Ghostwritten by David Mitchell

My rating: 2 of 5 stars






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Onsen!

Let me start by saying onsen are awesome! Awesomely awesome...possibly my favourite thing about Japan...maybe even surpassing the food.  That's how much I love onsen...it wasnt always so - haha.

What did I know about onsen to begin with?  Not a lot to be honest.  Hot water springs from volcanic activity? Yes. A big hot indoor/outdoor bath that you shared with complete strangers naked? Yes.  The majority of onsen are sex-segregated? No, I didnt know that.  You scrub yourself down & make sure you're completely, sparkly clean & suds free before you get in the onsen?  No, I was a bit vague on that bit too.

So it was with complete & utter trepidation that I agreed to go to an onsen for the first time with my cousin Shane & his wife Samar.  And before you all start thinking what a total prude I am, please refer to question & answer 3 above...I didnt know that the onsen was sex-segregated!  How relieved was I that I didnt have to share a tub with my naked cousin?!  Ah yes, we can all laugh at my stupidity now.  Whatever, I'm over it and I love onsen :)

So the deal is that you pay, go into the changing room, strip off and put all your clothes into a locker - then you & your towel go into the "washing area" for want of a better phrase.  All of the onsen I've been to so far are really nice..they all provide shampoo, bath gels, even fancy face scrubs so you are squeaky clean before getting into the actual springs.  Then comes the best bit...choose your tub..inside or out...sit down and AAHHHHHH - it's frigging fantastic :)

Event raises ¥3.4 million for Pakistan flood victims | The Japan Times Online

My cousin living in Tokyo is president of Tokyo Helps and this is one of their fundraisers organised this year - this one for Pakistan. I was lucky enough to be in Tokyo for the event & be able to help out on the night. To date they have raised approximately USD 42k for Pakistan to be split evenly between Oxfam & World Food Program. Great job Tokyo Helps!

Event raises ¥3.4 million for Pakistan flood victims | The Japan Times Online

Book review of Barefoot Gen

Barefoot Gen, Volume One: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima by Keiji Nakazawa

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


My first time to read a cartoon book - and its excellent! The author's foreword is also chilling. Everyone - adults & children should have to read this series. I intend to finish it.



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