Hello guys! (If anyone is still here..), I decided today I'm motivated enough to write up a quick post about my trip (which is now... like six months ago oh my). Its totally awkward now but that aside, uhm ... following on from Yamagata we went to Hakone, which is sort of near Tokyo and another city called Takayama! I managed to get a glimpse of Mt. Fuji whilst on the bullet train, which I thought was really lucky. Yes I did take the photo while the train was still moving, skills right? 

 Yeah, so we checked into the hotel and tried to find vincent some food before dinner but alas there was nothing around so he curled up into a ball and took a long as nap on the floor whilst I went to have a dip in the private hot spring bath in my room. 

 Room was pretty small, but hey its clean and looks good so no complaining. We even bought some Choya (alcohol) and enjoyed it next to the bed.  

 Pk, vincent & I went for a little walk around the town and it was mostly just lots of little food stalls with a quiet ambience to it. But we spotted an adorable dog omg. A shiba Inu. 

 Nevertheless, a great view don't you think? We bought some Haagen-daz icecream after dinner and power walked all the way home with some peach Choya and proceeded to plan out the next day which proved slightly hectic as we were going to try on Kimono/Yukatas but that is for another day! 

I feel so lame just summarizing things from so long ago - maybe I'm meant to talk more about my thoughts or something interesting but ah well. 10/10 for awkwardness. 

Good night to you all :) 

Penny 

P.S. On a side note for something ACTUALLY recent in my life - I GOT A NEW CAR !!!!!!!!! It is a beautiful red Mazda 3 and I am in love.

I don't know whether it is because it is my final year as a student or just because I've simply grown to love travelling, but this year I have so many trips planned and lets just say with only one work day a week, my finances are going down the drain. Goodbye to all my hard earned money hahahaha (and welcome the experiences I shall gain in return). 

I am going to Melbourne in June, Taiwan & Japan in July and hopefully at the end of the year I'll have another trip to celebrate my graduation! Other than that, there are also Balls and social events to think of. I've been letting myself go this year, just enjoying life (also eating a lot, I cannot seem to stop eating). Oh well, lets hope I finish all my blog posts before I go on my next set of adventures (unlikely).

I think its getting to the point that I really need to accept that blogging isn't a huge passion anymore - I guess because so many things happen every day that I cannot be bothered to document it anymore. I remember back in the day when I used to share every single detail. I'm probably mumbling to myself most of the time but ya know. 

At the end of this year, if I still have money left I am going to treat myself to my first designer bag ever (hopefully a kate spade or prada). That is quite a commitment I have made, considering how cheap I am. Oh well. 

Okay, so it is totally awkward that you are all reading posts about my life approximately four months ago - and it has remained like this for a while but oh well. I have yet to sort out half the things I need to in life so this will have to suffice. 

We set off from Tokyo and took our first bullet train ride to Yamagata, which is a city in the Tohoku region in Japan (area affected by the earthquake few years back). Actually, we didn't have much planned because the plan was mainly to splurge on something fancy experience a Japanese ryokan (inn).

We arrived at the city and managed to find our way to Yubou hotel Ichiraku with the help of some Japanese locals we met on the bus. They were so cute, asking us about Australia and giving us directions to the hotel once they learned where we were going. 

After we settled at the hotel, we called up a taxi to take us to Yamadera (Risshakuji) temple as it was just a bit too far for a walk, not to mention freezing. With my broken jap, I managed to have half a conversation with our driver and they were nice enough to agree to pick us up after we were done. 

My two adorable minions. As you can see, my gloves were stolen by somebody... 

After some miserably snuffling and blowing into our hands for warmth, we eventually made it all the way to the top and the view was so so worth it. We did manage to see some spots of snow collected in the corners, but not enough to start a snowball fight or anything. That being said, you can definitely see some snow in the mountains. 

We proceeded to the dinner hall and was presented with a huge banquet, and this wasn't even all of the food... our waiter was super nice and could speak chinese and Japanese which was convenient. 

Vincent, Pk and I were too pansy to go into the public Onsen (hot springs), since you know, nudity is compulsory so we booked a "private" onsen. It was like $20 to book the entire spa to ourselves, no limit in the number of people. Look at this..... 

It was so goddam amazing. We went against tradition and wore our towels into the spa. This was the outdoor area with two hot spring pools, a bamboo garden and washing area. 

There was even a bamboo room mirrors,  featuring a bathroom, massage chair, high class shampoos, hair dryer, water and other assorted items. 

Of course, the night wouldn't have been complete without some Japanese cherry wine and the likes :3 It has always been a dream of mine to stay at a Japanese Inn, experience the hot spring and have some cold drinks afterwards. 

Hello guys! 

Yes I'm aware I still haven't followed through with the rest of my Japan posts , but anyhow I feel like I'm always so busy lately. That or I'm just getting lazier. Anyhow, I thought I'd do a bit of a mini update just so you all know I am still alive. I've just moved out of home tonight actually - I'm staying on the gold coast for ten weeks because I'm doing clinical placements there. 

I love my room. I live with a lovely russian family who have said I can use everything in the house - a good sign I believe. That and the whole house is gorgeous. I'll be renting with victoria, we both have a room each. So excited at the prospect of going food shopping, exercising (hopefully) and making our own meals. I'll only have four days of placements instead of five, so hopefully that leaves a bit more time for me to do some other things (like blog, for example). 

Bit by bit, I think my life is falling into place. I've still got things that I have to do here and there, thanks to me putting it off - like seeing the dentist. But, having survived four years without an appointment before, I think I'll be okay for now. Yes, I know you are all horrified.  

So far, I've just been enjoying me one week off from placements and uni before I will be busy again. I should be starting my assignments but I think I'll just wait and relax for now. The last few days have been pretty eventful and busy, safe to say I'm making the most of my holidays I think! All I need to do now is find some more time to blog about the rest of the Japan trip. 

I've been pretty indulgent lately with my food and shopping - I keep finding things that I want and finally have enough conviction to buy them for myself. I invested in my first pair of middle-range priced heels the other day and I have new adorable bedsheets. Oh, and of course another pair of kicks just in time for my next placement! 

Victoria and I have found a place to stay on the gold coast for ten weeks during placement. The plan is to gym together with Joon after placement and have chill days on the beach! So happy we got it all organised.