chubbchubbs

After almost 9 months' waiting I finally got to Skype with my beloved ChubbChubbs. Sneakily took the above as a reminder.

Cannot wait to be reunited for real!

Jo x

swedenvision!

We did it, Sweden, we finally made it all the way! Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest with Loreen and 'Euphoria' and that's the most suitable word to describe my feelings right now.

On so many levels, this song is pure perfection, and says so much about Sweden in 2012. It might not be apparent to non-Swedish people, but it represents so much more than just words and a melody. Also, given how much money, time, and effort that Sweden puts into the ESC, I think it was long coming and much well deserved. In the past years we've had good songs, but perhaps not of winning calibre. This year was different. It's the best song Sweden's ever had for sure - perhaps even the best the ESC has seen...? But I'm biased, of course.

Nevertheless, next year Sweden will host the contest - eek! - and I'll assure you I'll hang around at the end of May. Tonight was a dream come true for my country, and I hope we will show you what the Eurovision is all about for us next year.

I'm still in somewhat disbelief. This is wonderful!

Jo x

eurovision!

Eurovision Song Contest - highlight of the year. Europe comes together to compete in music and hundreds of millions of people watch it. I'm always one of them. I love it. I love it more than I love the football World Cup.

This year is no exception and after careful consideration and contemplation, I have reached a top-5 list for what I think will be the outcome of the final. It is partly based on opinion, partly on predicting what people will vote for (they do rarely coincide). Click the country to watch! As follows (no particular order):

1. Sweden 
Obviously biased, but I really do think this is worthy of top placement, and even first!

2. Russia
Sad, but true.

3. Cyprus
Love it.

4. Serbia

5. Jedward
They should, at least.

I'm quite wrong here, and I do realise that. More countries from the east will claim top placements (even though I can't imagine who it'd be) and Norway will certainly be top 10! It all comes down to the final performance, mind, and a lot can happen. Yes, I'm a nerd for this and I'm currently investigating future career opportunities with the event. How amazing would that be!

Anyway, tonight (this morning, 4am) is the big grande finale and I am so excited and nervous. I'm watching it with people - never a good idea. I get a little too patriotic and too wannabe-knowledgeable about it. That works best when you're on your own but I shall try to restrain myself. Gosh, I'm rambling. I can't wait!

Jo x

solar eclipse

When I was younger I remember there was a solar eclipse (or was it lunar....) in Sweden. They told me I'd never see it again as it only happens every 100 years or so.

Little did I know I would, only a few years later, experience it again.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, it's an annual event. So at 7am this morning we woke up, grumpy as appropriate, and ventured out to observe the light in the sky. It was beautiful. It's so dramatic, isn't it?! Partially, partially, slowly, slowly, the sun is hidden in a dark orange light, like a secret whispering for you to keep it, or else...

(Also, it was of course accompanied by the typical Japanese "oooooh" and "eeeh" and "sugoiiii" + applause every time it appeared from behind the clouds.  - Funny, funny, funny!)

Jo x

oh, tokyo...

...you nutty, capricious, and utterly insane city! It's sort of one of those 'you had to be there' kind of situations, but I still feel the need to mention it and exclaim, once more, my love for this capital. So many scenarios which are followed by the words 'Only in Tokyo.'

We went out Thursday, for the first time in a long, long time. Four girls, two guys. The night held a few separate incidents which together made it completely unforgettable. As such.

First, we arrived at the club at midnight, and it was empty, quite literally. First thing that happens is that a tall, muscular, sort of-kind of good-looking man saunters (waggles?) up to us, drunk as a duck, and asks if we're English. Turns out he's from Essex (if you don't know Essex...well imagine Jersey Shore, but British) and mighty proud of it too! So he went on to do what most foreign 30-something people do here - brag about his work and money, and follow that up with topless moves on the dance floor. Alone.

After all the Jagger moves were done and dusted, and we felt the oppressing stench of sweat and smoke get the best of us, we sought freer landscapes. Outside there was a little space where people could sit and relax, or in most cases - sleep it off. There was the girl who, speaking to her friend on the cell, got up, rather unstable on her high heels, anxiously repeating "my phone, my phone I can't find my phone!" - only to, after about 5-10 seconds, realise her mistake.

As is appropriate in such situations we went in hunt for food in wait for the first train. Being in Japan and all, we ended up in a noodle place and witnessed a glorious, glorious moment! Naturally people were sleeping at most tables, but one girl had managed to fall asleep head first into her noodle bowl. Which wasn't empty. One of the waitresses came to wake her up and as she lifted her head up, the soup was dripping from her fringe. According to my friend she said "this is the worst day ever." Poor girl. Me, I'm only sad that we didn't manage to get a photo.

Truth is, you never know what's going to happen when you step outside your door here. Expect anything, and you still will not be prepared for all that Tokyo has to offer. The unpredictability is partly why I love this city, and I hope to have more random moments before I have to make my bittersweet return to Europe.

So, another day has dawned...Tokyo, hit me!

Jo x

homewards

This will have to count as exciting.

I have booked my flight home. 

July 24 around noon I shall be departing from my Tokyo and head towards colder landscapes. 

What awaits in Sweden then? Well, two months' work and crazy times with my sister before I'll be headed back to the UK and my final year at Royal Holloway. 

Just about 2 months left of Japan in other words. Sad, sad face.

Jo x

lately

Quiet life lately down this end. Well, not entirely. I've been dealing with knee issues (never-ending story short - basketball injury) but can be seen in my MRI above, everything is peachy and as it should be. Nothing damaged, torn, or otherwise un-intact.

The weather here is lush. Around 24 degrees and hot as in a boiling pot. Needless to say, I love it. Shorts all the way for this one, while the Japanese put on long trousers and protect themselves from the sun with umbrellas.

