derby hats.

last weekend i went to the one & only kentucky derby. my mini vacay was full of friends, parties, bets & hats!

travel itch.

so, i moved to texas last week. i'm jobless & bed-less but i'm surrounded by friends & handsome, southern gentlemen. however, i can't help but scratch my travel itch. ever since i left japan, i've wanted to do nothing but travel, travel, travel. speaking of scratching & traveling... how awesome is this scratch map? i'm seriously considering buying this for my new apartment (which i'm moving into next week - eeek!).

if you had this map, which countries would you have scratched away?

*thank you, a cup of jo.

shore weekend.

i'm going to the shore & i can't wait to:

*drive the turnpike with my bestest friend

*smell the ocean

*eat everything bagels from my favorite bakery

*hear horrible new jersey accents

*swim!

have a wonderful weekend everyone.

tourists vs. new yorkers.

this is hilarious! improv everywhere decided to create two different lanes on a 5th avenue sidewalk.

* thank you, a cup of jo.

onsen weekend.

last weekend i went with my friend, sandy to a wonderful beach/hot spring resort, shirahama. it was the most relaxing weekend - all we did was go to onsen, eat, relax on the beach & enjoy beautiful japan. sadly, it was my last vacation in japan but a perfect way to say sayonara!

2 hilarious strangers who helped us find our hotel.

the view from our hotel.

an onsen on the beach.

sakinoyu - an awesome onsen, which overlooked the ocean.

ramen for dinner (of course).

our beach spot... amazing!

sandy & i.

the sunset in front of engetsu-to.

road trip.

a few weekends ago, one of my favorite families took me on a road trip to magome & tsumago.these towns are located in the kiso valley (which runs along the japanese alps) & were major road connections between tokyo & kyoto in the edo period. the area is absolutely beautiful & so well restored. it was awesome walking down the cobble stone streets, passing by the ancient homes & shops.

the otani family.

an old cafe.

go (my student) & i in a crazy chair.

missy (my friend) & i with our favorite hats.

buying senbei (japanese rice snack - which is amazing!).

a gorgeous view of the japanese alps & the old roofs.

this lady was 92 & still working! she was the cutest.

okinawa.

i just returned from the most amazing vacation with my two gorgeous friends, branda & anthea. we went to the beautiful island of okinawa where everything is perfect: the weather, the food, the people, the ocean, the sun, etc... it was an awesome vacation filled with snorkeling, swimming, dancing, eating, shopping & tanning. it was absolutely beautiful & i want to go back tomorrow.

thomas crown affair?

last weekend i hit up an amazing art museum in tokyo called the national art center, tokyo. not only were the exhibitions unbelievable but the building in itself is a work of art. i spent a lot of time meandering around the amateur artists section - i couldn't believe how great their work was. i wanted to pull a thomas crown affair move & steal several paintings right off the wall.

...oh, & i'll be in the states in t minus 40 days! eeek!