Japlanning Part II

In only 5 days today I will be flying out of Tullamarine airport, with eyes as wide as saucers, a tiny bit of fear in the pit of my stomach, and boundless excitment. (There will probably also be a little plastic cup of vodka in my hand. I embrace airline alcoholism)

6 DAYS! That is...not alot of time. My wordsmithery, what can I say, I have talent.

The day I fly out will also be-

- Good Friday. Now renamed THE BEST FRIDAY.
- Billasaurus Rex's 28th Birthday

I have been spending alot of time with my handy organisational friend Excel

This being organised business has some upsides. (Im getting quite smug for someone who has a pile of unread mail still on her kitchen table)

... and also a lot of time with Trip Advisor....

...and with xe...althought is not as fun to work out the money side of things. It's just so hard to estimate what I will need, and balance that with what I can afford!

Now, I am no crazy cat lady like this woman, (I just love CATS! *tear*), but I have discovered Cat & Kitten Cafes.

From what I understand, many rentals in Japan dont allow pets. To get around this, you are able to go to a Cat & Kitten cafe to surf the internet, have a latte...and pat a kitten!

Source

One thing I am REALLY looking forward to (probably more than I should be) is the Maiko makeover in Kyoto.

I have booked in to visit a tiny studio in the cobbled streets of Gion, where many moons ago traditional Geisha and Maiko tottered around on those insanely high wooden thongs (nowadays if you see this its probably a tourist!)

At Yume Koubou I will be transformed into full Maiko dress- the hair piece, kimono, full makeup...the lot!

After my metamophasis into a delicate creature (Yeah right!) I will be having a photo shoot in my new garb. How exciting!

I'm not photogenic AT ALL, and I'm also one of those uncos in a photo who has their eyes crossed, or something in my teeth...at the very least the photos that come out of this shoot will be entertaining.

SO RONERY.

Im starting to get a bit anxious about travelling alone. Not so much the safety side of things- but more missing my family, friends and of course Billasaurus Rex.

I come from a very large family, which means that there is always someone to talk to. My sisters are my best friends, and then of course I've got my old school friendfs, work friends, etc.

It' has hit me all of a sudden that I wont be texting my family and friends all day, emailing them at work, visiting them for dinner, going out for drinks, and calling them at all hours like I do at home.

I'm a communicator by nature, so it will be interesting to see how I react to a complete change.

And now, so I dont dwell on those thoughts, some more WTF Japan photos, all provided by Japan Is Weird, my new favourite site.

 

This is not what I am expecting to see at Ueno Zoo

Whaaa? Tanks people, tanks!

God Jesus. Confirmations, blessings, healings and miracles, all at your fingertips (if you have AA batteries that is)

Toad-ally Hot.

Would you like to take a little lap-nap?

Hey You! Yes you! Are you most concerned by my stubble or my eyeshadow that appears to be a sticker?

The most realistic chicken fillet ever. I'm surprised we dont have these yet.

And with that...yeah there are no words that can follow those images.

x

Solo Saturday Night

I spent last night alone. Before you put on that song ALL BY MYSEEEELLLLLLFFFF and fish me out some Kleenex, this was my choice.

There were contributing factors-

1) My work in its infinite wisdom underpaid me. By roughly 15 hours. That's one hell of a paycut. When I asked about it, they apologised and said they would add the withheld pay until my next pay. Thanks?

2) Billasaurus Rex has been taking part in a challenge with his friends for a Alcohol Free Month. He is a typical tradie, who before the challenge enjoyed a beer every night before he knocked off. Not so for the last month! This month has covered not only Australia Day, but also his best mates 30th Birthday. Today is the day it ends, and he is having a night with the boys.

TIMELINE OF MY SOLO SATURDAY NIGHT

7.00pm- Yeah! A night by myself! I'm so self sufficient, such a strong independent woman. I don't need no man!

7.01pm- Wonder what Billasaurus is doing? Might send a text.

7.05pm- My mind is racing with the plethora of activities I can get up to tonight! I could learn to sew! I could repaint my chest of drawers! I could get around to that giant pile of clothes to go on ebay! I am a super efficient task machine!

7.06pm- Well I cant do any of this on an empty stomach. I'm going to the supermarket.

7.15pm- I can make myself something actually nice, rather than just exist on hommus and crackers. Gather wild aborio rice, organic chicken, a variety of mushrooms, cream, parmesan and a nice bottle of white wine.

7.30- Cannot be fucked. Dump shopping basket, and collect hommus and crackers. Feel slight shame. Rent movie- Jane Eyre. Feeling very cultured and sophisticated.

