Me and Miss Mia Doll at Crown Casino on Friday night

I got back from Melbourne yesterday and I gotta admit, I love Melbourne very, very much. I spent four days there with good friend Miss Mia Doll, shopping, partying and having a grand ol’ time. I was fortunate and arrive just after their heat wave (though Brisbane decided to go and start its own heat wave the day I got back, typical) so I got to enjoy a warm sunny day while actually feeling cool when in the shade! You wouldn’t believe how much of a thrill that is like it is to a Queenslander.

Some of the things I did while I was there:

• Shopped at Chapel Street
• Wanted just about everything I saw in Dangerfield
• Wanted to buy everything from every store I visited, pretty much
• Went to the emo club night Nextwhich was hilarious
• Spent a day in the City where I was awed by how many kawaii asian shops there were. SO JEALOUS!
• Went to Crown Casino and had a ball laughing at the bogans and winning some money (well, watching the others win money, anyway)
• Visited fancy Melbourne cafes and ate a range of foods I never usually eat (ie. fast foods)
• Made new friends :)

At Tokyo NoNo, the Japanese mall on Bourke Street

It was a lovely trip, the only flaw was that it was way too short! I love Melbourne so much, and if I didn’t have my whole family and lots of friends up here, I’d probably already be living down there! Though admittedly, I’d be perpetually broke with all of the shopping and cafe/bar hopping I’d do. But it’s definitely worth regular visits. I hadn’t been there since 2008, and hope to go back at least once again this year and explore every party of that wonderful city.

Have you been to Melbourne? What’s your favourite part of the worlds most liveable city?

Well it’s been a busy week for me and thusly I have neglected my poor blog yet again. It’s a shame because I now have an actual computer desk and feel more compelled to blog now that I officially have somewhere or my laptop to sit, but time-wise I just haven’t had much luck!

Anyway, I got my nails done almost two weeks ago with this design and they’re still going strong! I got these stickers in Tokyo and thought they’d never last, but I guess enough top coats will ensure maximum lastingness! I did lose one little heart when I slammed a finger in a drawer but luckily the Japanese always supply spare shapes for just such emergencies and all was fixed in no time at all! I am pretty sure that if Barbie was real and got her nails done, this would be what she’d have.

Speaking o Japan, Aussie airlines Jetstar are having another 2 for1 to Japan sale on again and I’m pretty sure I will be going again this year. Aside from the fact my crazy nail sticker collection is running low, I have been desperate to go back for months now. Maybe even since we got back! I am in the process of trying to convince my mum, sister and some friends to come with me as I need to share Japan with as many people as possible! So if ever you’ve been thinking about going to Japan, I suggest finding yourself a travel buddy and going or half price! It’ll be the best decision you ever made, seriously!

I have so much to write about and so many photos to post but that will have to wait til I have the time to start writing about our adventures in full. So for now have a few of the highlights:

• We stayed in Shinjuku which is EPIC! It’s at least 10x the size of Brisbane City and is always busy. Or hotel was right by Kabukicho which is the red-light district, the safest/cleanest I’ve ever seen anywhere in the world.
• I shopped til I dropped (almost literally) including the shopping center 109 in Shibuya which had 8 levels of ladies fashion. It was amazing. I got my nails done there and they’re AMAZING! I can’t type very well now as a result but it’s worth it!
• Harajuku was amazing. Not quite what I expected but I loved it all the same. Awesome shops and fashion, tutu’s EVERYWHERE, more people than I have ever seen in my life, queues outside shops headed by security guards etc. Only a few cosplayers though, I was a teeny bit disappointed that it was all hype but I got some cool photos anyway.
• TOKYO DISNEYLAND! Oh man what a day! We spent ELEVEN hours there and I was unable to walk properly by the end of the day/night (still have a limp actually). It’s a lot like the original Disneyland in LA but more over-the-top and the merchandise is to DIE for! I bought so much, including 4 pairs of Minnie Mouse ears XD
• Everything is kawaii (cute). I saw roadworks barriers that were cute animal shapes for crying out loud. I bought so much kawaii stuff, even  am slightly sickened by it. Pink is very popular there too, almost everything has a pink version and often a range of pink options! I was in heaven, let me tell you!
• I saw multi-leveled porn shops, multi-leveled collectible toy shops, found a digital camera that takes photos in 3D, and witnessed maid cafes in Akihabara.
• We are the best food I’ve ever had in my life and all of it was so cheap! I can never go back to an Aussie sushi train again after experiencing the real deal in Japan!

I’ll write more in depth later on. Right now I need to sleep – I got a cold on the last day which has made me feel a little bit crap as well as my bung foot from excess walking (I know, pathetic huh). So here’s a pic of me in a tea cup at Tokyo Disneyland (check out my super-kawaii tiny top hat):

This afternoon when I checked my email, I didn’t for one minute think I would end up booking a flight overseas by the end off the day. But I found an amazing deal for 2 for 1 flights that I couldn’t resist and it just took one email to A and withing an hour two flights were booked to Japan in September! And for so, so cheap!

I’ve wanted to go to Japan for ages. I’m not one of those Japan-crazed girls who thinks everything the Japanese do is the best thing ever and so only listen to Japanese music, watch Japanese films/TV and dress like a typical Japanese school girl or do that cos play thing. I mostly just like weird and random shit, which the Japanese seem to have pretty much perfected. I also think Japan looks like a beautiful country, and I have had many friends who have been there say very good things about the place. So, now it’s my turn!

It’s for eight days so a short trip, really. We’ll probably just stay in Tokyo as we’re going to be a bit pushed for money given such short notice and everything. But a week in a crazy city like Tokyo will be perfect, I daresay. Plus I’m not wanting to do all the touristy stuff per say, I just want to experience Tokyo as thoroughly as possible, which probably means lots of wandering around and getting lost (something I mastered in almost every major and minor city that I’ve ever been to). It is going to be AWESOME!

The only things I’m determined to see is Harajuku (I’m told Sunday is the day to go) and Tokyo Disney. Therefore I need suggestions for cool stuff to see and do around Tokyo. Cool shopping districts, interesting sights, famous landmarks, crazy multi-leveled sex-shops, entertainment districts etc. So please give me some ideas of what to see and do around Tokyo! Oh and an idea of how much things cost would be a really nice bonus too.