Archive for February, 2010

How frustrating

Feb 26th, 2010 Posted in It's just me | no comment »

Ho appena chiamato Expedia, per cambiare la prenotazione di un albergo. Siccome vogliono parlare con l’intestatario della prenotazione (che non sono io), non e’ che me l’hanno detto all’inizio della chiamata, me l’hanno detto dopo 15 minuti che eravamo al telefono. Quindi ho scaricato la scheda telefonica, non ho concluso niente e li devo pure richiamare.

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I just called Expedia because I wanted to change a booking in Tokyo, but as my husband is the nominee in the account they wanted to talk to him. Of course they couldn’t because he is at work, so I spent 15 minutes on the phone with them, ran out of money and got nothing. Why didn’t they just say it at the very beginning of the call instead of waiting for so long? This is really frustrating.

The Takayama Matsuri Festival

Feb 25th, 2010 Posted in Honey Moon | no comment »

Non ci posso credere! Quelli del ryokan a Takayama hanno detto si!!!!!!!

Lo so che vi state chiedendo per quale motivo ci voglio andare, e la risposta e’ semplice. Secondo la guida Giapponese, il festival di Takayama e’ uno dei tre piu’ importanti festival del Giappone. Lo fanno due volte all’anno, una volta ad aprile e una ad ottobre e da quello che ho capito simboleggia l’inizio del ciclo vitale (con la primavera – aprile) e la morte o fine del ciclo vitale (autunno – ottobre).

Sotto trovate un paio di foto e anche un video che vi consiglio di vedere!

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The ryokan finally answered me today. We have the room to attend the festival!

The Takayama Festival (Takayama Matsuri) is ranked as one of Japan’s three most beautiful festivals. It is held twice a year in spring and autumn in the old town of Takayama and attracts large numbers of spectators.I can’t believe we are going to be there!

The festival began 350 years ago, and it is held twice a year, once in Spring and Autumn. I couldn’t find the history of the festival, but it seems that it celebrates the start of cycle (spring = growth, new beginning, etc) and the end of the cycle (autumn = death, return, change).

According to Japan-Guide, in the evening of the first day it starts at 6.30pm with beautiful processions, floats and performances in traditional costumes.

I’ve found this exciting video on Youtube:

Is it clear that I want to go? Cool.

Takayama Festival

Feb 25th, 2010 Posted in Honey Moon | no comment »

Visto che sto cercando di prenotare un ryokan a Takayama, mi sembrava giusto che questo post ne prendesse il nome e visto che ci sono lettori che non conoscono l’inglese mi sembra giusto scrivere i post in due lingue :D
Stamattina quando mi sono svegliata ho trovato una bella sorpresa nella casella di posta elettronica. Un ryokan sembra avere una stanza in stile giapponese libera per quel giorno!
Ho risposto subito di si, e ora sto aspettando la loro email di conferma. Speriamo bene!

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As few Italian friends do not speak English, I’ll write my posts both in Italian and English.

As you already know, I’m looking for an accommodation in Takayama, because I want to attend the festival. Finally, I received an email from a ryokan based in Takayama this morning. A Japanese style room is still available for that night! It’s quite expensive though, but it doesn’t matter, I would love to attend that festival!
I’m waiting for their reply now, I’ll keep you updated!

Morning

Feb 24th, 2010 Posted in Honey Moon | 2 comments »

Here we are again. I want to attend the Takayama Festival the 14th of April, but the town is quite far from Tokyo and looking for an accommodation seems to be impossible.

I have emailed almost every ryokan and hotels in that area, but most of them are fully booked. It’s going to be harder than I thought.

My hubby is not very happy with me. He thinks I am obsessed.

Anyway. Not a happy bunny today.

Japan, #2

Feb 23rd, 2010 Posted in Honey Moon | no comment »

OK I admit it, I am monothematic, but I promise, it won’t be forever like this…

I have 2 news. First off, yesterday I inquired the Studio Mon Katsura in Tokyo as I wanted to become a Maiko for one day. Alas, the studio is closed due to a fire accident happened back in December. Too bad.

Second one, I don’t need to call the Kaburenjo Theater in Kyoto to reserve my tickets now, I can get them when I’m there. Isn’t that marvelous?

I know this may sound boring, but I am so excited I barely think of anything else all day long. LOL

In the meanwhile, I should be studying. My next essay ‘Addiction counselling’ is due to the 19th of March, and I just can’t get my head around it. We have a case study too. I already met my guy, typed what I needed to, but I’m still procrastinating…

I have a month, I know, and I’m a last minute person, or maybe I’m only a last minute person when I am bored or I don’t like the subject. I spent more time organizing this holiday than doing anything else!

My first post, for 2010.

Feb 22nd, 2010 Posted in Honey Moon | no comment »

Hello all!

It is so strange to write in English… During the last 5 years I have met a lot of international friends, and I think it is fair to them to write a blog they can understand too.

So here we are. People are asking me why I’ve missed the ‘social life’ on Facebook, Msn, forums and stuff during the last couple of weeks. The truth is that, while I should study and write, I’m planning my Honey Moon in Japan! Yay!!!

I really can’t wait to go! I wish I was already there!

We are going to stay 6 days in Tokyo, 6 in Kyoto, 6 in Fukuoka and back in Tokyo for the last 2 days. We’ll travel around by public transports but we don’t want to carry around our luggage.

A few must are:

The Ghibli Museum

Miyako Odori (Geiko and Maiko performances)

Hot Spring in Beppu

I can’t think of anything else at the moment, but stay tuned, I might write more!!!

Barby haz back

Feb 21st, 2010 Posted in It's just me | no comment »

Si, sono tornata. Questa volta piu’ fresca di prima, e con tante novita’.

Quella piu’ importante e’ che scrivero’ in inglese e a volte in italiano.

Enjoy.