7.45- At home. Assess bedroom/workspace. Will not do. Not enough room for activities. Must clean room and then get straight on to activities!

7.50- 8pm- Tidy this, dust that

8.01- Oh! I could rearrange my nailpolishes.

8.04- Now time to paint! It only makes sense to do so before I pack it all away.

8.10- I know im supposed to be doing something with my cuticles, but what exactly?

8.11- This looks like shit. Remove.

8.17- Repaint.

8.30- OK! Back into the room cleaning! Fiddle around with scarves and whatnot.

9- Lets put Jane Eyre on whilst I work. Absorbing culture!

9.05- Jane Eyre never finds its way into the DVD player. Put Clueless in, its sitting besides the player anyway. Is not the first time I have watched it this week.

9.15- I wonder what my friends are doing? I'm such a loser. I'm at home on a Saturday night! I'm the worst 24 year old in the world, wah wah. I have no friends!

9.20- Remember I was invited to go to the pub with friends, but I declined.

9.21- Resume cleanup so I can BEGIN ACTIVITIES!

9.25- Come across some wooden pegs and some magnets. Lightbulb! I could create some fancy decorated pegs for my magnetic board, to organise my calendar, photos, important uni dates etc!

9.30- Create giant mess on unmade bed of wooden pegs, PVA glue, acrylic paint, silver glitter, magnet off cuts, and silver wire

10.30- Proudly place pegs on magnetic board. Glance at TV- Cher is showing her super organised wardrobe

11.30- Clueless over. Back to cleaning, so I can do activities.

11.35- Dump all drawers on bed, for ease of reorganising. Almost time for activites!

12- Look at bed. Realise its messier than it was before I started my cleaning mission.

12.01- Sadly realise there will be no activities. Pick some PVA glue off my sheets.

12.05- Abandon ship. Close door firmly, and sleep in spare room.

Undergrunds

I am an organisational nightmare. The days I actually read my mail, I feel so smug and self-righteous I dont read it again for another 3 days.


My clothes drawers? Oh dear.


There is one that I physically cant even open, such it is jammed with clothes. Ive almost decided to leave it closed, like some kind of clothes time capsule or weird gift to myself.

My lingerie/every day knickers/bras/hosiery/socks/pyjamas/scarves drawers were looking pretty horrendous. (I think the problem may have been that I was jamming all of the above into two very small spots!)

So in a fit of organisation, I sourced these babies from ebay:

It's not the best photo, but does document my new endeavour to have a drawer where unmentionables dont fly out at me!

These are foldable, and the material is nice and light with perforations- so your bits and pieces can breathe. They fold down completely flat, and have a slightly thicker base which zips in to keep the whole thing nice and strong.

Im pretty happy with my new little storage system, and for $20 odd dollars including shipping from South Korea, what more can I want?

New knickers and bras to fill it up!

Japlanning

In a mere 10 weeks time I will be landing in the land of the rising sun- Japan!

I hadnt realised it was so soon- HOLY SHIT.

Its time to confess- I am an organisational nightmare. Even that dude from Oprah would think I am a lost cause. I just....planning just doesnt mesh well with me. Or it does- for one evening. The next morning, feeling smug and self satisfied, I go back to ignoring my schedule and being all over the shop.

IN 76 DAYS I WILL BE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, WHERE I DONT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, WITH SO FAR NOTHING PLANNED.

Sorry to shout- that was really just at myself to get my butt into gear.

And so whilst I go off and make preparations, I have gathered together some inspirational pics in celebration of my impending trip!

A maiko in her finery...I hope to do a tour in Kyoto where I will be dressed in traditional costume and taken on a rickshaw ride through the cobbled streets.

Japanese hot springs, an onsen. These look amazing- but am I brave enough to get my kit off like is required?! Have Japanese seen fat people other than Sumo?!

I feel if im over there, to plan a trip without going to Tokyo Disneyland would be remiss.

Oh, wow. Just, wow. (I know, I'm tremendously articulate)

Tokyo Fish Markets. Apparently you need to be there at the crack of dawn (so maybe I wont go to bed after a late night karaoke session!) but its worth it to see the huge functional fish markets. And after that I can buy the worlds freshest sushi from the market stalls surrounding!

I couldnt talk about Japan without mentioning Fujisan (Mt Fuji) and sakura (cherry blossom)! I am lucky enough that the cherry blossoms will be in season during my trip.

And now for some: WTF Japan? Photos-

I do love a good mammary scarf.

Whilst not entirely as fashionable as those girls and boys at Harajuku, as a messy eater I can see the benefit in this!

And so im off, lets get this trip sorted!

Question: Whats your number one travel tip?