24 in Japan

This last week was my birthday, and it was interesting to have it in Japan. The lack of the friends and family that I have in America definitely made it's approach a bit somber, but overall I had a pretty good time.

The day of was a bit of a disappointment, but that's mostly because I had to work, and the rest because a couple of the kids in those classes were so much worse, rude and difficult than they ever have been. but I took off early and hit up a couple of bakeries for pastries and coffee (I very much enjoy both!). After work I went to a really cool, small restaurant for some food then to the bar to meet up with a couple of friends for a bit, not too much due to work the next day. I even got a couple of present from some people, which was very ice and completely unexpected.

Once my week was over it was off to the bars, for the real party this time. i went to dinner with a friend and we decided to get started early with sake at the restaurant, actually restaurants, but that'll come later. Come 12:30 we met up with more friends at the bar and started our all-nighter, I'll leave the rest up to your imagination as to what happened through the remaining 6 hours of fun stuffs.

The Cherry Blossoms (さくら) are out, or rather were out over this last week, and the people of all surrounding areas knew about it! all week long last week people had been flocking to Matsumoto from pretty much anywhere, it was quite surprising. Flower viewing (specifically Cherry Blossoms) is huge in Japan! it's the beginning of spring, and that's all the more reason for the people to get out and (as you may guess from early 90's movies of Japanese tourists) they bring their cameras. All around the castle was packed full of people taking pictures of the trees and also families and friends having picnics under the trees. it was actually fairly cool to see so many people out and relaxing, which I just haven't seen much of in Japan. I have pictures of all of this on my picasa site too. but I'm done here. bye bye