Autumn Leaves 紅葉

In spring we enjoy pink trees (I have yet to enjoy it yet, though, I will in a few months time). In autumn, we enjoy orange trees. One of the popular destination is Arashiyama (嵐山) in Kyoto. The viewing period around here is mid November to mid December. It was 見頃 (Migoro -- viewing time) when I went there last weekend.


Hankyu transfer train #1.


Transfer train #2. Katsura station. XD


Queueing to get out of the station. =_=;;


Following the people to get to the river. Definitely will not get lost, everyone's heading the same direction.. XD Pretty view, right?


The food stands were so crowded. Didnt feel like sitting in the crowd.


Bought an "Aki Dango" though. ¥100.

The famous Togetsukyo (渡月橋 -- Passing Moon?) bridge at the background. Some of the trees are leaveless though. Is it sakura? The pigeons were flying in groups. So pretty.

Geisha? Or a cosplay? Not sure.

Passing through this small garden to go to Tenryuuji temple. There are restaurants inside. Actually wanted to eat the Tofu there. Kyoto's also famous for the tofu?

Sitting at the balcony of the temple while viewing the pond and the background. So pretty, and I love the tatami feel. I could just sit there all day... ~o~

I like this railing design.

See those orange leaves... *o* So pretty...

Just on the left of the Tenryuuji North gate. You can't miss this. It was stunning... I wish I charged my camera.

Took the train to Nijo-jo station, to transfer to Karasuma Marutamachi station. This is pretty big. The mall behind has a cinema too.

Rainbows! I haven't seen one for a long time. Took several pics of it at different places.
This is taken at the Kyoto Gyoen (京都御苑), a big park surrounding the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Too bad you need to make reservations days before to enter the palace. It's not open everyday, and many people visit, too.

There were patrol cars going around the big park. It's seriously so big and anyone can enter it freely... How can they guard the whole place really...

I saw 2 trees like this. *o* The fallen leaves are pretty...

Well, it gets really dark at night, there are barely lightings. Time to go home. It was so freezing that my hands and feet hurt.

Bought from Kyoto. Shinsengumi chopper. A papercraft of Kyoto cart. Actually I like the "Machiya" better, but it's just square, easy to make by yourself if you want. But this one.. the wheels have detailed holes *o* And a pretty postcard for a friend. I should've posted it from Kyoto, eh... orz




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Summer Wars サマーウォーズ

So today I went to watch Summer Wars. It's released on 1st August, though I only watch it after seeing a documentary with Hosoda Mamoru, the director. It's an awesome movie. o_o!!! Here's the first 5 minute of the movie.

Basically the story is about an AI bot went beserk and attacking an online community, OZ, which also ended up messing the communication system in Japan. The main character is a high school boy who (almost) represent Japan in Mathematics Olympic. He won a Janken over his friend and won the part time job offered by his senpai, quite an idol in the campus. The job, was actually to be the senpai's boyfriend! She wanted to introduce him as her boyfriend to the grandma, who'd be having a big 90th birthday party in a village in Ueda. And the problem happened during his stay in the castle-like house...

Some points that caught my attention:
• The amount of tech and gadgets stuff!! The online community and Windows 7 to start, super computer, Japanese cellphones, Nintendo DSi, iPhone (complete with AT&T signal, owned only by Wabisuke-jichan? Not sure if the friend's also own one), a laptop that looks like a Dell.
• Why is it that the stupid action wasn't punished?! The ice, the fight...
• But I suppose without these annoying scenes, it won't be a complete movie?
• I don't understand why the need to damage the completely nice house...
• The family's history went back to Sengoku era, and there were some war talks, which I don't really get, must study on that. So the movie not only includes some high tech stuff, but also the old Japan itself, and very stylishly. I thought it's awesome.
• I thought the nosebleed scenes are so cute. No, it's not perverted.
• Family is important, really. I always like it when my big family gather around in new year's and some other events. Not a family that get along perfectly well, but I do love that we still make time to gather around. I hope it continues.
• Seems like sitting till credit finish will be my habit. They never turn on the light before the credit finishes. I like it anyway, not rushing to go out...

Definitely a must watch anime. I want to rewatch it again! X3



Other than that, Namba Parks, where I watched at, is such a stylish place. Love it. But it'd be very dangerous to visit Namba so often (too much dangerously want-to-get stuff, either otaku goods or zakka goods). Went to Denden town too. Finally got myself an Animate member card. The Bantorra pics is a free brochure from Animate, it has some info on new Anime/goods. Then, by printing out this coupon, you can get the Hello Kitty strap, Animate Tenchou version... XD

Ghibli Layout Exhibition

Ponyo ponyo ponyo...♪

Today's destination is Ghibli Layout Exhibition!
You can see the map trip below (sorry, only partly..., I was impatient to wait for the GPS to connect).
Not that it's that much of a walk trip anyways.

I love anime. One of my dream is to become a mangaka, or at least doujinshika. I want to try becoming an animator, too. Tough job, but doesn't it sound cool? But to be one in Japan is... really tough. First is the very high average skills people here have, second is the visa thing. But nothing's impossible, I'm sure. One day I'll become one! ^o^/ This Japanese culture is just so world wide already, from time to time I see foreign otaku interviewed on Japanese TV. Though, it's a bit ugh to be stereotyped as gaijin who come to Japan because of anime/manga. ^_^; Though I do can't deny it fully.

