[Travel]: Winter vacation 2008/2009 (Tokyo and Aizu-Wakamatsu)
Hey there! 
I FINALLY managed to sort and upload ALL of my vacation pics (and that includes the incomplete winter vacation photos as well). YAY!!!
So of course I'll start with the winter vacation now. Unfortunately my camera's memory card decided back then to delete all of my photos after a few days which is why I almost have NO photos of Tokyo and Aizu-Wakamatsu's first day.
The photos of Tokyo I got from my Japanese friend and ame_no_uta who I met there. Thanks again <33
Tokyo (28th of December 2008 - 2nd of January 2009)
Mainly I spent this time together with my Japanese host family and Yumi (the one who married in March).
It was so interesting to finally experience a Japanese New Year's Eve (and shougatsu). Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the food anymore ;____; ... *kills her memory card*
My biggest achievement were the super great photos of Fuji-san back then ^-^ ................... which were deleted as well (-_______________-''')
On December 30th my host family and me went to a Japanese farm and we made mocchi together with the people there. It was sooooo interesting and I had a lot of fun!! :D
I tried the hammering part, too, but I wasn't strong enough, I guess. Unlike this old grandmother!!! She rocks! Seriously!!
The mocchi were really yummie and our lunch was mainly mocchi but in so many different shapes and flavors, awesome!!
Actually I'm not really a big mocchi fan and I can't eat a lot of it, but it was definitely interesting *nods nods*
The people there were all really nice, too. We talked about various things. There were also a few young kids around and cats and dogs and chickens etc. (remember: Japanese farm! XD)
On the same day I met with ame_no_uta at night.
We met at a station close to the famous Tokyo Dome (forgot the name of the station again XD).
But FINALLY I've seen Tokyo Dome!! I mean ... how often have I been to Tokyo by now?? Yeah ... really. I suck, I know! XD
Unfortunately ... or should I say luckily?! (o__O') .... there was a NEWS concert! You could even hear a little bit of it from the outside!!!!!!! ;________________; *headdesk* Oh, how I wish I was IN THERE!!!
Luckily it was not Arashi, otherwise I might have killed people just to get in there XDDD
It was still somewhat awesome to just be outside of the Dome, knowing that INSIDE NEWS is performing and that you are only a few 100 meters away from them (*___*) <~ *happy fangirl*
A lot of security was around, too.
The illumination around the DOME was awesome!
The 31st I spent together with my host family. I told them that I want to experienc a typical Japanese New Year's Eve and so that's what we did, with hot soba and all XD
And of COURSE I watched the Johnnys countdown live on TV. Awesome feeling ^^ (I had photos of that, too, but as you know ... *grwrskliehuorfw* -___-; ....).
On January 1st we all went together to do our "hatsumode (詣)" (first visit of a shrine) in the new year.
On January 2nd I left my host family and moved on to Aizu-Wakamatsu together with bf_nightingale where we spent 2 days.
I don't have any photos of the 1st day anymore as it was part of the evil plan of my stupid camera's memory card, so these pics have been deleted as well ;o;
What I remember clearly is that it was SUPER cold and there was a LOT OF snow x___X
The photos are by far not as breathtaking as my spring vacation photos, but I hope you enjoy them nevertheless ^-^/
Aizu-Wakamatsu Day 2 (January 3rd 2009)
As you can see there was some snow. On our way to Aizu-Wakamatsu we had to travel through the deepest inaka and there was really TOO MUCH snow x_X
I guess all the snow reminded me a little bit of home (although we have more snow), so I wasn't really too happy about it XD
Also, I can't remember the names of the things we visited back then. It's been too long and I'm too lazy to look for the info pamphlets etc. Sorry ^^; (will do a better job with my spring vacation photos, promise!)
That's the Aizu-Wakamatsu JR station.
And I guess you can call that thing the mascot of Aizu ;P
We went to this Japanese garden.
Though .. nothing much to see in a garden when it's winter and there's snow everywhere (^^') ..... -___-
We also took part in a short tea ceremony there.
In the background you can see the tea ceremony house.
That tree is awesome! It's 500 years old!
Is it just me or does that hole in the tree look like a heart? (o__O')> .... XD
And the tea ceremony house again. There's still a tea ceremony going on as you might be able to see if you have a close look at the photo :)
I like the colors in that pic :)
Yes, it was REALLY cold! (icicle alarm!)
Well, the ducks didn't seem to care! XD
Forgot who that was, sorry. There was also a small garden with herbal and medical plants and stuff, but as everything was covered with snow, there was nothing much to see (^^') ....
We left the garden and went to a shrine? temple? museum? (Jesus, I forgt, that's what you get when you don't post your photos right away .... GAH!!!)
Anyway on my way I took this random cat pic (^^')
I love them! Yummie fruit!
A lot of houses had these blueish roofs. I somehow like them a lot ^^;
The temple/shrine/museum-thingie was up on a hill (like so often), but the view from up there was awesome :D
So, I thought before I blabber more nonsense I leave the photos above without any comments.
Aizu-Wakamatsu also has its own castle (yeah, one more on my list ^^). We went there the first day and got some nice day shots of it, but as my camera decided to .... blah.
So I only have some crappy night shots of it ;o;
What was it again? Marshmallow, caramel thingie and SALTY?? Yeah ... somethingl like ... THAT! XD
And then we left for Sendai.
Goodbye Aizu-Wakamatsu
Camera used:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5
I know the photos are not sooo interesting plus I have no information about anything at all, so I guess this was kinda boring, but I still wanted to post the photos.
