Hello everybody! It is finally time to do a quick update. Since I haven't really been writing (post graduation), I feel like my writing has been suffering quite a bit. I kind of want to work on my writing by updating this blog!


EGGIE SWEATER
Jenn Im from clothesencounters started her own clothing company! The brand itself is called Eggie which means "baby" in Korean. When I watched the Eggie announcement video, I decided to visit the website and purchase a sweater! The Eggie Oversize Hoodie matched my overall aesthetic and I decided to get it.

The sweater itself is meant to be big. (I think I could've sized down!) It is super comfy and I can image myself wearing the sweater on lazy days or on travel days. I think the only complaint that I have about the hoodie is the sleeves. The sleeves are extremely long! Although not a big deal breaker, maybe it could've been slightly shorter? I think this is dependent on how long / tall you are. I am about 5'2". The sleeves reach all the way down to my knees. Perhaps if you are a taller person, the sleeves won't be as long?

Sleeves aside, I liked the hoodie. Specifically, I like the hood! I think the print / font looks nice and it's also black and red which matches my theme. I believe the hoodie is currently sold out, but I'll leave a link to the website!

Shout out to Jenn Im for starting her own clothing company! It's really great that she found something that she's passionate about. As stated in her announcement video, she really struggled after being rejected from university straight out of high school. She thought things weren't going her way, but looking to how much she has grown now, she has really established herself. It's really encouraging to see someone really struggle, but find their way. So big props to you Jenn!

This is one the first photos I snapped once we arrived! I really liked how the color gradation turned out in this one. There was no color editing for this photo! The natural hue of the image is green! The dark night life color of this photo reminded me of my favorite anime, Psycho Pass. (Yes, I know it might seem sort of cliché to compare Japanese scenery to anime, but that is the only way I know how to describe it. It sort of feels like I've been here before!)

Since we did arrive late, our travel group was feeling pretty hungry. We decided to stop and get something to eat!



After filling our stomachs with food, we headed back to the hotel to get lots of rest! Our flight to Japan had been pretty rocky. We flew through a typhoon, which caused lots of turbulence on our flight. It was pretty difficult to get rest and most of us were running on a few hours of sleep.






For a small price, you could purchase a wooden plaque to hang on the wall of prayers. There were over hundreds of handwritten notes hanging on the wall. Most were written in Japanese with some written in different languages.



Heading out of the shrine, we made our way down to the famous Tokyo Station. It had a very cute style of architecture. With a vintage style, this station contrasted the modern day aesthetic of the city. Many people gather to this station on their daily commute.





I really enjoyed dining here because you are given your own booth to eat. You have a little curtain that separates you from the kitchen. The servers will pass you your food through the curtain. For the most part, you are able to dine in complete solitude. This may seem a bit weird, since most Western customs focus on interaction between customer and server. However, it is quite nice being able to eat without interruptions. There is a small spout where you can pour your own water inside your booth.

If you need to contact your waiter, you press a small green button and they will come to serve you. If you want to order a refill, a refill paper (located on the left of the photo) takes care of the verbal interaction. Even if you do not speak Japanese, you will be able to order. No need to fear a language barrier.

Of course, while eating with the Dumpling Queen, we had to get two orders of dumplings! These dumplings were quite good. The exterior was quite crunchy and the meats and vegetables were perfectly balanced in the center. You also have the option of dipping the dumplings into a pickled vegetable oil sauce (Honestly, I have no idea really how to describe it lol!)


I was instantly interested in the symmetry of the shower area! Water comes out of the two spouts located on both the left and right. You press a button and water rains down on your body. It feels industrial yet earthy with the live green plants and tiled floors.

The pool area is not very large. However the view is quite captivating. You sort of feel relaxed, but also quite aware that you are swimming in a busy city. Office buildings surround you, but there you are leisurely relaxing. It is quite an experience.

The most interesting part of the pool was the private jacuzzi areas. In most hotels, there are usually only one jacuzzi. However, in the Sheraton pool there were multiple jacuzzi spots separated by tall green bushes. C-dawg kept her eyes open for a jacuzzi spot.


After we hopped off the train at the Mong Kok stop, we headed over to Cafe de Coral. This is considered a fast food chain restaurant. The prices are relatively cheap, the food comes out quickly, and there are several locations located throughout Hong Kong.

Now you might be wondering, why are you eating spaghetti while in Asia? Honestly, spaghetti is my all time favorite food. Also I remembered eating this meal in my childhood when I came to visit Hong Kong for the first time. It was truly magical!

Baked spaghetti dishes are done in the United States in Hong Kong cafes across the Bay Area. However, it is just not the same. Baked spaghetti tastes sweeter here for some reason? Anyways, we paired our meal with milk tea. It was honestly super delicious! It felt like a throw back to my childhood.