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minotravelspot · 2 months ago

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First Day of Class

I find this blog really funny in some ways. I get to ramble on and on and know that whoever is reading is people I'd usually probably ramble to anyway. So if my posts get long winded and just generally a lot of text oopsie not sorry. We're here and I've got stuff to say ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

I'm writing this one through the day so it'll have some random thoughts in it. One thing though I've been thinking a lot about being here is how the States are. It's nice talking to other Americans here if for nothing else than to just be able to take solace in each other and note how different the place we are living is. While we haven't been here very long theres already a massive difference in food quality, quantity, and feeling. It's nice to not feel like garbage after eating out, even at McDonalds. (Melon Fanta I love you so, I've only seen it sold at McDonalds so far. Otherwise it's all grape T.T)

My first class was Japanese. Which was kinda fun. We sang songs and played games to learn counting. It was a lot like being in kindergarten again ¯_ (ᵕ—ᴗ—)_/¯ I got a headache from trying to remember everything but overall it wasn't bad. In between Japanese and my next class I found the dining hall and did my homework in the international student lounge, which ended up being really loud but it was too cold to be outside.

My second class turned out to be an art history class. I am not a fan of art history classes. At all. Its usually a lot of going in circles about the meaning behind things, and first day of that class we were talking about how two gardens were different and okay. After the first two times and points you'd think it's good we're done. Nope. People just kept raising their hands like they HAD to talk and say THE SAME THING in a different way. I'm not going to lie, I stopped paying attention when that happened and I kept hearing the same point repeated. I ended up doodling my sona in my notebook since nothing else was going on.

Anyway after that, frankly kinda awful class (looking if I can change it), I went to Lawson to pick up a snack and some food for later. I'm planning on going to the store today (next day) since I didn't make it there yesterday. Which the only reason I didn't is because we had a residence meeting at 7pm. I don't know about you all but that seems like such a bad time for a residence meeting???

I was already tired by the time it was time for it and pretty much spent the whole thing curled up in my jacket to avoid the noise. To the RA's credit it was well done. Especially to boost moral and everything. They were dressed in costumes and had music. I was just too tired and wanted to go back to my room to eat and pass out.

Overall I haven't found the dorms here awful, but I won't miss them in the slightest. My unit isn't too noisy but my ac unit likes to sound like it's drowning at about 5am-7am and every time someone walks by I can hear it. I miss blasting my music when making food or showering, and walking around however I want to the bathroom. I especially miss how easy it is to recharge my social battery back home. I don't like missing things here but I get tired and grumpy of people being around them so long. I know it's only the start of the second week but man I am so tired.

Bonus Song

youtube

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nerdgasmnoire · 3 months ago

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Nerdgasm Noire 55: This Episode is Kind of a Bummer

01:40: The Cupcake Garden

02:30: Mel does American History

05:28: Busing

08:55: Luigi Mangione

12:07: Why McDonald's Man Who Led Cops to Luigi Mangione Might Not Get $60K Reward

20:44: Anthem reverses plans to put time limits on anesthesia coverage

24:00: When a medical insurance CEO was shot dead, people celebrated his death. What does this tell us about American healthcare?

26:38: ‘His little human shield’: Elon Musk called out for suspiciously becoming more fatherly

29:00: Tesla Sued Over Exaggerating Mileage Claims In Class Action Lawsuit

30:21: Luigi Mangione’s political views from left and right �� he had ‘concern for the future of humanity’: pal

35:00: Killing of Jordan Neely

38:25: What Paapa Essiedu Playing Severus Snape Means For The Harry Potter Show

42:02: Letting the art and the artist go

43:10: Neil Gaiman controversy explained: All allegations against The Sandman creator

46:40: What is bringing your hosts joy

48:00: Miss Scarlet and The Duke

50:51: Doechii’s Tiny Desk & GNX

57:58: Drake alleges Universal falsely inflated popularity of Kendrick Lamar diss track ‘Not Like Us’

1:01:05: Mel’s advice to Drake

1:02:32: Jaleel White Believes ‘Family Matters' Is Overlooked In Black Community Because It Didn't Tell "Hood Stories"

1:07:44: Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell Say They're 'Good' Despite Harassment Lawsuit in the '90s

1:09:57: Jaleel White Shares Awkward First Date with Bianca Lawson and College Tensions with Gabrielle Union in Growing Up Urkel

1:11:30: Smut Book Club LIVE!

1:12:11: Where to find your hosts!

"Check out our carrd to see where you can find us! https://nerdgasmnoire.carrd.co/

Make sure you join our new discord channel and hang out with the community! https://discord.gg/7DqMZSy

ENJOY!

Hosts: De, Jamie, JP, Maria, Melissa, Storm

Producer: De, Jamie, JP, Maria, Melissa, Storm

Writing Team: De, Jamie, JP, Maria, Melissa, Storm

Editor: De

Audio Production: De

Theme Song: Feelin Good provided by Mike (Pound 4 Pound Podcast) & Marion Moore from ALBM Production

Design: JP Fairfield

Social Media: Melissa, Storm"

Latest Episode of Nerdgasm Noire On-Deck!

#NERDGASM NOIRE NETWORK #NERDGASMNEWS #PODCAST

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chuck-snowbug · 1 year ago

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走っている途中にお腹が空いて食べたもの八景・その８０ - Foods I Ate During Running Part 80

1: Chikuwa Bread of "Bakery Fujiya" at Tsurukawa - October 2023

2: Onigiri of "Lawson" at Mitaka-Nozaki-Yonchome - October 2023

3: Onigiri of "Ministop" at Narita-Tsuchiya - November 2023

4: Onigiri of "FamilyMart" at Narita-Kamifukuda - November 2023

5: Egg Cheeseburger of "McDonald's" at Sanuki-Ekimae - November 2023

6: Sandwich of “FamilyMart” at Atsugi-Asahicho - November 2023

7: Onigiri of "Lawson" at Komazawa-Olympic-Kohenmae - December 2023

8: Crispy Fried Chicken of "Lawson" at Nishi-Shinjuku - December 2023

#bread #onigiri #fried chicken #japanese food #marathon

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lumin-au · 1 month ago

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Day 7: Akihabara Arcades

Every time we return to our apartment, a massive swerving LED sign floods the streets of Akihabara, cycling through flashy ads for anime mobile games from Yostar. The constant barrage finally wore me down, and I decided to try one.

After some browsing, I landed on Aether Gazer, a free-to-play hack-and-slash game. I don’t usually play mobile or anime-style games, but this one felt surprisingly fluid, modern, and, most importantly, fun. I plan to keep at it during downtime. At least until the inevitable pay-to-win wall appears or I find something else to scratch the itch.

Official Launch Trailer // Aether Gazer

A Rainy Morning In

The rain was relentless, and exhaustion from days of exploration finally caught up with us. So, we spent the morning holed up in the apartment, diving into YouTube videos. One specifically about Japan’s rail system.

One fascinating deep dive covered their ongoing transition to Maglev bullet trains, a futuristic 600kmph marvel currently stalled due to a small strip of land a government official refuses to “taint.” Bureaucracy at its finest.

Delayed: Japan’s $64BN Levitating Bullet Trains are no Longer on Track

I also used the downtime to catch up on writing; two days' worth of experiences had piled up, and it was time to put them to words.

A rainy morning calls for a solid breakfast, and Lawson’s delivered yet again:

Melon Pan: This one just tasted like sugar, not much melon flavor. Still good, but not as memorable as the first one I had.

