Japan Trip [Pic Spam] Part 1

It's 3 am in the morning and I am up! Juiced up to tell you about my past trips. Since I have a certain request by one of my readers I decided to post up my past trip to Japan. I haven't been active on my post so I decided to blow you some awesome pictures I took from Japan and share my experience to my readers.

It was actually back in summer of 2009, but I could remember like it was last week... Who doesn't love Japan? I think everyone does! The people, food, anime, music, fashion, nightlife. The city that never sleeps. I for one would take another trip there in a heartbeat. My first trip to Japan was the most memorable one, it was the first time I hit the travel bug and really explore to a new place. My mind completely opens and my viewpoints change because of that. I think I am most surprise at how generous the people there in Japan than anything. They are also very proud of their country and honor is highly respected in Japan. I think I could go and on about Japan if I wanted to, but I think I'll let the pictures do the talking. =)

It was pretty crazy, we wanted to explore Tokyo on our own so once we landed, we were on our own. Our initial plan was to meet with my cousin and her gang of friends later so we can travel together in Japan. We did not know anyone in Japan, nor speak the language. All we had was guts to ask everyone how and where to get to get to one place to another. Also with all the maps and research that we did prior to the trip.


Our first Ramen in Japan. I remember very vividly where it was... The little Ramen stand was in the middle of nowhere... under the freeway, seating for only about 2-3 people. It look something like this..

Taken from Flickr

A little shack and boiling hot ramen, welcomes me to Japan. It was kind of awkward since we had an language barrier. But we just did some universal sign language and got ourselves some ramen. Since he only know how to speak Japanese and we are just hopeless with the language since it was our first arrival. He did manage to say "Welcome to Japan" in English. He knew we were fresh off the plane hence the luggage we were carrying and the lost expression on our faces. After we finish his delicious ramen he gave us an hard boiled egg as another extra bonus of our welcoming to Japan. From then on, we started meeting more and more great and generous people in Japan.


Our first encounter in Tokyo was all these claw machines... they are EVERYWHERE!!!!!!


CHOPPER! I'm a big fan of One Piece...


If you watch One Piece... Yes.. you know what I'm talking about.


I love their convenience stores.. opens 24hr and well stock with yummy Japanese food.


"Hi I am the SoftBank dog... please buy my cellphones."


cute crosswalk telling you to stay there while you wait for the green man.


fruits and vegetables look mighty tasty when their displayed like this...


A random street with shopping stores...


If you guys think Round 1 was cool, take a look at this Claw Heaven!!!


More claw machines outside the stores...


Ginger with poochi... if you really look closer, its not real.


Yummy desserts..


I remember seeing a tornado potato food truck last Artwalk... well sorry to say it's been so over played. Japan got it there first.. it was so yummy!


SO COOL... you wonder why Japanese people always carry cellphone charms on their phones? Because they have these awesome cute coin machine to dispense everywhere. Who can resist?


Went to Akihabara aka Electric town, famous for their computer, anime, otaku goods and new used items. We stop by into a electronic store. Looking at all on the new models of laptops.


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Their refrigerators!!! Efficiently design and compact.


Even their clothes iron looks like space ships. so awesome!


Gags, Toys and Keychain Charms.


Yes here's one picture of Ginger and I in Japan. We were really tired. But I'm having fun!


presentation is very important while serving your food.


Dominoes on a scooter?


Pass by Tokyo Nissan, I'm a fan of some of their cars.


Is this cool or what?


This may look like everything is ON SALE, but really this is how they display their prices. In a very small everything store.


riding on the train is quite different in Japan. If you look closer on the floor.. people wait in a single file line. They wait until everyone leaves then enters after.I find it very interesting how this system works and how they follow by these rules. No one is scattered everywhere like Beijing.


another day, we wander around the streets and saw a bunch of girls waiting in lines to get into an convention.


As I recall, it was a famous Japanese Fashion Show that happens once a year. All these Gyaru girls were waiting in line to get in.


Also on the same day, we wander into a Brasil Festival. Those pineapple look mighty tasty...


Ginger went to look at some suits...


And I went to look at some gowns...


