New Years to Zojoji

Maybe posting late will become my forte if I keep doing it so well!

For New Years I went to Zojoji Temple with some friends! Sadly I wasn't able to meet up with everyone (there were about 3-5 different groups of people that I knew who went to the temple) and half way through the night the small group I was in got separated into two amid the masses of people!

At the temple there were stalls of food, mochi, and of course hot sake. Though I didn't buy anything from any of the stalls. Behind the temple you can see Tokyo Tower!!! (which I have yet to go up)

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Since we got there early we stood in line so we would be able to release balloons at midnight!!! The waiting took a long time and it was cold, but worth it ^_^

After standing in line we traded the admission ticket for a yellow paper to write our New Years wish on!

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The line let us out right in front of a smaller building of the temple. They happened to be vacuuming at the time haha!

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And from going through my photos I have realized that I like taking pictures of people WAY more than of the buildings. So be prepared to see a lot of my friends Grainam, Sven, and Niels. Niels brought his girlfriend with...but every time she noticed me taking a picture she would run away!

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But while we waited in line to get our balloons (after a delicious end of the year meal at McDonalds lol) I was able to take a creeper picture of Niels and his gf =P

Which resulted in Niels photo-bombing my next picture ^_^

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Behold the balloons!!!! I thought they looked rather similar to jelly fish! (This was the moment Niels and his gf got separated from Grainam, Sven and myself. So many people!)

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Here is a really poorly filmed video of the balloon release!

Afterwards we entered the main temple, which really looks like any other temple inside (took 40+ minutes to get in!). Made an offering+wish then were ushered out to let the next batch in To the side of the temple they were burning offerings and other goodies for good fortune, health etc. It was very bright and smokey.  From the temple we wandered to a pub and ate a VERY delicious meal of fish and chips! I think I have never enjoyed a first meal of the year more than that one...probably because I was insanely hungry and it tasted amazingly un-japanese

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After the delicious meal we were found infront of the Pokemon center and then participating in shenanigans at a playground!

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A truly awesome night Oh and after I left those two at the JR station I walked back to the temple (since my station was right there) It was about 4am I think....

The above statues are for children lost in childbirth etc. 

 

 

and on that jolly note....

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Oh, Tokyo

Today, in a desperate attempt to find a scarf that keeps me warm and doesn't make me look like I am still celebrating Christmas (my jacket is bright red and my only proper scarf is green) I went to one of Tokyo's shopping centers in Ikebukuro.

After finding a very lovely scarf and chatting with a very nice sales person I wandered to other stores. It is really amazing how one shop will be full out hip hop trends and the shop right next to it is overflowing with fluffy pink ribbony girls clothes.

I meandered into a store that reminded me a little bit of BCBG with it's sense of fashion and after getting bored within 45 seconds I glanced around to realize that everyone in the store had red hair.

......

I honestly had to leave immediately because I couldn't keep myself from laughing. It is possibly my most awkward experience in Japan so far.

Since I was the only non-Japanese person in the store it should be obvious that the 7 other people (two of them being guys) had either dyed hair, a wig, or wig-like clip ons.

On top of that I was the recipient of a more than average amount of staring and 'stealthy' glances. 

 

I should explain that it isn't uncommon in Tokyo for Japanese to dye their hair in reddish brown colors...I just have never seen that many in such a small space before...without a single one having black hair.

Cinnamon Chasers

<p>Cinnamon Chasers - Luv Deluxe (Music Video) from Saman Keshavarz on Vimeo.</p>

Once again Stumble Upon showed me something interesting

Nikkō, Tochigi (Part 3)

After the temple we went to a wood carving shop and got to make our own souvenirs! 

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We could choose from plates, plaques, photo books, and pencil holders. Then we picked out different designs to carve ^_^

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Our work was no where near as beautiful as the master's, and he carved out beautiful waterfall images within minutes on the back of many of our pieces (including mine!)

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Yohei tried to copy him and actually did a really good job for his first try![[posterous-content:pid___7]]

 

It was nice to be indoors for a while since it was so cold outside. Though afterwards we went back out into the cold.[[posterous-content:pid___20]]And while we waited for our train we ate some really really delicious warm food! I can't really remember what was in them other than that it was the perfect mix of salty and sweet.
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