Free things in kyoto

After living over month in Kyoto I would like to share some of my favorite places. And of course, because I know how it feels like to travel broke, everything I recommend is totally free to do. If you would like more posts like this just comment below and ask. :)

Fushimi Inari Shrine

The Mount Inari or better known by the name of it's well known shrine Fushimi Inari Taisha is my favorite place in Kyoto -and maybe in Japan and in whole world-. I visited this place so many times I'm not even going to admit how often I went there. 

Torii gates from Mount Inari

Most of the tourists -and there is so many of them- end up there because of the Torii gates covering the road up and down the mountain. The road most of the people take is approximately 4 kilometers to the top. It's definitely worth of the walk! In addition to the torii gates you will come across small shrines, beautiful view to see Kyoto and 

You can see many interesting things and if you have time or want to visit in many times you should explore the forgotten side roads. You never know what you will see! Some interesting things I saw were little waterfalls, rice fields, mandarin -or something orange growing from trees- farm, old stairs going all way up to the top and of course cats that followed you around like guardians of old secrets.

Now I want to share one of my best memories from this magical mountain. I ended up visiting Inari at dark and decided follow two Japanese boys to the scary looking not lighted up path. The boys were going to turn back after while but seeing me walking -white girl alone not scared of anything- they couldn't. I had a lot of fun following them and trying to not laugh when they clung to each other and tried to be brave. In this trip -after the boys decided to turn back- I found the most beautiful waterfall ever. 

Rooftop/Observation Deck of Kyoto Station

If you don't have money to visit Kyoto tower go here. Heck even if you have money you should go here! You can see everything in Kyoto and -I can promise- it's breath taking view. The night and day views are funny to compare so if you have time visit two times.

To get there you just go up the escalators and stairs until you are on the top. Be aware that especially in evenings you will share the view with dozen romantic couples -making out in dark corners-. Well young love is always sweet to see, right?

My recommendation is go to the Isetan department store's food floors and buy cheap lunch to take and eat while watching the moving city below you. You can get to the Observation deck also from the top floor of Isetan and same time you can see endless escalators of this department store's -sigh worth to admire-.

While you are there you should also visit station's Skyway that starts from restaurants floor and provides you view to the station and city.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Two words beautiful and historic. The main attraction is Imperial palace but if time isn't problem you should see the gardens and grounds around it. I went there to see autumn leaves and ended up walking around couple of hours like child seeing his first fall colors.

The tour guide told interesting stories about the royal families that had lived in the palace. You could almost feel the former days and modern time blending together. I didn't wait a lot from this place but it became one of my favorites in Kyoto! It was my last day in Kyoto and second last in Japan so it will forever stay in my memory as place that gave me the great goodbye.

Imperial palace's garden is just magical

To get in palace's ground you need to go free guided tour organized by the Imperial Household Agency. You need to apply before hand to get in tour so the instructions you can find here. This place may sound too hard to get in but you shouldn't get scared! In reality it's quite easy especially if you do it in person in Kyoto.

Songs From Laugh to Cry

Today's three songs are going to be something I have been listening the last couple of days. I hope you like my music taste. Enjoy :)

Daddy - Psy (ft. CL from 2NE1)

Everyone probably remembers this singer from his hit song Gangnam Style. This song is surprisingly catchy and the video makes the lyrics even more fun than they are on their own. CL's voice is perfect for this song -I worship that woman. She's so beautiful-

Never Forget You - Zara Larsson, MNEK

First time listening Never Forget You will sound just normal love song. However after you watch the music video you understand the lyrics totally new way. The lyrics in this song are the most important part for me. I'm that kind of person who never forgets people she falls in love with. In addition to the lyrics melody is different from most of the songs playing in radio right now.

Talk Me Down - Troye Sivan 

I'm crying. This song and even more the video are so sad. I don't even know what I should write. Troye Sivan can play the emotions so perfectly and his voice reflects the feelings. I can almost hear the pain and yearning. -I'm not crying...-

Fatal Promise

Story time! Today I'm going to talk about person who can hurt me the most in this world. She's everything I'm not. Beautiful, funny and charismatic. We have know for a while but like usually in my life I'm pushed away and forgotten in the end. 

Deadly Promise

Your name appears on my phone screen and the memories hidden in my heart hijack all sane thoughts in my head. The moments from past, emotions and a long ago forgotten promises. Last time we met I promised to myself let you go. Until then I had hanged on the vow I made for you years ago. My only mistake was never ask the same things from you.

I will never push you away. 

With my whole soul and body I will always be here for you. 