A very strange museum Tobacco and Salt Museum.


We got yelled at for taking this picture... but this was a boot heaven... so many different kind of style of boots.


biker gang...


house curry at a random restaurant


At that time, Forever 21 just open in Tokyo. There were a million girls lining up to get into the store.


They make cake so tasty...


shopping at Harajuku...


Liz Lisa Store... so sad, there were so many clothes to choose from I didn't know what to buy.


I whine up not buying anything cause I couldn't choose...!?!


The biggest Takoyaki I ever seen!!!


A shop in Harajuku, called Takenoko.With all the pretty cosplay costumes and glamorous outfits.

There were too many pictures, so I'll split into different parts. Enjoy!

Legs

Yep that caught your attention. Legs....that's the first thing I said when I saw this...

Went to another Downtown LA Artwalk. This time I went there a bit late so many of the vendors were closing down. Nonetheless there were still hundreds of people roaming the streets vandalizing. Walked into this art gallery... had some pretty interesting paintings

hollywood....

the corset or the half nipple...

im a fan of IPA's now...

wtf Ginger's in the way!

Ginger and I went to LA Cafe this place is so cool, opens 24hr and has the best tomato basil soup and seasoned fries!!! There are always people ordering from here... serves breakfast, sandwiches, and many local cafe stuff.

Met these guys dressing up like clowns, apparently they had an circus show event going on at Artwalk.

she was so cute....

she even had an audience for her bottom... lol

We met an DJ that looks like Eminem. He was telling us how old LA use to be and how it became of now... But I had a fun time talking to him, he was also showing us some of his recordings for DJ.

Random guy on the right just jumped into our picture... LOL so crazy!

Overall Artwalk is alot of fun. Downtown LA lights up on this very day and it's like a huge festival. If you don't really fancy art then you can appreciate the vibe and people around. Food trucks are mostly the main attractions and there are about 3 or 4 parking lots of them. If anyone is visiting, this is a must go event. It happens once a month, on the second Thursday of every month. See the website for more details....

After all the craziness we decided to head to Kouraku Restaurant for more tasty meal... I think they were the only restaurants that was open later in Little tokyo.

We got recommendations from the waitress to order this fried rice... I forgot what it is called but it was mighty tasty at the moment. I usually don't order fried rice from restaurants but that is something new to try.

Something new, I decided to dye my hair even darker... using Palty Deep Black. Judging from what I had before, I come a long way... Blonde to Black. I really like the Palty dye. It makes my hair looks really rich. I used many of the Palty colors and Deep Black is their darkest and blackest color. Also black hair compliments red lipstick. I miss some spots while dying my own hair. Will have to redye it again for touch up. What do you guys think?

INSPIRATION

Found something cool.... thought I might share again.. Enjoy!

I think everyone should follow this... Life doesn't have to be so hard.

Peace out!

-Marie

Advice from Somewhere + Lobster!

Some random reads, thought I might share....Enjoy!

ONE.

Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE.

Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR.

When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE.

When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX.

Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN.

Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT.

Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE.

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.

In disagreements, fight fairly. Please No name calling.

ELEVEN.

Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE.

Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN.

When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN.

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN.

Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN.

Remember the three R's:
Respect for self;
Respect for others;
Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY.

Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE.

Spend some time alone.

Taken from here

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some random shots...

can't you see I was trying to look cool?

yay!

siblings...

mama....

funny story, that day I was eating lobster fried rice....

and when I got to Ginger's house there was a freaking LOBSTER!!!!!

Can't you see I was having too much fun with it....

I want some more lobster...

random....

feed me!! then eat me!!!

yum you smell good I will eat you NOW!!!!

Le Pooch

The other day I found out my poochi foot was ran over by a car in the driveway... I was ahhhhh!!! I wasn't there but from what they told me, Rebecca was limping... =( Luckily I went to see her and she was okay... looking awesome as ever! She's my pooch, nothing can destroy her.... so this post is dedicate pooch day with all the poochi's in my life...

REBECCA....

MIMI...

ELLIE...

HAHA I CRACK UP EVERYTIME I SEE THIS PICTURE....