The morning always goes too quickly..

[rkold]

So I think I am going to skip out on the Tenshi no Sato event. I've been thinking about it and thinking about it and when it comes right down to it, dreading it. Yeah I could maybe get something there, but it will involve waking up at some awful hour and standing in line for hours, which is just really not overly appealing.

I'm not arguing Volks needs to change its practices. These methods work in Japan, in fact the Japanese almost seem to enjoy waiting in line to try to get something. Since arriving here on Thurs night I've seen people: waiting in line for a restaurant to open, waiting in line to buy some sort of sweet potato product in Tokyo Station, waiting in line for I think movie tickets and this does not even include line waiting for HaruComi or any of the circles there or any of the Pachinko Parlors I am sure people are waiting for.

But see with Haru, or SCC or even a Comiket, I know if I get up early enough in the morning chances are really high I *WILL* actually get what I want. I might wait in line for hours for something to start and then wait in line for a big circle once the event has started, but my chances of actually getting something are pretty high. I will be rewarded. This is not true at a Volks event. I never draw a good lottery # and instead I will spend hours waiting in line for naught except aggravation. Do I like the bamboo wings, yes, yes I do. Do I like them enough to wait 2-3 hours in line for maybe a chance to buy? My answer is a little less strong.

It also doesn't help that I will be getting up early to stand in a long line on Sunday.

Volks can keep their lottery practices and not revealing how large a release will be, and I have the option to not play.

I think I am going to take it.

Comments

[twotone]

I'm sorry that you won't get a chance at the bamboo wings... but good for you. It's better to choose not to play the lottery than to play the lottery, get sore feet, and STILL not have bamboo wings.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

That and my friend Erin is going to Hakone on Friday and she invited me to go. >>;;


Given the choice between spending the day in an onsen resort or standing in line for several hours, I find it hard to believe someone would choose the latter.

I don't even use the wings I have much which makes it seem all the sillier.

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a very good plan! After the frustration with the limiteds line that we had the last time we went to Dolpa, R. is just going to be joining me in the dealers line. Even if I don't get anything from DDK or C/T/B, I'm sure that I will find tons of things that I like and will also enjoy sharing all the pretty things with R. at a relaxed pace.

I bought our tickets today too! Only $988 each total for the flights and one-week rail pass.^_^

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Nice! I'm paying about that for my airfare and then I still need my pass. >>;; (which considering I leave from NY is not so bad.) I am waiting to see what the $ does since I don't want to get stuck with a bad rate like when I bought the one for this trip.

Last Dolpa they had changed the procedure so everyone had to draw a lottery # as soon as they entered. It made the line for the Dealer's Room/Sumika incredibly long and awful because all the people who got bad #s switched to the general line. (The Dealer's Room and Sumika shared a line too ~.~)

When are you arriving in Japan? I'm prob going to go sightseeing between Doll Show and SCC.

That GW Dolpa wasn't even that bad lol At least they let K+R leave for a bit and wander around. Sato events can be just awful, especially when there is a new wing color.

I think I am going to Hakone instead.

BTW where are you going to go when you leave Tokyo other than Kyoto?

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

We're leaving on the 27th -- R's B-day -- so I'm going to miss Doll Show, but we couldn't stay away from home/work and afford more nights at the ryokan leaving on the Friday before. The Wednesday after Dolpa we're going to Fukuoka for two days and then back to Kyoto on the evening of the 8th. On the 9th, I'm picking up my boy at Sato and having an Omukae. Then we'll be going to some places in Kyoto and Osaka and back to Narita on the following Tuesday for our flight in the evening. We're actually working on a book (kind of sekrit, so I'll tell you about it in an email) and need to go to some specific places to take photos, so we probably won't have time for a lot of sightseeing.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh I arrive on the 23rd and am prob leaving Tokyo on the 26th for Kansai/sightseeing. >>;; I like Tokyo to see my friends but lose patience with the city.

I am thinking of going to Fukuoka myself though to see hanami. I suspect it is in full swing there since the trees are budding here in Kanto.

How exciting, a book! I always wanted to write one about Japan myself, who knows perhaps at some point I will try. >>;;

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

We've never been to Fukuoka, so it will be fun going someplace new. Let me know what you think of the area and what you would recommend seeing.

With all your experience, you really should write a book about Japan!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I'd really really like to at some point. I think it would be fun to share some of my fandom adventures (like trying to make and sell doujinshi) along with my visiting sights outside of Tokyo/Kyoto.

