Day 2 - Shopping and Wedding Preps

Date:  January 16, 2012 (Monday)
Time:  7:28 AM

Good Morning! Up early to start the day.  Heading to Leonard's for malasada's and then to the mall.  Gonna do some window shopping.  Maybe find a crossbody bag finally.  Time to get ready.  See you later!

Time: 11:09 PM
Such a good day.  Picked up a dozen mansalas (a/n: wtf, why did I write it like that?!!! MALASADAS!) at Leonard's (mango, original, & custard).  met up with the soon-to-be-weds and went to Ala Moana center.  Spent a good chunk of money on souvenirs there.  Got cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Co, and souvenirs from the ABC store.  Spent the next 2-3hrs at a hair trial for the wedding, plus the sis got eyelash extensions haha!  met up later at Ko Olina resorts and saw the area where the wedding will be.  The area is super beautiful, wish we were able to see it in the day, but got plenty of time for that.  Ate dinner at Genki Sushi which is a conveyer sushi place.  The food wasn't too bad, a it pricey for such a small amount of food.  Ended the night at Target and back home. I ran out of cash.  I'm in serious need of my finaid, like NOW.  I don't even know when my next paycheck is, but I seriously need money... anyways, that's all for tonight.  Getting sleepy.  Good night.

[side note: highlights at the "salon" - hairdresser and beautician both from Japan, talked to me a bit and stupid bopper chicks thinking they the shit for being models]
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PICSPAM:

 (Left: The Leonard's sign, Right: MALASADA'S)

 (Left: Hello Kitty items from the ABC store, Right: View from the resort)

 

(Left: Genki Sushi sign, Right: Conveyer belt)

Day 3 (day 2-3) - Baltimore and Philly

Date:  August 19, 2010 (Thursday)
Time: 12:25 AM

 Still awake.. Can't sleep, so I'll update what I've been up to.
So our flight Monday had 2 stops.  A plane change at Denver and a stop in Kansas City.  not too exciting, but the flight felt like forever.
Once landing, Immediately felt the humidity hit.  It felt disgusting outside.
After eating dinner here at the house, had a walk around the mall here: Arundel Mills.  It's so damn huge! One story, lots of walking.. just like Great Mall.

Yesterday just spent the day in Baltimore.  Took the light rail to Camden Yards and headed straight to Inner Harbor.  Got to see the boats/Marina, lots of shopping/food places and just the tourist spots.  At 12, got scared because the Navy ship shot a canon and had no idea it was coming! Haha!  Got a bit dehydrated since it got hot around noon.  Stopped into the Barnes & Nobles to rest and cool off then headed back out to Lexington Market for lunch.  This place has a whole bunch of restaurants and produce to buy.  My lunch was subpar: California rolls and a miso soup with an ice tea.  The ice tea was so sweet that it just tasted like sago juice.

After Lexington went to visit Edgar Allan Poe's grave.  Was a bit taken aback because I didn't know it really was a buriel ground.  After went straight to Camden Yards.  bought $9 tickets for upper reserve then chilled in the Sports Hall of Fame lobby until gates opened.

@5, headed in.  Camden Field is so pretty!  Very old fashioned, went down during BP to try to get Mariners' Autographs.  Balls weren't coming our way so I put on my Mariner's shirt and called out to Jason Vargas for a ball.  He tossed it over, but a kid intercepted and knocked it back into the field.  Jason was like "what? that's not for you.  It's for the girl.  Can't you see she's wearing the blue!" He tossed it back to me. Haha.  I was so excited.  Very content!
Watched a bit of the game and left at mid 8th when the score was 1-0 Mariners.  One the way home, heard the score ended 4-0 Mariners!
Went to sleep at 1 or 2 and woke up early for Wednesday's adventures in Philadelphia.

Chokee and I left at 8 AM and headed to Philly.  Came across 3 toll plazas $2 in Baltimore for the tunnel, $5 for turnpike in Delaware and $4 for turnpike in Philly! Hella Expensive!!
Accidentally put in the wrong address and ended up at the planned last stop first.  Redirected the GPS to the Eastern State Penitentiary.  Took pictures outside then left to the Museum of Art, AKA, The Rocky Steps!
Took a run up the stairs then headed to Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center and the Visitors Center.
Got to see the Liberty Bell and it's history, and the Visitors center.  After went to get lunch at Pat's King of Steaks!  So good!  Hella anticipated it.  It was huge and their fries were good.  I was scared to order, but it went smoothly.  After headed to LOVE Park and saw the infamous L-O-V-E sign.  Smaller than I expected.  And I had no idea it was next to a fountain.

