I have a great weakness for embroidered clothing, especially when the embroidery is bright and colorful. However, I can't bring myself to buy them very often. Although I've yet to experience it, I am a little paranoid about the thread falling apart. That slightly OCD part of me knows it's going to be incomplete. I just can't risk it! Sequins? Forget it. If one thread comes loose, it's game over. They do look nice sometimes though. Le sigh.

I have the worst luck when wearing white clothing. I get anxious that I'll dirty it and knowing me, I probably will. I'm pretty messy when I eat. Sometimes food ends up in my bangs, on my arms, or sometimes even my legs. The worst thing is that I actually do try very hard to eat neatly! And that is why I often go for creams or beiges. At least if I get a stain, it won't be as noticeable.

I will never forget Hiroshima. From the Yokohama station, we rode the Shinkansen, dubbed the "bullet train," toward our destination. I believe it is the fastest train you can take in Japan, and indeed it lived up to its name. I was ecstatic to be riding it. I think a lot of us were. I had heard so much about it and to actually be in it was exhilarating. Honestly, I don't remember how long the ride was.

The first stop on our itinerary was to visit the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Museum. I cannot bring myself to include the pictures that were taken inside the museum, as if doing so would desecrate the memories of the victims. I entered with a certain naivety about the bombing of Hiroshima, and I left in a whirlwind of emotions. How could something like this happen? To this day, I am still haunted by what I heard and saw. I think everyone should see this museum at least once in their lives. You do not leave untouched.

We slowly made out way to the Memorial Peace Park, a collection of monuments in honor of the peace movement thereafter. The story behind all these paper cranes begins with a girl named Sadako Sasaki, who was afflicted with radiation. She folded 1000 paper cranes in the hope that she would be cured of it. People from all over made and sent paper cranes that now filled those glass containers. I remember feeling rather hopeful and thinking how bright and colorful they were as I gazed upon them.

 Okonomiyaki, how delicious you were. I had never eaten one before until I came to Japan. It was a delight watching the chef cook it right in front of me. You order what you want and it usually consists of eggs, noodles, some sort of meat and veggies. It's like a pancake - a huge, savory pancake. It was hot and delicious with a tangy sauce and a huge mound of green onions. I can smell it already and it's making me hungry! I never did find one back in the States that was as authentic and tasty. I truly miss it.

Oh, lovely day. Beads of sweat collected and quivered at the bridge of my nose. More threatened to roll down the sides of my temples. My hair clung to the back of my neck in the most awful, desperate way. I swore I would not let it defeat me and vowed to be free of this heat. I fled the confines of my home in pursuit of happiness, donned in this light cotton blend dress. It is quite flattering the way it cinches at the waistline. I love the way it blows in the wind, but I have to be careful or everyone will see my undies. And trust me, they're not cute at all.

 I dearly wanted to put my hair up in milkmaid braids but sadly, short hair has its limits. So, I improvised with this braided updo instead. I find these days that I'm more willing to style my hair, which is normally rather unkempt. There was a time in my life when I couldn't be bothered to put a comb through it. It would get tangled again the second I was done. Mind you, I'm still lazy when it comes to these kinds of things. It's an improvement, I suppose.

"The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily: then he dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again: but he could think of nothing better to say than his first remark, `It was the BEST butter, you know.'" 

-Lewis Carol, Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite books of all time. I'm on the search for the perfect book design so I can keep a hardcover copy of it in the teeny, tiny library that I will have in the distant time known as Future and will never touch because I don't want to ruin its beauty with my ugly, greedy hands. Now, every Saturday, starting from as early as 5am, many of the shops in the Fashion District of LA hold sample sales. Sizes and quantities are limited but everything tends to be dirt cheap. I grabbed this dress a while back for less than $10. In my experience, the quality isn't that great, but sometimes you find nice things.

P.S. I know I put eyeliner on, but it's hardly discernible in these photos, or any of the others for that matter. Why...!

A couple of days ago, I went with my mom to a plant nursery. She suddenly wanted to buy a guava tree and determined that I was the one who would be taking her. I didn't mind, and it sounded like fun. We wandered into the nursery, eyes bright with glee. The flowers along the fence were beautiful with bright, lively colors. I was amazed at the assortment of exotic plants. We were having a good time just taking our time and marveling over everything.

 I had just finished taking a picture of some avocados when one of the employees suddenly said, "You need to pay if you take pictures." "Oh, really?" I uttered in surprise, caught red-handed with the camera still in position. I was not aware that photography was forbidden, or that I would need to pay a fee. There had been no signs. I had no problem with putting my camera away. However, his treatment of us was something else. Let us just say that he was not very helpful at all. We bought the guava tree and left soon after.  Anyway, I don't want to go into too many details and turn this into a raging rant. So, I'll try to keep it light.

 I used to live in house with a tiny orchard of avocado trees. Our house was located at the back of another and was perpetually shaded under the dense expanse of leaves. There would be so many avocados we didn't know what to do with them. Guacamole forever!

 Oh, glorious fig tree. We used to have a nice, big one that would produce so much fruit. They would drop like flies to the ground and even the birds and critters could not eat them all. They were so plump and juicy. And then, one afternoon, my mother decided to cut it down. I dearly miss it to this day. They are quite pricey at the market. I could still be eating them right now. Is my bitterness palpable yet?


 I originally hesitated to make this post because it isn't really an outfit post. I wanted to take more photos, but our jovial mood had been soured and I no longer felt like posing for pictures after. At least I managed to get one though!

What I wore:
Dress: Forever 21
Sandals: BDG via UO
Belt: vintage
Hat: Forever 21

I remember the heat and humidity so clearly. The brilliant sun shone in all its splendor with uninhibited zeal. And fool that I was, I thought it was an excellent idea to wear black jeans and combat boots. It was unbearably hot. I was surprised my body could sweat so much.

A post by the entrance reminded that us that above all else this temple was a place of reverence and should be treated as such. Before entering the sacred temple, it was customary to cleanse our hands using the metal ladles. 

Oh, Daibutsu of Kamakura, the long, hot trek to see you was worthwhile. You see, don't you? You see all of us who have come to experience your magnificence? As I continued onward, sweat dripping, the sight of Daibutsu looming before me was truly awe inspiring. Wondrous and serene against a backdrop of lush green hills and open sky, I could not help but look on with astonishment at the sheer size of the Great Buddha. I was surprised we could even enter and take a gander inside. And what do you know, it was hollow! Below is an up-close and personal shot of the interior.

Throughout my stay, I was overcome and intrigued by all the little nooks I spotted everywhere I went. Japan is a beautiful country. I thought its more suburban/country areas were the most beautiful. Quaint and peaceful with respect and loving details to nature. As I've mention before, I am a city girl so this was different for me, and I loved it all the more.

This this type of dessert parfait would be the first of many for us. Look how prettily it had been arranged. Aesthetics, aesthetics! It almost painful to watch it all come undone by eager, devouring mouths.

I am quite a fan of Hayao Miyazaki's works, and many of the others were as well. So, when we saw this cute little "My Neighbor Totoro" themed boutique, there was really no other choice but to venture inside. I thought these planters were so adorable. I would have loved to take one home with me.

P.S. I was so focused on capturing everything, and enjoying every moment of it, that I forgot to be in a lot of the photos myself. Most of the pictures of me were photographed by others.

Until next time...!