I really liked Fukuoka! It's very walkable and is fun city. You should be sure to go to Kushida jinja to see the floats they have on parade!

I wasn't there so long, but I went to a few shrines and temples and took around 300+ pictures of sakura. >>;;

Are you taking the train or flying? I can tell you it is a really long train trip now lol

[kellyhime.livejournal.com]

Oh, Fukuoka does sound like fun! We have a few places we have to go for the project we're working on, but are looking forward to doing some siteseeing too.

I'm sorry that we'll have missed hanami, but I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures of the flowers!

We're going to take the Shink with our rail passes -- if we catch it at 6am, we can get to Fukuoka by noon. I've already have some train projects planned, but I also just like looking out the window.^_^

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Bring projects, I tend to like looking out the window myself, but was disappointed by how many tunnels there were between Hiroshima and Hakata. I'd never been further west than Hiroshima on the shinkansen before this. If you're coming from Tokyo try to get Fuji-san side, if you're coming from Kyoto/Shin-Osaka try to get one side one way and the other side coming back. Himeji-jo is on the same side as Fuji but Okayama-jo is opposite.

I think I caught one around 7 am or so from Kyoto? I did a transfer in Shin Osaka for a rail star since they're quite fast.

It turns out there is some sort of air pass as well. It's not quite as good, but it can help save some time. I'm thinking of using it to come back from Hokkaido. ^^;;

I'm planning to go to Tohoku+Hokkaido in hopes of catching sakura there. It will be way over in Fukuoka by the end of April, since it was pretty close to peak when I was there a week ago.

But yes, overall Fukuoka was a nice destination, I hope you like it as much as I did!

[doll-paparazzi.livejournal.com]

Why don't you just wake up as you normally would and just go to the event and have fun? Take pictures and go to the sales floor? Buy if you want? Go in after everyone else. Can't you do that and just enjoy the event?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

There are no other dealers at a Sato event. ^^;; It's just whatever Volks is releasing at Sato. Even if I head over there post most of the lottery #s being given out I would still need to wait until all those people have had a chance to at least try for a doll before they would even let me inside. I know in Oct 2007, they could not let people in for a bit because they were over the legal # of people allowed on their property. A Sato event is not like a Dolpa, either a US or a Japanese one. The only reason to go is because you want the items being released. There is nothing about the event to enjoy per se.

I decided not to go since I know I will enjoy going to Hakone with my friends which was the other option.

[clair3.livejournal.com]

>< waiting in line sucks......hahaha

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes it does, particularly when you are not guaranteed a reward. I am willing to do it for doujinshi, since my chances of getting what I want are much higher. It's the fact that it is line and no guarantees.

I loved Hakone so it was definitely the right choice!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Wah! Yes, I think you did. ;;_;; I was mostly in Tokyo at the start of my trip which is when you were away.

Hopefully we can see each other the next one, are you going to Dolpa? I'm planning to spend some time sightseeing Tohoku, I want to see more hanami and some new places I've not been before.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Ah. I guess we will just keep missing each other than. ;;_;; I'm not going to Doll Show prob because my friend can take some time off and we're going to go to Tohoku to go to onsen and sightsee.

I would miss Dolpa to go then but the 3rd+4th are SCC and I really need to be in Tokyo for SCC on the 3rd.

I hope you enjoy Singapore!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I arrive the 23rd late late in the day but am prob leaving on the 24th for Tohoku. ^^;; I'm not sure when it depends on where we are starting and when my friend can leave. I'm also thinking of making a day trip to Hokkaido since it's the only one of the 4 main islands I am missing now. more than likely I will be out of Tokyo from the 24 until the night of the 30th when my rail pass expires unless i fly back from Hakodate on the 1st cause I can get special rates on ANA.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Wow, that sounds like a super nice and long trip to Singapore, I'm sure you will have lots of fun there!

I come back to the US on the 6th.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh Korea must be particularly fun right now since I know the yen is really strong and the won is not so. All my other friends who live in Tokyo love going to Korea. :)

[rkold.livejournal.com]

It's even not so bad for people in the US since the won is not that strong against the $. Actually most currencies are weaker vis a vis the $ except the yen lol

All my other friends love shopping and eating in Korea, I hear the food is wonderful. Are you flying from NRT or Haneda?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Ah so we probably shall just miss one another since I am flying in on United as well lol I'm working towards Premier Exec Status. This next trip will bring me close and then I'm going to a wedding in June in CA which should take me over.