No mountain is high enough

2007/11/23: Mount Takao
Friday was a public holiday [Grandparents Day!], so a couple of Japanese friends suggested that we go to Mount Takao [about half an hour from uni] to see the autumn colours.  Apparently in Japan it is a big thing to go to parks and/or mountains to see the changes in the leaves as autumn has come.  I ( Read more... )

While I do have the tendency to focus on pop culture, I also do try and see some traditional stuff, I swear!

2007/10/20: Yasukuni Shrine

Yasukuni is a Shinto shrine in Tokyo where the souls of dead solidiers [war criminals included] have been enshrined.  This has caused much controversy in Japan and international friction between Japan, China and ( Read more... )

Yay, mid-terms are over.  No holidays though which makes me sad.  But least today I only had one class, which makes me happy.  Really need to actually start writing my research paper, as oppose to just collecting data.

I am kinda screwed for next year in terms of courses.  Have five left, but ANU said I can't do more courses than what is required to ( Read more... )

Yoshiki [of X JAPAN fame] is FINALLY releasing stuff!  Ok, I know for the past 7 years he has been friggin' teasing us with 'new song to be released soon'.  ...And nothing ever came out.  BUT recently, there have been, not one, but THREE confirmed projects by Yoshiki.  Admittedly, I am still a bit dubious about it all since Yoshiki hasn't released ( Read more... )

I am ALIVE.

I would have posted earlier, but due to the massive bulid up of homework that resulted from going to the Dir en grey concerts [OMG!] and then catching a cold [GAH!]; I have been delayed.  But all is well now [except I'm still hawking up attractive pieces of flem], and I want to procrastinate by posting about the Dir en grey concerts :D ( Read more... )

Paid an arm and a leg

Pawned a kidney

Promised my first born child

And FINALLY I have tickets for both Dir en grey's shows on the 3rd and 4th.  Let me just say, I FRIGGIN' HATE scalpers.  There were a handful of people on Yahoo Japan Auctions who were easily selling at least 200 tickets between them.

And while I am quite prepared to pay a HIDEOUS ( Read more... )

I arrived at Lawsons [convience store which sells tickets] at 9:47am today.

Today, Dir en grey tickets went on sale at 10am.

I got to the ticket machine at 10.13am today [Murphy hates me, so I had slow people in front of me!] and.....

SOLD OUT!

BOTH DAYS, SITTING AND STANDING SEATS, HAVE SOLD OUT IN THE SPACE OF THIRTEEN MINUTES!?!?!

WTF!?!?!?!

Ok, ( Read more... )

Dir en grey is releasing a new single in October *does dance of joy*.   And what a name - Dozing Green?  That is almost as good as Agitated Scream of Maggots!

I am in a dilema, Dir en grey is my favourite band of all time [yep they are] and I still haven't seen them live [tis a sad state of affairs I tell you].  HOWEVER!  in early October they be ( Read more... )

Erika be leaving for good at the end of the month, so we decided that we'll go to DisneySea yesterday for one last fling.

now, a lot of people told me that DisneySea has the best parades, and it is absolutely great for couples [.....ok].  but no one ever mentioned the rides, so i thought, the rides must be pretty crap then if no one talks about ( Read more... )

i've been back for a couple of days now, and my body STILL aches and is stiff and have i mentioned that i'm in PAIN?!?  and going up and down stairs?  not fun, not fun at all.

i still can't believe it, i just climbed the highest mountain in Japan!!!  3,776 metres!  and i never never want to do it again.  and you know what the greatest irony is?  i' ( Read more... )