Love it!

Since I have been so lazy with the writing, I guess I should do some photo reports instead.
Places we visited, things we did, food we ate.

Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Cheesecake Fantasy//Coldstones

Ramen

Today was my first time to try Japanese noodle soup - ramen. I heard of that dish the first time in the beginning of last year, when I was watching the movie "Ramen girl".
Since that, I have been really eager to eat it myself. When I was it Tokyo last year, I somehow managed to leave without trying it. So this time, eating ramen soup, was again on my must-do list.
Now I can finally cross it over - I have officially tried Japanese ramen!
The thing about ramen is that, it is really, really filling. So you should never eat it for dinner. The best time to eat it, would be early lunch time. When you've had a nice big bowl of ramen, you won't even want to see any food for at least the next four hours.
And if you are planning to go for that tasty noodle dish, you definitely should go with an empty stomach.
So this is why it took me so long, to eat ramen. Today fit well - I went to the gym in the morning, so it made me hungry enough, and Reelika hadn't had anything to eat at all the whole day.
We tried to find one of these really Japanese places, but since we were starving, we didn't have much patience, and we settled with a restaurant in Roppongi Hills.




It was one of these places, where we had to choose our dishes and buy a ticket from a vending machine, before we could enter the restaurant. Then we gave our tickets to the waiter, and in less than ten minutes, we could already enjoy our soup.

Me and Reelika both took the ramen soup with pork, just with the little difference, that I had it soy-tasted.

Ramen is served with boiled egg, a nori leave, some pork and green onion. The chopsicks are for noodles and the spoon is for the broth.

I truly love noodle soups, and I loved this ramen as well. The best part of all soups is always the broth. As usually, the ramen dish was huge, so there was no way, we could finish eating it.
But it doesn't mean that Japanese can't do it: two young Japanese guys came to the restaurant and finished their ramens within four minutes. Amazing!
And I bet they had had some onigiri (rice balls) for breakfast as well. (because that's what many Japanese people often eat for breakfast - rice balls, fried chicken, sausages, sweet omelette, miso soup)

The truth is, I've tried many noodle soups before, and I can't tell which one I liked the most. But honestly, it doesn't really matter, until it is fresh and nutritious. I can really say, that I am a big fan of noodle soups, especially ramen.

Chocolate covered.. typhoon

The job for Fudge was all about fur.  I had 12 cuts in total, and it took less than five hours. I love working for Fudge and I really hope the love me too.

I was working with a really nice hair&make-up artist, who spoke good English and had a great sense of style. She painted my nails with this wonderful matt Knock Out chocolate colour nail polish, that you can get only from US or internet shopping. Truly irresistible for chocaholics!
(Please let me know, if you are coming or going to US, so I could kindly ask you to bring me a few of those KO nail polishes!)
This is the last outfit, that I really adored. The skirt was supercute and fluffy. I felt like a little chicken.
Actually I liked many of the coats, boots and furs I was wearing. The one I loved the most, cost something like 128 000 yen.. It would be crazy to buy one of these special-treatment-needing fur coats for those always-so-muddy Estonian autumns.

At least, that's what I say to myself.

Monday itself was hot and humid. You could really smell the rain coming.

Tuesday was cold. And yes, cooold.
I had to wear a jacket! And leggings under a skirt.
Otherwise it was a boring day - gym in the morning and castings in the afternoon. I did some shopping in GAP store during my break between castings.
- when they say, you get an extra 15% off, if you buy three items, you simply have to buy three items!!
Isn't it so?


We all knew, that the typhoon was coming on Wednesday.

And oh boy, did it come!
I met Nagi in Shibuya station around 2.15 pm. By then it was already windy and rainy. It got much worse later on. I was the only one from Zucca doing castings all day - others were working (and one of the girls had to leave, because she hadn't booked any jobs during her stay at all). So after my third casting, me and Nagi had to go to Odaiba (one of the man-built/fake islands), to pick up Nadia from the studio she was working in. The wind was crazy by then! When we reached Odaiba, I was sure the car was going to flip over any second. So freaking out, I asked Nagi to park somewhere inside. Thank God! he did so. I'm sure it was the worst time of that storm. Even inside the building, the car was still swaying heavily. And the wind whistling through the corridors.
 I was really upset, and I didn't want to leave the building. Nagi left me there, and went to pick up Nadia alone. I stayed inside, and luckily found a Starbucks. Whatever could calm me down better, than a hot Apple Crumble Latte?

Somehow Nagi survived, and managed to pick up Nadia and then me again, so we could go back downtown. It was much better there.
Still three of my castings were cancelled, so I could go home. Since our manager couldn't take us back, we took a subway..The walk back from the station wasn't bad. The rain had stopped, but the wind still really strong. All I was afraid of, were the piles of broken umberellas..

And why were the streets full of broken umberellas??
Because even if there's a friggin typhoon outside, that makes the rain come from above and under, some of the Japanese still try to hide under their umberellas. And let me make it clear - the umberellas were upside down, and broken, and they were no use! They only made the trafficing more dangerous. So I really don't understand, what was going on in those people's minds? What makes you open a umberella, if there is wind blowing 144 km per hour?!

Anywho, this was the first typhoon for me. As Toshi told me, they rarely hit Tokyo, so I was lucky.


For today morning, all the signs of a storm had gone. The sun was shining and the streets were clean again. In the afternoon it did start raining again, but nothing compared to yesterday.
I had only two castings - lingerie and fitting models.

And once again there's a three-day holiday coming.
I hope I will find something to do. Boredom is such a pain!

Enough of the models!

Long live the weekend!
Or well, not that long. I hate the days off.
I really did enjoy this weekend. Still - thank god I'm working tomorrow for Fudge magazine again! (otherwise, there's a national holiday tomorrow - Respect for the Aged Day - ?!)

Friday wasn't that good at all. I will never go to Lex again for sure! It might have been a cool place a few years ago, but sorry, now it's just a dump.

Yesterday I was in the gym in the morning. Then me and Reelika went to see the Vietnamese festival in Yoyogi park. It was packed! And terribly loud! Us, two quiet Estonian girls just couldn't stand it. So in the end, a simple Turkish kebab saved the day.
Next time, if we want to eat Vietnamese and maybe even feel some culture, we will just go to the nearby restaurant and keep away from the crowds.

Today was much calmer. I enjoyed it a lot. And doing some sports in the morning really works out well for me.

Yoyogi park

'Last summer day picnic' with Reelika and our Japanese friends in Yoyogi-koen// Sunday

For the record - there was definitely more than 32 degrees outside today.
So how is it in Estonia?

Japanese salarymen

Monday was simply boring again. I went swimming in the morning, just before castings.

Tuesday I was working for the same underwear client as on Sunday. This time the job was even easier - I had only five cuts. And after the job, that finished 2 hours earlier, we went for lunch in a Chinese restaurant. I had a noodle soup with vegetables, that made me full for the whole day, and today morning as well...
In the evening me and Reelika went for a walk in Azabu-juban. While sitting on a bench in a rest area, these two funny Japanese guys came to talk to us. The conversation was something like this:"Hello! What are you doing?"
- "Mida sa must tahad? Mine minema!"
"Sorry? Where are you from?"
- "Aru ei saanud või?"
"Are you from Europe?"
- "Mine ära juba, mis sul viga on?"
"Sorry, can you say more slowly?"
.. (laughter between me and Reelika)
and it continued..in English now. Or so we thought,- "We are from Estonia"
"Estonia? Ohh yes, