Pre-wedding Shoot in Kobe, Japan Schedule

OMG.. This schedule seems kinda crazy.. I wonder if there are no changing rooms at the locations I had selected.

□7：00　来館 (reach the Osaka salon)
↓　お仕度 (preparation; arrangements)

□8：30　1箇所目の撮影場所に出発 (Go to the first location, 相楽園 Sorakuen)
↓移動 (Move out)

□9：30　到着 (Reach)
↓　撮影 (Photography session)

□11：00　大阪サロンに出発 (Go back to Osaka salon)
↓移動 (Move out)

□12：00　大阪サロン到着 (Reach the Salon)
↓　　お仕度　(お衣裳・ヘアスタイルチェンジ...) (preparation; arrangements)

□13：00　2箇所目の撮影場所に出発 (go to second location, 会下山公園 Egeyama Park)
↓移動 (Move out)

□14：30　到着 (Reach)
↓撮影 (Photography session)

□16：00　　大阪サロンに出発 (Go back to Osaka Salon)
↓移動 (Move)

□17：00　　大阪サロン到着 (Reach Osaka salon)

I wonder if I should change my 2nd location to somewhere (e.g. Osaka Castle) even nearer to the salon so that maybe I don't have to reach so early at the salon. >_< and also, I might not need to book a hotel for the night before the shooting day. I intend to take JR train from Tokyo to the salon, however, to my dismay, there are no mid-night trains. T_T

るろうに剣心：伝説の最期編 (Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends) ／最近のアニメ (Recent anime)

昨日、友達とるろうに剣心の実写映画を見に行った。ちょっと残念なことに、終わった気分が感じない。太刀捌きはすごいと思うが、最終的な剣技術で志志雄を殺した瞬間は短くて、「それだけか」と思った。やっと、るろうに剣心の三部の映画を見終えました。好きのキャストは恵さんと斎藤さん。二人の演技は素晴らしいと思う。左之助さんの演技もすごいと思う。薫さんはきれいな人と思う。

(Yesterday, I went to watch Rurouni Kenshin live action movie with my friend. As a disappointment, I did not feel that it had ended. Although I think that the swordplay was amazing, the last ultimate technique used to kill Shishio was so short, I thought "Is that all?". Finally, I had finished watching the 3 movies. The cast which I like is Megumi and Saito. I think both of them have awesome acting skills. I think Sanosuke's acting skills are amazing too! I think Kaoru is pretty.)

最近、また「アイカツ！」というアニメを見ています。いちごちゃんはもっとかわいくて、すごい！セイラちゃんはかっこい！いちごちゃんとセイラちゃんのバンド「２wings」は素晴らしい！「２wings」の新しい衣装！「Angely Sugar」と「Swing Rock」のデザイナーが合作した衣装です！

(Recently, I was watching anime "Aikatsu!" again. Ichigo is even more cuter and amazing! Seira was cool too! Ichigo and Seira's band "2wings" was amazing! "2wings" new costume! "Angely Sugar" and "Swing Rock" designers collaborated on the costumes!)

美月ちゃんとみくるちゃんのバンド「ＷＭ］は「２wings」の最高のライバル！

(Mizuki and Mikuru's band "WM" is "2wings" best rival!)

「２wings」が頑張っていると、私も頑張ろうという気持ちになります！

(Seeing "2wings" working hard, makes me want to work hard too!)

そして、新しいキャラー！(And... New characters!!)

皆の衣装はとてもきれい！！（＾＿＾）

(Everyone's costumes are so pretty!! =D)

「たまこまーけっと」というアニメの映画「たまこラブストーリー」を見ました！もち蔵はやっとたもこちゃんに愛の告白をした！たまこちゃんももち蔵の気持ちに応えた！うれしい！！

(I watched "Tamako Market" movie "Tamako Love Story". Mochizou finally confessed his feelings to Tamako! Tamako also answered to Mochizou's feelings! So happy for them!!)