Egg Sandwich: Fluffy, light, and simply amazing.

Maple Syrup Butter Pancake: I usually don’t care for pancakes, but this one was soft, buttery, and syrupy perfection��better than desserts I’ve had at actual cafes.

Grape Jelly with Jelly Squares: Sali’s pick. She said it was “very nice.”

By late morning, we were restless but not keen to go too far. We craved games and decided it was finally time to give Akihabara’s arcades a proper deep dive.

Before the games, though, Ramen. The rain and cold practically demanded it. After scouting for a spot without an outrageous line, we landed at Menya Musashi Tsukemen Ramen. We came at the right time as the line showed right out the door behind us.

Ordering was done via a touchscreen (similar to McDonald's and KFC), and we stashed our umbrellas in the stand before sitting down.

The kitchen was a well-oiled machine. Staff moving in precision, each focused on their task, minimal talking.

When the food arrived, it was clear why this place was so popular:

Sali’s dipping noodles with pork: The pork was unbelievably tender. She declared it the best pork she’s ever had, despite not even being a fan of pork.

My pork ramen: Just like hers, my pork was really tender. Rich broth, hearty warmth, and an egg that nearly exploded on my plate when I broke it.

Full and satisfied, we went to retrieve our umbrellas. Only to find mine missing. Given the downpour, I felt a little bad but ultimately did what everyone else does: took another. The whole umbrella stand system in Japan seems to sadly operate like a community bookshelf. Leave one, take one. Unless you keep it on you at all times, it's bound to change hands.

The Arcade Gauntlet Begins

First stop: Namco, then Gigo 1 (formerly SEGA Arcade before the buyout), Gigo 3, and finally Softmap.

Each arcade followed a pattern. The first floors dominated by claw machines. We gave in to temptation, wasted some money, and, unsurprisingly, won nothing.

The prizes ranged from adorable anime plushies to stylish figurines, with a mix of trinkets and the occasional overly suggestive statues. Claw machines and Gatcha machines (capsule toys) easily take up 30-50% of each arcade.

Mobile Suit Gundam 2 OverBoost (Battle Arcade)

A high-speed mecha combat game featuring intense aerial battles, flashy animations, and deep mechanics. While impressive in it's pace, it was a bit overwhelming for a first-timer versusing a pro in the shop, requiring quick reflexes and knowledge of the Mobile Suit abilities and the characters. Both which I didn't.

Mobile Suit Gundam Arsenal Base (Autobattler)

A strategic card-based Gundam game where players deploy Mobile Suits to battle in an automated format. You would place cards with RFID built into it into the slots to select characters you'd use for the match. Kind of like a Yu-gi-oh dueling arm band but in the arcade. What stood out was the recycling system for spare cards. A lot of cards left in there to use and play with for someones first time with a request not to take them all so others could use it. Each play would dish out a card. I won. This one. It was fun.

Taiko no Tatsujin (Master of Drums) (Rhythm)

A classic Japanese drumming game that’s deceptively simple but wildly challenging. We attempted advanced mode. Pure chaos. Sali still beat me.

Chunithm Verse (Rhythm)

A fast, complex, and visually intense rhythm game using a mix of touchscreen and motion gestures. Felt like a Piano version of Rockband (You know that guitar that had the touchpad on it?). Watching the pros play at ridiculous speeds was impressive.

maimai Derakkusu PRiSM PLUS (Rhythm)

Sali’s favorite. The Washing Machine rhythm game. The game’s circular touch interface and touch screen made for a unique rhythm experience. We decided to choose a easy song first, then a more advanced one. We both got the hang of it. She beat me twice. Just barely. We might end up looking for these in Melbourne.

Ongeki bright MEMORY (Rhythm)

A flashy, anime-stylized rhythm game with collectible characters and story elements. Solid mechanics, though it leaned heavily into its anime aesthetic. You use the three buttons to match the rhythmic beats including an extra 2 wall buttons, use the joystick in the middle to avoid bombs and stay within the lines. Complex and interesting.

Dragon Ball Super Divers

A 3D arena fighter featuring Dragon Ball characters and a card system, but it felt clunky and lacked the impact of other DBZ games or arcades. Felt like a card game that had some slow QTE. Maybe it was the tutorial level but I was left unimpressed.

KanColle Arcade (Naval Strategy/Collectible Card)

A game where WWII battleships are personified as anime girls. Yes. You heard that right. Despite the absurd premise, it had surprisingly deep strategy and engaging mechanics. It also had a card system. You had a ship steering wheel and speed gauge to navigate the waters, dodge missiles from enemies and lock in to fire your own. I actually enjoyed it. And will probably continue playing it during my time here.

Need your Google Translate out for all of these.

Softmap: Retro & Shopping

Unlike the other arcades, Softmap was a hybrid shop/arcade.

It had:

More arcade games, but this one focused on more retro and emulated games. My kind of vibe.

Anime figurines and mech model kits

A mix of PS5/Xbox Games

Books, Music and Games (of the adult variety)

And a café at the top

We went full nostalgia and played some retro arcade games.

L.A. Machineguns (Rail Shooter)

A futuristic on-rails shooter with non-stop action. Sali got wiped out on the first mission, while I managed to hold out until midway through the second.

Tekken 7 (Fighting)

We recreated our first date—Leo vs Kuma (The Bear) (A 'The Revenant' movie we made on our first date.) The controls were all in Japanese, leading to some wasted money until an japanese arcade worker kindly reset the machine for us and got us our credits back.

Chase Chase Jokers (Action)

Confusing at first but grew on me. A hybrid of capture the flag, king of the hill, and tag, with a Splatoon-inspired aesthetic that made it vibrant and energetic.

Bombergirl (Arcade Strategy)

Anime girl Bomberman. I didn't play it. But I got the gist.

Initial D The Arcade (Racing)

A high-speed drift racing game based on the legendary manga. The arcade worker spotted us and helped us navigate through the menus to play together. What a legend. I beat Sali by 18 milliseconds. She insists she won “in spirit.”

Somewhere along the way, I lost my umbrella again. It’s probably found another owner by now.

There was much more to see but I could see Sali was getting tired so we made our way to look for Dinner.

Dessert for Dinner

After hours of gaming, we craved something sweet. Enter Club Marion and Pie Mania.

My Pick: Club Marion’s Banana Chocolate Brownie Almond Chocolate Ice Cream Whipped Cream Crepe

A mouthful to say, but absolutely delicious. Like a banana split kebab.

Sali’s Pick: Pie Mania’s Apple Pie

Sweet apples, creamy custard, and a crust that was still flakey at 8 PM. The perfect portion size. She wants to try the chocolate pie next.

Bellies full, we made our way back. Closed the night with hot showers and crashing onto the bed.

#Japan #Akihabara #JapanQuest2025

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nagaasia · 2 months ago

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Definisi Franchise

Franchise, atau waralaba, adalah model bisnis di mana pemilik bisnis (franchisor) memberikan hak kepada individu atau badan usaha (franchisee) untuk menggunakan merek dagang, sistem operasi, dan dukungan mereka [1, 4, 7]. Sebagai imbalan, franchisee membayar biaya awal dan royalti kepada franchisor4. Model ini memungkinkan perluasan bisnis dengan risiko modal yang lebih kecil bagi pemilik merek7.Definisi Franchise Franchise adalah pemberian hak oleh pemilik merek usaha kepada pihak lain untuk menggunakan, memproduksi, atau menjual merek tersebut1. Dalam kerjasama ini, franchisor memberikan dukungan kepada franchisee berupa hak pemanfaatan merek dagang, dan franchisee wajib membayar biaya serta royalti sesuai kesepakatan [1, 4].Jenis-Jenis Franchise Ada beberapa jenis utama franchise2:

Franchise Produk: Menjual produk yang diproduksi oleh franchisor, seperti pakaian atau barang konsumsi. Franchisee bertindak sebagai distributor atau pengecer di wilayah tertentu [2, 8]. Contohnya McDonald's, HokBen, dan J.CO Donuts5.