In other news, I'm sporting a brand new shiny part-time job! Thanks to a good friend here, I'll be sub-editing articles for a cosmetics magazine which is soon launching an English version of their website. Just what I love doing and it'll certainly not harm my CV in any way!

As soon as something exciting comes along I shall be sure to let you know!

Jo x

animal walk tokyo 2012

This morning I ventured bright and early to Yoyogi Koen, a huge public park in central Tokyo, to volunteer at the annual Animal Walk Tokyo, this year for the benefit of SALA (Save Animals Love Animals).

What it was, was basically a stroll around the park with dogs. The fee and the sales from goodies all went to SALA, and I think we raised a decent amount of money.

As a volunteer I got a dog to care of during the walk, and was simply there to talk to people and introduce my dog buddy. His name was Brian (above), 8 years old, and a retired service dog. He's lived most of his life at the SALA center and nobody wants to take him home, poor whoof :(

 Tiffany, Brian's sister and soul mate. Inseparable the two!

This one was rescued from Fukushima after the tsunami. So adorable! Except when he (yes, HE) incessantly tried to hump my Brian. Brian was not amused.

 Spud - softest little ball of fur there. And über friendly.

 Brian again. 

Hopefully I can find more events like this, or simple fundraising ones for SALA or some other animal welfare organisation in Tokyo before I have to leave. There were mostly foreign people, and primarily Americans, and it was so interesting hearing why people were in Japan, and where they came from etc. Such a big world, and I've seen nothing of it!

On a side note, I got the question 'What part of the US are you from?' Before my semi-insulted feeling (I have a British accent, dammit!) had passed, a UK girl assumed that I was from London, so overall content.

Finally, support SALA if you like companion animals. They do great work to save those who cannot save themselves. Visit their website here: http://www.salanetwork.or.jp/

Jo x

さんっぽしましょう !

This Saturday is special. You can make it special too if you're in Tokyo and have nothing to do 8-11am. SALA (Save Animals Love Animals) is having a "Sanpo in the Park" = literally, walk in the park in Yoyogi Koen for the welfare on animals.

The fee is 2,000 yen and 100% of that goes to the great work SALA does with for example dogs. Present at the walk will be 5 rescue dogs from SALA, some saved from the Tohoku area after the tsunami. I shall be walking one of those dogs and mingle around so if you're there - come say hi!

It's a great cause, it'll be great fun, and you'll meet great dogs and people. I would miss this event for the world, and neither should you :)

Let's make a difference. さんっぽしましょう !

Jo x

my fortune

It was largely a bad one (despite the title) so I tied it up outside the temple in Sapporo, but the words of wisdom at the top were eerily appropriate for this particular point in time.

I shall thus be waiting for spring.

Nightingale x

hokkaido pt IV: onsen

Jozankei, an area about an hour from Sapporo, is known for its high number of onsen, or hot spring, resorts. Onsen is basically you strip and get stark naked into a hot pool of water with complete strangers. Nothing strange about that. Some resorts are even mixed - so boys and girls in a lovely hot pot together. Ours was not.

 Snow confusing our temporal senses. Spring? Winter? Who knows?

The actual resort. No photos from inside I'm afraid (tee-hee) but it was nice. 40 degrees in the water and a shining sun above your head. Not sure I'd be excessively comfortable with a mixed one though. So shy, so shy!

That's all from Hokkaido. It's not the most exciting of places, and it would certainly be easier if you could drive around (it's huge!) as transportation isn't as convenient and developed as in our dear Tokyo. Very happy we went though, and it's always fun travelling with the bausses!

If you're on Facebook - all the good photos are there as my camera is rather quite French balcony compared to Viv's gazebo miracle machine. If not, I'll show you at some point if you're nice enough.

That shall be all for now. Ta!

Jo x

hokkaido pt III: food

 Omuraisu: rice wrapped in omelette. Here with fresh tomato and ruccola. This is yummy stuff.

 Ice cream every day! Hokkaido is famous for milk, so that's the special one. Also melon, god knows why.

 NB! Not mine. Salmon sashimi with rice. 

 Katsudon. Pork with egg (?).

 Me, me, me! Veggie tempura with rice and pickles (tsukemono). The pink stuff is cherry blossom salt, and the green is green tea salt.

 Crab galore for my girls, whereas for me...

 ...more veggie tempura and rice. Also the nice staff gave me fruit as I had to ask them to remove the crab and the udon noodles (fishy sauce).

 Sapporo limited edition Classic beer. Needless to say....disgusting. Beer is not my cup of tea.

Ramen is meat broth with pork and noodles and veggies. Really, really traditional. So, naturally, I went into a ramen-only restaurant and asked them to do it veggie for me. Don't think I made any friends there.

Next up: onsen!

Jo x

hokkaido pt II: otaru

Otaru is a small town by the sea side, roughly around 40 minutes from Sapporo. It consisted of two things: sushi restaurants and glassware shops. No joke. I've seen enough glass products to last me a lifetime. But the sun was out, allowing us to be bausses with shades, and enjoy a day strolling around and taking funky photos.

by Vivien Hsiao

Follow up: FOOD POST! I know you want it.

Jo x

hokkaido pt I: sapporo

Ho, ho, ho - photos are a tad delayed I admit, but in order to quench your drenching thirst to take part in my travels, I shall post more and better than initially planned. Ho, ho - who's a nice girl now?! Anyway, less talk, more photo-ing. As such:

 Weirdest place. Ever.

 Oompa-loompas!

 Temple stuff.

 Observation hill.

PUG!

All of the above is Sapporo. For the rest of the photos, click HERE.