Life in the 'pan.

What a crazy weekend I have had!! And by crazy I mean Cool, Radical, Awesome, Zippidodaday, Yippeeee.

Its weekends like this weekend that remind me why I love Japan.

So dressing up as a geisha yesterday was one of the best experiences of my life! I didn't think it would be so eventful! I made a fairly scarey geisha, one you probably wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley in Gion, but I still felt all kinds of awesome with the make-up, the hair and the kimono on! I went with 4 other girls, Ange, Amy, Amanda and Karen; and Amy, Amanda and Karen also got dressed up in the geisha gear (actually we were Maiko: apprentice geisha.. but who wants to split hairs?). We got a special package deal where we had professional photos taken, and then were let loose around Kyoto for an hour.

Kyoto was packed as the cherry Blossoms are starting to bloom, and it is smack bang in the middle of Spring Vacation. The place where we got dressed up is near Kyoumizudera, which is a major tourist spot in Kyoto... loads of thin cobble stone lanes going up to the temple....

4 taller-than-average Geisha walking through the streets was a sight to behold. The crowds went CRAZY for us. Literally. Every time we stopped to get a photo taken, there would be 10-15 people stopped to take photos of us. People stopped to watch us walk by! People begged to have photos taken with us.

Imagine this: walking up a street with literally thousands of people stopping to watch YOU walk past, saying things like "Oh isn't she pretty!!!" "Oh so beautiful!!!" "oh look at her eyes!!!" "Amazing" "Cute".... the compliments go on. One kid said "You look scarey" and a few people said "Woah they are huge", but compared to the Beautifuls, Prettys and Cutes, they were severely out numbered. One American tourist was overheard saying to her friends "Oh they are FAKES!" in a very accusatory tone..... we had to laugh at that (I mean.... deeerrrrrr).


My head was almost as big as my head piece! I am pretty sure I will never have that kind of thing happen again in my life, so of course I lapped it up! The funny thing is I desperately wanted to smile, but with the really white face my teeth looked SO BAD, and showing them just looked awful. I couldn't open my mouth at all. We were all very silent on the way up and down, and that seemed to drive the crowds a bit wild too. We were acting like real geisha. My god. It was hilarious and wonderful all at the same time!

It was probably one of the most amazing birthday presents EVER, and I have to thank first Amy, the brainchild of the present, and then Ange, for driving me there and organising stuff, and Fiona, Ryan, Amanda and Karen for all contributing to the cost!

There is only one photo of the professional shots that I like, the rest I look really ridiculous. But I am hoping Ange took a few nice ones. There will be thousands of pictures all around the world of me as a Geisha!!! It would be a shame if I don't get a good one!


I wanted to write about the Kabuki I went to today, and the crazy meal I just ate in Osaka, but I am buggered so I will write it all tomorrow!!