[YYZ kifujin]

penultimate oh my gosh thank you for these pics, it is like revisiting all these places again. I umm.. I might have commented with various nonsense on some of them >.>
P.S. please don’t tag me >.<

[YYZ kifujin]

Hallo fellow travellers, it’s the Canadian Anna here. Hope everyone got home all right and is managing well with jet lag in their time zones. I’m still in a bit of a daze here, this afternoon wanted to spend time unpacking and organizing the goodies that I bought, but instead I fell asleep.
Re Otakon meeting, I do like that idea very much. Tempting as and it is on the east side too hmmm… and it is after all only 3 days (goes to look up air ticket prices)
P.S. penultimate were you the one that had the pretty blue shawl and was filming everything for your family?

[YYZ kifujin]

It honestly felt like Friday today.
But it was not -_- …
I came here to remind myself, during this hard week, about something bright and shiny, something to look forward to, make me think of spring and fun times.
And probably to vent, or just to socialize.  However, I would like to apologize ahead of time, if I don’t make sense or ramble on, please excuse my tired brain, it tends to go a bit strange (more so than usual) after midnight.
Onto random thoughts and replies then:
@Simona Nara re presents  “wondering if it was nicer to buy something typical in Japan” good point, but I think it might be a bit difficult, what if they get what they want themselves. Or what if someone else gets it? And no I don’t have fanarts, because I don’t draw… (well, I don’t consider my pencil doodles and scratchings “drawing”)
I have not got in touch with Emirain.? First of all I am kind of… embarrassed because my email might come out as something like “Hallo thar!  I can’t wait to see you in May! Waaaaah! You’re-awesome-and- I-love-your comic *glomp*” that would be one of the most derpiest e-mails ever. They will look at it and rethink why have they ever agreed to come on this trip? I do hope they are ok.  Although, there are no notes anywhere to indicate  that anyone is sick or anything’s up. They are probably just busy right now.
+_+_+_+_+_
Soooo It seems I have started some sort of a food themed discussion here? lol
*starts creating a list of presents* -small bottle of Ice wine for  Einatsu and penultimate too?  Ice wine tea for dragoncat.  Anything else for anyone?
Better a picnic than a sleep over, I think. It is better to eat and then walk it all off rather than eat and fall asleep with chocolate on my face.
*adds to the list*: maple flavoured cookies and fudge…. Anyone interested in Ketchup chips? I hear you don’t have them in US?
@dragoncat I  went to google what  cheesesteak is and wow, I could only imagine all that warm melted cheese. ^_^ The pictures were a bit too much but the description in wiki sounded  amazing.
@Einatsu wow, excited for your adventure across Asia! Expect me to bug you for stories when we meet up in Japan. (That is, if you will be travelling in Asia already before meeting up with us in Tokyo)
@Amaya928  nah, you won’t need it. And if you will, you can get it in Japan and it will be much cuter/cooler too. And thank you for reminding me about taxes ,will have to do those this weekend.
P.S.  Re Nutella:  ohmygosh, is this for real?!  http://superduper.co.za/lucky/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/nutella1.jpg

[YYZ kifujin]

