Snow boarding!!!

Yea!!! So I went snowboarding a few weeks ago with my manager and the head teacher at our school!!! One of our students drove us to Gifu prefecture, which is close to Nagoya. It was such a fun day!!!
We left at about 5am, so we were out on the road early!!
We got to the snow park at around 9am and were on the slopes:)
It was a nice day at first, then it started to rain. And there is nothing worse than rain when your snowboarding/skiing... At first it wasn't soo bad, but after awhile, we were soaked and the snow started to get slushy. She we decided to call it a day and head back.


On our way back to Kakegawa, we stopped at an Onsen (It's a traditional Japanese bath house- like a spa but more casual) It was perfect after snowboarding! We were cold, wet and dirty. The Onsen is divided for men and woman. There is a locker room where you change and get ready! Then there is a shower room where you shower and get all nice and clean before you enter the baths. It's just one big room where everyone showers, and yes, everyone is naked, and no one cares. However I was the only foreigner there so I did get a few looks that lasted longer than normal! I think it was probably the junk-in-the-trunk that took them by surprise! lol... it has the saem effect in the States so what can you do...? Anyways, then it is off to the baths. There are a few different baths that have different minerals or other aromatic specialties! This Onsen also had an outdoor bath and it was really nice to be outside, because it was still raining and we were in this great hot bath with the cool rain coming down! Very relaxing!
So after we were done with the baths we met out (male) friend and had some milk. apparently thats what you do after enjoying the baths, you drink milk! They had regular milk, strawberry, coffee, and yogurt milk?. I went with the regular, even though I'm not a big fan of milk, it felt nice, as if I was nourishing my body!
Then we were off! In search of a special Ramen restaurant:) and although it took us about 3 1/2 hours, it was well worth the journey!
Side note: Ramen is also another great comfort food in Japan. Not only is it
the Japanese equivalent of Del Taco after a night of drinking in the
States, it is also great on a cold day to warm you up!
It was the perfect end to the day! We didn't get back until like 11pm so I was pretty tired, but it was such a fun day!!! I couldn't believe how amazing the Onsen felt after being in the snow all day. I think someone needs to start that up in the U.S.!!! Such an amazing pair!

Tokyo "Take One"

So first of all, I'd like to apologize for not writing in a while... I have no excuse, but laziness :(
Anyways, so there is much to update on... first lets talk about my first trip to Tokyo... hense the title; Tokyo "Take One"
I ventured north to the epicenter of Japan about three weeks ago. I went to visit a friend who is working with the same company as I am...
We met up in Ginza, the major shopping center of Tokyo. It is known for upscale shopping and more expensive restaurants!
We didn't spend much time there because we had a long night ahead of us... First stop; Shibuya!
Shibuya is one of the more popular nightlife areas in Tokyo. We went to a Izakaya (bar) and enjoyed some good food and yummy cheep beer!

This is the first "sushi roll" that has looked anything like what we have at home.
It reminded me of Sushi Studio... fun and fancy:)
side note: most sushi rolls in Japan are simple- cucumber roll, tuna roll,
tamago roll... nothing really fancy like the Sushi restaurants in CA
After that we spent the night Izakaya- hopping and didn't end up leaving for home until after the sun was coming up! (I don't think I have ever been out all night like that... it was supper fun!- man I'm wild... lol!)
The next day it was Sightseeing Day, dun-da-da-dun! Although my friend would have loved to sleep longer, I was ready to go! Sorry thats what us morning people do... :) All I needed was a little coffee and I was pumped! (mom, dad, and keira you know what I'm talkin' about!)

So that day, we hit the Imperial Palace to find the wonderful picture opportunity of the Nijubashi Bridge! (It was a picture I saw in one of my travel books and I had to find it... it was just so pretty in the picture) and so we did...

Then it was off for a little bit of a walk... (okay a long long long walk) to the Tokyo Tower...
As you know, I have been to the Nagoya T.V. Tower and the Osaka Umeda Sky Buliding... so thought it was in keeping with my pattern to go to the Tokyo Tower!
side note: apparently the Tokyo Tower is taller than the Eiffel Tower!
It was really beautiful, however right as we got to the top, fog began to cover the city, so we didn't get the best view, but it was still beautiful!
Okay so best part about the Tokyo Tower is, hand-down, the mascot!!! check it out...

No joke, this guy was everywhere!!! What's with the pink cone-head? I have no idea, but it was funny:)

To end the day, we went to this small Izakaya and had a small dinner(we were pretty tired so we made it an early night, and headed back)

The next morning my friend had to go to work, so we said sayonara, and I was off to do a little more exploring... (just couldn't get enough!)
I was dying to go to the Tsukiji Fish Market! It is known as one of the largest fish markets/ports in Japan! It is also known for amazingly fresh sushi breakfasts...!
So i went down to the docks, and unfortunately I just missed the open market (it closes at 10am) but I was right on time for an amazing sushi breakfast/lunch!
I went to this place called Daiwa Sushi (had to wait about 20 min and it was 3,500 yen= about 35$!) But it was really good and the Sushi chefs were friendly and fun:)

Oiishi!!! That means, "sooo good"!and yes... I tried everything! Even the orange one which is sea urchant! It is amazing! AHHH... I LOVE SUSHI!!!! Sushi ga suki desu!!!
So after that, I was ready to get on the Shinkansen as head home...
It was a great first trip to Tokyo and now I am even more excited to go back and experience a whole different part of the city!
Hope you enjoyed... Hopefully I will be back very soon with deets on my snowboarding trip!
Oyasuminasai! (goodnight;)

Random

Okay... so since I have written last, I have gone to Tokyo and I still need to write about it (slash) post pictures... However... I have some random things on my mind, so here goes:
Okay first; I had one of the greatest weekends... Yesterday I went shopping with a girlfriend from work and got a bunch of fun things for life in Japan. For example a yoga mat :) then today I had to go to work, even thought it's my day off, I am being observed by our district trainer tomorrow and I wanted to prep a few things for my lesson (such a hard worker... lol!)So while at work, one of my colleagues(slash/ yoga buddy) gave me these "toe" socks... I know it sounds odd to get excited about, but in our yoga class they do these funny toes stretches..lol... I know! But everyone else had these "toe" socks and were all getting into their toe stretches. We laughed about it after class because we didn't get the full "toes stretch" with our normal socks on... lol, I know this is soo lame and random, but I'm getting a kick out of it:)
Then I go into our office and find that my wonderful mother has sent be another package, (the first one was for some ski things- I'm going snow boarding on Thursday with some friends:)
Oh also I forgot- before I went to work, I stopped by the second-hand store by my house and found this super cute lil couch! and p.s they delivered:0 I've been dying to get something to sit on besides these horribly uncomfortable chairs...
So I get home and open up all my goodies...!!! SOOO FUN!!! Check it out...

I mean really... how great is my mom!!! Home made cookies, candy, a teddy bear, Starbucks coffee, and Martha Stewart Living... does it get any better than that...oh wait, it does, GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!!!

Well, after I got so excited from my fun V-Day package... I decided to cook dinner!
Well, I have to say, It was pretty good :)
you be the judge...



Well, what do you think...?
I have to say though, I think I understand why single people don't cook...
I have so much left over! Anyone hungry?

Okay hope all is well with everyone! I'll be back with Tokyo and hopefully my snow boarding trip :)
Yay!!!
Ja ne ( talk to you later)
Nikki