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• Eating some delicious ramen and gyoza for lunch.

• Enjoying our large room at our Hiroshima hostel. We even had a private bathroom! How lush!

• Buying a new handbag for half price. Thank you new year sales!

I almost completed this one! You see I visited an onsen when I was in Japan recently…a public one as well as a private one so I was nude in front of other people.

I’m hesitant to count it though because you are supposed to be naked when using an onsen or public bath in Japan. So I’m going to leave this one up until I’ve done it properly.

I can’t believe in 25 years of my life I am yet to skinny dip!

• Went to Arashiyama Monkey Park and fed the monkeys. They were so smart and if you offered them a treat that wasn’t their favourite they would bat it away until they got given something better. Haha. Cheeky monkeys.

• The Japanese making a real to-do out of feeding time at the monkey park by playing circus music and then running around throwing food out of a bucket so that the monkeys would chase them in a big herd. Hahaha…it was so ridiculous it was funny.

• Visiting a crowded temple that had great views over Kyoto.

• Didn’t waste the day away being hungover and feeling sorry for ourselves.

• Went to a huge Inari Shrine where there were thousands of orange torii gates, think “Memoirs of a Geisha” when she runs through the orange tunnel.

• Seeing “Les Miserables” at the movies. I absolutely loved it. Any time Anne Hathaway was on the screen I was basically crying. Love. Her.

• Went on the Philosopher’s Walk and saw many stray cats along the way. Such a beautiful walk.

• It started to snow when were at Kinkakuji! I was the most excited little kid ever.

• Wearing our matching flannel shirts for New Years celebrations.

• Went on a pub crawl organised by the hostel for the evening and had a really fun time socialising and dancing with locals and foreigners.

• Arrived in Kyoto!

• Bought matching flannel shirts. So happy. I can’t wait to wear them.

• The place we went to for lunch had an adorable “ladies lunch set”.

• S. won a prize at the arcade!

• Going to a place called “Sweets Paradise” for dinner/dessert where you can eat as much sweets as you want for 70mins! Let’s just say, my sweet tooth was satisfied.

• Choco Cro! Can one person ever eat enough??

• The almost warm weather.

• Exploring the beautiful gardens at Kochi Castle.

• Found a delightful pheonix brooch at a local market.

• Having some drinks at a few local drinking holes and then finishing off the night with some karaoke. So much fun!

• Riding on the train from Himeji to Kochi and enjoying the beautiful Shikoku scenary.

• Seeing some snow fall whilst on the train. This was a first for me so I was quite delighted. I just wish I could’ve been out there enjoying it, instead of on the train.

• Afternoon nap in our hotel room.

• Visiting Himeji Castle. Unfortunately it was under restoration so we weren’t able to go inside the main keep, but it was actually very cool to learn about their restoration works. We were able to go inside and explore the West Bally though which was incredible. I love imagining what it would’ve been like to live in a castle.

• Took a cable car to the top of a huge mountain, Mt. Shosa, where there is a colony of Buddhist priests (colony? that doesn’t sound right, but you understand) who worship and live there. There are many buildings and temples to explore and it was a beautiful walk. A bit of “The Last Samurai” was actually filmed on Mt. Shosa.

• Visiting a cat cafe! We just stumbled across it and it was something I had read about and really wanted to do. Basically it’s a cafe where you can go in and sit with a bunch of kitties and pet them or play with them etc. Loved it!

• Seeing a gorgeous Akita pup for sale in a pet shop. Wish I could’ve taken him home!

• Eating delicious chocolate filled taiyaki.

• Moved from Osaka to Himeji and checked into our very cool Japanese guest house. We have a beautiful room with comfortable futons and the guest house is very cosy.

• Snuggling up to S. as we braced ourselves through the cold day.

• Choco Cro! Love their chocolate croissants.

• Being back in Himeji and remembering certain details was fun.

• Going out for a drink at night and the bartender preparing us a snazzy tasting plate of rare beef, octopus and wasabi cheese. When we were leaving the bar he also walked us out the door and out to the street before bowing deeply. You don’t get this kind of service back home!

• Spending the day at Nara walking around and seeing temples, shrines, Buddhas and deer.

• Walking in the rain holding my man’s warm hand.

• Warm afternoon nap.

• Bundling up into our winter finest and bracing the chilly day outside.

• Visiting the impressive aquarium at Osaka and loving the otters and giant whale shark and manta rays.

• This guy at the aquarium being totally delighted about everything he saw and keeping up a constant stream of “Kawaii!”

• A ride on the giant Ferris wheel to catch a great view of Osaka.

• Spending several hours roaming the shops in Dontonbori and purchasing myself a beautiful new coat.

• Caught the plane to Osaka, Japan! It’s here! The day is finally here that we are going to Japan!

• Playing my new DS game.

• Getting off the plane and walking out into the freezing cold air.

• Hot ramen and gyoza for dinner.

• Caught the bus to Cairns.

• Had a swim in the pool and then napped.

• Tomorrow we fly to Japan!

• Enjoyed a BBQ breakfast at work.

• Our boss surprised us with a sneak attack early mark for the last day at work.

• Went for a swim at the rock pool.

• Drank ciders and finished packing our bags for Japan.

• Went out for dinner at our local Japanese restaurant.

• S. gave me a Christmas present.

• Last full day of work for the year.

• Packed my bag for Japan!!!!

• Lunch time with my man.

• Yoga

• Finished reading my book. That’s 25 books for the year! Hoo raa. Now onto Les Miserables…possibly the longest book I have contemplated reading.

• My cat being all lovey dovey.

• Listing all the things we have to look forward to this week.

• Getting a Christmas present from my mum in the mail.

• Helping two adventureous dogs find their way back home.

• Getting back home.

• Getting lots of compliments about my new hair do.

• The day at work went quickly.

• Last time walking up the hill for this year.

• “Glee” and Old Gold chocolate.

5 more sleeps until we go! I can’t believe it!!!! It’s going to be upon us so soon. V. excited.

• Pack bag…eek!
• Get one more set of pill.
• Give puss lots of hugs and kisses.
• Finish book and return all library books.
• Buy shampoo, conditioner, razors, face wash, multi-vitals.
• Fill up shower cleaner.
• Clean around the edge of shower.
• Vacuum and mop one last time.
• Lay out sheets and blankets for spare mattress.
• Contain excitement!