Late post is late -_- well, real life is keeping me busy now.
Hmm I see that my mention of Teahouse here stirred up some… emotions (?)  that was not my intent of course. I merely made an observation that the subject was mentions before. Otherwise, let the floodgates open (lighting flashes and the mad sound of evil laughter is heard over the canyon while her cape flutters behind her)
@ penultimate thank you for explaining about the curfews at the hostels and hotels.
@Tamil-A vegemite:  that would be awesome! Just hide the  jar in the plastic bag amongst some socks and underwear and no one will look for it lol. Please let me know if there is anything you would like in exchange.  “Not to mention being in the presence of such two amazingly talented women” I think I might start to hyperventilate even before we take off.  No, no, I kid, I promise I will be civil. (psst magnolia186 please refrain from mentioning that you ever seen me being a fan girl >.>)
@ dragoncat vegemite  is like this gooey spread that is….salty? and is made from  yeast extract.  If I get it, we shall test it out and see what’s it like. Ice wine tea is pretty much black tea with the flavour of ice wine.  I’m not sure where you are from  (if you have snow there)  or if you know about wine, so I will explain what that is too , basically sweet and fragrant wine, made from the grapes that are left on the vines till they freeze with the first frost.  The area where I live close to is like a world’s largest ice wine producer apparently. If you would like, I can bring you a tiny bottle… and/or some tea.
@Simona Nara welcome to our group. When did you go to Japan before?  Are there any places you want to return to again?
I really have to stop with these long posts. Perhaps I should just poke my head in during the week.  On the other hand, I feel like I’m writing a letter to multiple pen pals ^_^ aww you guys, you sound like a such a friendly bunch,  all from different walks of life, jobs and ages.  I think I’m just as excited meeting you all as much as seeing Emirain too.
Oh that reminds me: Presents to Emirain? Ideas?  Fan drawn artwork? Cookies in the shape of cats, in shape of letter “A”?  Presents for you? Lollypops for everyone?
On an important/interesting note: May 7th in LA, Meet up anyone? Possible travel companion/explorer of the walk of fame? What are your plans?  Or is it too early to tell?

[YYZ kifujin]

Weeeeell one week of busy time and another week of no internet, and I miss all the new things and e-mails and other awesomeness. Sso to catch up (from page…  like, 6)
@Tamil-A  I am already looking forward hanging out with the fellow foodie and I um would really like to make a small request of you. Would you be so kind as to bring along a small container of a mysterious spread called Vegemite that you have in your far away land. In exchange, I can offer some, Maple syrup or ice wine tea or other local goodies, bargaining and bartering is encouranged.  Please let me know if it is possible, as from what I have seen ( at least from people eating it on YouTube), the reactions are varied, and I have to try this to know  for myself.
Yes I am excited about Ghibli Museum! Yes, it will be my pilgrimage, and nothing can stand in my way! This is MY  Disneyland!  Even at work, for the holidays I got the book “art of my neighbor Totoro” I got all teary eyed for I knewwwww, it’s fate!  Totoro you great, fuzzy, creature from my childhood, I shall seeeee youuuu in person!  *ahem* well  that is out of system now, moving on.
Fantastic to see our group growing. Welcome to Einatsu and  Moonwitch and  Miryei
Re: language discussions. Here are my two cents.
#1 thing to know for sure (anywhere you go in the world for that matter) “Toireto doku deska?” Cus when you need to go, you gotta go
#2 Thank you=arigato. Please=Onegaishimas (Or kudasai for the “give me” actions) Excuse me= Sumimasen
#3 Left=hidari,  Right=Migi.
Aaaand with that you are pretty much good to go. I also I try to carry a pencil and a small notebook on myself when I travel, hey if you cannot say it or play charades, at least you can try to play to Pictionary.  
Curfews? Wha? I will be more worried of missing the last train and getting lost in the city, and that will be  my curfew lol. However, I am actually surprised that this topic came up, are there people on this tour so young that need to have curfews? Or someone has been on a tour somewhere before where curfews were imposed? I am not… really sure how this works. In fact, I think I forgot what it is like to have a curfew.

Also, on another note,  for over 8 pages of conversation ( we even talked about weather!) and I am surprised to see no one has mentioned anything  Teahouse yet.  Yes we are going to Japan amd its going to be awesome,  but…come on its THE Teahouse ladies, and we are going to meet them in person and shower them in affection (and try to beg them for spoilers >.>) and say how much we love them and support them and and and.. yea. Views?  Opinions?
 