Even after years I want to be close to you and share all of your troubles and dreams. 

In the darkness of summer night my words sealed the route my steps would follow until my dying days. My hands work on their own and open your message. The words I told to you win towards the ones I vowed myself to keep. My heart has place only reserved for the one I will love forever. I can't never let go of you. 

"Yeah, I'm doing good. How about you?"

"Really? He's idiot! I hope you are okay :("

"Okay, I will see you tomorrow! Let's talk more then"

"Hi, where are you?"

"You are already ten minutes late."

"Why aren't you answering? I'm worried"

"Aaaa okay. Don't worry we can see some another day. :)"

"You were out late last night so try to rest. I will go shopping by myself or something :)"

Again, again and again my heart breaks down. I never learn. 

You're My Pet

Starting today once a week I'm going to have Review Friday -guess which day and what I'm going to post-. The reviews are going to be about anything I can think of. Mostly movies, dramas, books and music.

So I didn't know how to do these book, movie and other reviews. First there is the basic information, summary of the plot and character or place introductions -only if I haven't been lazy-. The last part of the official review is  "For Who?" segment where I tell who would like this thing.

After that I tell about my own thoughts without spoiling anything. I will probably talk how I ended up watching or reading the thing I'm speaking and maybe even reveal my imaginary crushes.

In the end is going to be the red zone where I talk about the ending and the major plot spoilers so you shouldn't read it if you haven't seen/read the thing! But don't worry I'm going to warn you just before I start revealing anything.

YOU'RE MY PET

Type: Movie

Year: 2011

Country: South Korea

Time: 110 min

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Cute

Actors:  Kim Ha-Neul as Eun-Yi

Jang Keun-Suk as In-Ho

In this Manga based opposites attract romantic story independent and successful fashion magazine editor Eun-Yi -aka our female lead- lives quite normal lonely life. Everything changes after Eun-Yi's little brother makes her live with charismatic -deadly handsome, gorgeous and adorable- homeless dancer boy In-Ho.

After In-Ho's pleading not to throw him back to the street they come to the odd agreement. The boy can stay if he plays Eun-Yi's pet dog named Momo. Surprisingly, they get along better and better when time goes by. Well, at leastts until Eun-Yi's first love shows up and hiding the truth about Momo not being real dog seems to get harder. Especially when In-Ho doesn't like his "owners" new friend so much.

For Who?

Romantic comedy lovers
People who want to get addicted with Jang Keun-Suk (the handsome prince)
Good choose to watch in sleepovers (even better if it's close to Valentine's day)
Those who want to feel fluffy and cuddly from inside out

My opinion (no spoilers in here)

I have watched You're my Pet at least six times and probably more but I can't count anymore. I thought it would be the best choice for my first Review Friday. When people ask what are my favorite movies I never forget to mention this one.

For first glance it's just normal romantic comedy. However like usually you can't judge it by the looks. There's amazing music numbers and Keun-Suk's voice is dreamy -not even mentioning his dance skills- One example of these is "Hey girl" (just google it!)

After watching I can guarantee you want to get your own Momo. Though I myself don't still know if I want more to be Momo or get adorable Momo boy. I just adore the idea of someone taking care of me or me being loyal and loving like puppy towards someone. Who wouldn't like that?

Strong female leads make my day little bit better. Even if Eun-Yi sometimes drops to the silly-girl-between-handsome-guys cast, you can only sympathetic towards her situation -and scream when you think she makes wrong decisions-

------------------------THE RED ZONE STARTS------------------------

WARNING!! SPOILERS!!! Don't read the red text inside next button if you haven't seen the movie!

Okay so now to the section where I can talk freely without being scared of revealing too much. Let's go straight to the point... I hate the love triangles. You're my Pet basically is one big triangle full of annoying jealously. And still I love it. 

In my life there have been many times when I haven't felt normal teenager. While laughing to Momo's and his owner's hilarious romance for a moment I come silly giggling teen. Well my teen years are already over -twenty is still young!- but watching this movie makes me nostalgic. 

I hate the Eun-Yi's first love! Even if he doesn't do anything bad, just seeing him on the screen makes me boil from inside. And the boiling is bad thing. Team Momo 4ever^^ -or something like that?-

And finally the end's kiss is just perfect. I used to watch it (and the Hey girl dancing scene) when I had bad days -and I had bad day almost everyday. So...-

------------------------THE RED ZONE ENDS-----------------------

You can read now! No more spoilers here! Thank you for reading my blog and I'm sorry for the not so good content. I will try to get better at writing and make my style unique but interesting. I hope you enjoy my blog. :)

The Story of Our Nights

Hi! Because last night I couldn't sleep I ended up writing short story or something like that. I'm not good at writing in English so I am sorry already but I was too lazy to write anything that makes sense. So I decided that every Tuesday this blog is going to get post about my life in the shape of story.