Franchise Jasa: Menyediakan layanan yang didesain oleh franchisor, seperti perawatan kesehatan atau pendidikan. Franchisee memerlukan pelatihan khusus untuk menjaga standar layanan [2, 5]. Contohnya adalah studio foto dan jasa travel5.

Franchise Makanan dan Minuman: Menawarkan makanan dan minuman dengan merek dan standar yang telah ditentukan, seperti restoran cepat saji dan kafe2.

Franchise Gabungan: Menjual produk berupa barang dan jasa5.

Manufacturing Franchisee: Mengizinkan franchisee untuk memproduksi produk merek tertentu dengan bahan baku yang disediakan oleh franchisor8.

Business Opportunity Ventures: Mengharuskan franchisee untuk membeli, mendistribusikan, atau memasarkan produk dari perusahaan tertentu8.

Contoh Franchise Terkenal Berbagai merek menawarkan peluang franchise di Indonesia, meliputi [1, 3, 5, 6, 9]:

Makanan dan Minuman: KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Sabana Fried Chicken, Kebab Baba Rafi, Es Teh Indonesia, Rocket Chicken, Donburi Ichiya, Kebuli Abuya, Gildak [1, 3, 6, 9].

Ritel: Indomaret, Alfamart, Lawson, Alfamidi1.

Jasa Logistik: JNE Express, SiCepat, J&T Express, Ninja Express1.

Jaringan Hotel: Aston Hotel, Mercure Hotel, Ibis Hotel, Novotel, Hotel Santika1.

Keuntungan Bisnis Franchise Bisnis franchise menawarkan sejumlah keuntungan7:

Merek yang dikenal: Mengurangi risiko karena merek sudah dikenal konsumen7.

Sistem yang teruji: Franchisee mengikuti sistem operasional yang sudah terbukti sukses7.

Dukungan: Franchisor menyediakan pelatihan, dukungan teknis, bahan baku, serta strategi pemasaran dan iklan4

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sleeppaw · 2 months ago

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Working on Chapter 30 of 75 Years

For the Victors' Statuses as of the end of the 30th Hunger Games, and let's just say every Victor before the 22nd Hunger Games except Lucy Grey Baird is a parent to at least one child. Basically the current Victor Breakdown is like this:

Pre-Dark Days born Victors: Edgar, Virgil, Ginny, Horsa, Mmseyone, Paris, Chive, Samson, Hestia, Lucy Grey, Mags, Tammy and Molly.

Dark Days born Victors: Dinah and Kronos.

Volumnia Gaul Era Victors: Woof, Bailey, Maxmillian, Imogen, Caelus, Alexei, Helios, Rachel, Huyen, Eric, Aaron, Rheneas, Taliesin, Skarloey and Victoria.

So far, two sets of siblings have won the Games, Paris and Hestia Curl and the Rowe brothers. The latter is the reason why Victors cannot Mentor relatives. Two Victors are Second-Generation: Taliesin Georges and Victoria Curl, which will result in a 27-year gap of Second-Generation Victors.

Year of Birth for Victors:

B.D.D 17: Edgar Parlour

B.D.D 16: Virgil Barde

B.D.D 15: Ginny Canova, Horsa Georges

B.D.D 14: Mmseyone Musk, Paris Curl

B.D.D 13: Chive Carmichael

B.D.D 12: Samson Wilson

B.D.D 9: Hestia Curl

B.D.D 7: Lucy Grey Baird

B.D.D 6:

B.D.D 5: Mags Flanagan

B.D.D 4: Tammy Winchester, Molly Frost

B.D.D 3: Dinah West

B.D.D 2: Kronos Jackson

B.D.D 1:

A.D.D 1: Woof Casino, Bailey Thornton, Maxmillian Jaaskelainen

A.D.D 2:

A.D.D 3: Imogen Roosa, Caelus Harris

A.D.D 4: Alexei Gandy

A.D.D 5: Helios Molyneux, Rachel Oakley

A.D.D 6: Huyen Le Duc

A.D.D 7: Eric Vega

A.D.D 8:

A.D.D 9:

A.D.D 10: Aaron McFall, Rheneas Rowe

A.D.D 11: Taliesin Georges

A.D.D 12: Skarloey Rowe, Victoria Curl

Year of Birth of deceased Tributes:

B.D.D 17: Elizabeth Oates, Rocky Turner

B.D.D 16: Danielle Andrews, Wilma Wilson, Samuel Plumptre, Xavier Morgan, Jasmine Arnold, Trolius Critchley, Martin Norman, Gregory Burns

B.D.D 15: Natasha Adams, Eric Odegaard, Stuart White, Anita Bedford, Robert O'Brien, Erin Grealish, Tarquin Henshaw, Gemma Turner, Emeline Bader, Linda Swift, Ethelbert King, Ariana Birdwell, Hercules Roberts, Denny Hamilton

B.D.D 14: Wilbert Horrocks, Hazel Haaland, Rachel Leith, Florence Sykes, Yuna Wexford, Fern Norman, Elizabeth Plantagent, Clemont Albon, Evie Ahmet, Keanu Westwood, June Holloway, Amethyst Rickards, Jack Heyer, Ursula Lavene

B.D.D 13: Thomas Graveson, Tanusha Armstrong, Quint Sampson, Henriette Waverley, Charles Sharman, Goddard Davis, Juliana Dean, Tilly Zane, Basil Reid, Horatio Styles, Oliver Shields, Danae Colwill, Deborah Glosswill, Jewel Chaney

B.D.D 12: Polly Lawson, Simon Thomson, Denzel Wallace, Corienne Sakata, Arianne Montford, Duncan Peake, Ash Blake, Jussi Branson, Quentin Springfield, James Kendall, Sophie McHale, Denis Rostron, Taliesin Searson, Ginger Carmichael, Wheat Murdoch, Flora Demaine, Swift Roswell, Harold Hennessey, Lachlan Hennessey, Theobald Wong, Athena Hislop, Granit McKennie, Fiona Grissom, Leah Andrews, Rolex Head, Ariadne Hopkins, Faith Dolman

B.D.D 11: Clive Campbell, Honeysuckle Lewandolski, William Zeriporath, Percy West, Daniella Hertzen, Francesc Dove, Saffie Pope, Carlos Spinner, Beatrice Draghi, Billy Thompson, Set Daniels, Gordon Wilson, Alicia Scott, Barbara Cantwell, Tabitha Reeves, Fabio Shepard, Ian Perez, Berry Birtwhistle, Moora Reinheldt, Meredith St. Laurent, Malik Hammond, Cedric Armstrong, Crystal Aramani, Hermes Steenson

B.D.D 10: Jack Oxenbridge, Esther Reinhold, Selene Ambrose, Summer Pearson, Tor Dybala, Danielle Verstappen, Gregory McDonald, Lucy Higgins, Samuel Lanegan, Fig Demaine, Amber McCready, Briony Goram, Josephine Knutsford, Cynthia Dobson, Rufus Goth, Fabrian Rees-Mogg, Acantha Coller

