My heart, it races

Shopaholic.

I've always been a bit of a shopaholic when it comes to a trip to Animate. Once I spent ￥20000 (2000hkd, 250aud) in one go. So since I live here now I've become a bit more restrained (think all the food/ alcohol that could be...) but this month was definitely splurge month for me~ I also have a KHR event coming up which I know I'll buy a lot of stuff at. Most of the manga I bought this time are newly published/ just animated so its hard to find them at book-off. (That deserves it own post haha) Also I did buy some which I have in catonese but its a whole new ball game to read them in Japanese. If I were to buy them in HK they would cost at lease 20hkd more... excuses excuses excuses

So from top left to right: Dino x Hibari File, Hibari book cover, Hibari strap, Library War Voice actor message card (from watching the movie), Library War (6-9), Dear (1), Kuroko’s Basketball (1), Utakoi (1,2), Trick of Proposing (Propose no Okite), Library War Novels (Special Kinokuniya Edition), Lion ★Punch Anthology, Aoi Levin (Banyu) Anthology and Okiku Furikabutte (1-3).

Labels: Ani Life, D18, Japan, Library

❤ "Shopaholic." was Posted On: Sunday 15 July 2012 @03:48 | 0 lovely comments ✿

Sand. Surf. Kamakura

Last Tuesday my friends decided that since the weather was wonderful, that it was time to take a sidetrip to the beach.Now when you say Japan, you don't think of beaches straight away like Australia. To be fair I did grow up there, so I'm definitely biased!

However to my surprise this gorgeous baby was waiting for us after 1.5 ride out from town.

This is the main beach of Kamakura called Yugahama beach. It is about a 15-20 walk from station or a one stop ride on the Enoden train. Just get off at Wadazuka St and walk 5 mins. The beach was relatively busy with a mix of Japanese natives and foreigners. We dropped our stuff and ran to the surf leaving our stuff to the mercy of the aggressive crows... BAD IDEA. They are prone to attack unattended things like this....

Look at that one on the brolly! I'm the KING OF THE WORLD~ (Don't worry it's not our stuff >.<)

So to prevent this from happening to us again we took turns on the beach and what would that be without some camwhoring happening... As my friends say, I shouldn't be allowed with my camera... T_T

Definitely enjoyed the day on the beach and recharged my spirit, ready to face the rainy days of summer!

Labels: Beach Life, Japan, Kamakura, Travel

❤ "Sand. Surf. Kamakura" was Posted @03:23 | 0 lovely comments ✿

Bundles of silk

Colourful silks dyed in exotic colours. Gold and silver glimmering threads woven. In May, for one of my classes I got to try on a Kimono. Kimonos are definitely one of Japan's most recognisable pieces of clothing. Probably you'd see it and think geisha.

Nowadays the Kimono is worn by the younger generation when participating in their Coming of Age ceremonies, hosting a tea ceremony or attending a wedding. Geisha and their apprentices, Maiko and some of the older generation (yes, both men and women) still wear them on a daily basis. Owning your own Kimono is quite rare because of the sheer cost that comes with purchasing one. They can range from $5000-20,000.

Kimonos have many layers and one of the more famous ones were worn in the Heian Period which could have up to 12 layers (Juni-hitoe). These were reserved for the court-ladies and Empresses. The one I got to wear was a furisode Kimono which is reserved for unmarried women to wear. It is usually more colourful and used to advertise the single status of the wearer.

Usually you have to have someone to help dress you, because of the complicity of matching the layers and colours. The idea is a 'column' is pretty and ideal. The kimono is meant to be sleek and uniform. In bid to do this, you usually get packed with folded towels to create this flat surface. For someone like me, who is top heavy but still has a waist, it is the MOST HORRIBLE thing! I just look round. urgh

Since I don't have many pictures of me being dressed here is some piccies of my friends and I playing human dolls~

As you can see our hair has been set with range of different accessories from bows to flowers to beads.

Then we went to join the boys... who were dressed in Hakama.

Hakama is the used to be a male only clothing but in recent times it worn by both men and women. For women its usually during the university graduation ceremony in which it is commonly worn. Hakama has 7 deep pleats in the 'pants' to represent the 7 virtues of the bushido (武士道）which are essential to the samurai way. Apparently it is an advantage when you have a beer belly, because it shows that you are wealthy and powerful... if not you can always have a helping hand from those lovely folded towels. Like the kimono its quite rare for people to wear, I have a friend who hasn't even worn it once!

Time for some group photos~