Japan diaries: One night in Nara

During mid-April I was lucky enough to share a weekend in Nara with some familiar faces from home. These pictures don’t really include any of Nara’s major sites, but I think this is the Nara I’ll remember… Ps. don’t be fooled by the innocent look in that deer’s eyes!! They’re all in desperate need of an intervention for Japanese cracker addiction.

It was a very happy birthday indeed

Icecream cake, Chocolate cake, tiramisu and Konbini cheese cake …have a cake hangover today to say the least! Saturday was filled with fabric shopping, vintage rummaging and calls from home. After wondering the spring chilled streets until the early, early morning we finally found refuge at a cosy tapas and wine bar where the owner tempted us with onion tart and an oozing raclette.  I’m glad my friends here are as obsessed with food as I am, because Sunday’s brunch at a bistro café and a peruse around Anderson’s bakery made me a very happy birthday girl indeed.

I got me a street shot thrill in Matsunaga

I’ve discovered stalked my very own rare bird of fashion in a tiny town called Matsunaga, Hiroshima. We wait at the bus stop together every Friday morning, and every week she’s wearing the same carefully formulated fashion silhouette.  So finally, in very embarrassing Japanese (involves a lot of pointing and single word use) I asked if I could take her picture. “Me?” she said, “Yes, you look lovely” I replied. And how perfectly has she posed herself! So cheeky, I love it! 
 
 

Japan diaries: Irasshaimasssee!!

Hi there!
 
“Irasshaimase!!” is what every store clerk in Japan screams at potential/already in store customers.  Sometimes I’m not quite sure if the intent is to welcome or to scare the living daylights out of, but strangely enough, it’s something I’m going to miss when I one day leave this intriguing country.