~ T O K Y O ~

The Pin
Just from doing a simple Google Image search (how good is that function though!?) I found that these are the Reversible Destiny Houses in Mitaka, Tokyo.
Here's a bit of information from Wikipedia about them.
They were made in memory of Helen Keller and these lofts make up a nine-unit multiple dwelling. It was the first completed example of procedural architecture put to residential use. Through its construction, the Reversible Destiny Lofts – Mitaka invite optimistic and constructive action to help residents live long and ample lives.
How cool is that!? You can find more information on the website.

So, how to get to Mitaka?
It's a suburb of Tokyo, and you can get the train from either Tokyo Station, which takes just over 30 minuts, or from Shinjuku which is only a 15 minute journey.

How to get to Tokyo?
Flights are expensive, but going that far around the world was always going to be.
Cheapest flights I could find are in January and to go for a decent amount of time would  cost £564, with a crazy long stopover making the total transit time 30 hours!
That's flying from LHR to Tokyo Narita, stopping over in Munich.

Although I would love to fly with the Hello Kitty plane there! I could take that from Taipei to Tokyo!

I have a friend who lives in Osaka and she has said I can come to visit her, so I must make the most of that whilst she's there...I was kind of hoping to go to Japan after I graduate, but maybe I shouldn't wait that long- although it's less than 2 years now!

In second year I did an outside course on Japanese culture. My specialist topic assigned to me was Japanese leisure culture and there's so much to it!
Shopping is a massive deal and I really want to visit Shibuya 109 which is basically a giant shopping centre.

 You have to go whilst you're young I think though because otherwise you'd feel highly out of place. Although I guess in Japan I'll look out of place everywhere as a taller than average mixed race girl.

I'm excited!

Poor effort

My blogging efforts have been poor recently. I think I've been lackikng inspiration. However, I'm going to have a fresh approach.
Next week I am going to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. This is something I've wanted to do for years. Thus I am excited. However, I don't want to be sad once I've been there because then what will I look forward to, but instead set my sights on how practically I'm going to see all the places in the world I want to visit.
I have a pinterest board called I just want to see the world and I'm going to work through that as a start and look at how I would get to these places and what I'd do and see. It currently has 82 pins and is ever increasing.I'm going to start from the first thing I pinned- Tokyo. Next post it will be there.

I've just been watching singing parrots on youtube.
I want a bird now. SO MUCH.

Your love untamed is blazing out

I have been playing this song on repeat the last 2 days. IT IS SO GOOD. I absolutely cannot wait for the Young+Free album to be released..hence why I've downloaded a youtube copy of this song, it is just phenomenal. Obviously the quality isn't the best, but considering this and how good this song is.. how SICK is the actual album going to be!

I'm excited.

Tablet GIVEAWAY

Hi,
As part of my job I'm doing a facebook giveaway of a 7" Android tablet. Its very  handy, handbag sized and I love the operating system (I personally have an Android tablet and it is great)
If you could, please enter..all you have to do is like the company page and share the picture here 
I promise I'll update this blog more in the near future, but Hillsong Conference Europe is this week, hence I'm working/interning/serving/volunteering, every single day.

I appreciate you all.

Tell the world I'm coming home

On the Saturday we were rather wiped out as following our day in London we'd had Youth Encounter, which was mental as per and also quite late. So we decided to stick around Surrey. We went for a walk by the Thames and ended up at Hampton Court Palace gardens (I couldn't afford entry :()

 The English Garden is full of roses which were beautiful.

 Oh look; there's the Palace in the background. I told Karli some of the stories of it, from memory, as when I was much younger we had a season ticket and went at least 30 times.

 The pergola is usually prettier, I blamed the poor weather up to this point for the lack of blooms.

 We then headed to Bushy Park for a walk. It started to rain so we took shelter under a large tree, it was actually really enjoyable.

 The next day was Sunday so I spent the whole day in church, Karli came for the 6pm service, and spent the rest of the day inside Hampton Court Palace. 
I managed to fall at church quite badly though, and was later to discover that I'd burst the liquid capsule under my patella..so the next day we couldn't do as much as I'd wanted to. We headed to China Town as Karli had missed having legit Asian food (it's pretty terrible in Edinburgh in general, which is surprising as there's so many international students). We also checked out Covent Garden where we picked up these gorgeous macaroons from Laduree. I personally prefer the ones I bought in Brighton last year though. Definitely heading back there.

I had to leave Karli to get the train to Victoria for her coach as I was in so much pain I thought I'd be sick, so hobbled (literally) off to the hospital.
Not the best end.

The first time ever I saw your face

The first time I went to Brick Lane was when I was preparing for my GCSE art project on street art. Since then I've loved all forms of it. Brick Lane has some truly outstanding pieces.

 Some of it is slightly crepy.

 Or cute.

I feel there's not that much that to add to this. Its just so incredible.