Mito's Kairakuen during Autumn

Last weekend Angela and I wanted to go see 紅葉(kouyou = autumn colours/maple) at some mountains that were an hour away from our place but then the weather app said that it would rain soon so we decided to go to Mito's Kairakuen(偕楽園) instead. 

I don't think I've ever been here during Autumn. I usually come during Spring to see the Sakuras and I've been here a few times during the Summer. Anyways, we weren't expecting much since to us the Kairakuen is more of a Sakura place and not so much a  kouyou place.

We were delightfully shocked to be greeted at the front gate of the gardens with a row of tall, golden trees. They looked magnificent. The leaves matched my yellow peplum-looking-but-actually-Revel-cut top, which I'd been eager to wear but just haven't found the right time to do so. So stocked!

The above scenery looked so much more awesome because the night before it had been raining so the leaves had fallen and made a gorgeous golden carpet on the ground. Just look at all those beautiful shades of yellow and orange!

My OOTD :)

I took the above picture because it looked like that photo of that place in the ocean where the two different coloured waters meet but don't mix with each other. A beautiful gradient of yellow to orange to burnished browns.

The red leaves on this tree were so eye catching I had to have a photo of it.

There's Angela at one of the look out points in the gardens. From here you can see a good portion of the other side of the gardens, which are huge, and the huge lake in Mito too. Just above Angela's head you can the roof of one of the historical buildings in the garden. I think the entrance fee for that is ￥200.

This looks so Japanese, don't you think? I love it. This part of the garden is near the East Gate, I think. From here you find your way to a bridge that connects this part of the garden with the one across the street from it.  In that garden there's a もみじ谷(maple valley) which is a winding path that has Maple trees hugging it from both sides. At night they light up the place for a more romantic feel.

Entrance to the Kairakuen is free. From Mito station take a bus towards the Kairakuen(bus stop 4). You can buy a day pass for ￥400 which lets you ride the bus for as many times as you like (within certain areas) and they give discounts for the entrance fees of a few places like the Art Museum and such.

Ibaraki Hitachinaka Seaside Park; Tulip Season

Every year we go to this park at least 3 times because every season there's always something beautiful to see. This time we came for the tulips, which Angela and I missed out on last year due to bad timing. 

Entrance fee is ￥400 for adults.

The sight that greets us upon entrance

If you don't already know, here in Japan we separate trash accordingly

Sakuras

We rode our bikes inside the park because on foot it would have taken thrice as long and we weren't up for too much exercise. There are bike-only lanes throughout the park so you don't have to worry about crashing into people.

The flowers are so pretty! 

Gift with the tulips

Doesn't it look like we're all in freaking Holland and not in Japan? Awesome.

There's even a windmill, albeit a fake one

This park also has designated BBQ areas, children's playground, some rolling hills that overlook the ocean and huge grass lawns perfect for a picnic.

I read somewhere that this park was listed in the Top 10 Parks of the World or something.


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The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask Review

I have oily-combination skin so I'm always eager to try out any products that'll help out with my problems. Those problems being my super shiny T-zone, minor bumps all over my face and the occasional zit. I love pampering myself anyways, so taking time out for a facial is such a no biggie to me.

This time I decided to try out Body Shops's Ionic Clay Mask from their Seaweed line. 

I use this once a week and maybe twice a week if I'm going through an especially rough time. When I first apply it, I'll get a cool and tingly sensation. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes then wash it off. When I wash it off, it also instantly turns into a scrub because the hardened bits turn into scrubbing beads. I like the smell of this mask. It's a kind of minty and medicinal type of smell.

Looks like your average clay. It's not.

I love this! I think it really has helped reduce my oiliness and when I use it on top of zits, those zits get smaller and go away quicker too. 

My dry/normal spots like my cheek area, don 't get dried out or feel stretched after using this, so that's also a plus.

I've had this tube for a few months now so I think it's not expensive for how much product you're getting.

Price : ￥2940

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Yamaguchi

On the 9th of June I had an entrance examination at Yamaguchi University. Yamaguchi is really far away from where I live now. Like I had to get on a plane type of far. Japan is basically made up of four parts; Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Well, Yamaguchi is on the very bottom edge of Honshu. 

Yamaguchi University was my second choice. My first choice was Gifu University (which I've gotten into, FYI). I tried out for Gifu University by recommendation so I didn't have to sit for any papers. For Yamaguchi University however, I had to sit for their Maths paper. I only studied for like two days which explains why I could barely answer the questions. I so suck. 

I booked a ticket a month before my departure so I was entitled to ANA's Early Bird Discounts. I think my tickets were half price. Woo! Still had to fork out almost ￥15,000 for a return ticket for Tokyo's Haneda to Yamaguchi Airport though. I was just glad that the Yamaguchi Aiport was so close to the university. If I had decided to travel there by train, it would have taken me around 8 hours-ish. So not gonna happen.

A bunch of my friends were also trying out for this university, so for me, it was like a mini holiday too. 

