And then the fish ate me.

[rkold]

So it's time for a relatively fast LJ entry before I sit and try to draw a circle cut so I can apply for Haru in March >>;;


My first day in Japan was the AE and for once I was staying in a place with a Sumika so I figured, why not. Unfortunately, DoA was not very helpful in sharing when one should go to the Sumika to draw a lottery #. I showed up a little before 8 am (the store opens at 10 or 10:30 BTW) and Ken Yamanaka was there and THE LOTTERY HAD TAKEN PLACE OVER 1 1/2 HOURS AGO ALREADY This meant I was #412 I think? I think they had even mostly finished giving out vouchers for the dolls by 8 am, I know all the dolls but the DDs were gone by 8:15 or so. But luckily sumeragiskank had wanted a Kanu and I did get a voucher for her. We were then sent on our way to line up later, so chocolate_chip and I got some breakfast and then went back to wait to get clothes. I got that pattern book with Komame and the Yo Boy outfit I wanted for me and the Yo girl outfit for friend so I guess in the end I just can't complain. I just wish I had known the drawing was so early since I would have come so I could have seen if I had any chance. ^^; There are a bunch of the LE outfits still left so if anyone wanted something and you're a reliable person I might consider picking something up for you.



I learned so much more when I was the actual circle vs when I just had a pass with dilettantka and hinoai like over GW. First, set up is way more stressful and takes a lot longer when it is you doing the set-up. Next time I am so going to be prepared for this so I am not struggling to get through it at the last minute. I've also discovered next copyhon I am so printing in Japan it's only 10 yen a copy for black and white vs. a heck of a lot more in the US. ~.~ At least at Kinkos! ;;_;; So set up took a super long time and I wanted the new RocknDolless book in case it was GinoSuza instead it was Evil!Britannians x Suzaku but I still bought it >>;; I'm starting to wonder if she doesn't like Suzaku best since een though he is the top with Lelouch in her books, he gets book where he is paired with Gino or like evil!Britannians now while Lelouch is only paired with Suzaku. It's really hard to like leave your hall and do other things since you sort of want to keep track of your table. I feel bad, I had wanted to see Akiyo, I should email her and I didn't even make it to a lot of the halls. On the other hand my big love is Geass so it was nice to be with the circles.... except we ended up next to a text only Xingke x Lelouch circle and the GinoLulu circles. Not only do I hate GinoLulu on a level that I had previously reserved for Yuuta/Mizuki, the GinoLulu area is not going to attract people interested in our books since they're very very clearly not. In the end we only sold things to friends which sort of doesn't count. I'm hoping we can do better for Haru. For one thing, assuming we get accepted we will be in the uke Suzaku section and this time I listed us as GinoSuza. I have to mail out the application today and draw a circle cut today so wish me luck. It's due by the 16th ;;_;; I so hope we are accepted! I want to be part of the puchi event!


For anyone new to this LJ, every trip to Japan I try to do something unique and different. When I can, I like it to be something I can only really do in Japan or something vaguely cultural or at least different and interesting. During this trip so far I've tried to sell doujinshi, or well I had a spot at a doujinshi event and I went to SPA WORLD! muscatlove and yanchamonkey had told me about Spa World years ago but spending the day naked soaking in hot water sort of sucks if you're the only bizarre looking foreigner. Fortunately, ee970 and akaisakura were both interested in going to Spa World so we made a group of 3 crazy foreigners. jougetsu was going to join us but she wasn't feeling well ;;_;; I would like to say now, I could seriously live in Spa World. Considering I am hugely fat by Japanese standards, pasty white aka dead fish white, and just sort of funny looking when naked, this is not something I should have wanted to do, but OMG so amazing!!! You clean yourself well and then spend the rest of the day wearing just a wrist band and walking naked to different pools. Sadly we were Europe. (The European floor and the Asian floor alternate between being male only or female only by month and odd months are European for women right now. ) We were probably the only foreigners there and oddly enough SpaWorld is a HUGE destination for families. We also availed ourselves of the saunas and I managed after one of the particularly hot pools to get half way up my thighs into one of the cold pools. I loved the herbal steam sauna, which frizzed my hair up good but smelt lovely and was great for my lungs. The regular sauna had the nice cedar smell but the heat made it a little harder for me to breathe. I also tried a salt scrub sauna which was interesting and I think really helped my skin but was also broiling hot! Next time I am bringing a pad for my feet! ;;_;; I liked the herb scented baths in Greece a lot (they seriously smelled like Celestial Seasonings herbal tea!) but my hands down favorite was Spain/the Mediterranean. Now it might have helped that it is the Winter and quite cold, but taking a very hot bath outside just feels lovely because the water keeps you from getting too cold and when you get too warm (which so happens) you can then poke more of your body out of the water. One of the pools had a waterfall which just feels amazing when it pounds down on you OMG Suzaku was so right about sitting naked under waterfalls, at least if they are warm! and the rest of the pool had bubbles which felt great. We then went in the really warm pool and then there was the one with the chairs. We seriously spent from like noon to 8 pm bathing. (with a break for a late lunch and some fun with the fish!) I think I want to go back to Spa World. My goal is to go back in April when it is women for the Asian floors or maybe in March I will see if I can talk a friend into going to Hakone with me, though being naked in single sex bathing is more fun than a bathing suit.