The short text you are going to read is based on true story. It's parts of my diary from earlier of this year. If someone wants maybe I will tell more about this story to you in the future. I hope you like what you are going to read and critic is always nice to get.

The Story of Our Nights

My heart beats heavily and breathing is getting harder and harder the longer we stand here. The green eyes look at me and wait for my answer. The answer I can’t give. If we only had more time, more days to spend together. In the end he changes the topic. Invitation becomes question about the internet site I have been looking. Quick side glance to the computer reveals university logo and entrance exam info. I can’t remember what the heck I have been doing there before he came.

After my quiet confusing answer he is gone. After a while heart beats change to heart aches and breathing problems to want of dying. My brains chant same things over and over. Why can’t I talk normally, why why why? This was once in life time change. Not every day handsome nice guy suggests to cook for me. First time in my twenty years of living someone has been interested in me. As usually my awkward personality has destroyed everything.

Next day the boy is back. My heart beats and words don’t leave my mouth. He smiles and talks. Asks easy questions and tells things about himself. Everyone else has given up on me. He talks and asks even if the answering is more difficult than ever before for anyone. Night after night he smiles to me. We talk about little things. He doesn’t stop smiling and after while I can’t either.

If we only had time, I end up thinking more often when time runs from us. Day by day the end is nearer. The day I’m leaving and never seeing him again. At the day time I plan of answers for the question he asked in one of our first nights. Waiting makes me impatient but he never mentions it again. He just smiles and makes me smile. Smiling until the last night, until the last morning when he finds me before I’m leaving.

In movies we would kiss and he would make me stay here forever. In my life I walk to the bus and cry until there is nothing left. I go back home and only after five weeks of knowing him my heart doesn’t let me forget. In the late nights when my insomnia is taking over I go back to those nights. My heart beat and breathing can almost feel his smile. Memories can almost become the reality. Night after night in my dreams his last see you and smile become never ending movies. I regret today, tomorrow and maybe forever but never would take the change of forgetting him.

MAMA 2015 (Mnet Asian Music Awards)

Today I'm going to recommend songs to you. I don't know if anyone who ends up reading this watched 2015 MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Awards) yesterday but I decided to pic three of my favorite songs/performances. If you don't know what mama is, it's music gala where the best of korean pop (and other asian musicians) get awarded.

I have seen all of the last four MAMAs and feel the need to mention this year being the most boring of them. But anyway here is the stages I loved:

Loser - BIGBANG

First of all I love this song. The lyrics are me and singing the Loser part while driving car after bad day is good for my mental health. I get the feeling there is more people with similar problems like mine.

Beautiful lights always make my heart beat stop for moment. And not even the plainly ugly clothes couldn't take that feeling away. -However they may have used the same lights last year so I was able to recover quickly- Loser is the first song they perform but the other ones are also worth of watching.

Lightsaber - EXO

As big Star Wars fan the Lightsaber music video was disappointment. I have been waiting to see them perform with real lightsabers because there wasn't any in the mv. Finally I got what I wanted. The moment was short but good enough to make this one of the finest shows in MAMA 2015. (In the end of the video you can also see new song from EXO)

Trespass - Monsta X, Mansae - Seventeen

These two young and extremely talented boy groups debuted in the first part of this year. They had collaboration stage in MAMA and that's why they are the third performance I decided to recommend.

Both of their songs are good but you should see the rapping and dancing in the end. I'm never going to be that good at anything! And they are so young. The oldest ones of these two groups are born in 1992 -just three years older than me- and the youngest one in 1999 -how can four years younger than me do more with his life than I do??-

And so she starts...

This is my new blog about everything and anything. I can write here what ever I want and the grammar mistakes are more than acceptable. This is place where I'm going to say stupid thoughts straight from my mind  and if someone has complains feel free to tell about them. Also critic about my English skills is always welcome. -Be aware that mean comments are answered with irony and sarcasm-

So to get started I though introducing myself would be good idea. Because in the moment I'm bored unemployed youngster -well not so young really- this post is going to be a long one. If you don't have patience just skip to the bottom to read short version or just forget my blog altogether.

To make this as long as I can here is my alphabets to you:

Age - I'm twenty years old. How ever usually people expect me being older.

