what happened?!

aww another month just passed by !  I actually did tons of nice stuff… but I wont be able to recap everything..so here’s a turbo summarized version:

my friend Nicole from Germany visited me in Kobe and we did TONS OF SIGHTSEEING, SHOPPING ETC.

We walked through Kobe City, passed by some sightseeing spots (Kobe Port Tower, Ikuta Jinja, etc), Rokko-san & Maya-san (mountains, Nunobiki (waterfall), great night view from Rokko-san,… went out drinking.

We also went to Osaka for (Window)shopping and sightseeing: Osakajo (Castle), Instant Ramen Museum,…

We spent a day in Nara (temples, deer,..) and we made a trip to Tokyo.

I had 4 days (3nights) in Tokyo but I think I did more and saw more than some people do in two weeks :P. We’ve been to: Ueno (Park, Ameyoko), Nihonbashi (our Hotel was located there), Ryogoku (Edo-Museum!! It was really good and BIG. Expect to spend half a day there !), Harajuku (shopping of course), Shinjuku (izakaya, kabukichou walk at night ), Shibuya (Salt & Tobacco Museum :D), Nippori (Textile Town, you can buy fabrics there and some cheap clothing), Akihabara (just a few minutes in Yodobashi Camera), Shin-Okubo (korea-town, where  I bought makkoli-handcream and face sheet masks :), Odaiba ( shopping, Daikanransha Ferris wheel), Roppongi ( roppongi hills: meeting a friend and having cocktails in a fancy place), …….

The bus rides were tiring, yes… BUT not as bad as I had previously thought. Seats were totally ok! On the way to Tokyo I got those pink, huge, relax-seats on a willer express bus.. for 6300yen! That’s a good deal because you often have to pay 7000-8000 or more for these seats. Returning back to Kobe, I booked a MK bus for the two of us (6000Yen). Their seats were of course not as luxurious as the relax seats in the willer express bus, but still more spacious than other seat-types! I know because from Kobe to Osaka Willer Express used one of the low-fare-busses  to shuttle us to Osaka. In Osaka people got into the bus, they actually booked. The low-fare-shuttle bus was not comfortable and I was more than glad that I spent some extra 1500yen or so to get better seats. My advice for night busses is: book as early as you can (you will get better rates) and try not to choose the cheapest busses/lowest seating category … be stingy, but not TOO stingy :)

 

Returning from Tokyo, we showered and got ready again for a little trip to Suma Beach and then another shopping spree at Marinpia Outlet Center in Tarumi.

All in all I didn't buy too much within these two weeks: one pair of shoes, jeans shorts (but with a wide-cut, very girlish), two tops (one from forever 21, my first f21 purchase ever.. because we don't have it in Kansai) and some cheap jewelry (paris kids)

i could write much more about so many things.. but I guess I just make a  point here and add some photos:

 

sorry

..for being so M.I.A.

 

well, nothing special happened the past weeks. I went to work and tried to save up money. Not very successful though ! Several pairs of shoes broke, so I had to rebuy shoes, including my waitressing shoes. Also did I sign up (and paid) for JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) Level N2.

I didnt buy much fancy stuff lately.. but tried out this snail hair treatment : http://item.rakuten.co.jp/benkyo/4526371015161/

Yes, one trend here in the cosmetic world is SNAIL slime: The treatment is non-silicone und smells alright (vanilla-musk).

The reason I tried to save up is: My friend Nicole from Germany arrived here yesterday evening! I took of most days of her two-weeks stay and we will be doing lots of sightseeing including a trip to Tokyo!

I booked Willer-Express for my ride to Tokyo. Nicole will leave two/three days earlier than me by shinkansen. On the way back to Kansai we will use a MK over-night bus (booked over rakuten travel).

 

Today Nicole and me will explore Kobe, get her Shinkansen ticket and hopefully plan out the next days. We will probably head to Osaka two or three days in a row. Are there any MUST-SEE/MUST-DO events going on RIGHT NOW?

wow..do I become more loyal to this blog now?

my last entry was written and posted with WINDOWS LIVE WRITER. I feel it’s more convenient than using blogger.com’s interface… however I haven’t really discovered the whole software, yet.. I am sure there’s quite some stuff left to figure out/ learn..

anyway, I want to update more often and rather write several shorter entries instead of posting every three weeks a huge one. Those long entries take up way too much time and I find myself procrastinating them.

On the 28th August I only had to work about 5 hours at IKEA, so I met up a new friend (AKI-CHAN ) afterwards and we did some (window)shopping and had ice cream at Cafe & Kitchen Rabbits:
http://tabelog.com/hyogo/A2801/A280102/28021349/
I had Vanilla Ice Cream with Kuro-Goma-Sauce (black sesame sauce).


Actually I was in desperate search of a birthday present for my boyfriend! I always end up buying things that I like, but he doesn't. That’s why I wanted to buy a voucher/gift certificate from a soccer-equipment store. But when I asked the sales assistants if I could buy a voucher, I got weird faces and was told to go to Daimaru. Daimaru is just a  normal/expensive department store… and I think the one in Kobe doesn't even have sports-wear. WTF was that? I felt really offended by this stupid suggestion. I don't go into a soccer-store for no reason.. Obviously I wanted SOCCER RELATED SHIT ! not a department store voucher!!!!!!!!!!!
After asking around in some other stores, I gave up on the voucher idea. Apparently the concept of giving vouchers as a present is not common in Japan. For some inspiration what to give to my boyfriend, me and Aki-chan browsed several men’s fashion floors in different shopping malls. Pretty quickly my mind was set on purchasing a “WAIST BAG”. Actually the type that is not worn around your waist, but on your back. I’ve seen many pretty & fashionable versions but most were way too expensive.
Only two days later, when looking for one on my own (I am a more relaxed shopper when I am on my own.. ), I finally found the “right” bag. If it was for me, I would have bought a leather one.. slightly nerdish looking… but I tried to forget about WHAT I LIKE and focused on my boyfriend’s style/wardrobe.. I got a sporty version from Dickies.
So yesterday (31st August)  I first headed to work (IKEA) and then hurried back home. Dai and me got on our bicycles and rode to a small korean restaurant in the neighborhood :

me with MANGO MAKKOLI. super tasty and refreshing!!!

Dai with "korean beer"

 

dish of the birthday boy. the meat was really yummy

mine.. kimchi soup.. was really good and I added extra spices..it was HOT :D

  
Our dishes were good and cheap. The only disappointment was, that we didn't get as many banchan as we are used to (those small side-dishes).

thats the other dress I bought in hiroshima on sale! I paid about 1300yen for this..the quality of the fabrics is very good though!!

the bag I got for my baby

And a quick update on my dr. ci labo trial set (posted about here: http://ringo-pyon.blogspot.jp/2012/08/dr-ci-labo-trial-set.html )
I’ve used the Aqua Collagen Gel twice so far and I have to say…it feels good ! I apply it before I go to bed… Aqua Collagen Gel (enrich lift series) has no mattifying qualities.. so it’s safer to use at night. I have combination skin and the next morning my skin looks fine! not more or less greasy than usual but more refreshed !! I do not like it’s strong chemical scent though. I will definitely use up the sample (10g), but I think it’s too expensive for me to purchase a full sized jar.