I also paid like $12 for fish to eat my toes for 10 minutes. It felt incredibly weird and tickled but my feet do feel a lot smoother now. I think I would do it again, probably.

Comments

[cc-lemon.livejournal.com]

Ummm, the fish eating toes part seriously frightens me.

The rest of it sounds like a lot of fun! Squee.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

It feels really weird when they do it, but my feet have not been this smooth in ages. All the nasty hard callousy parts are gone. O_O I would probably pay to have them eat my feet again. >>;;

SpaWorld is so full of squee. I want to live there, or at least go there again. Next time I want to bring a bathing suit so I can try the swimming pool too!

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

Spa-world sounds incredibly fun! I've always wanted to try that fish nibbling the feet thing.

Hope your ap gets accepted for the next event!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm anxious about the next event. We got a phone call that they'd not received our payment so we had to fax them the confirmation. We've not heard anything back so hopefully that is a good sign. I have to sign up for the puchi by the 6th of February I think which is.. pretty soon!

The fish thing feels so odd but my feet have not been this smooth in ages and it's been over a week since my feet were eaten. It makes me wonder how soft they would be if I did this on a regular basis, that and the salt scrub.

I hope everything went well with you on Friday, I spent the day being feverish. ;;_;;

[triplepunch.livejournal.com]

I want to go to Spa World! :D The different areas sound so fun (I don't think I'd do the fish thing, but you never know). Congratulations on your doujinshi debut!

That sucks about the AE. How insanely early did they expect people to be there?? At least you got a Kanu and some outfits. I wonder what time the people in Big Nag started lining up.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

You and Masa should definitely go to SpaWorld together. I've heard you can even stay at the fancy hotel attached to it overnight and get two days worth of passes through it.

I think in Osaka they got people at 5:45/6:00 am lol I know when I got there about 7:45 I was #412 XD;;; I am always in awe of Volks and their LE lines.

[jougetsu.livejournal.com]

No one was more disappointed than me that I couldn't join you guys that day, but I am happy that you had fun. I was dying of cramps until pretty late in the day, past dinnertime. ;___;

Enjoy the rest of the trip and I can't wait to see you when you return to Osaka! <3s

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we got to spend my last day in Osaka together and I hope you didn't end up coming down with whatever I have. ;;_;;

And yeah, I'm so sorry about your cramps that's so miserable. Having cramps sucks even when it's not keeping you from doing something you want to do.

[mec]

I also paid like $12 for fish to eat my toes for 10 minutes.

I've seen video footage of this and it freaked me out something terrible. I'm not fond of fish at the best of times but this...is just too weird. You're so brave! And wow, that is something different for this trip... (Makes for a good subject line, though!)

It's a shame about the location of your circle, but hopefully you'll have much better luck next time round! *fingers crossed* Sounds like an interesting experience, anyway. It must be quite strange, seeing things from that side.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I'm brave, so much as I am a follower. >>;;; It felt really odd but my feet do feel a heck of a lot softer now, so it's sort of hard to say it was a bad decision.

I hope so too! We tried to sign up for Haru and this time we will be in the GinoSuza area in the Suzaku uke Puchi so that should help some I think. :D assuming we are lucky enough to get a space It was definitely a learning experience and I'm glad I got to participate a little more in a hobby I enjoy, plus I think it is good to actually try to draw more.

[aionwatha.livejournal.com]

Yo, Ami here. *wavewaves* Well, I'm sitting right next to you atm but I've just added your LJ. ^_^

[rkold.livejournal.com]

And I added yours :D

[mec]

I don't know when you're checking emails or whatever so I'll just leave a comment and say that the package arrived today. Thank you so much! They are absolutely gorgeous! (The pairing's right, yep. As far as I know, Loop *only* do Kame x Jin, which is fortunate for me because I think Jin is much better as uke, even if about 90% of doujinshika out there disagree with me.)

Your circle's postcards are adorable too! Love the little C.C. getting scored by the judges. (Is it just me or is Arthur wearing little ice skates too?) And poor Lelouche. ^_^ Thank you for those, I am rather impressed.

And thank you again for the doujinshi. I know it's a bit iffy picking up books in a fandom you're not into, and I really appreciate it, Rachel. *hugs*

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about disagreeing with doujinshika >>;; There are a few characters/pairings where that is true for me as well *cough*Suzaku bottoms to everyone*cough* I'm glad you like the books, I was so happy when I saw your circle listed! :D

*BLUSH* thanks! Yes, Arthur has on ice skates too. I felt bad about the lack of background so added some details though I need to get to work on my next books so I don't have that problem again. >>;

It is a bit anxiety inducing but I like to try to help. :D I've done the same for sumeragiskank who is rather into Reborn and I've also tried to track down some Bleach things for her in the past as well.

[blacktempest.livejournal.com]

Spaworld sounds absolutely amazing..! I would love to go but I'm such a prude American ;) One day though ..! Bathing outside in the cold sounds so wonderful.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Spa World is amazing! A lot of people are sort of shy or prudish about being naked, I know I would have felt awkward if I was only foreigner or if this had been my first trip to Japan, but now it just doesn't seem so bad. Plus once you're in the water there is not so much to see.

There is a bathing suit area as well.