where am i?
college : )

when is my next entry?
soon...i hope...it depends on my cumbersome "life" schedule



for the meantime, why don't we eat some riceballs (?)

UP, Fight! : )

Hello.

My summer has been wonderful so far.
Went to:

* Amanohashidate
- with Naka, Ate Shoko, and Ryo.

* Miyajima + Hiroshima
- with Naka & Shige

* will be going to Mie & Nagoya
- with Naka to visit my friend Jenn

* Spent time with friends before they went back to their home countries

* Kyoto adventures with Naka/Shige
- Manga museum, more museums & art galleries, sightseeing, Ryoanji, etc.

* Daimonji Gozan Okuribi

* Tanabata

* Happy food times!

* Happy skype sessions!

* Cat Cafe
- with Yuko & Yue

* Osaka Castle + Namba
- with Anna & Yue

* Colori Cafe!

* Movie Marathons!
- by myself, yo : )

* Book time!

* Must start studying Japanese - Soon! Soon! hahahaha

More updates later.
Cheers! : )

http://fritzishere.blogspot.com
--> my Japan journal

Aug.29-30, 2011

Best trip ever, yo.
I had soooo much fun.

We rode the bus (with Shige and Naka) at 10pm and arrived in Hiroshima at around 6am. We took the train then the ferry to Miyajima. The traveling part was actually fun, got to do a lot of sightseeing as well (on the bus, train, ferry, and while walking!). ^^

We explored a lot of places in Miyajima! Such as:
Itsukushima Shrine, (the o-torri gate was awesome) Senjokaku, Daisho-in, Mt. Misen, Momijidani Park, 5-storied pagoda, treasure hall, tahoto pagoda, daiganji temple. Walking around was already fun in itself.

We also saw a lot of deer! (reminds me of Nara)

For lunch, we ate okonomiyaki and kakigori for dessert (actually, we ate dessert first hehe - because we were waiting for the okonomiyaki place to open)

Plus we climbed Mt. Misen. Holy bananas, I haven't hiked since April (Mt. Daimonji - which I didn't even finish), BUT I'm happy to say that I reached the top of Misen. Hihihi. Good/exhausting times. We had a wonderful view of Miyajima; I see why it's considered to be one of the top three scenic views in Japan.

It took us around 2 hours to hike our way up to the top of Mt. Misen. It was so tiring, but worth it in the end. There were also a lot of places to explore at the peak, actually.

Then to go down, we decided to just take the cable car because we were already too tired (and unprepared, actually. Hiking wasn't on our original plan hoho). But to get to the cable car area, we had to hike down through a long, steep path. So it also took a lot of time to get down to the ropeway area. We had a nice view from the cable car though. But I like the ropeway experience in Amanohashidate better hihi. Overall, our Mt. Misen hiking trip was amazing.

Itsukushima Shrine was awesome. Awesome, I repeat.
The entire Itsukushima island was amazing. We did a lot of exploring in one day. Good times.

We also stayed at a really nice place ~ Coral. Wore yukatas, slept in a Japanese style room, and ate a Japanese dinner. Aaaaaaah. Plus a breakfast buffet hihihihihi. Good times.

We also saw the giant spatula in the shopping district hoho.

2nd day:

Hiroshima

Mazda Museum tour was interesting. I didn't really like the feeling of being in group tour though, but overall, it was interesting. And it was free! The bus ride to the Mazda Headquarters was also lovely, the view was just amazing.

Delicious lunch at a Japanese restaurant in Hiroshima eki. We ate some oysters as well.
Plus fun times with Naka and Shige.

Peace Park was amazing. I was in awe when I saw the A-bomb Dome. It was depressing to go inside the Peace Memorial Museum. Heartbreaking.

After the Peace Park & Museum, we went to Hiroshima Castle. I liked it better than Osaka Castle.
I find it more interesting....and interactive? hoho.
We wore costumes as well; I wore a samurai outfit. The vest was quite heavy. Naka and Shige cross-dressed. Good times.

By this time, my feet were already dead. Yes, they are a separate entity. They were in so much pain, eventually they/I became numb to the pain, and we carried on with our [separate] lives.