My journey; from Haneda to Yamaguchi

The MAGIC button

I got a window seat which was awesome, but I was at the wing part, not so awesome. Anyways, there was this button below the window. At first I wasn't sure what it was for but then the sun started to bug me so I wanted to pull down the window cover thing but there wasn't one! I came to the conclusion that this button was responsible for getting the sun's rays out of my eyeballs.

The top white half will let more light through while the darker lower half will dim the lights. How cool is that? I have no idea how this works. Is there some sort of chemical in the glass or something? I want to know!

The change in the strength of the light is gradual. It's not like it'll instantly darken but it will slowly fade(?) into the desired strength.

I got the wing seat. Urghh...

The window without any adjustment

The window after I've darken it to the highest level

From left to right : Shah, Me, Ahmad, Acap, Kimie and Azul

Men in suits are just so...

At the Yamaguchi Airport

Weird egg art thing at the airport grounds

This is the furthest I've ever been in Honshu. I'm thinking of travelling to Kyushuu next year. Fukuoka; land of no tax!

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Hanami(Sakura Watching) in Tokyo

This year I decided to join the Hanami gathering at Tokyo and I'm so glad I did. The park was beautiful! Of course, it was also totally packed with people. This event was held at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. It was held by the MSAJ and also JAGONG.

My outfit of the day :)

How super pretty is this?!

To get a spot at huge parks like this, usually a few people will be selected to 'book' the place they want to gather and those people have to be at the park by around 6AM to make sure that they get a good place. If you've just joined a new company, there's a high chance that that person could be you. 

The Japanese will start to gather around 11AM and eat lunch together. There'll also be a lot of drinking and singing. The whole Hanami atmosphere is really fun. Everyone looks forward to it every year.

At our gathering, we ate Tomato Rice and JAGONG sponsored a cake. We also had a couple of games to break the ice.

The JAGONG representative giving a little speech

So MANY PEOPLE!

Sakura!

More Sakura!

SAKURAAAAAA

The weather was awesome and I got to meet up with a few friends and make a few more. Till next year!

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Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea

The handholders(?) on the Disney train lines.

Who doesn't love Disney? A while back a few college mates and I went to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. We spent the first day in Disneyland and the next day we went to DisneySea. Both theme parks have special campaigns throughout the year and during those times you can get your tickets at a slightly cheaper price. Yay!

I advise getting a hotel in the 舞浜・浦安・船橋・幕張 (Maihama /Urayasu /Funabashi/ Makuhari)  area in Chiba and then going to the theme parks by train. You won't have to worry about parking. Also, the exits get really jammed around closing time because everyone's basically rushing to get out so using the train will save all the hassle. 

Tower of Terror

The water show at DisneySea

So romantic

I notice that DisneySea is more popular among young Japanese couples because the place is pretty romantic.

It was around Halloween when we went so the whole park was decorated accordingly. The park is especially beautiful during Christmas and I want to go so bad but it's usually so packed with people that I just give up.

They all do amazing things during Easter! *cute Easter bunny hops on by

Halloween at Disney

Cinderella's beautiful castle

The Dream Lights Show

There's a fireworks show at the parks every night so make sure you don't leave too early, you wouldn't want to miss it. It was so fun!

Note for Muslims : The soups at the theme parks are made with chicken stock, even the seafood stew, so be careful when you buy your food.


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id bareMinerals Foundation Review

I got this on eBay a while back and this is what I whack on my face every morning before I go to school, if I haven't overslept at least. 

It came in a cute little bag with a ribbon :)

I got the shade Golden Medium and this comes with SPF 15, which I love. Some protection is always a plus. I've been using this for a few months now and it hasn't broken me out. When I fist apply it to my skin, it can look a bit too powdery but after a minute it'll kind of 'set' into the skin and leaves a natural matte finish. I have normal-combination skin and when using this my T-zone still gets shiny but it's nothing that a blotting paper can't fix.

                                         

Application : I use a kabuki brush. On school days, I don't wear primer and instead just some sunscreen underneath.

Coverage   : Medium. 

Finish         : Natural matte.

Pros :

- blends easily

- doesn't cake up

- comes in lots of shades

Cons :

- no major setback that I can think of

Price : Can't remember around ￥3200, I think.

Note : the new packaging comes a more controllable sifter so it won't get all over the place and makes it more convenient for travel.

If you have any comments about your personal experiences using this product, don't be shy to share in the comments section :)

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation Review

I've never used a foundation before opting instead to just stick with my mineral powder foundation but lately, I've been wanting to give them a try so I bought this. 

Note : Seeing as how it's Summer right now and was Summer during the time I used this foundation, my skin in combination-oily. I don't really get acne anymore though my skin does have a few tiny bumps and minor discolouration. 

