JAPAN LAND.

 It was initially my intention to write a Haiku to compliment my Japan post, but after a massive weekend of moving followed by two 8-5 days at uni, combined with an overall lack of sleep (life of a uni student huh?), I don't currently have the mental capacity for such a task. So instead you get my Japan trip in non 5, 7, 5 form.

So welcome to Japan. Where you will find the most polite people in the world, but will not find Sushi.

After 2 weeks in Thailand, I was back in Australia for a mere 3 days before jet setting off again to the land of Japan. Upon arrival, a minibus drove us (my fiancé and his family) through the night to our lodge at Hakuba, where we spent the next 7 days enjoying (arguably) some the best snow in the world.

 Our trip was perfectly timed in the weather cycle to enjoy the massive powder dump and beautiful sunshiney days. This was my first time snowboarding, and its safe to say I'm addicted, though after being spoilt with such perfect conditions it'll be hard to be content with Australian "snow". The powder was so amazingly soft - it brought out the child in all of us. After clambering over a giant mound of snow, I was astounded to find a forest where I could barely contain my glee "I found Narnia!" I yelled to the others...There was plenty of frolicking to say the least. 

As for the mountains in Japan - they are probably the most picturesque thing I have ever laid my eyes on. So picturesque it was unbelievable to the point where I was honestly waiting for someone to pull a string and the whole facade to come falling down to reveal a wasteland. The pictures just can't even do it any justice.

It may sound strange but I had serious wardrobe envy on the slopes. I found myself constantly eyeing off the pretty, little, trendy Japanese girls seriously rocking their snowboarding gear. Clashing prints, baggy pants, and seemingly carefully thought out layers of oversize everything - flannel shirts, hoodies, beanies, bandanas and jackets. I so badly wanted to be like them...

For our last day in the mountains we went on a tour to see the snow monkeys in the onsens (hot springs). Such an strange interaction as they were so at ease in the presence of humans, however you were warned not to stare into their eyes or laugh at them (baring teeth and eye contact is seen as a threat). I practically had my camera glued to my face the whole time trying to avoid such an encounter. I'm not exaggerating when I say that they actually tried to catch you staring at them. From the snow monkeys we briefly visited an ancient town and a temple.

As the rain set in, we left the snow and headed for Shibuya in Tokyo. Such a crazy amount of people... and signs... and cuteness.  

Our 3 day stay in Shibuya consisted of shopping, Starbucks, more shopping, site seeing, and unintentional Irish pub crawl (couldn't find karaoke), some of the worst cocktails I have ever tasted, swan spotting and....more shopping. But alas no Tokyo drifting through one of the busiest crossings in the world. Maybe next time.

Not to self: do not break in new boots while on holidays - no matter how good they look.

さようなら

Sayōnara

THAILAND III: MEET ME IN PARADISE

Alas we are at the third and final instalment of my Thailand travel posts. And as autumn weather sets in and I sit here on my first day back at uni I thought there was no better time to reminisce. We ended our adventure on the unbelievably picturesque Phi Phi Island. And I must say, we quite literally found paradise. While the rest of our Thailand experience was a full on adventure in which we never stopped. It was one thing after another. But our agenda for our 3 night Phi Phi stay was empty. Nothing to do but swim, sun bake, snorkel and eat...

I may be biased but I honestly believe we stayed on the most beautiful part on Phi Phi Island. Still close to everything but far enough away that you could enjoy tranquility and beauty of the island and RELAX (as one should when on holiday). We had an amazing beach side bungalow on Long Beach that had views overlooking most of the island. The water was the clearest, purest blue that I have ever seen. We dined with our feet in the sand, with the sound of waves softly hitting the beach within ear shot. 

Phi Phi was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and as I'm sure a lot of you may already know (via Instagram) that the main contributor to this was that my boyfriend of almost 6 years proposed to me on our first night on the island. Now I won't go and get all mushy here, but enough said that it was perfect. He set up his GoPro on the pretence that he wanted to time lapse the sunset, hence why we have the beautiful photos that we can share with everyone and keep forever. And no.... I actually wasn't suspicious at all.

That night we had dinner at said restaurant, and thought it was fate that we saw two lanterns released up into the night sky. Well until we realised they released more than two... and they did it every night... But still we don't focus on that.

So after our stay we said good-bye to Phi Phi, good-bye to Thailand and good-bye my Thailand tan as we were heading for the snow!