Which trip is this again?

[rkold]

I'm waiting and hoping to make contact with the architect so he can contact the plumbers so they can come and install my new faucet. Our new countertops are truly love and cost a lot more than I expected. ~.~ But other than price and the awful smell from the chemical glue, the biggest problem has been waiting for the faucet so we have water again. The faucet finally came, but now I can't seem to contact anyone to let them know it is here! GAH

So before I try to vanish upstairs to work on things, a selection of pictures from my March trip so I can finally finish it up.



One of the places I always wanted to visit in Japan was Takamatsu to see Ritsurin. While not one of the top 3 gardens, it is generally considered up there and looked gorgeous in all the tourist literature. I had almost gone on a previous trip but chickened out right after crossing the Seto-Ohashi Bridge to Shikoku and had returned to Honshu and a trip to shop in Kobe. >>; However this time I had planned a day at the park and discovered much to my chagrin it was only about another 10 mins after crossing the bridge to Takamatsu.

Wednesday, I spent half the day in Kyoto and rented a bicycle to explore some. I got a bit lost and discovered that the worst part of renting a bicycle someplace like Kyoto is trying to figure out where in the heck you are allowed to legally park it. ~.~

Thursday I decided to catch the start of hanami in Tokyo, and where better than Ueno Park. Actually considering how crowded it was it turned out Shinjuku Gyoen was a much better choice lol

Friday, I got to come home and discover how amazing ANA economy was. I also discovered how much I love the movie Departures (Okuribito). This comes into play with my GW trip. lol

And now for some pictures...































































This is the amazing soymilk ramen at Cafe Proverbs. ♥






Yes, I did ask permission before taking some pictures unlike some Japanese tourists.




























Despite how lovely the season was, someone jumped in front of the Chuo.. again.


Ueno Park


















Seishirou definitely had something to do with this color
































I think this is actually Momo

Comments

[cc-lemon.livejournal.com]

Absolutely breathtaking photos. I love how you chronicle your trips and share them with us all! *sigh* So much pretty. Cute wee boys too!

[paleonaturist.livejournal.com]

Wow . . .

Thanks for sharing these with all of us! I love the contrast of the massive trees and boulders against the softness of water and sakura / momo!

Japan is beautiful....

~Bruce

[blacktempest.livejournal.com]

I was surprised how many "accidents" I encountered on the train in Japan! I kinda hoped they weren't all suicides, but it seems pretty depressing nonetheless! X__X

The park and photos are all lovely however. So much beauty that it seems overwhelming! And soymilk ramen looks so yummy!

[chocolate_chip.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely have to go to that park sometime! I love the photo of the sakura in front of the torii. Good work!

When my mom and I were in Tokyo, there was an "accident" just as we were about to get on the Ginza line. Everyone had to get their tickets refunded, and then I had to explain what happened. >.>

Lovely photos.

[ginarolo.livejournal.com]

The gardens are so pretty. Fun seeing your dolls with the blossoms.

Got your postcard! Thanks!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Actually, I feel like I do a rather poor job of it. ;;_;; I want to someday really sit down and write out something long. I managed to do a few tiny sketches and write something up about the first part of my trip to Japan in my newest travel notebook. lol

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Japanese gardens are always really lovely. I find the way they are designed very aesthetically pleasing, at least the landscape and borrowed scenery ones.

Japan can be beautiful, I tend not to take a lot of city pictures since so many other people do. lol The majority of modern architecture in Japan is "early industrial parking garage."

[rkold.livejournal.com]

If you see the kanji 人 when you see it says accident, it means a jumper, since that would be the euphemism "human accident." On average you get several jumpers a day in Tokyo and you were there in February when it is High School Exam time.

The Chuo line is rather infamous for the number of people who jump in front of it which is why I chose to take this picture.

Soymilk ramen is delicious! :D

The parks are lovely but having been there yourself it's sort of obvious how the cities themselves are not usually. lol

[rkold.livejournal.com]

The sakura with the torii is either Ueno or Maruyama lol I liked Shinjku Gyoen as it was huge and since you pay a fee to enter it was a lot quieter. I meant to go back this trip, but it seemed like there was always something going on, particularly with 3 days of events.

I'm seriously surprised someone jumped in front of the Ginza. I thought it had too many stops and never really got enough speed going for it to be a good line for jumping in front of. It's like jumping in front of the Yamanote XD;;;

I had huge delays when someone jumped in front of a train in Osaka once. >.

Re: Lovely photos.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Thanks I really enjoy visiting gardens. :)

I'm glad the postcard arrived. The next round of pictures of have fewer dolls since the weather was so incredibly rainy for the first few days I was in Japan.

[chocolate_chip.livejournal.com]

Well, that term would be used for any accident resulting in an injury, for example, if someone got caught in the doors (those things are bitches!), or was standing too close to the edge and got nicked by the train. I always like to tell myself that it's one of those. >< Train drivers must need so much therapy.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Perhaps in Kyoto but I was given the impression by Eda and Erin that it meant a jumper. Also most of those injuries would not delay the train lines at all. >>;;;;; I once managed to fall on my butt trying to get my suitcases onto the train lol

I suspect if they were refunding tickets it was a jumper though and I think in Osaka the one time it must have been since the lines were closed for 1-2 hours at least! o_O