I bought shade 53 Light Beige, which was the darkest shade the store had. There were only 3 shades anyway. Such a disappointment. It doesn't match my skin tone perfectly. I come off like 2 shades lighter but because my setting powder is my correct skin tone, the end product looks okay. Even though it is a gel foundation it doesn't look matte so if you're like me and have oily-combination skin, setting powder is a must. I love how this foundation smells. It says that it has vitamin-rich fruit therapy so I guess I'd describe the smell as being sweetly fruity. After a few hours, I notice that it'll get patchy around my nose area. I've been using this for about a month now and it hasn't broken me out. 

Application : I use a stippling brush. I wear a primer underneath to help it last longer.

Coverage   : Medium
Finish         : Dewy

How it looks on my skin after a strokes. It'll look better once blended out evenly

Pros : 

- blends easily

- smells awesome

- hydrating

- comes with a good pump

Cons :

- not recommended for oily skin, better for normal/dry skin types

- can start to get patchy around T-zone area

- only comes in 4 shades in Japan and they all kind of look the same, which I think is just ridiculous 

Note for girls who wear scarves : Setting powder is a must because without it the foundation will rub off on your scarf/hijab. 

Price : ￥2100

If you have any comments about your personal experiences using this product, don't be shy to share in the comments section :)

Sleeping in Tokyo on a Budget

I live and study quite close to Tokyo so I do travel there pretty often. I'm currently a student so I'm not exactly swimming in cash. In this post I'll share my experiences in a few hotels/hostels in Tokyo and I'll recommend some.

Keep in mind that Japanese websites are mostly in Japanese. Try using the Google translate option when you right-click or get someone who can read Japanese to help you out.

1. Iriya Station Hotel
This is the link to their page on Jalan.net -> click
When I stay here, I take their Student Plan(学生限定) which is ￥2980 a night. This is probably the cheapest hotel room I've ever stayed in Tokyo. The room is typical Japanese small but still comfy. You get your own toilet and shower in the room. It doesn't come with breakfast. Check out is at 10:00am. Keep in mind that if you get out later than 10:00am, the elevators might not be functioning. They probably do this because Japan is really particular about electricity usage during Summer. This happened to me. I had to carry my 30kg bag from the 7th floor. I died several times on those stairs.

2. Khaosan Tokyo Guest House(s)
I've stayed in the Khaosan Tokyo Original and Khaosan Tokyo Samurai. Both places were clean, beds were comfy and close to train stations. The staff are friendly, helpful and can speak English. Prices range from ￥2000 per person/per night to ￥4000 per person/per night depending on which one you choose and what type of room you want. Not all of them have female-only dorms. Some are shared. A few have private rooms for 2 to 4 people. Basically, highly recommended.

3. Sakura Hostel Asakusa
Mixed and female dorms are available. Clean, comfy with English speaking staffs. Prices start from ￥2940. Only a 5 minute walk to the closest train station. They also have branches in Ikebukuro, Hatagaya and Jimbocho. Click here -> other branches

4.  Hotel New Tochigiya
I've personally never stayed here. It's 6 minutes walk to the nearest station. A Japanese tatami room for 1 with no toilet and shower in the room is ￥2800 per night. There's also capsule rooms but it's for men only.

For those of you that want to try to spend a night in Japan's famous capsule hotels, they're not that hard to find. Most capsule hotels cater only to men. I've found a few that either cater to women only or have a women only floors.

1. Capsule Hotel & Sauna Ikebukuro
They cater to both men and women. Women get their own floors. Lockers, shower rooms, toiletries are all provided. ￥2800 per person/per night. 6 minutes walk from Ikebukuro Station.

2. Hotel Siesta Ebisu
They have male and female capsules. Women get their own floor. ￥3300 per person/per night. 30 seconds walk from Ebisu Station.

3. Capsule Hotel 510 Shinjuku
Women only capsule hotel. 3 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station.

If you have any recommendations or questions, feel free to post in the comments section below.

The Body Shop Lily Cole Shimmer Cubes Palette 24 Review

Before I went back for a bit of a holiday in Malaysia, I went shopping in Shibuya, Tokyo and I dropped by The Body Shop there. I was tired after a few days of sightseeing so I decided to try their facials(will have a post of this up later). After the facial was over, they even do your makeup using The Body Shop makeup items. In my opinion, their mineral powder foundation is nothing to rave about, their concealer/highlighter didn't provide enough coverage for my panda eyes but their shimmer cubes eye shadows were awesome.

Palette 24

Pros :

- you get a lot of product for a reasonable price

- the colour payoff is satisfactory. It's not as pigmented as MAC eye shadows but I think that's a good thing because sometimes you can put too much and look clownish.

- it lasted throughout the day. 

- the packaging is cute

Cons :

- the powders are not as soft to the touch as MAC eye shadows

Look at how much product you're getting !

The colours on my fingertips

Price : I bought mine in Malaysia so it was RM79. In Japan it's ￥2940.

Verdict : I like it and would recommend it.

Plus, here's a video with a tutorial using all four of those awesome colours.

If you have any comments about your personal experiences using this product, don't be shy to share in the comments section :)