Eye Spy... Something red

Red... my favourite colour. Red... the colour of celebration and happiness in Japan. Red... the colour of my engagement ring and my wedding dress. Red... the colour I think of when I remember Kyoto.


Thanks to Ellieboo for this week's Eye Spy theme and to Bug and Pop for hosting.

Room with a Garden View

When I was in Kyoto last week, there was one day that I was in serious need of some zen-ness. I hopped on a bus that took me up into a little mountain town, Ohara. For a long time I sat alone in the large garden of a temple where the sun illuminated the small Japanese maple leaves. Water ran down the slope, playing notes on each rock in hit.

After a while I explored the area a little more and was drawn to this old house. Once again, I sat and absorbed the nature around me. From one side I marvelled at the beauty of a 700 year old pine tree.

While enjoying the view, I was served traditional, bitter, matcha tea, perfectly complimented by a very sweet Japanese manju.

The red carpet was set out in an L shape on the tatami matting. To my side, the garden continued with a bamboo background.

After a quiet half an hour spent like this, I felt like I'd had a full eight hours sleep. It's fantastic for the soul and I really have to remind myself to do this more often.

This is my zen contribution to Big Cat's BLOGTOBERFEST.

This is... what I'm currently reading

This is also me a day late. And actually, this is what I was reading until this morning, when I finished it.

I bought it when I was in Kyoto last week. As the book was set in Kyoto and I had the Geisha makeover planned, it seemed like the perfect book. I found it really interesting. Unlike Memoirs of a Geisha, which I also love, Geisha of Gion is an autobiography and gives a lot more detailed insight into the life of a geisha.

While I've been lurking on a few blogs in the last couple of days, I've been strangely relieved that other people's book reading time has been reduced as they read more blogs. There is so much interesting reading on this big wide web now, that my bookshelf has been somewhat neglected. I know I only got through this last book so quickly because I was internet-less for a few days.

Thank you so much also to everyone for their kind words on my last post. I had a couple of days (helped by a perfectly timed long weekend) of hiding under a blanket, watching dvds, eating chocolate and getting lots of cuddles from my dh. I'm ready to happily face the world again and I hope to mend my relationship with my sister.

Thank you to Miss K for this week's theme to Angela, the fabulous hostess of This is...

Going Geisha

We had a ball being transformed as Geisha, or actually as "Maiko", apprentice Geisha. The Maiko's outfits and hairstyles are more vibrant so that was how we decided to go.

We first changed into our pink geisha slip and proceeded up a very steep flight of stairs to be transformed. The makeup was the first step. We applied a thick cream as the base and were then painted by the make up artist with a very thick white face paint like substance. Close up, the eyes looked very strange, first done in red and then in black.

We went with the "semiwig" option, where some of our own hair was brushed and blended into the wig to give it a little more realistic look.

We got to choose our kimono. I of course went for a red and my sister, a pink. Over the thin cotton slip went another, this time patterned with long decorated sleeves. Another layer went over the shoulders to pad the collar area before the embroidered decorative collar was put into place. A geisha should have quite a straight up and down look, so I was then super-padded with towels under my breasts to give a flatten look to my (I have to say) more than ample chest. Next was the kimono, then a belt around the middle, then the (what I call a cheat) obi (it isn't actually tied, but rather in two parts and the pre-tied bow slipped into place). Finally there was an obijime cord with an obi brooch (obidome).

We had a couple of professional studio photos taken and then were allowed to go to take a few photos ourselves outside for a little while. Before going outside our kimonos were taken up and tied so that we didn't drag and damage the padded bottom. Essentially, that means you can see our red and white under slip (nakajuban) in the full length photos.

I would have loved to have photographed the whole process, but sadly wasn't allowed.

Doing one of these dress-ups is a terribly commercial thing to do, but a lot of fun and something I'd really recommend.

I have been terribly slack with my contributions to Big Cat's BLOGTOBERFEST, but I should be back in the swing of it now.

Mended

Thank you so much to everyone for all the "get well" wishes. I'm happy to say, I'm all back together again.

Lately, I've been in a bit of a blogging slump, so Big Cat's announcement of BLOGTOBERFEST has come at a perfect time for me. I'm going to try to break out and get back into blogging regularly.

I have a busy month ahead of me actually, so hopefully I'll have something blogworthy to say. My big sister is arriving on Monday for a three week visit to Japan. It's her first time here, so I am very excited. I have a few days off next week, so we're going to Kyoto. I love the old Japanese capital and it's been a couple of years since I was there last. I might even see if I can talk her into getting done up as a geisha with me. It's a terribly touristy thing to do, but I have always wanted to try it.

Photo by Pokdeo

This is one place I'm sure to take here, the bamboo forest in Arashiyama.

Before she arrives, we're madly trying to prepare the apartment. I'm moving as much as I can out of my crowded workroom to make way for her futon.

Oh, and one last piece of news! I became and aunt today!