B.D.D 9: Emily Gore, Claire McNarama, Travis Hubble, Davy Poldolski, Vincent Biden, Johnathon Scott, Alastor Harris, Alexa Thompson, Dallas Gill, Gwen Maxwell, Europhia Whitmore, Zeus Thornford, Rollo Unsworth, Therin Lee, Dinah Beckham

B.D.D 8: Riko Tomiyasu, Lumber Hirsch, Richard Bellerin, Bessie Georges, Volts Shearon, Raihan Javeed, Mark Babbage, Rafferty McAuley, Xavier Daniels, Sarah Glosswill, Venetia Conrad, Buttercup Mort, Theseus Warman, Tethys Claxton, Coast Porter, Quiona Murdoch, Apis Weald, Becky Cox, Piers Wheatley, Margaret Plantagent, Samir Khan, Ondine Wharton, Samantha Renee, Alexander Wright, Vincent Cooper, Coleen Weir, Marcus Lance, Jessup Diggs

B.D.D 7: Allie Crean, Nell Hawkesworth, Eleanor Skarbinski, Natalie Devlin, Cordelia Barett, Raphael Sherwood, Ross Butt, Edmund Hartley, Matisha Young, Maeve Hill, Thor Chang, Kainalu Milton, Becky Mitrovic, Angelica Truss, Facet Boleyn, Sabyn Rosicky, Panlo Schafer, Brandy Kuse, Tanner Brutscheidt, Reaper Ash, Chardonnay Emerson, Ajax Hutcherson, Diantha Hood, Mollie Watkins

B.D.D 6: Dana Humble, Miriam McCullock, Graham Price, Korden Baker, Katrielle Marshall, Will Sinner, Dusty Carroll, Vladimir Gagarin, Kiki Palin, Plum Chambers, Ley McHale, Bede Griffin, Cherry Gore, Clovis Klass, Lacey Scholfield, Blossom Arteta, Heron Viera, Ashley Compton, Velvereen Howard, Circ Abold, Hy Dinkleage, Otto Blyth, Bobbin Gibson, Nova Trump, Callum Lampard, Dylan Colwill, Kylian Armstrong, Michelle Osment, Beryl Whittingham, Amaze Renner, Sandy Crouch, Achilles Evans, Kano Murrel, Buckle Crompton

B.D.D 5: Fredrick Hardman, Lesley Stafford, Chuck Ramsey, Passiflora Wallis, Layla Sharpe, Llewellyn Searson, Coral Lansing, Sol Benson, Lamina Boehm, Fifi Soucek, Oliver Matthews, Shardai Radcliffe, Richard Waddlingham, Graph Giedoric, Rose Lineker, Terance Gove, Cascade Benanti,Juniper Buschschluter, Phoenix Grealish, Venus Kroenke, Fabrege Tella, Squire Morelle, Mare Dani

B.D.D 4: Beta Zukerburg, Twine Saliba, Edric Drake, Ginnee Zegler, Treech Berrecloth, Wovey Sanchez, Dill Steeples, Gus Davis, Thimble Ball, Wilfred Mehrtens, Axel Dooley, Quiona Van Dyke, Daisy Dove, Jennifer Bale, Sorghum Yates, Eleanor Rice, Marvellous Bennett

B.D.D 3: Ewe Potter, Mizzen Dillon, Sheaf Liao, Miguel Keena, Bella Bradshaw, Amphere Powell, Daffyd Wilson, Polly Arkwright, Clover Mellark, Thora Andam, Maurice Kendall, Laura Norwood, Tingle Wilde, Juniper Haaland, Bramble Benham, Devon Dent, Agate Inch, Atlas Duncan, Shaun Hudgell, Hydrogen Molyneux, Farro Marginson, Olivia Penfold, Apatite Trump

B.D.D 2: Clara Scarpa, Avatrix Sturridge, Durian Obafemi, Sakura Mehmi, Ella Gower, Saturn Rashford, Planter Shelvey, Raphael Lukic, Maisie Zephyr, Eden Farrel, Jocasta Kerr, Timothy Cheng, Aalto Simms, Lyndsey Schirra, Marty Schirra, Velvey Wyn, Dekopon Luby, Rocky Correa, Sirius Dobson, Romney Sachar, Hersilia Bride, Aethra O’Callaghan, Corkie Rhyder, Justus Tuchel

B.D.D 1: Jude Giraldi, Summer Jamieson, Kellie Rutherford, Graham Darling, Mustang Raikov, Moana Odair, Demeter Whitehead, Bronze St. Laurent, Augusta Hopkins, Volta Lovelace, Kirsty Darvill, Birdie Potter, Brock Hale, Aquamarine St. Laurent, Brucite Naples, Sagitta Evans, Owen Lightoller, Brontes Bell, Homer Platz

A.D.D 0: Zap Yongge, Vinyl Worthley, Brett McCallum, Aja Chandler, Tamie Ward, Pork Russell, Apricot Tarrant, Belinay Chasson, Gull Wharton, Emilia Wilson, Bartlett Zusak, Annika Upson, Ezekiel Palma, Blue Martinelli, Bulgur Shaw, Chelsea McCann, Cheddar Relph, Anchor Calafiori, Gabriel Duckett, Dartmoor March, Lyla Jackson, Terrari Gill, Monty Heyer, Drusa Lansbury, Beck Hinton, Branch Appleby, Bee Mitford, Hermione Kerr, Adolphus Turner, Nobby Carmichael

A.D.D 1: Urania Bell, Paillette Rooney, Avel Stein, Violet Gore, Vivian Higgins, Carob Chambers, Declan Wheatley, Topaz Hirst, Antares Mayot, Adhira Rosati, Laguna Roseau, Ahana Sachar, Mae Ruvkin, Avery McCurdy, Clarabelle Ralph, Cornflower Murray, Blue Anderson, Mozzarella Ambros, Peridot Bennett, Alexandra Evans, Tiberius Hood, Pine Haaland

A.D.D 2: John Blakeway, Barak Zukerburg, Annona Thornley, Iseult Lowe, Radish Humble, Bria Hartley, Story Mancini, Wilbert Cantwell, Zapana Young, Rusty Finchett, Joanne Lukic, Emu Shelvey, Dragon Nielson, April Swift, Fife Crook, Hop Whittingham, Pearl Colwill, Francia Kirkland, Hector Aldrin, Coller Manthei, Tempest Calafiori, Silica Payne

A.D.D 3: Steve Kelce, Darn Garfield, Custard Clarkson, Paul Dooley, Clotch Crompton, Chardonnay Lord, Lithium Soucek, Trench Calafiori, Whatnot Radcliffe, Bay Osment, Audhulma Lanegan, Crow Weir, Quartz Aramani, Pearl Rickards, Hilaria Morelle, Corentin Winchester, Sycamore Rykwert, Kaniwa Schwartz, Gouda Smithills, Amy Grissom, Buttercup Webb, Ametrine Grande

A.D.D 4: Umeme Manville, Ociel Musk, Flora Carmichael, Wattson Andam, Craig Giraldi, Turbine Dafoe, Anna Chapdelaine, Calico Arkwright, Loin Devlin, Edmund Roswell, Wheaton Gbangbola, Faraday Plummer, Serena Peazer, Cartier Duncan, Kendall Verstappen, Malik Hammond, Dougal Irons, Chicory MacFarlane, Alstaia Ramsdale, Bluebell Rice, Rain McGee