「ログ・ホライズン」というアニメを見ました。まったく知らない状態で、多くのゲーム戦法がわかりました。私はカジュアル・ゲーマーだから、戦法を考えずにゲームをしているタイプです。だから、このアニメは面白いと思う。

(I also watched "Log Horizon". In the state of not knowing anything at all, I came to know a lot of game tactics. As I am a casual gamer, I am the type that plays the game without thinking of tactics. Hence, I think this anime is interesting.)

すごく面白いキャラーはにゃん太さんです。剣技術もさることながら、料理も上手！

(The most interesting character is "Nyanta". Not to mention his skillful swordplay, he is also great at cooking!)

今、「魔法戦争」というアニメを見ています。その物語は多くの紆余曲折を持つと、私はそれにショックを受けました！

(Now, I'm watching "Mahou Sensou". This story has so many twists and turns that shocked me!)

ちなみに、主人公の声優「宮野真守さん」は私がたくさんの好きなキャラーをやっています。びっくりした！私がアニメにその声を聞いたとき、声に恋したのも不思議ではないな。＾＿＾

(By the way, the main character's voice actor "Mamoru Miyano" does a lot of my favourite characters. I'm so surprised! No wonder I fell in love with the voice the moment I hear that voice in the anime. =D)

Have been really sick lately! T_T / Anime / Anime Songs

Recently, I had been down with a severe sore throat which woke up at around 3am for the past few nights. I am able to sleep better now with my sore throat recovering, but cough comes! Again, been woke up several times due to my cough. Hope I really get well soon! I miss my outings!

During this period, I was watching "Hello Japan" TV channel and catching up with anime "One Piece". I learnt quite a lot of things about Japan through "Hello Japan" channel! I was introduced to Ura-dori, which is the street behind Akihabara. I also got to watch Jin (Japanese drama, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jin_(TV_series)), Ultraman, Love Live!, Danny Choo's Culture Japan.

The Japanese drama really not bad. It's about a doctor being teleported to the past. He helped to invent penicillin in the past he is now in and saved quite a number of people. However, with such a great medicine, there sure be troubles.

I appeared in "Danny Choo's Culture Japan" at the part when Danny Choo was taking video while my boyfriend, his 2 friends and me was having meals at the Maid Cafe at Anime Festival Asia (AFA) in Singapore 2 years ago. Kinda weird seeing yourself on TV. Lol.

Here's some of the interesting shops:
- COSPA秋葉原 (Cospa Akihabara)
  - Japan, 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda, Sotokanda, 1 Chome−10-11 森ビル (Mori-Biru) ５F
- Super Potato (Games)
  - 1 Chome-11-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan
- Twin Box event place
  - http://tb-akihabara.com/ 
- Pondierchy maid cafe
  - Can't find this in the Internet! >_< Maybe I got the name wrong.
- Rice toko Adachi (Akihabara)
  - gives alot of rice at a cheap price (for big eaters)
  - 3-11-6 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku

Anyway, found some Maid Cafes which I would like to visit:
- Cosplayers’ Café & Bar “Meteo☆Shawa
  - http://www.meteoshower.com/
- Gakuen Maid Café Bar Heart of Hearts
  - http://heart-of-hearts.jp/

Last year, my friend and I went to Mai Dreamin maid cafe (http://maidreamin.com/en). It's pretty fun. We went at the perfect time when someone ordered for a special performance by the maids. So, we got to see the maids singing and dancing with some men doing Wotagei dance with light-sticks. Really cool!! We also went to Swallowtail butler cafe (http://www.butlers-cafe.jp/). Although I feel really awkward as I am seldom being served, I had a good time there. I talked to one of the butlers who wanted to learn English, he also showed us their ice-cream making. It was awesome!! ^_^ If anyone wish to book Swallowtail butler cafe, better to do it as soon as possible as they are really popular!! I didn't get any slots at first, but after many tries with the website, I managed to get a slot. =x However, my personal preference is maid cafe. I don't know why but I feel more at home in a maid cafe compared to a butler cafe. Haha.