Then we walked around for some happy sightseeing times. weeeeh.
Then downtown, we ate at the Okonomiyaki Village. Hiroshima style okonomiyaki was okay, but nothing beats JUMBO's okonomiyaki! : )

Too bad we weren't able to eat the famous chocolate dessert called "deer shit" haha

But we did eat some momiji manju and bought some as omiyage for the few housemates left in I-house, plus Yamazaki-san. (who are leaving today, I think. Sad)

Then we continued walking through the night until we finally rode the bus at 10pm.

This is one of the best trips I've ever had (maybe except for the 8-hour bus ride - but I don't really mind it)!
Weeeeeeeeeeeeh ~
Happiness *___*

I took a lot of great photos. I even brought my videocam, got some great footage (I can use it for my abstract film! Cheers.)

HOWEVER, the memory card of my digicam decided to die today. Yes. Ain't life surprising? HOHOHOHO.
When I got home, I plugged in my camera to my laptop to see my photos, and well, well, it didn't work. The memory card "cannot be used." I died right there. My body was tired, I was irked, I was about to throw the freaking memory card out of the window. (which I didn't do of course, because some innocent passerby might get hit in the head causing some slight injury and I don't want that) Anyway, point is, all my pictures are gone. Yey! Except for those which were taken with my ipod (in Hiroshima, none in Miyajima) --> I started using my ipod because my camera was already acting freaky during the 2nd day. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

A lot of things decided to die during this trip:
1. my cellphone - I didn't bring my charger since it's only 2 days, and my phone usually lasts for a week without charging. But for some reason, it decided to die during this trip. I didn't even use it that much, except for that time when I had to send a message to Elsa, plus receive a call from Jenn. But that was all.

2. my ipod - I didn't even use it that much! Since I didn't listen to much music during the 1st bus ride, then I only took a few photos using my ipod after my camera decided to transform into a freaky red box with blinking lights. It said that it still had 6 hours of battery power, but then it turned black and died. Good times.

3. And of course --- My camera + ******** annoying memory card. I have no words for you. Go ahead and die. No, I'm kidding, please don't die. I need you!!!! And please try to recover all our pictures, please!!! I shall dance for you *desperate dance offering* --- gaaaaaaaaaaaahd.

4. My feet - only for a short moment though. They eventually became numb.

5. My temper - after seeing that my camera/memory card have betrayed me. But I'm okay now, moving on...
I shall eat ice cream later! yey. And read Murakami (not-so-yey, because things are getting weird on this particular chapter I'm reading. And maybe watch a happy movie - which I don't have, since all my movies are depressing/dark/strange. Oh well, I shall have fun today. Tomorrow, I will officially start studying Japanese. Really.

And tomorrow, I'll find out from Shige if my pictures can be recovered. Or if not, if at least I can still use my memory card so I don't have to buy a new one because everything here is so jlkdjskjfd expensive and I don't want to waste any more money - which I don't have to begin with.

LALALAALALA. speaking of money, I have to pay my insurance today. gaaaaaaaaaah.
and later today or tomorrow, I shall check if my JASSO allowance has already arrived. It's really delayed this month. I am living off the free food I got from the previous housemates. Gaah.


Shige will bring my camera + memory card to Bic Camera tomorrow. Hopefully, they can fix the problem. AND I HOPE THAT MY PICTURES WON'T BE DELETED. Although I have a feeling that I will never see them again. It's not pessimism; it's just expecting the worst thing that could happen. (almost the same thing, I know).

And Naka and Shige didn't bring any cameras with them, so all our pictures are in my memory card. Boo.

OH WELL, I HAD FUN. We had fun.
It was a great experience. I'll always have the memories, I guess.

I took videos too anyway. And a few pics are saved on my ipod. (although the really good ones were in my memory card! ugggghhh)

Oh well. I'll always remember the experience.
This is actually very fascinating - going on an awesome trip and having no other remembrance from it, aside from the experience itself.

Good times. Cheers!