A.D.D 5: Bluebell Johnson, Amber Easton, Clemmie Birtwhistle, Pixie Powell, Pi Stanley, Kaito Flanagan, Lucillia Kerr, Tantualla Tesch, Keira Glosswill, Pulley Withers, Corn Deary, Rouse Croft, Dion Sullivan, Charlotte Piper, Terry Dendonker, Alexandria Banda, Derby McGuire, Thisbe Flattum, Vincent Caprotti, Sawdust Hession, Dyla Sinfield, Hip Moreno, Chanel Angloumeme, Cliff Laverne, Neil Spivey

A.D.D 6: Cheesecloth Bolton, Alizee Zengel, Quentin Molyneux, Miller Perez, Hope Carroll, Cotton Jenrick, Polaris Swiatek, Ranto Plett, Boa Osimhen, Edie Barraclough, Pick Leggett, Paula Kerr, Muir Dyrdyra, Mellan Rojas, Esme Bianchi, Silver Heyer, Boudicca Jensen, Seaweed Woodson

A.D.D 7: Katka Mulino, Marianne Garvin, Harvest Benyaer, Exmoor March, Wirelett Andam, Branchlynn Allen, Treck Moore, Clinton Boscotti, Honda Churchwood, Wycombe McDonald, Firya Burrow, Kyranite Stanway, Plutonia Maywell, Whitt Allen, Virginia Osimhen, Collie Piper, Slate Lavene, Ariel Cox, Indigo Havilland, Treasure Parlour, Crown Van Day, Athena Phillipson, Valour Amesbury, Thetis Colwill, Anchor McGregor, Stuart White II

A.D.D 8: Marty Knutsford, Argyle Houghton, Erjon Feist, Naan Stokes, Buttercup O’Hara, Levinia Paley, Pincushion Withers, Bacchus Sullivan, Ronnie Otten, Ebony Rostron, Jack West, Quiona Stokes, Seville Demain, Ashton Parry, Alcreme Musk, Awen Clark, Fifi Kramphaus, Romney Fields, Apus Dehaney

A.D.D 9: Marconi Powell, Cordalie Oritz, Polonina Bachega, Hannah Kackurri, Sourdough Ferguson, Damla Heard, Styx Cernan, Plantine Trendak, Edward Rowe, Felicia Levykin, Steelson Glenn, Thread Crouch, Mercedes Glenn, Alban Rostron, Woola Garvin, Violet Letts, Leonard Otten, Opal Windsor, Cinnabar Trump, Valkyrie McGraw, John Shields, Jacqui Moore, Johnny Withers, Sequin Ogliviy, Bacchius Brown, Artemisia Black, Scutum Wallis

A.D.D 10: Moto Schmidt, Couscous Ferguson, Alisa Gedling, Timadeuc Brychczy, Janelle Curie, Jamie Upton, Annabelle Mordaunt, Barklyn West, Teal Gore, Clara McCullock, Fern Thornley, Orage Lubetkin, Lake Dyrdrya, Jordan Calafiori, Oregon Weigman, Tiger Osment, Elionwy Smithills, Straw Gbangbola, Snowdrop Crook, Gravel Hale, Moana Dyrdyra, Kai Port, Tarpaulin Barde, Tessa Dench, Glisten Stanway, Shine Clahane, Io Luu, Blade Rutte

A.D.D 11: Anise Perez, Atom Maywell, Berry 'O'Hara, Artemis Lovell, Cabinet Easton, Brandon Ramsdale, Tabbock Nielson, Edwina Thompson, Mattias Feist, Michael Appleton, Patric Crook, Tomato Maupay, Kaylene Havertz, Ptolemy Harris

A.D.D 12: Eve Barraclough, Cutlet Ribery, Neil Ishiba, Perun Tym, Feltette Radcliffe, Lavender Schwartz, Karis Okonkwo, Juniper Allen, Cress Arestrup, Jersey March, Rose Benham, Amphitrite Colwill, Surf McGee, Ennie Okonkwo, Honey MacFarlane, Rhiannon Croft, Lama Seadeaux, Tinsel Windsor, Cleopatra Wallis, Star Markle, Driftwood Heard, Hengist McDonald

A.D.D 13: Nghia Le Duc, Dangira Milmo, Jimmy Irons, Maple Deary, Tad Shelvey, Neo Rojas, Moises Moore, Tyger Osimhen, Susan Hulton, Hera Okonkwo, Goldenrod Gore, Bruce Collins

A.D.D 14: Esther Hatton, Rotwein McCann, Ciela Curie,Telstar Weigman, Twig Kackurri, Silkie Jenrick, Goose Sullivan, Alec Molyneux, Volvo Nketiah, Miriam Patino, Olive Moyes, Swallow Maupay

A.D.D 15: Elesia Nadella, Cackle Oritz, Boulder Collins, Tilda Boateng, Josephine Cantwell, Lori Moreno

A.D.D 16: Brindle Otten, Oak Trossard

A.D.D 17: Thread Osimhen, Poppy Dendocker

So that's the breakdown of the timeline in "75 Years" so far. I will do the list again once chapter 30 is posted

#sleepy's thoughts

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cu1tofdionysus · 9 months ago

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Fasting all went 2 Bushwick together

Julian Foy is the type of guy you want to be your friend’s boyfriend. He has fiery red hair and wears silly cropped graphic tees, comes across as possibly gay when you meet him (he’s not!) & knows everybody and a little bit about everything. He’s the lead vocalist for a band called Fasting that sometimes plays at TransPecos.

Fasting is the type of band you’d want to play your zine release party. Composed of 5 members– Sean Lawson, Sean Terrrell, Gordon Gillespie, Julian Foy and Jessie Capozzi– They can sway a crowd, literally and figuratively. The dreary April night I saw them, they were one of a few acts inaugurating Rambler Magazine’s latest print issue. They were following a slow, jazzy type band at Village Works, a tiny indie bookstore on St. Marks. Who knew it was a music venue? The place was overflowing with books on tables and books on shelves. It was raining, forcing the indoor/outdoor party strictly inside. The owner of the venue was behind the register asking the musicians to “Keep it down!’ The band was practically on top of eachother, performing from a walk-in closet sized corner of the venue. The crowd was on top of eachother, too–”DON'T lean on the books, please.” Foy bounced around during the set wearing his graduation cap (Pratt Institute, Film,) warding off any low spirits. The guy next to me mutters to those surrounding him, “They’re really good!” twice, banging his shaved head back and forth.

In the words of Capozzi, bass, keys, sometimes the sax, (Pratt, Drawing,) Fasting makes “very human music.” Some songs are shoegazey, or noise pop-y, some are more post punk. “You know me so well” has warbling, subdued and sweet, almost ghostly vocals. “Lay me down taking my shoes off / I forgot my socks/ grave was faded and hard to read/ written on a subway wall. ” But it’s less about the song’s lyrics and less about the buzz of the melancholic guitar and thrashing drums, those could be gone by the next song. It’s more about the universals, the mood, the feeling, the scenes they emulate.

John Public, the band’s 2023 debut album, is a memento, a mixed bag, made up of songs as old as 2018, the birth of the band, all the way to 2022. Those first songs came to life in the Pratt Institute dorms, as well as friendship and mold. The album’s namesake, John Public, references an inside joke amongst Pratt students. “John Public” is the John Doe for Pratt’s lost student ID poster. The album is about that time, going to art school in Brooklyn, part- time jobs and smoking cigarettes, sometimes hand rolled. Trying to scrounge up $7 for a Prontos Deli sandwich. Those days feel like dreams.

