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.
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.
It’s been some time since I last updated my “pilgrimage”. So after the burning me eyes with the glaring Golden Temple Kinkakuji, the “Silver” one is up next. Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion) is another Buddhist temple and despite its name, it’s actually made of wood. Read the rest of this entry »
I went to Kyoto on the 3rd day of my trip. This is the 2nd time I’ve been there actually and I think I prefer it more than Tokyo. Kyoto is ooooold – and she sweeps a sense of nostalgic ancient history through its streets. That’s what I love about it. It’s exactly a well blended mix of classic & modern culture,just less haste & waste. Established in 794, Kyoto retains its unique position as the country’s historical and cultural heart and believe it or not, its the birthplace of the spirit and technology of traditional Japan.
Towards the end of my trip the sky darkened and drizzled as if it knows I’ll soon stop contributing that vigorously to Japan’s economy. LOL I went to Odaiba on the very last day of my trip hoping to attend the Super Comic City convention taking place that day but as it turned out I was pulled away by the mysterious dark aura in the sky. The weather matched my mood and the air was exhilaratingly fresh, but the face of chibi statue of liberty. . . – was horribly black.
Tadaima! -
Sorry for the long wait but I’m back~ from my rendezvous in Japan! Well, not entirely back~ I think only this empty shell of a body came back. I’m quite certain I left my heart and consciousness there, together with a few strands of hair and perhaps a quarter of a million expired cells! LOL .
Okay, actually this soulless body has been back for about 5 days but because work missed me so much, I bounced back to it immediately – but only to find a mountain of crap waiting for me to clear. Yeah what a drag.
Anyway, I’m in the middle of processing all the peeks! Am starting off with the famous Tokyo Tower for this string of Rendezvous updates.