First up. The train manner monkey series was at the Osaka-kou Station (大阪港).

And this very cute dog was sleeping... Luckily I went the wrong way, was going through the smaller street, not the main street, a shortcut, I guess.

The ticket is ¥700 for student. ¥600 if I remember to take the voucher...

Outside is a big Totoro board, where you can lay down, pretending you're on top of Totoro's belly. Too bad no one's there to take a pic for me... =/ It was already evening by the time I went out. I was in there for almost 3 hours ^_^;;

There are two long boards for people to put their own stickers. I'm not sure what these creatures supposed to represent. I do remember seeing them somewhere... orz

Mine's somewhere here.

Anyways. I'm not a big fan of Ghibli, actually, sorry. I'd rather see Production IG's or Studio 4C's. But Ghibli is big. And this thing is not something to be missed (ends 12 October in Osaka). The layout exhibition is awesome. From those yellowish ones that are older than me, to the most recent Ponyo's colored layout design.

It just makes me want to watch more Ghibli's anime, and make my own (ahahaha). Bought the book, 400 pages thick for ¥2900 (1 for a friend) and some postcards.

Layout is something drawn after E-konte (storyboard), to picture better how the scenes should look and animated, since it's hard to change once you go into the actual drawing process. Except for Ponyo's exhibition, all of them are only drawn by pencil and colored pencils. Some are just so rough. Some are very detailed. And they have these "technical words" written on them, like "follow" or "pan up". There are other words which are not pure english, but I can't remember them, ahaha. Oh wait, "kumi" which is when the "cell" touches the background. I'm not sure what's the scratch lines (have to see them close enough) doing on the paper, maybe it's explained on the audio tour (¥500), which I didn't get.

It looks like these (from the thick book). The display for Spirited Away one is the best. The castle-ish building is printed big on the wall. And the layout drawings fill up the wall from below till the ceiling. And they're so pretty and detailed... =A=

Afterwards, I went to get something to eat. Suntory Museum where the exhibition's held is just beside the aquarium. These lamps are just so sparkly cute. I don't like aquariums, though... Uncooked real fish scares me, though salmon sashimi is kinda yumm.

This is at a nearby mall. I think there's a similar place in Dotonburi? I've never been there.

Restaurants and shops. I ended up eating a Tendon. Haven't had tempura for a long time.

Next to the mall is this giant ferris wheel. One of the world's biggest. ¥700 for one adult (oh wait, I just see it's having a special price for ¥560). This place really reminds me of Odaiba, on a much smaller scale, though...

And that's the end of today. Two gallery trips in a week. =D
Next coming up is Inoue Takehiko's exhibition, I think... sometime next year?
Most of special events is ending this early October. Hm, well. Summer ended and new semester is beginning soon...

ghibli layout exhibition
Map created by EveryTrail

Osaka Castle

hal festival, osaka castle, duck
Map created by EveryTrail.

The photos aren't that clear since I didn't take my time taking them. Just sort of went along.

Went to see HAL-Mode Festival today, and it's at Osaka Castle Hall. They displayed HAL final year students' projects, and most of them really are "game" centered like. They made it look like game centers. Awesome. Didn't get to play them since I was late though. The Mode Gakuen was also awesome. I really like the veggie costumes. They also invited Tsunku, and he sang some songs. It was like a concert.

Afterwards, since Osaka Castle is just nearby, I went to see it. It's been 9 years since I first saw it. I didn't get in it, just passing by. I remember the gates, but can't remember inside the castle itself. The train ride costs ¥200. This one goes to JR station.

You can climb these steep stairs to see the surroundings. It's really steep.

There's a lift to climb up. Hehe, looks so modern.

This is Osaka history museum. Reminds me of Tokyo University.

There are many families bringing their kids to spend the afternoon here. Some are tourists. Some people draw. Some people took pics. And there's one monk over there.

There's a temple nearby. Just outside one of Osaka Castle's gate.

Some food stands outside the temple. Ikayaki (grilled squid) and shaved ice with syrup.

Out of the castle area, there's NHK building. And a park, people jog and sat around. Nice weather too.

See the yellow blob in the middle? (Is walking through the small street) Getting closer...

Ack. It's behind this weird looking Osaka special tourist bus.

Urmm... from the butt! XD People are busy taking pics! And I hear some music...

There's a robotic dragon boat bursting fire and water alternately!

The dragon retires. Putting the big yellow thing to the attention again.

(quack!)

The giant yellow thing is a balloon rubber ducky XD It's his last day in Osaka. He's gonna continue his trip round the world tomorrow.

Comparing with people's size.

If you see from セカイカメラ (Sekai Camera), it's like this... very crowded. Lots of people use iPhone, eh? And that app is really popular. Or maybe everyone who has iPhone has セカイカメラ and post one thing here?

On the other hand, Autumn is coming!

Below is a more detailed GPS track. Ignore the max speed. Haha ^_^; Not sure how it gets that.



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