The newest member, the second Sean, Sean Lawson (The New School, Jazz) joined the band after a quick DM exchange with Sean Terrell, drummer, (Pratt Institute, Painting.) I am told by multiple sources that Sean Lawson is a musical genius. Terrell messaged Lawson on Instagram, wondering if he knew anyone who could play lead guitar. Both Seans had met through “the scene.” Lawson could play lead guitar, a member of another band, Aggressive Squirrels, already. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who…

We have to rush to Bushwick, to the Fasting Apartment, because some of the band is driving to Jersey right after the interview for a house show, or house party, or something like that. Sage, my roommate and Foy’s girlfriend, has told me stories of foot fungus and rats plaguing the infamous crib. There’s a Popeye’s and Mcdonald’s nearby, attracting chaos and all sorts of creatures. This is the band’s headquarters, and 4/5 of the band’s general living quarters: Gordon Gillespie, rhythm guitar, (Pratt Institute, Photo) and then Foy, Terrell and Capozzi. Sean Lawson doesn’t live here, this is the first time he’s been here, actually. There's a CPR dummy perched above the kitchen counter and a Hello Kitty poster on the wall, gifts given from the mystical streets of the city. Adobo seasoning, an astray, headphones, pliers, half a pair of sneakers and a roll of duct tape litter the coffee table. Capozzi’s room has a pair of pants pinned to the wall. You can barely see the floor of Gillespie’s, who has a loft bed.

Keep reading for a conversation with Fasting about the band’s history, a secret 6th member, the creative process, and hating music.

----

CULT

How'd you meet?

JESSE

Most of us met at Pratt. Sean and Gordon were random roommates when they were freshmen like four years ago.

CULT

Did you live in the apartment before? Or did you make the band before?

JULIAN

Band before, 5 years ago now. Freshman year..

GORDON

Julian was down the hallway from me and Sean.

JESSE

There's also another member we need to speak about.

GORDON

A secret member who is going to become a monk soon.

SEAN TERRELL

He was our fucking grateful dead. What's the guy? He was our Jerry Garcia.

JULIAN

So, in the Can-- paper thin walls and shared bathrooms for the entire floor. Right?

CULT

Yeah.

JULIAN

Naked people everywhere. People would have to go back to the room with a towel where other people were drinking Red Bull and vodka shots.

GORDON

Every Tuesday night everyone in the entire building would get hammered.

SEAN TERRELL

Because everyone had the morning class off, we all had 1pm classes.

JULIAN

The walls were super thin. So, you could hear what was happening in every room as you passed by. In your room, you could hear conversations everywhere, even underneath, because the floor was just so thin. You could jump on it and it would bounce. You could bend the walls. They were made with thin plywood, to be temporary housing for the people who built the other dorm. We met because you could hear through the walls what people were doing. When they were making music, we could hear it. We'd just knock on just knock on the door and be like, what is that? What is that song?

GORDON

"My name is Julian and I'm a really good rapper. Let me freestyle for ya."

CULT

You rap?

JULIAN

Yeah, I was in a rap group called "Sort of Sober." We were all so bad. We opened for Lil TiJay. That was our moment. For Lil TiJay at a club. That was pretty cool.

JESSE

They all started playing music together. And then Eddie, who hasn't lived in New York for a while, joined. And then I floated in. Really early though, we wrote "talking to ed" like the first week I joined.

JULIAN

Jesse would float in to play the saxophone.

JESSE

People who could hear it through their wall would tell me to shut the fuck up.

I started talking to Sean, because I was in another band of people I knew from Long Island and I asked him to be the drummer. And he did that for a while. And I had class with Gordon, so we all kind of knew each other musically, and not musically. There was no real rehearsing at that time, a lot of making recordings in the dorm.

GORDON

It wasn't a group of people either. We had people floating in. Our friend Thomas wrote a song that we used to play in our set.

JULIAN

We would have homies sit around giving us conceptual ideas.

CULT

Was there a certain sound that you were aiming for back then?

JESSE

Any idea that came to our heads. A lot of indie?

SEAN TERRELL

I was super into fucking Current Joys and Black Marble, and shit like that. Gordon put me onto shit that I used to hate, which was straight up emo music and Algernon 1000s math rock. Ones where the vocals are super annoying, and like whining. Now I love that shit.

JESSE

When we were sophomores we started rehearsing more seriously with Julien singing, Sean drumming and singing a lot, Gordon playing guitar, and our friend Eddie playing lead. I was playing bass. We played one show, early February of 2020. We played battle of the bands.

JULIAN

Eddie faced away from the audience the entire time, because he was wearing a Michael Jackson shirt.

SEAN TERRELL

We lost because JHARIAH all voted for themselves. We joked that we were gonna vote for ourselves and JHARIAH did. There were probably about seven votes total, and five of them were everyone in that band.

JESSE

Yeah, then Sean didn't come back to the city for the next year. Neither did Gordon. I started living with Julian and someone else.

SEAN TERRELL

That was a dark period. That was sort of the Dark Ages.

JESSE

Sean (Terrell) came into the city to visit his girlfriend. That fall, we jammed once. It was really fun, we wrote a song. The next fall, I guess the fall of 2021, Sean moved back to the city to continue going to school. Then the four of us started living together. Eddie never came back after COVID. He moved to Colorado. We've still kept in touch. He was the greatest musician of the group, by far.

SEAN TERRELL

But he gave up making music and he deleted it off the internet and became a monk. He was super Russian Orthodox. In high school, he made music with this band called The Hellp, producing.

CULT

Wait, I’ve heard of them.

JESSE

There are some really funny pictures of him on the internet. I saw Reddit posts from a month ago, where someone was theorizing that he was still involved.

JULIAN

He's got memorable licks. Tasteful, memorable melodies. You can hear it on "I will go outside."

JESSE

So that's basically the history. Then Sean joined. Our friend Jamison, she played with us for a little bit, but it was a more casual thing. We played as a four piece for a little bit. Sometimes with Julian trying to play lead guitar, but not practiced. Sean Terrell DMed Sean Lawson asking if he knew any New School jazz guitarists who would want to be in the band. Which is crazy because he saw us play the worst, most tension fueled show of all.

SEAN LAWSON

There was a point in the set where Jesse said that it was their last show. It felt like everyone in the audience was like, "Was that a joke?"

JESSE

I liked that it was hard to tell.

GORDON

You used to say that a lot. We used to be in the middle of practice. You'd be like, "Alright, we're done."

JESSE

Because I thought that. I honestly hated it for a while. Not the band specifically, just playing. I don't know why I thought it was really stupid for a while. I think I was just really mad all the time at a lot of things in life. There was still enjoyment with playing music, but I got to a point like when I was finishing Pratt, like in 2022, where I actively didn't listen to music. Unless it was like jazz on the radio, for almost an entire year.

SEAN TERRELL

Through a tiny cassette player.

JULIAN

That or baseball.

JESSE

But even that whole time, I was still writing music.

CULT

Are you a perfectionist?

SEAN TERRELL

He's like a contrarian.

JESSE

That's not true at all.

CULT

Where does the name “Fasting” come from?

JESSE

They spent a whole week trying to think of a name.

GORDON

A whole year.

JESSE

Some silly names we were going to be, "Christmas."

GORDON

"Christmas band" does not work. "Dog with a cane" -- that was the first name. We had a SoundCloud with that name. We never posted anything.

JULIAN

These nincompoops went on the balcony to smoke cigarettes. They come back like "Yo, we've thought of it. Balconies."

