29.09.2012 - I love Farmer's Markets!

On Thursday my highlight was Skyping with Da. We laughed, I cried, we yelled a bit.
It was awesome, not just Skype wise, but life conversation wise.

On Friday I went to Hombu only to realise I'd forgotten my pants and didn't have time to go back and get them before my Japanese Lesson. Boo.
Had Japanese lesson, I'm slowly, slowly, slowly, getting there.

Today I worked from 9 - 1.30 and then went to the Farmer's Market!
I've had some people tell me to stay away from them, because of radiation/where the produce is coming from.
But I guess my feeling is that I am being radiated constantly. Cell phones, planes, subways, cars, everything ever pretty much.
So to be pedantic about food just seems like too much, for me personally.
I obviously don't think it's wrong to be like that, plenty of people here are and they all have valid reasons and that is fine.
But given the length of time I'm here, the amount of other things I do that radiate me more…. I just feel fine going to stuff like that.

Anyway, it was amazing. One of the nicest things I've done since I got here.
I walked around and bought some pears & and smoothie, sat down for a bit.

Refresh Magenta, minus the tomatoes.

Got some vegan bagels and raw dehydrated granola bar thing.
Then a build your own salad for lunch (mine had lettuce, olives, onions, steamed pumpkin and potato, and a tahini/sesame dressing.), which I enjoyed next to an adorable hippie japanese family.

vegan bagels! well, except the chocolate ones unfortunately.

salads and vegan food and farmer's markets all make me so pleased.

cranberry and macadamia nut vegan bagel!

plus I tried some other fruit, ginger snacks, and smoothie stuff whilst walking about.

the most wonderful pears!

There was tons of van things (like my salad one) selling vegan and vegetarian hot food as well, I just wasn't feeling a massive meal. Even though I ended up eating heaps, it wasn't hot, so it felt like less!

Only had my mobile with me, so sorry for the photo quality. Next week I'll be sure to take my dSLR do document!
It's only a 10 minute or so walk from where I work on Saturdays, so I'll definitely be going most weeks, so exciting. For real.

Now I'm taking some time to relax, since I have nothing to do until I go to Hombu tonight.

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Typhoon Jelawat is hitting Tokyo sometime Sunday night/Monday morning.
So hopefully it turns out to be a non-event, since that's what I like all typhoons/hurricanes to be.

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I took a nap and then went to class. Suguwara Sensei was teaching, really like him too.
Good class, fast enough to get the blood moving but not killer. Great way to end the day!

Looks like Jelawat isn't exactly going to be a non event, but I'll be prepared. As always, yo.
After work tomorrow I'm acting in true Bermudian fashion and going to stock up on things at the grocery store.
Might even get some rum, just so I am really embracing my hurricane and hot toddy filled childhood.

I hope you all have a good day, and a pleasant tomorrow!

26.09.2012 - ueno park, take two.

Highlights of yesterday:
1) I went out for dinner at Eat More Greens!
So delicious.
I had 'Tonight's Pasta' which was so fresh tasting. And vegan, boom.

2) skyped with my Uncle. I miss him, too.

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And today!
I had the day off (by boss is, kindly, giving me some time to rest and make sure I kick this silly illness) so I slept in and then skyped with Da for a spell.
Ate some breakfast and out of the blue Josie Skyped me! This is exciting because she's at camp!
Anyway, ended up getting to talk to her, Magnus, Elijah, Liam, Ella, and Autumn for a while. As well as say hellos to Maggi, Zara, Blake, Josh, Aytch, and Kate.
I can't believe I'm not there, it's so bizarre. But Magnus says he's having an amazing time, so that's the important thing thing year!
I'm going to do my best to be back there next year, we'll see how my life pans out, won't we?

Elijah, Liam, Magnus, Ella, and a hint of Kate's face.

I did a bit of research on being vegan/raw (I'm not raw, but I love raw food!) in Tokyo and came up with a few restaurants I want to try, plus some tips on where to shop etc.
I love it internet for stuff like that.
I'm in a city that I know no one in (certainly not anyone who's vegan!) and I can come up with dozens of blogs, articles etc on being in my exact position.

I decided I needed to get out and go somewhere otherwise I was going to lie in my room in my pyjamas all day, which wasn't what I needed. In the ended I decided that I was going to go back to Ueno Park and see how I felt from there.

I walked around the park a little, but I just wasn't feeling it for the afternoon.

What I did end up feeling was the zoo again, to see the rest of it. Which I have now seen!
Other than some of the enclosures (mostly for the bigger animals) being a bit small, it's not too bad.
I did a really nice walk across a small lake and stuff to see lemurs and aye-ayes and it was generally pleasant.
Today was cool enough to not be sweating but warm enough to wear a sundress, perfect for how I felt.

hedgehog, for mum!

I think I'm hilarious.

red crested crane

giant salamander!

red pandas from above.

Left around 4, since a lot of the animals were going to their 'sleepy time enclosures' (which is what I will now be referring to my bedroom as, in case you were wondering.)
Came back, put away my laundry, and now I'm going to watch a movie or something and make myself some dinner.
And then go to bed nice and early, since I have to wake up for Osawa Sensei's class in the morning.
Which I hope he's at, because he's leaving to go to Halifax on Friday, so we'll see.
This weekend my father gets to be at a seminar smaller than most of his classes here, lucky duck.

Have a pleasant day, all!