Onto the business matters now. There is no way that I will be able to fly in to LAX on the departure date and still make it on the flight,  so I am thinking to arrive at least a day before.  Perhaps I can arrive on the weekend and spend a few days exploring the city. I might not get a chance to visit Los Angeles again anytime soon.  Anyone interested?  Meet up? Possible  Travel companion?  What are your plans?
Cheers Fellow BLTeeeeeers  …and sorry for the long letter >.>

[YYZ kifujin]

@ dragoncat– I actually had to google “H Mart” ( doesn’t that just sound naughty? “Welcome to the H  mart! The place for all your Echiii pleasures” lol) turns out it is  just a Korean grocery store. Apparently we have one here too but I have never been there as it is too far away. Whenever I get a craving for Korean snacks or gimbap I stop over in a store in Koreatown on the way from work. Will have to explore on the weekend. Also “newborns look like tiny, wrinkly aliens fresh from the apex of  their mother’s legs” I could not stop laughing and almost chocked  on my tea. That is some way with words there lol
@Lanny Liu – already writing an e-mail to you guys ( with lots of questions^_^)
@ Tamil-A– high fives back. When I come back, I will be like, these noodles are not to my standards… and this okonomiyaki is not fluffy enough! Graaaah! *swipes hand across the table in rage*

[YYZ kifujin]

@dragoncat–   well that is great that you don’t know anything about the places on the itinerary. That way you will be pleasantly surprised when you will get there. That IS the beauty of travel! Not knowing what awaits you once you step off the plane.
@Tamil-A– high five for the fellow foodie. Oh my gosh, I dream of the ramen and crepes, and onigiri and buns  and all sorts of other snack foods and ice creams and oh oh all the Kit-kats with strange flavours that I will be able to get my hands on. ( I think I am drooling a little even now)
@penultimate – re not buying a lot. Well it does not have to be stuff for your apartment. It can be food! For you! Like all those snack foods and cookies in those space consuming pretty boxes.  (wow, see I am  on a  roll here with the food… a nicely frosted cinnamon roll, lol….sigh oh man that was lame >.< I ‘m sorry)
@Alyssa Jennings– greetings and welcome Secret Agent Jennings. May I be so curious as to inquire where you are from… unless that that is a secret too.
@Gimena Gusteler hello new  joiner. Welcome!  Buenos Aires was mentioned here when we were trying to determine who will have the further distance to travel to get to Japan.  It looks like you are the winner, congratulations.
Also, regarding payments, has anyone received any invoices yet?I have only submitted one payment so far and did not get any othe invoices sent to me. Just wondering if it is just me and if I should be concerned or it has happened to others as well. Thank you.

[YYZ kifujin]

Oohhh well  this has been a while. And we are on another page already? That is what happends when you miss a week with flu.
@ Tamil-A no I do not write. I guess I can offer an excuse that I am too busy, but that a lame excuse, because I certainly find time to real manga, or going  on trumblr for example. I used to dabble in writing back when I was a student, ( mostly shreds of stories, uncompleted scenes and random dialogues and such) but it was never in the range of BL.  In fact my experience with BL/slash  fanfiction was not the best, but that is a story for another time. (Maybe when we are all sitting around in the hot spring we will talk how we all discovered yaoi or something, nothing beats relaxing around in warm water with not a shred on and discussing how we discovered smut stories.).
I work full time, and I am not a teacher but I work with students and teenagers (who  sometimes seem to be pretty much still children but with grown up bodies). I work for a student travel company. Grad trips, March break and ski trips and such, in the admin side of help desk…department (so on the phone you have to be cool with the teens and then all professional with their parents.) Sometimes there are bad days (like when it is busy like nowadays) and then there are days when you realize why you are doing this after all and why it is all worth it.
@Amaya928  I am doing the extended part.  Three things that I am totally looking forward to 1) Shinkansen ride. 2) old temples in Kyoto (although one day is not enough>.<!) and  3) oh em geeee  Takarazuka Revue performance… I am so excited for that. I keep going to their site to see what play will be on at that time.
Anyone making a wish/shopping list yet?  Like for CD or specific books and/or manga related goodies? It’s probably just me, with my grand plans and ideas so far?

[YYZ kifujin]

@ Tamil-A Well, I think it was a very appropriate way to bring in a new year, fitting too , seeing that this is the year that we are going on this ultimate BL party in Japan. So what better way to bring it in then celebrating your fujoshi…ing.
Say, where can we read these writings of yours. Are they on any fan fiction sites?
Happy New year everyone! Oh and btw, 3 months till the final payment date, woot!

