Tokyo!

How have I not posted any pictures from my time in Tokyo? I think the intent got lost in my state of sleep-deprivation and three-week long jet lag... So without further ado!


My first day in Tokyo, Tomoko picked my barely coherent self up at the airport and we ate at a little Hawaiian themed, dessert waffle cafe (they served other things, but as dessert waffles are pretty popular in Japan, they were the menu's emphasis). Note the "tropical" waitress uniforms and the sparkly, water-filled, glass palm trees. Classy!


My lovely fruit and whipped cream-topped confection! (And yay for three hours of sleep! I certainly look it in this picture...)


The Tokyo Takarazuka theatre (it was pink!)


The attendees mill around after Osa-san's dinner/talk show. There was a frighteningly large crowd!


I have fans! These two sisters remembered me from Takarazuka and were super excited to see me again. Cute ;)

The day before my flight home, Tomoko took me sight-seeing around Tokyo. First we visited Asakusa, one of Tokyo's most famous temples. Naturally, it was quite crowded.







At my request, we ate at a revolving belt sushi bar. This place had some of the weirdest fare I'd ever seen. Aside from eating some very good (albeit expensive) sushi, I also got to ogle the creepy kinds!


Sushi a-go-go!




Raw baby squids, anyone? Mmmm!


Here's looking at you, fish.


Uni (sea urchin) tastes like creamy, fishy pudding. I could only get one bite down...

Next, we did some wandering and shopping...


A huge, really cool mural in one of the subway stations




One of the mad, crazy shopping districts. Good night, they had everything!

Last, but not least, we dropped by the Emperor's palace (well, the gate to it anyway) and the Imperial Park.


This is about as much as we peasants get to see ;)


Guard duty!


A gynormous samurai statue in the park


He's fairly terrifying, don't you think?


A little secret garden near the Tokyo Takarazuka theatre

Who comes up with this stuff?

Listen to the lyrics of this wacked out song and try to read the video captions at the same time.

I confess myself completely and utterly amused by crazy internet antics.

In a perfect world...

...there would be a rich man to buy me all of these clothes ;) Kidding!

Here's my current wishlist:


Purple leather bomber jacket, by Oasis

But not because Rose Tyler's wearing it! (well, maybe...)




Funky sweat top, by Punkyfish




Saucy military jacket and feminine ruched top, both by Topshop




"Fly Away" blouse and "Byzantine dress" from Anthropologie


Oh well, a girl can dream!

Somebody stop me

Sometimes I go through phases when it comes to shopping: make-up, empire-waist dresses and blouses, handbags, shoes...

Currently, I'm kinda on a shoe kick. Last time I bought a pair of flirty, candy-apple red heels (and they're shiny too!). I got a compliment from a stranger at Pete's Coffee the first day I wore them! And of course there was the obligatory pair of bronze gladiator sandals.

Now I'm interested in something different. Something geek chic, really. Am I a dork for wanting a cute pair of red or white Chuck Taylor trainers like the Tenth Doctor's? I think they'd be really cute with a pair of skinny jeans--if I could just bring myself to wear skinny jeans...

Um, is it Christmas yet?

You know, it's hard not to be a dork when the BBC insists on casting such brilliant actors in its shows. Exhibit A: the trailer for the upcoming "Doctor Who" Christmas special...


Naturally, we have David Tennant (who is currently starring with the Royal Shakespeare Company in "Hamlet")


David Morrissey, who just starred as a swoon-worthy Col. Brandon in the new "Sense and Sensibility"


And the lovely Dervla Kirwan

I love British actors. They just seem to be...less obnoxious than their American counterparts.

Karaoke = serious business

You may think that karaoke in Japan is all fun and games; a harmless, albeit self-indulgent, hobby. Well, let me assure you that it is serious business. The karaoke industry is a veritable cash-cow (in metropolitan areas, you can find multiple-story karaoke lounges on almost every block), and the highlight of many social gatherings. It's not unusual for men and women of all ages to spend several thousand yen (not to mention maaaany hours closeted away) singing their hearts out.

Don't believe me? Take into consideration the fancy-pants decor of one of the upscale karaoke places I had the pleasure of visiting last May.


Note the saucy, boudoir-esque chandelier


Nothing says class quite like sparkly, pink-split mirrors

That's right, Japanese karaoke does not mess around. With it's large plasma screens, handheld controls, cheesy music videos, and thousands upon thousands of songs to choose from, the novelty just doesn't seem to wear off. Did I mention that free drinks come with the price of the room, and that you can order any sort of snack/appetizer/meal and have it brought up to you by your own temporary slave host? (We ordered chocolate pocky and whipped cream; go ahead and admire our discerning tastes!)


Getting in the mood...


Hitomi works her magic to one of Ayumi Hamasaki's songs


We're ready for our close-up!

Love it and miss it like the guilty pleasure it is. There's nothing quite like belting out Rihanna's "Umbrella" with a group of friends bopping their heads in unison to the "ella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh" bit.

Quite possibly the best picture ever taken

Jude, licking fellow licker, the Tenth Doctor