Brains - I think there is problems in my brains or I'm just fired differently than most of the people. I have so many "problems" or "abnormalities" that originate from brain. Or at least I think I have those things and if they are just my imaginary my brain makes me believe them. In the end there is always something wrong in my head.

Chained - this word because it's how I feel. Always in the bottom on my mind. I can run or stay still but in every case I feel chained in my life. It's the sense of not belonging in anywhere and not knowing what you want to do.

Dreams - one of the odds things my brains do is dreaming. I have always seen dreams I can remember. And I mean I see them every night. Every morning I hope to sleep a little bit more and live in those perfect worlds.

English - I have always been one of the worst English students in my class. I just don't get it. Nowadays I can read and understand fluently but my writing skills are horrible and fortunately you can't ask me to show my conversation skills from the other side of this blog post.

Finland - my home country. We have love hate relationship. Always there is this feeling of leaving in me and I never really feel homesick. In the other hand I have always loved the nature, the culture and even the gloomy unfriendly people.

Gypsy heart - I don't know if I use this word right way but this is the kind of heart I have. Wanderlust is strong in me. I need always something new to do, new places to see, interesting people to meet. Staying in one place is impossible.

Hiding - something I'm good at even without trying or wanting. I hide my feelings, opinions and the true me. I can disappear in anywhere. Be invisible. Hide from responsibilities and people who get too close to me.

Insomnia - yes, I have bad one. It's always been my company at nights and probably will be with me to the far future.

Japan - I just returned from three months trip to Japan. This land is my second home and the trip was my first ever alone and this long time away from home. Japan means growth to me but it's in my alphabets also because it's colorful popular culture. I like anime, manga, movies, music and TV-series this country has to give us. There is going to probably be too much talking about this in my blog.

The Golden Pavillion in Kyoto, Japan (Click to see bigger pic)
Even as the worst photographer ever I was able to took beautiful pics in this place

Korean pop - in the moment -the last five or more years- I'm totally hooked in the kpop so I felt the need to include it in my alphabets.

Love - I have always loved too much. I fall in love a little bit with everyone.

Music - is my life. I listen everything from Japanese rock to classical music. The most important thing for me is always have something to listen with me.

No - this short but important word is almost impossible for me to say. Whatever people ask I can't answer negatively.

Oreo - told easy way this means I have a sweet tooth.

Pet - I have a dog. It's cute and old and evil.

There she is right now. Staring me and planning the world domination

Quiet - this is the word other people usually use describing me.

Ring - or better said almost black ring -didn't want this to be second alphabet so...- This is something I have wanted to wear for ages but found courage to start using just two months ago. It should be black ring in your right hand middle finger however I have always been a little different. The meaning of this ring is being asexual. If you don't know what it means read next letter and use google. Because I'm not fully asexual I thought this ring would be perfect for me.

Sexuality - or my lack of it. The "story" of my sexuality is too long to tell in this post but in the short terms. I'm not attracted sexually to anyone -no men, no women, no children, no animals, no objects, etc.- The term for person like that is asexual (or for me demisexual or greysexual but it's hard to explain so let's just say asexual for now). Even if I don't want to have sex I am totally capable to love like I told in the section for Love.

Travel - in my life I have visited Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Egypt, Sweden and London with my family before I was sixteen. After turning eighteen and adult I went second time to the Barcelona but now with my friends. I also did two trips to see concerts in London and Berlin. At twenty years old we spent some family time in Paris -and Disneyland- And the latest one was my world changing lonely travel to the Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto.

Even adults can like Disneyland! (and get totally lost in Alice in Wonderland Labyrinth...)

University - I need to apply next spring but I don't really want to get in anywhere...

Vet - was my dream job for long time and now I'm not sure how to tell my family that it's probably not suitable one for me.

Writing - aka my passion. Only thing I feel like I can do better than average person. Only thing I can imagine myself doing the rest of my life. Also the one thing that doesn't make paying job in Finland.

X - it's just x because you can pronounce it like ex (am I right?). So let's talk about ex boyfriends, girlfriends and other relationships. This list is going to be short. -Never dated anyone-

Yoda - "Do or do not, there is no try."

Zoo - This is the last word because of two reasons. One: My life is like badly handled zoo, always in mess and putting visitors in danger. Two: I just really love visiting zoos and aquariums. When I go alone I can just spend hours and hours wandering around. -Note to no one: never take me to date there if you want to keep my attention in yourself-


THE SHORT VERSION:

Hi! I'm twenty years old loser who likes everything but can't do anything. If you continue following my blog you will probably see some epic travels, ranting about my pathetic life, reviews from movies to music videos and anything I want to show to my lovely -imaginary- readers.