[YYZ kifujin]

@ penultimate—Oh,  grandmother does not need to know the umm… gritty details.
Say, Otome Road is a wonderful harmless little street that is just filled with book stores, that sell predominately comic books and art books. * a la show and tell* See grandma, it is clean and filled with sunshine (and then you can show her this google map image) https://maps.google.com/maps?q=35.729624,139.717462&ll=35.729104,139.718102&spn=0.007499,0.016512&sll=35.729624,139.717462&sspn=0.007499,0.016512&t=m&layer=c&cbll=35.729624,139.717462&panoid=neNAdcKvyZhL8_lcnoEO1A&cbp=12,20.25,,0,0&z=17
and every store looks like this https://maps.google.ca/maps?ll=35.730358,139.719862&spn=0.003057,0.014645&gl=ca&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=35.730358,139.717814&panoid=hK10stPnOglffojru4ywxg&cbp=11,156.07,,0,0
Or like this, look at all those pink girly comic books ^_^ https://maps.google.ca/maps?ll=35.731795,139.719036&spn=0.003057,0.014645&gl=ca&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=35.731797,139.719035&panoid=VjBW0CDYgNbL1Sk6IWSJGA&cbp=11,308.71,,0,0
(although there are some  posters that are visible in that last image there, that might not be a good idea to show her, but they are rather small and blurry looking, so I think it will be ok)
Two of my friends are also going, but I have not seem them on this forum…yet?

[YYZ kifujin]

@ kittycat78 Woot, fellow Canadian * high fives *
@Tamil-A  re: is it cold in Canada. Depends where in the country.  I am more to the east, and it is not really cold now, on average -5C or so. Well, maybe in the mornings with the wind chill might be like -10. So, winter coat weather but you don’t have to wear thermals yet
@dragoncat I remember the first time I mentioned/showed BL to a male friend. The reply was “oh, so it porn… with men” kind of like meh not big deal reaction, but I could see that he was a bit uncomfortable lol. Well, we moved on and it was never mentioned again.
P.S. first time travelers, I am so excited for you XD

[YYZ kifujin]

 @ Tamil-A Well hello there fellow Commonwealth citizen. Well that will be a rather lengthy flight for you too. Besides, (at least for me) whenever I fly somewhere, the outbound flight always feels longer. I think possibly due to the anticipation. Not to worry : watch a movie, discover some new CDs offered in the aircraft media …centre? and have a nap, and before you know it you will already be landing.  The best part for you though, the time difference is not too great so you will not be so jet laggy and ready for adventure.
And hello to every one else too. As to how many of us are there will be, so far there are 4 of us here, not counting Lanny (who said that there are a lot of us…I wonder if it means 10? 20 of us? Tis’ a mystery).  I’m just excited to meet other fans/members of the teahouse community and so I pondered at our group size.
@ Lanny Liu you say  “people  coming from *pretty* far”,  but you want  it to be a surprise? This is torture, why do you tease us so?! Well, hold on a min here, the Earth is pretty much round so the  furthest would be some place that is on the opposite side of Japan (right through the globe)…  Somewhere around Argentina then.?
What I’M hoping to find out soon (or at least to know when we might find out this information) is what airline we will be flying with from LAX. This is with hopes to so that I can try to find the connecting flight(s) that might be code sharing with that airline (I’m a trying to save on baggage fees here if I can >.>).
Happy upcoming holidays everyone!  (Its Festivus party time at work tomorrow for me, woot!)

[YYZ kifujin]

Hello everyone! I am counting down the weeks, looks like we have about 21 weeks left.  That is, ONLY 21. Besides, 21 sounds  less than 145 days even if it is weeks.  Oooh, will have to start looking for flights soon. Debating if I should fly to Tokyo straight or fly out to Los Angeles,  meet the everyone and then fly over the ocean with the whole group.
I wonder how many of us in this group? Oh I am so excited to meet everyone. XD

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