I was watching "One Piece" last few days. Luffy's group came across Foxy Pirates and got Robin and Chopper lost to them. Luckily, they got them back in the end. T_T Then, they got their memories stolen by a seahorse while sleeping in Going Merry. This part is really scary and have a lot of twists, there might have a risk of losing all their memories. Zoro got controlled by the seahorse and was trying to kill Luffy. >_< Thank goodness, everyone got back their memories by confronting the seahorse in the end. Poor Robin having to explain to everyone that they had their memories stolen. T_T

Songs that I have been listening recently:
- Itsuka no, Ikutsuka no Kimi to no Sekai by fhana (Anime: Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou)
- DARAKENA by Iori Nomizu (Anime: Hitsugi no Chaika - Coffin Princess)
- Asuiro by Rie Murakawa (Anime: Escha & Logy no Atelier: Tasogare no Sora no Renkinjutsushi)
- Heart Realise by Tia (Anime: Noragami)
- FLAME by DISH// (Anime: Naruto Shippuden)
- ENAMEL by SID (Anime: Kuroshitsuji - Black Butler: The Book of Circus)

Japan Trip 2015 Booked!! Japan Trip Itinerary

Yay! Finally booked my japan trip for 2015! The most awesome thing is that flight and hotel for 11 days only at $1087! It's only possible through Expedia (http://www.expedia.com.sg/).  I had booked a hotel at around $50 per night. The hotel is Hotel Empire in Shinjuku. At first, I thought that my trip will only be from 4th April to 10th April due to our budget. However, my boyfriend wants to extend the days. I didn't want to cancel the hotel which I had just booked, so we searched for hotel from 30 March to 4th April and flight from 30 March to 10th April and we found something within our budget!! So happy!!

So, we will be take Scoot at midnight and transfer at Taipei, Taiwan and proceed to reach Tokyo in the morning. For departure, we will leave Tokyo at 12pm and transfer at Taipei and reach Singapore at night. The departure time was really not good but we have no choice as it's within our budget. >_< As for the other hotel we booked is none other than Sakura Hotel. I had stayed in Sakura Hotel at Ikebukuro (Tokyo) last year. It was pretty a good impression. This time round, we will be staying in Sakura Hotel at Jimbocho (Tokyo) instead.

Sakura Hotel (Jimbocho)

http://www.sakura-hotel.co.jp/jimbocho

Hotel Empire in Shinjuku



http://hotel-empire-in-shinjuku.tokyohoteltour.com/en/

Due to our pre-wedding one-day photoshoot in Kobe, we will be getting JR Pass of 7 days. So, we will be spending 2 days in Osaka, 2 days in Kobe, 2 days in Kyoto and 5 days in Tokyo. The sad part is that we have to travel early in the morning down to Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto and back to Tokyo at night. Again, due to our budget, this is our only way. >_<

I went to research on the itinerary. Below are a list which we may be going. This is going to be a long blog post. =x

Anime Places of Interest

1) Ghibli Museum
- Mikata station, JR Chuo Line
- Features Hayao Miyazaki's works, Ghibli animation movies
- 1000 yen per Adult ticket bought from machine in Lawson convenience stores
- Opening: Daily 10:00 - 18:00 except on Tues, New Year holiday or periodic maintenance

2) J-World Tokyo
- Ikebukuro Station
- Features Weekly Shonen Jump; One Piece, Naruto, Dragonball
- 1300 yen per Adult ticket

3) Fujio Museum (Kanagawa)
- JR Noborito station
- Features Doraemon
- 1000 yen per Adult ticket
- Opening: Daily 10:00 - 18:00 except on Tues, Dec 3-Jan 3 and other dates

4) Fuii-Q Highland (Yamanashi)
- North of Mt Fuji
- Features Evangelion and Gundam
- 1300 yen per Adult ticket
- Opening: 9:00 - 17:00 on weekdays, 9:00 - 18:00  on weekends and public holidays

5) Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum
- JR Takarazuka station
- Features Mecca, Astroboy, TV threater showing anime works
- Opening: Daily 9:30 - 17:00 (Enter by 14:30), except on Wednesday

Anime Shopping

1) Animate
- Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Akihabara
- I went to this shop before, not bad!!