JESSE

The name Fasting came from when we were still in school and Gordon didn't get paid for their Pratt job for a while. So they had no money. When Gordon was really hungry, they would say, "now I'm fasting."

GORDON

I was in the photo building. I was working the desk, but the way their system is, you don't get paid for the first month. One meal a day, your sandwich or something. Now we're all fat.

CULT

I have three questions that go together. Do you live together, except for Sean, because you're a band or because you're friends? What makes you so close? And how much time do you spend together?

SEAN TERRELL

We live together because we're buddies. But the band did exist first.

JULIAN

If we were having friend problems, we'd play music about it sometimes.

GORDON

Our early practices were so bad. If Julian was mad at Sean he would try and scream over him every time he was singing. I couldn't play the bass. They were just so bad. We wouldn't live together if we didn't also, like, enjoy spending time with each other a lot.

JESSE

We've known each other for so long. I think the closeness started early on. We've done a lot of shit together over the years. We've seen a lot of shit. We've seen each other grow up because it's been like fucking five years at this point, which is insane. Now we're all adults in the world having jobs, which is weird.

CULT

What genre are you?

JULIAN

We used to say "fast and fun."

JESSE

Music for everyone under the sun. I do think it's very human.

GORDON

(Mocking Jesse) "it's very human music."

JESSE

Post punk, new wave, not so much anymore. Definitely math rock for people that can't count.

JULIAN

Math rock for people missing fingers.

JESSE

We have a lot of overlapping musical interests but also everyone is into their own thing which is something I've always enjoyed.

JULIAN

Jamison was full on funk sometimes. And we had a saxophone.

SEAN

We usually like to have friends on the album.

CULT

What's your music about?

JESSE

it's not about music, but it also is. (Laughter from the band.) Now I've gotten super into songwriting. There's so much to explore forever. I really enjoy experimenting with harmonies or with songwriting and dipping back into old ideas. So for me, it's about writing songs and trying to play them live. And having fun. Which we're trying to do for the first time.

SEAN

I used to give a fuck about lyrics. And now I super don't. I only use lyrics as a vehicle to sing notes. They're more free associative. I would "free associate" words until I would come up with idioms or phrases that didn't mean something that I hated. Or could be construed in a way that was really dumb. Julian loves writing.

JULIAN

I love writing lyrics and all my lyrics are about something. I always imagine that I'm trying to say something, and as I'm saying it, it's coming out through rhythm. Then the melody comes from music. For me, the first three or four years of making music, it was all rap. Malik, and Phil, from that band (Sort Of Sober), influenced me a lot. I used to write spoken word in high school, that's also rhythm based. But it wouldn't fit tightly into phrases. The two of them were like, your flows are terrible. Now I'm like, where can those things meet? Also a lot of improvisation. There's a lot of times during shows where I've sung lyrics that I never wrote for the band, or they came out live, and sometimes I'm not even saying words. That's fine. I might be saying words. I might be saying sounds.

GORDON

It's a lot of poetic imagery. There's not a lot of concrete stories or ideas.

JESSE

We haven't had a concept album yet. Unless the concept is drinking beer.

SEAN TERRELL

Say that was the concept of the last one.

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djkerr · 15 days ago

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The Good Fight S4 Statement Outfits for Pivotal Moments with Dan Lawson

🎥 @goodfight_cbs X

#lucca quinn #cush jumbo #the good fight #dan lawson #costume design #diane lockhart #christine baranski #queen baranski #roisin orbinson #annaleigh ashford #marissa gold #sarah steele #liz reddick #audra mcdonald #fashion appreciation #akris punto #birkin #season 4 #video

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tinyapartments · 11 months ago

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notes from our first trip to japan

luntian and i booked this trip very late because we had to make sure we were fully covered—she was awaiting the bar results and looking for a job as a new lawyer when we decided that we were going to japan to witness her dear friend’s wedding. given that it was both our first time visiting the land of the rising sun, there were expected back and forths on flights, airbnb bookings, and visa applications, but i knew we were both stoked to go.

japan in springtime is chilly, our friends who had been there warned us enough times. and this was what i was afraid of as someone who does not do well in the cold. the only preparation that i personally did for this trip was to stuff my packing cubes with uniqlo heattech, which i will only wear half of for the duration of the trip. i was happy to experience the springtime chill in japan without feeling like i will keel over to my death.

march 29, our flight left at 2pm and we arrived in narita at almost 8pm. a late admission if you will, but i had relinquished all the navigating to luntian since she is so much better at it than i am, and so i was quite surprised to realize that narita was still an hour or so train ride to tokyo. i was hungry (we both were), and since it was my first time traveling abroad after the pandemic, japan’s airport confused the hell out of me. what was i expecting? that the people would speak english to accommodate my poor bilingual ass? my years of watching anime rendered me useless when we were figuring out where to get our pre-booked skyliner tickets to ueno.

the train station was an entirely different hurdle: japan’s railway system will eat you whole. as i stood in the middle of ueno station in front of the gigantic rail pass map all i could think of was demon slayer’s mugen train arc and how the train itself was alive and ate almost all the passengers. i thought to myself: we are never getting out of here. i wish i could chalk up the exaggeration to simply hunger and exhaustion that night, but during our week-long trip, i never got the hang of the train station. and that’s just in tokyo.

for our first meal in japan, we went to mcdonald’s. tired from lugging our bags, navigating (this was mostly luntian), and arguing (because i was practically useless haha), we gave up and ate at the first thing we saw when we got off at ogikubo station. the design of the fast-food joint was fascinating but unsurprising given japan’s culture: the tables are arranged for solo diners. people would come in, order up, and eat their food alone while watching videos on their phones. it is quite lonely living in japan.

march 30, for our first morning and the rest of all the mornings we will spend in tokyo, we had breakfast at convenience stores (we actually had our first breakfast at lawson, and they had this decadent matcha pudding that i could not find in family mart, much to my disappointment). when we were still planning this trip, luntian and i already agreed that we would scrimp up on our food budget. it was quite a surprise to me that not only was convenience store food delicious, but it was also comforting. i looked forward to the mornings we spent walking toward family mart and planning ahead on what to get. but as creatures of habit, our breakfasts mostly consisted of the usual items: an onigiri of any kind, hot coffees, berocca (may baon kami!), seaweed soup, and a vanilla pudding for me. sometimes we’d share a melonpan or a chickenball skewer, but most of the time we ate the same thing every morning and none of us complained. i would do the same thing again when i come back.

rhea and ryo’s wedding was one for the books. the ceremony was at the infamous meiji jingu shrine. we lined up behind the bride and groom and walked around the public square (tourists were taking pictures of us, fellow tourists! haha) to get to the small temple where the wedding rites would take place. the ceremony was short, formal, and nothing less than cathartic. i could not understand a single word that the minister was saying, but the silence and the uniform gestures as well as the rituals (drinking sake and clapping to a beat) that even we as guests had to participate in was unforgettable. the reception was at meiji kinenkan hotel where we gorged ourselves on an eight or ten-course meal. i will never allow myself to forget about the lobster thermidor.

after the wedding, luntian and her friends had planned to meet in shibuya at night time. i was excited to cross the popular shibuya crossing. to my extreme horror, shibuya was swarmed with people. shibuya was teeming, filled to the brim, however you want to call it. you could probably stop walking in the middle of the road, and the sheer force and volume of people passing through would still carry you across. my probinsyana ass was not prepared for it, but i embraced it anyhow. we bought cheese pancakes from a hole-in-the-wall shop manned by a turkish guy. i greeted him with a most likely mispronounced marhaba (i only got to module 2 of turkish in duolingo), and he asked how to say how are you in my language. we had late dinner with amie at a small ramen diner where we had to google if it were rude to share your bowl with someone else. google said it depends. before heading home, our group had managed to take a shot at hachiko’s statue which was packed when we arrived.