Next time: Sendai / Matsushima photos and then I'll FINALLY start with my spring vacation photos (^-^)v
Ciaossu (^-^)/
I FINALLY managed to sort and upload ALL of my vacation pics (and that includes the incomplete winter vacation photos as well). YAY!!!
So of course I'll start with the winter vacation now. Unfortunately my camera's memory card decided back then to delete all of my photos after a few days which is why I almost have NO photos of Tokyo and Aizu-Wakamatsu's first day.
The photos of Tokyo I got from my Japanese friend and ame_no_uta who I met there. Thanks again <33
Tokyo (28th of December 2008 - 2nd of January 2009)
Mainly I spent this time together with my Japanese host family and Yumi (the one who married in March).
It was so interesting to finally experience a Japanese New Year's Eve (and shougatsu). Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the food anymore ;____; ... *kills her memory card*
My biggest achievement were the super great photos of Fuji-san back then ^-^ ................... which were deleted as well (-_______________-''')
On December 30th my host family and me went to a Japanese farm and we made mocchi together with the people there. It was sooooo interesting and I had a lot of fun!! :D
I tried the hammering part, too, but I wasn't strong enough, I guess. Unlike this old grandmother!!! She rocks! Seriously!!
The mocchi were really yummie and our lunch was mainly mocchi but in so many different shapes and flavors, awesome!!
Actually I'm not really a big mocchi fan and I can't eat a lot of it, but it was definitely interesting *nods nods*
The people there were all really nice, too. We talked about various things. There were also a few young kids around and cats and dogs and chickens etc. (remember: Japanese farm! XD)
On the same day I met with ame_no_uta at night.
We met at a station close to the famous Tokyo Dome (forgot the name of the station again XD).
But FINALLY I've seen Tokyo Dome!! I mean ... how often have I been to Tokyo by now?? Yeah ... really. I suck, I know! XD
Unfortunately ... or should I say luckily?! (o__O') .... there was a NEWS concert! You could even hear a little bit of it from the outside!!!!!!! ;________________; *headdesk* Oh, how I wish I was IN THERE!!!
Luckily it was not Arashi, otherwise I might have killed people just to get in there XDDD
It was still somewhat awesome to just be outside of the Dome, knowing that INSIDE NEWS is performing and that you are only a few 100 meters away from them (*___*) <~ *happy fangirl*
A lot of security was around, too.
The illumination around the DOME was awesome!
The 31st I spent together with my host family. I told them that I want to experienc a typical Japanese New Year's Eve and so that's what we did, with hot soba and all XD
And of COURSE I watched the Johnnys countdown live on TV. Awesome feeling ^^ (I had photos of that, too, but as you know ... *grwrskliehuorfw* -___-; ....).
On January 1st we all went together to do our "hatsumode (詣)" (first visit of a shrine) in the new year.
On January 2nd I left my host family and moved on to Aizu-Wakamatsu together with bf_nightingale where we spent 2 days.
I don't have any photos of the 1st day anymore as it was part of the evil plan of my stupid camera's memory card, so these pics have been deleted as well ;o;
What I remember clearly is that it was SUPER cold and there was a LOT OF snow x___X
The photos are by far not as breathtaking as my spring vacation photos, but I hope you enjoy them nevertheless ^-^/
Aizu-Wakamatsu Day 2 (January 3rd 2009)
As you can see there was some snow. On our way to Aizu-Wakamatsu we had to travel through the deepest inaka and there was really TOO MUCH snow x_X
I guess all the snow reminded me a little bit of home (although we have more snow), so I wasn't really too happy about it XD
Also, I can't remember the names of the things we visited back then. It's been too long and I'm too lazy to look for the info pamphlets etc. Sorry ^^; (will do a better job with my spring vacation photos, promise!)
That's the Aizu-Wakamatsu JR station.
And I guess you can call that thing the mascot of Aizu ;P
We went to this Japanese garden.
Though .. nothing much to see in a garden when it's winter and there's snow everywhere (^^') ..... -___-
We also took part in a short tea ceremony there.
In the background you can see the tea ceremony house.
That tree is awesome! It's 500 years old!
Is it just me or does that hole in the tree look like a heart? (o__O')> .... XD
And the tea ceremony house again. There's still a tea ceremony going on as you might be able to see if you have a close look at the photo :)
I like the colors in that pic :)
Yes, it was REALLY cold! (icicle alarm!)
Well, the ducks didn't seem to care! XD
Forgot who that was, sorry. There was also a small garden with herbal and medical plants and stuff, but as everything was covered with snow, there was nothing much to see (^^') ....
We left the garden and went to a shrine? temple? museum? (Jesus, I forgt, that's what you get when you don't post your photos right away .... GAH!!!)
Anyway on my way I took this random cat pic (^^')
I love them! Yummie fruit!
A lot of houses had these blueish roofs. I somehow like them a lot ^^;
The temple/shrine/museum-thingie was up on a hill (like so often), but the view from up there was awesome :D
So, I thought before I blabber more nonsense I leave the photos above without any comments.
Aizu-Wakamatsu also has its own castle (yeah, one more on my list ^^). We went there the first day and got some nice day shots of it, but as my camera decided to .... blah.
So I only have some crappy night shots of it ;o;
What was it again? Marshmallow, caramel thingie and SALTY?? Yeah ... somethingl like ... THAT! XD
And then we left for Sendai.
Goodbye Aizu-Wakamatsu
Camera used:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5
I know the photos are not sooo interesting plus I have no information about anything at all, so I guess this was kinda boring, but I still wanted to post the photos.
Next time: Sendai / Matsushima photos and then I'll FINALLY start with my spring vacation photos (^-^)v
Ciaossu (^-^)/