The advertisements in the trains of Japan never fails to entertain me. They’re either covered with text or bombarded with colorful images. When I was staying there, I always notice some public service ads that sometimes sarcastically reminds us commuters to mind our own manners and so I randomly snapped up a few for keepsake.
These ones are generally found on the JR line and I’m already guilty of the first one!
I realise that every time I start a new blog entry, I apologise for being late and not up keeping it… I mean what’s new? the epitome of procrastination is still herself… well not really so this time. I kinda deserted my entire family during the Chinese New year holidays and flew to my second home, so here’s your long awaited post fresh from the sushi bar…
Two years back I visited Nasu Kogen during the summer time. Two weeks ago I was back there and boy was it a transformation! It’s Fuyu (winter) time in Nippon and I was ecstatic to see snow! Yes yes there’s no snow in sunny sizzling Singapore…
Anyway it was quite an adventure just getting into gear itself! In an instance, one miraculously transforms into a dumpling being wrapped in layers and layers of clothes. Despite the ball of fabric that I am, I was surprised that I could still scale some snow covered mini cliffs that leads to the Otome Waterfall. Pretty slippery if you ask me and I couldn’t even make out where the steps were.
I wanted to go to Kamakura but ended up in Enoshima (江ノ島) a small island seaside town next to the island of Kanagawa prefecture and to to the south of Tokyo . . . Another classic example of my randomness! So it’s not in Tokyo. . . Thus I reckon the title’s not very apt. But anyhoos, this post is a continuation of my travelogue while loafing in Japan the other time round so here goes! Enoshima is a beach destination and, on a nice summer day, has a bit of the laid-back California surfer vibe. Are we talking yet?
[Picture Intensive] I was cruising on good vibes when I decided to try watching another magical girl anime show. Turned out its nothing like any other magical (kiddish) girl anime I’ve watched before. Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na koto ~ Natsu no Sora~ ( 魔法遣いに大切なこと ～夏のソラ～) is last year’s summer anime and I’m not trying to do a review here cos I’m just terrible at it. :P I’m only VERY infatuated with the production for this anime. (ヽ(・。・#)ﾉ
Reel: Drug store. Notice the subtle name change from the original one below
One fine morning, I woke up and realised that my days in Tokyo are numbered and there’s so much more I wanna see. ! So I went on a one day drive to Nasu (那須) - a region in northern Tochigi Prefecture of Japan, with my local friend. It about 3 hours drive from Tokyo by a speeding car.
Okay this comes as a “little” late as I dawdle about suffering from summer holiday withdrawal syndrome. I went to a few places over the last couple of WEEKS and snapped up a quarter of a tone of images and then conveniently tucked them in one yellow folder in my memory stick and they’ve been screaming “PUT US AWAY WOMAN!” Procrastinator Number One, I tell you!
I’ve been watching Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (no its not Haruka above) and I think it kinda reflects a part of reality in some of us. I’m not entirely sure but I feel Japan’s fan-dom for the otaku culture is not entirely raging hot. I kinda notice that the culture isn’t readily welcomed with open arms by the locals so to speak.
When me and some of my otaku classmates were making small talk with our teacher and a bunch of school admin staff during one of our lunch breaks, they went “HUH” complete with goldfish eyes at the very point when we raved that we’re manga/anime/game/cosplay/rock otakus and are crazy abut it here. It happened a few times with other locals as well. They just gave us THE LOOK – yes the “are you crazy” look, followed by a “why” question as dessert.
Japan’s been having some erratic weather recently. The sky’s been cooling the grounds intermittently between days and I’m starting to wonder if the weather’s working it’s enigma on me lately. I woke up feeling anything but refreshed and then I conveniently blame it on the weather that I’m feeling rather sedate.
You know it’s Summer here in Tokyo when suddenly the whole state’s super hyped up about festivals. Japan itself boosts quite a number of festivals yearly and the heat of summer ain’t gonna stop the locals from some sort of celebration.
I was blessed enough to attend a few of these festivals and experience some traditional local culture in my short weeks here.
My “All American Breakfast” here in Tokyo (strange isn’t it?) but that’s what I usually eat for breaky and lunch (cause that’s all I know how to cook anyway haha).
My first week here hasn’t been that much fun acutally. Been really busy getting lost, settling down and trying to get my immigration stuff ironed out (which is a real pain in the ass and perhaps can be written as a thesis itself). Anyway 2 weeks just zoomed by like that. So here’s what been happening so far and a sneak peek of my place.