2) Nakano Broadway
- JR Nakano station

3) Donguri Kyouwakoku
- Features Hayao Miyazaki merchandise
- Tokyo Yaesu, Ikebukuro, Odaiba, Yokohama

Visual Kei (VK) Shopping

We decided to go for a VK style for our wedding 2nd march-in. So, we need VK clothes!!

1) Lofaret @ Harajuku
- Alot of popular VK shops in this mall

2) MAXICIMAM @ Harajuku

3) Innocent World
- Kera Shop @ Shinjuku, Akane Biru 9F
- COXY188 7F @ Harajuku
- Osaka Main branch, near to Hotel Nikko Osaka

4) Atelier Pierrot
- Shinsaibashi station

Places to go

Tokyo (5 days)
- Shinjuku, Harajuku, Akihabara, Odaiba, Mikata, Ikebukuro, Noborito, Mt. Fuji

Osaka (2 days)
- Universal Studio
- Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN
- Osaka Castle
- Yamamoto Noh Threater
- Aqua Metropolis
- Umeda Whity Umeda (Underground Shopping)
- Shinsaibashi station
- Minoh Falls

Kyoto (2 days)
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Kyoto International Manga Museum
- Kinkakuji Temple
- Ginkakuji Temple
- Nijo Castle
- Maizuru City
- Mt. Hiei Enryakuji Temple

Kobe (2 days)
- Kobe Harborland
- Maya Viewline
- Rokko area
- Kobe Maritime Museum
- Kosetsu Museum
- Gigantor Museum
- Nunobiki Falls

I think I need to cancel a lot of the places. Too many places, too little time!! T_T

Cool Polymer Clay Class / Japan Travel Fair / Japan Trip Itinerary

Here's some pictures of the clay which my friends, our teacher and I made.

Feel free to view more photos @ http://s43.photobucket.com/user/huiling25/library/Mobile%20Uploads/Clay%20Fun.

I started to try making some Xmas presents as well!! ^_^

Last weekend, I went to Japan Travel Fair. I'm quite disappointed there aren't any much deals for Free and Easy travels. However, I know that it should be this case as airplane companies earn more from travel agencies. >_< Anyway, I manage to do some planning for my Japan trip next year! ^_^

I have decided to stay at Sun Plaza Rinkai (http://www.japan-osakahotel.com/sunplaza/en/stay/index.html) at Osaka. I found this from another blogger, Go Away Sam blog. http://goawaysam.blogspot.sg/p/japan-f-guide.html. She had gone to Japan several times and had quite a number of useful sites. I've yet to book the hotel though.

Some of the places which we might go:

Amanohashidate (Kyoto)

Maizuru (Kyoto)

Kiyomizu-dera Shrine (Kyoto)

Maya Viewline (Kobe)

Daimaru Museum (Kobe)

Gigantor (Kobe)

Osaka Castle (Osaka)

Found those places from these urls:

Osaka Sightseeing: http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/enjoy/

Kobe Sightseeing: http://www.feel-kobe.jp/_en/sightseeing/

Kyoto Sightseeing: http://www.kyoto.travel/

Polymer Clay Class / Japan Travel Fair

I had a booked a polymer clay class this weekend. I found the teacher when me and my friends went for an art event MAAD (Maket of Artists and Designers) a few months ago. I even went to book a classroom in Bras Basah for this class. Really, the classroom rental wasn't cheap for weekends, but as it was quite last minute and none of our houses are available, we had to book it. I found the classroom from this site: http://classroomforrent.net/

The classroom was pretty decent. I managed to even get them to not charge the extra $5 for electricity as I mentioned that I was doing a goodwill here by letting them know that we will be using a mini oven for baking the clay. =x Of course, I promised that we will try to use the oven as least as possible, also, we are all adults, don't see any problems in that. Haha.

I heard that there is a Japan Travel Fair at Takashimaya this weekend. Hope that I can grab some great deals for my Japan trip next year. Lol.

View more details at http://www.jnto.org.sg/. ^_^V