Went to Reading Terminal Market.  Found the Man v. Food restaurant he stopped at, then looked around.  Looks like Lexington Market.  Got creeped out on the way back to the car, but I'll explain that later.  It's late and I needa wake up early to go to DC tomorrow morning.  I'll update again, maybe on the bus to NY.. who knows.

Day 4 (day 2) - Back Home

Date: June 12, 2010 (Saturday)

Time: 8:52am

Sitting here at Seattle-Tacoma Airport waiting to board the plane.  The airport looks better than when we had the stopver from Japan.  Our departure gate is also twice as big.

Just chilling here and facing me is this huge Apolo Ohno sign about that Hawaii sweepstakes that pretty much already happened.  nice to see the sign's still up haha.  At security earlier, the guard frisked me probably cuz my shirts too big haha. If it didn't beep, then what do you think i'm hiding?  My bag also went back into the xray.. or maybe they checked the person after me.. all I know is my box rolled back in haha.

So recap of Thursdays shenanigans.. After bathroom haha.

Time: 9:27am

Apparently our flight is delayed for a couple minutes since the plane isn't here.

So Thursday.. Finally.

Our day consisted of going to Tacoma and Federal Way.

Tacoma first at around 9:30am.  Went to the AAA Minor league stadium for the Mariners.  The Tacoma Rainiers @ Cheney Stadium.  Randomly, the stadium is in a complex with a high school (Henry Foss High).  Took a couple pictures, then headed toward Tacoma Dome.  Totally can't miss that thing.

... Finish on aircraft.. gonna board, I think.

Time: 10:40-ish am

On the plane and got a beautiful view of Seattle at take off.  The mountain areas still covered in snow looked so pretty.  Let me finish the recap of Thursday so I can sleep haha.

After Tacoma Dome, headed to Federal Way.  Straight to "the Commons" mall so we can grab a quick bite to eat.  Looked around a bit, but nothing special.  Kind of looks like Newpark mall.

After, drove around to all the parks.. I take back about going to the mall first.  Headed to Dash Point FIRST, then Steel Lake Park.  Both were fishing areas.  Nothing much to look at except the scenery. 

After headed to the mall, then to Pattison's West so I could take a picture of where Apolo Ohno and JR Celski used to do inline.

Couldn't stop at Powellswood, so ended up going to Redondo Beach, then to Des Moines beach.

Got lost and drove around and around looking at trees and random residential areas.  Finally headed back to Redondo Beach to eat at Salty's Restaurant.  So expensive! $40 each including tip!

After dinner, headed back finally and that was the end of the day.  I forgot to write all the details, but i'll save that for the blog writing.

As for now, the drink cart is going around.  Just waiting to see if I can get my final "Seattle's Best" coffee haha.

Day Two (part 2) - Shibuya Craziness!

Date: August 11, 2009 - Tuesday
Time:4:17 PM

I'm here at the Meiji Shrine. Just left Shibuya and embarked on a 1600 meter journey to Meiji Shrine from Aoyama.  yeah.. BIG mistake.

Meiji Shrine's in Shibuya.  So basically we walked an hour to go back to the same place.  So... we basically found the shrine in the city we were just in.  Funny thing is.. I wrote it down in my other notebook and forgot.

Time: 8:39 PM

Today, we went to Shibuya.  Our goal was to go to Harajuku after but decided to head back cuz I didn't know from where we were how to go tehre.  Decided to go to Aoyama instead (like I said XD) and headed to Meiji Shrine.  Well before i get to that, I'd like to say I hit dehydration today.  I was super thirsty.  Hunger never hit me (maybe a lil) and all I could do was drink up as much as possible.  I nearly fainted in Shibuya and I was getting cranky cuz I needed to sit and get a drink.  I ended drinking 2 cups of water, a glass of ice tea, ad bottle of Kirin Iced Tea and I U chugged a bottle of water.  And i only peed once today. That's.... bad LOL.

Anyways, back to Meiji Shrine.  The walk to the Shrine was really nice.  The trees and then you see different walkways and the shrine thingys LOL.

