nara, nara, nara

I'm only two weeks late in posting about a trip this time! My trip to Kansai lasted about three days but since dish had to work on Saturday I ended up going to the park with one of my coworkers who is native to Nara.

I miss riding in cars so much it's not even funn.

I was really hoping we'd get lucky like with Kyoto and escape the rain but unfortunately it rained on and off all day which meant everything was super humid. On top, because my coworker was my tour guide I had to hide my tattoo with a button-down over my sundress aaalll day.

First stop was Todai-ji! Supposedly the largest wooden building in the world, right? Even in the rain it was really, really beautiful.

No disrespect but I found him really unsettling.

On our way to explore the rest of the grounds, we attempted to feed the deer. They're ridiculously cute but I wont lie, they're the most terrifying things when you have senbei in your hands.

That girl's face pretty much says it all.

He was pretty unoffensive :3

"Do you want to feed them again?
"......no, not really."

Because you know, that could happen.

Normally I don't mind walking at all but it was just so humid by the time we got to the top of the next area I may or may not have been a little over-enthusiastic about having a chance to sit down.

Sooo good! I didn't expect it to be that sweet <3

There was one more dessert, an anko-rice thing but unfortunately I didn't get a mobile picture of it. Or an instagram. Which you know, basically the same these days. :D

After that we continued down about a million stairs until we got to a highly-wooded path leading up somewhere. All you could see was wet, dark wood, the insanely vibrant green of the leaves and a splash of red trim or fencing.

This doesn't even do it justice. It was so, so beautiful.

I think we probably walked about 7+ miles that day and I get hungry reaaally easily anyway so we made our way to almost the complete opposite end of the park for late lunch.

Favorite!♪

Found an amazing Indian restaurant down a back alley!

After that we were supposed to go to another shrine and explore the rest of Nara but the rain just got worse and worse so we headed back to my coworker's house to meet their family and have coffee before we all headed back to Osaka that night.

They live in this beautiful house on the side of a wooded mountain and it's so beautiful and just, wow. The loveliest family ever. I wish they could just "Nara adopt" me whenever I go back there

They also have the sweetest and most adorable dog I've ever met. A chubby but adorable long-haired dachshund named Choco-chan. I love my cat but in truth I'm 100% a dog person and, and...

......

We became best friends in like 10 minutes. I wanted to take her home so badly. 


I really loved Nara though. Probably not as much as Kyoto but I think it would help if I could see it when it's not raining. Even being there all day I think there were still parts of the park and city I didn't get to see so I hope I can see even more next time.

Next part will be the last day spent in Osakaaaaaa♡

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kyoto, i think i love you.

This past weekend I took a super belated vacation to Kansai! It's been almost 2 years since I'd been to Osaka, almost a year since Kyoto and about a year and a half since seeing my darling dish☆

tl;dr I really needed the vacation and I it'd been way to long since I'd seen a best friend so it was off to the night bus like the poor child I am. :D

I arrived in Osaka on Friday morning around 7AM and after some breakfast and Jay Sean...

"baby are you down down down down down"

...headed off to Kyoto♪

Start of the "Stand in the Middle of the Road and Take Photos" Series

I loved this for some reason!

Some stupid kid who plays under aqueducts.

On my off days I dress like a high-schooler who listens to Green Day

There were lots of anxious vans and bicycles that day. Basically how you would imagine Ana Lucia from LOST. Always irrationally angry and in way too much of a hurry. This also applies to vans. Either way, despite dodging vans and taking way too many baby teeth photos...

Baby teeth. We've been doing this since we were roommates and it's still a mystery. :B

...Kyoto was amazing. I love Tokyo for living, it's my city but I love traveling and I love doing it with friends. I went last year with Ri too which was also incredibly fun and yet, despite being the second time around and walking around the same area I felt like I saw an even different side of the city.

I love the atmosphere and even if you're just walking around, I feel like it's enough. Just feels so calming somehow.

Therefore.

Kyoto, I think I love you ♡

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golden week 2012

I'm so painfully bad at updating. Which is sad considering I really do live a fun, busy kind of life that, theoretically, I'd like to update about but never get around to. I was gonna make a FATHER TIME Y U NO LIKE ME thing but I honestly suck at memes.

Anyway so the first part of Golden Week is already over! How did that happen already? I have a lot more to update before that but hopefully my May will calm down so I can backtrack. Might potentially be taking after dish there.

And by potentially, I mean I am.

golden week→start!
I also apologize in advance that I'm totally one of those people whose entire life has become an Instagram. D:

03.26

♡ I've been coveting those acrylic drawers from MUJI and finally caved and bought them.

♡ Also tried to decoupage some old tins with even older JELLY magazines but realized it was futile without Mod Podge. Someone send me some?

3.27

♡ On Friday I went to DiverCity, an "American style" mall out in Odaiba. It was actually kind of nostalgic but to be honest I didn't find much I liked in the stores. Krispy Kreme and Auntie Anne's are right next to each other though which I'm not sure counts as a heart attack waiting to happen or perfection.

♡ Our dear friends, THE Hitch Lowke, had their very first Tokyo oneman which we had the pleasure of attending.  The flowers and presents their fans made for them were actually, quite amazing. And some HUGE guy was crowd-surfing.

03.28,29,30

♡ Spent a ton of time doing website edits (not ready to show juuust yet) and reorganizing the hell out of my room. I love it and feel so much better; it's amazing what getting a monster desk out of your room can do for your peace of mind. Food for working and my cat cavorting with my stuffed animals ensued.

♡ Went out to IKEA in Kohoku with Ri! Is it weird that I've been to IKEA more in Japan than I ever did in Altanta? Swedish meatballs are the best and could eat them again like, well now basically. On the way home we stopped for dessert by Denen-chofu Station. Soooo good. 

I can't believe it's already been a year since my last golden week post! Honestly, what have I been doing with my life. XDD Will supeeeeer try to update more, and comment, I know I'm horrible I swear. Ande's little video inspired me to set some time aside for it, not gonna lie.

Now if I could only find a small table for my room and learn how to cook, my spring would be perfect. :D

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