended class that was originally planned to end at 8pm, but we got through all the presentations by about 7pm).
Then came the weekend! As well as the final days of Kristin's stay in Japan ='[
Sat 18 Dec ARIMA ONSEN
Went to on day trip to Arima Onsen with Frank Frank, Anin, Vicky, Kristin and Caitlin. Can't remember how long it took, but we changed trains at Shinkaichi station, to some other train that took a while going into the countryside. We visited 2 onsens, one was called Silver something and the other was called Gold-something (because the water was a murky 'gold' colour). First time ever experienced an onsen and boy I would totally go for it again any day. It was so relaxing, and didn't expect to feel as embarrassed about being naked in front of everyone else (prob cos everyone else was in the nude). And caught a bus back to Sannomiya in time for dinner with the host family (which we learnt was cheaper).
Sun 19 Dec MANA IN-STORE EVENT & GERMAN XMAS MARKET
Holy fjhefhweofhweifhew!!!!?!?!??! SAW MANA-SAMA IN REAL LIFE!!!! omfgfhfiwuhfwhe!!
It was in Shinsaibashi at the Zeal Link Store. Never been there before but discovered that that floor had a bunch of lolita clothing and vkei shit *two thumbs up*. Lots of hardcore goth lolis and egas (most wearing moi meme moite) and stood out like a sore thumb in my regular streetwear =S. Mana-sama was dressed as a man (which was kinda disappointing cos i was totally expecting him to wear some goth loli dress or something like the early moi dix mois days) promoting the latest release of Moi Dix Mois' album.
Tried on a goth loli outfit since i was surrounded by goth lolis.
Then went back to Umeda to meet up with Frank Frank and Jehki for the German xmas market at Umeda sky building. It was chou tanoshikatta =). Got tipsy from the hot german wine, 2 pints of beer (oh delicious erdinger), a german sausage (or two - gotta have a german sausage ;)) and a german xmas gingerbread cookie. Then went to Namcoland, took purikura and played some games before going home around midnight. whee~<3
Mon 13 - Fri 17 Dec
So this week was the second last week of the Fall Semester, so had a bunch of quizzes for Japanese, speech presentation for Speaking class, a group presentation for Language and Culture, and a make up class for Society =___=
Had dinner with Kristin after Language and Culture (a ridiculous extended class that was originally planned to end at 8pm, but we got through all the presentations by about 7pm).
Then came the weekend! As well as the final days of Kristin's stay in Japan ='[
Sat 18 Dec ARIMA ONSEN
Went to on day trip to Arima Onsen with Frank Frank, Anin, Vicky, Kristin and Caitlin. Can't remember how long it took, but we changed trains at Shinkaichi station, to some other train that took a while going into the countryside. We visited 2 onsens, one was called Silver something and the other was called Gold-something (because the water was a murky 'gold' colour). First time ever experienced an onsen and boy I would totally go for it again any day. It was so relaxing, and didn't expect to feel as embarrassed about being naked in front of everyone else (prob cos everyone else was in the nude). And caught a bus back to Sannomiya in time for dinner with the host family (which we learnt was cheaper).
Sun 19 Dec MANA IN-STORE EVENT & GERMAN XMAS MARKET
Holy fjhefhweofhweifhew!!!!?!?!??! SAW MANA-SAMA IN REAL LIFE!!!! omfgfhfiwuhfwhe!!
It was in Shinsaibashi at the Zeal Link Store. Never been there before but discovered that that floor had a bunch of lolita clothing and vkei shit *two thumbs up*. Lots of hardcore goth lolis and egas (most wearing moi meme moite) and stood out like a sore thumb in my regular streetwear =S. Mana-sama was dressed as a man (which was kinda disappointing cos i was totally expecting him to wear some goth loli dress or something like the early moi dix mois days) promoting the latest release of Moi Dix Mois' album.
Tried on a goth loli outfit since i was surrounded by goth lolis.
Then went back to Umeda to meet up with Frank Frank and Jehki for the German xmas market at Umeda sky building. It was chou tanoshikatta =). Got tipsy from the hot german wine, 2 pints of beer (oh delicious erdinger), a german sausage (or two - gotta have a german sausage ;)) and a german xmas gingerbread cookie. Then went to Namcoland, took purikura and played some games before going home around midnight. whee~<3
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