I guess, if ever my photos are forever gone, I'll just think of it this way:
My hiroshima trip was like an affair. An immensely illicit affair ~ it was short, thrilling, and fun, BUT nobody will ever know about it. It's a lovely secret hihihi - only me and the person involved will ever know about it ~ and in this case, it's only me, Hiroshima, Naka, and Shige who will know how fun it was. : )

Yey to affair analogies. hoho. Gaaah, I have to eat something, then sleep. Or do something else.
Cheers.

We have an actual plan for our Hiroshima trip! Cheers! An actual plan! With schedules, and maps, and expenses, and details! Cheers! hohoho.

I did some actual research this time.


Night bus from Kyoto Eki (9pm)

arrive at around 6:30am

Shige already bought our tickets.


Miyajima:

* Itsukushima Shrine
* Treasure Hall

also:
Homotsukan
Daiganji Temple
Kiyomori Shrine
History Museum
Tahoto

* Daishoin Temple
* 5-story Pagoda
* Senjokaku Hall
* Momijidani Park
* Uguishuhodo Nature Walk
* Omotesando (shopping district - to see the largest spatula! haha)

Each destination is only a few minutes away from the next (less than 10mins or even a little under 5mins!)

EAT: momiji manju, Hiroshima style okonomiyaki, maybe some oysters too?, deer shit (oh yes, just a name though - it's actually a type of crunchy chocolate)

Hostel: Shige arranged this. Free dinner, breakfast. And we get to wear yukatas! hihi


Next day:

Ride train...

* Peace Park
- including: the A-bomb dome, Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Bell, Memorial Tower, Children's Peace Monument, Fountain of Prayer, Flame of Peace, Rest house, Gates of Peace
* Mazda Museum & Factory Tour - hoho. We'll call them tomorrow for the reservation (it's free!)
* Hiroshima Castle
* Shukkeien Garden
* Downtown Hiroshima

Night bus to Kyoto.

I'm going with Shige and Naka.
: )

Pissed off, yo.


breathe breathe breathe


lalalala


****


Moving on...


I have a lot of exploring to do. Kyoto is so beautiful! I went to museums and art galleries yesterday. Fun fun. Pure geeky happiness, yo



cheers

 I'm going to do one of the following today:

1. compose a new piano piece
2. write a new short story
3. continue reading my book
4. begin with 1st stage of film editing
- i've finished organizing the videos, but I need more interviewees before I officially start editing. I hope I meet interesting friends next semester : )
5. continue my abstract film - oh hello, there. what happened to this project? aaaaaaaaaaaaah. I'll finish you, I will.

I think I'll go with number 2 today. Oh yey. Uhhhh.

I miss writing.  I miss my CW classes. 

I had a dream about a tissue last night? A tissue? A roll of tissue on wheels actually, I think it was a tissue bike. I was riding a big tissue bike. It was a big roll of tissue, with wheels and pedals, and all the bike gear. It seemed fun, I looked happy. How odd. Oh. Good times.


Cheers

EDIT:
I've been sitting here for a while, still trying to write something. Gaaaaah. The first sentence is always the toughest. Hello.

EDIT II:
I got 2 paragraphs done then I got distracted. I went to the lounge, started improvising (piano). Lalala. It was sad and noisy. Bad combination.

 I am tired and the last thing I want to see is a dirty toilet. 

Seriously. People, please be more considerate.

The 3rd floor restroom is dirty, once again.

The toilets are dirty.

Do your business and don't leave traces of it. Gaaaah.

Grab the scrub, hold the stick, put it on the toilet, clean your mess. Done.

Gaaaaaah.

Cheers

After taking the test several times, all results point to one direction --> INTJ: introversion, intuition, thinking, judgment 
(Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)

Seems quite accurate. 

Uh.

Gaaah. This is sadness happening right here. 

Blaaaaah.

Tyler left today. Just a few minutes ago actually. I will miss him. He's a great friend.

I feel sad. Very sad. Boo.

I can never have the same kinds of conversations we had with anyone else here in Japan. 
There's possibly no one else who will understand the queries/bafflement/ideas that I've been throwing around.

I learned so much from the talks we had. Gaaaaah. (minus the horribly weird/awkward ones haha) 

Stay in touch, you geek! hohohoho 

Sighhhhh