Sitting down for a bit and an Asian American asked me to take a picture for him.  I Think it's cuz we spoke English or I should say we were talking a lot in English.

We couldn't actually go into the Shrine cuz they were closing but we got a good look from outside.  We started leaving, but not before I tried the cleansing (wait, I did the cleansing first, then went to the Shrine).   Noticed Harajuku Station and decided to head tehre.  I wish I knew where we were cuz the Johnny's Shop was RIGHT THERE where we were and I had no idea >_< WHY?! Now i missed my chance.  I don't even know why i'm so upset when I'm not so into them now.. but still... lol.
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Picspam:

*top two pictures of Shibuya.  Lots of ads!
*bottom 3 pictures from Meiji Shrine
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Notes:

We saw a sign in Aoyama that said "Meji Shrine" with an arrow.. so we followed it.. and just kept walking and walking.. and ended up at like.. Setagaya station (i think?) and then saw the sport complex and just kept walking.  I realized we hit Harajuku at one intersection when I saw a police car that said "Harajuku" -_- great man that was a long ass walk, but it was nice to see everything.  All the small shops and buildings and nature along the way.

I felt really bad for Deanna because I lashed out at her a couple times before finally sitting down in a really cute dessert cafe.  After getting my drink I was super happy after that.  Then when I got my drink in Aoyama from the vending machine I was even more happy HAHA

BTW. The walk through Aoyama (park?).. some lady was brushing her dog and all its fur was shedding and blew right at us HAHA.  She was so cute though she was all smiling saying "aah, Sumimasen!" LOL

Yeah.. I dont even know why I had to include the last part.  I just made myself sound like a crazy fangirl HAHA

Day Two (part 1) - Day One Recap!

Date: August 11, 2009 - Tuesday
Time: 6:08AM

Couldn't sleep.  Originally was gonna wake up at 7AM, but the jetlag got us and ended up waking up (HOT!! as well) at 4:30AM.

Around 5 something an EARTHQUAKE hit... didn't even react cuz we thought it was strong wind or the garbage trucks we saw outside haha.  The quakes here feel diff than at home.  It sways side to side while home is all over.

Anyways, since we're awake so early, we're going to TRY to get ready and head out.  Todays itinerary is Shibuya and Harajuku area.  Wonder how that's going to pan out.  There's rain, humid temps and the possible quake aftermath.  Hope things go well... no problems especially with the railways today.  Gotta find Mitsukoshi station.  Says it's a 5 minute walk from here, but let's see which direction!  Our internet doesn't work, or we weren't provided any.  We know there is tho.  The wireless says there's one on our floor... but how to log in.

Last night we had a problem at The FAMILYMART conbini.  The girl asked us something and we were like ..... what?  She said nevermind (in Japanese) and continued on haha.

Semi problem using the train station after we got off of the Narita Express.  Didn't know we could transfer and but didn't know how to get to the other side.  But looking how the trains work remind me of Bart and Muni so it wasn't too bad. It was only one stop with no problems after.

Finding the hotel was a problem though.  Even though the directions said to exit at #6, it never said which direction to go to for the hotel.  Looked at the street names and easily found it in one of the "alleys."

A man helped me with my luggage up the stairs at the exit since there's no elevators or escalators.  My limited Japanense was with a "iie, ii desu" he helped anyways and then i gave the simple "arigatou gozaimasu" Haha.  so SIMPLE! my skills suck... i wonder what the barrier will be like today.

I'm waiting to shower next.  The bathroom is hella small, but whatever.  Our room turned out to be bigger than I expected and paid for haha.  Not like the picture at least.  There's actually space to walk around!

Anyways.. gotta get ready to head out.  Shower and yeah... maybe I shoulda showered first since my hair is gonna take  the longest to dry.  Well i'm off for now.

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Picspam:

*our hotel room, the blue thing on the bed are yukata robes

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Notes:

The earthquake hit Shizuoka (if i remember) with a maginitude of 6.0+.  There was also a previous earthquake that had hit Japan the Sunday we left to head there.  Throughout the week we were there, all we saw on the news was coverage about the earthquake (and that Noriko Sakai scandal haha)

It seems that the person who gave us the hotel room switched our room with the people who were next door to us (HAHA Sorry Linah XD)