Lucky Pack GET!

I was surprised today- despite getting up at noon, there were still tonnes of LPs around Harajuku. None of the big name lolita brands had sold out, so I'm glad I didn't take my friend's advice and get there at 6am! My suitcases are pretty stuffed and I was running low on funds, so I just got LPs from Swimmer and Paris Kid's. However, I am currently at the stage where I have filled 2 suitcases and an overnight bag, so it will be a challenge to bring it all back. I'm actually calculating how many layers of clothing I can wear at once and how much stuff I can cram in my pockets for the plane ride. Remember that episode of The Simpsons where they go to the candy festival and Homer steals the Gummy de Milo? Think of me as the over-stuffed Marge whose pockets are about to burst with burando accessories X_x

Last night was fun, some peeps from my hotel and I walked around to the local shrines for the first pilgrimage of the new year at midnight. It was cold, so the people at the shrine had lots of hot sake ready for us. At the Inari shrine we hit up, the sake was a little stronger than I'm accustomed to and my high-pitched coughing echoed throughout the holy site, eliciting an endearing "kawaii" from the Shinto priest.

Tomorrow I hop on a plane to Brisbane. I'm none too thrilled about it. I was discussing with one of my ex-pat friends who lives in Tokyo now about how the lack of variety, new things and fun stuff to do after 5pm other than drink in Brisbane really sucks the soul out of you. She used to love the place because it was her hometown, but like so many, she was able to reflect on how truly stifling it is there after she got out. I want to get out again too. I really do. Maybe that should be my belated New Year's Resolution.