march 31, this was probably one of my favorite days in our trip. we had a late start since the previous day was packed and we were recovering our spirits from how busy and crowded shibuya was. luntian and i agreed to never go back there for the rest of our trip. we went to the nearby mall and shopped at uniqlo (mostly items we will still need for our trip and some pasalubong for our parents). in the afternoon, we went to yoyogi park to participate in hanami—the activity of hanging out at a park by the cherry blossoms. we were disappointed, however, as the cherry blossom trees in yoyogi park weren’t in full bloom yet when we got there. we walked around the park, enamored by its enormity, while we waited for jake’s response on where exactly to meet up. jake, luntian’s friend from way back, is a graphic designer who had been living in japan for five years or so. he invited us to come over to his house which he and his partner, zach, had just recently built.

he finally spotted us while we sat on one of the benches at a nearby dog park within the park (it’s a really huge park). we took the bus to their house, which was also in the ogikubo area. their house sat in a very quiet and suburban area (which is how the entirety of ogikubo looked like, i suppose). it was the only house with a dark façade in an entire neighborhood of white japanese houses. on their fence was an embossed lettering in bronze metal (or was it gold? hard to tell in the night): zach and jake. i raved almost endlessly about this detail like i was the longtime friend he hasn’t seen in a while. inside was a cozy house with the kitchen counter overlooking the open dining and living area. jake baked and cooked as a hobby apart from his dayjob as a graphic designer. there we were greeted by their three adopted cats: snuffy, luca and oreo. jake fed our hungry stomachs with roasted chicken and tomato pasta—a simple but hearty dish akin to a mother’s cooking. while eating, i noticed his small collection of filipiniana books. i promised him i’ll send him more filipiniana books when i come home (i’m working on it!).

april 1, following jake’s recommendations, we went to kichijoji after another round of convenience store breakfast. it was just two stops from ogikubo and i must say that kichijoji was one of my favorite places that i went to in tokyo. not only is it much less crowded than other districts, but if personal and pasalubong shopping plus a gastronomic trip were the goals, kichijoji will never disappoint. from dry goods to dessert trucks to stationery stores, kichijoji got ur back. we were happy to find loft in there as our friends back home had pasabuy requests. i went crazy at the stationery portion in loft, needless to say. we had late lunch at yoshinoya since it was the nearest and possibly cheapest restaurant around. we had to make it to ueno by 7pm for a group dinner with rhea and ryo.

rhea and ryo booked an izakaya for our dinner. it was there that i learned izakaya were after-work restaurants that were usually for drinking and decompressing. essentially, what elbi square was to us in college. after that, they took us for a nighttime walk to ueno park where cherry blossoms were almost in full bloom and lanterns also dotted the trees. after walking the entire stretch of ueno park, the group decided to walk to akihabara and go to the gacha games. the walk to akihabara wasn’t short, but as someone who went to college in up los banos, it was fairly tolerable. our group of 15 charged toward akihabara, and it were only luntian and i who didn’t win at any gacha/claw games. she quietly threw a tantrum for the rest of the night.

april 2, we went to disneysea! we actually had not planned on going prior to our flight, and just made a last-minute decision on this. we had already passed up a day tour of mt. fuji as we weren’t sure of the odds of the mountain appearing (we should have gone because luntian’s friends saw mt. fuji), so we didn’t want to miss going to another cliché tourist destination in japan. i have been to two different disneyland parks in my lifetime, but luntian is a disney parks virgin. on the discussion of waiting for the light show at the end of the night or going home early to beat the swarm of park-goers on their way home, it was a no-brainer: we’ll watch the light show. it was a good decision nonetheless because luntian bawled to pieces when moana showed up at the performance.

we actually shared this disneysea trip with mac, one of luntian's friends, whom we accompanied to tokyo, tokyo (didn't know there was such a place! now the fast-food joint in pinas makes more sense!) before going to disneysea to hunt for onitsuka sneakers. we enjoyed the entire disney trip like a proper throuple (kimmy). after the amusement park, we shared a table with fran and ysa (more of luntian's friends) at isomaru in shinjuku. we talked about how fran and i are similar while ysa and luntian shared the same peculiarities.

april 3, with our return flight the next day and the question of what the hell to do with our luggage, we decided to take this day slow: we went to a self-laundry and washed all our clothes, packed our luggage more mindfully (instead of just buying another suitcase—essentially my idea because i give up too easily haha), and check in to a hotel in ueno where the skyliner station to narita is at. scrimping on food has left us with enough money for taxi fare to ueno (we didn’t want to lug our stuff from train to train anymore) and a one-night hotel check-in, thank god.

for dinner, we went to ichiran ramen house. the toll of walking long stretches, socializing with friends, and navigating a new city for almost a week was starting to catch up on our thirty-year-old bodies, and we wanted some good old broth to resuscitate what’s left of our energy. ichiran succeeded our expectations: a rich and hearty broth, starchy al dente noodles, and a serving of tender chashu pork were all we could ever need at that moment in time. and i was happy to discover that it isn’t expensive as well (clearly, i did not do any iota of research before this trip). we went back to ueno park to see the cherry blossoms once again and were pleasantly surprised to see that the small fair had started, and we were successful in the search for tanghulu!

april 4, we had quite a bit of time since our flight leaves at past 7pm, so luntian and i were happy to finally do something we’ve prioritized but didn’t have time to do on the early days of this trip: visit museums! it was a good thing that the tokyo met was just inside ueno park. we went there and looked at the free exhibits but again, we made another surprise discovery: the worcester art museum happened to be touring and they brought the original water lilies by claude monet. at first we brushed it off because it was a paid entrance, and we just roamed around the free calligraphy exhibit. but after a while, we were convinced that this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a monet painting in the flesh. what were the odds that they toured during our trip, too! so we threw caution to the wind and raced to the ticket booth. not only did we catch water lilies by monet, but we also saw original pieces by cezanne, metcalf, and pissarro. i felt as pretentious and as genuine of an art hoe all at once.

the walk back to the hotel was accompanied by the view of cherry blossoms during daytime. i think it was the first time in our trip to have come close to cherry blossoms in full bloom during the day, something that i probably need to have more appreciation of. it’s actually luntian who keeps on looking for parks where they are in full bloom to take pictures of whereas i would be happy enough to just sit on a bench and read a book. we walked around ameyoko in ueno as the last destination for our trip. it was the only place we were able to find souvenir magnets. everything else was expensive in ameyoko though, so we didn’t buy anything else than the magnets that our friends and parents wanted.

the trip back home went without a fuss except for the long line at the check-in counters. i must note that only the philippine flight was not allowed self check-ins in at the airport, so the wait was really a long one. i left luntian for a bit to continue a personal traveling tradition—buying books at airports/other country’s bookstores. i bought sayaka murata’s life ceremony, which, little did i know, happened to be what luntian was reading on her kindle. we were equally surprised by this serendipitous turn of events.

we knew we were home because the first thing that greeted us was the april heat in manila. the moment we landed, we took our jackets off while promising ourselves we would keep coming back to japan (hopefully with our families next time!).

#tinyapartments #japan #travel #spring #2024 #blog #tokyo

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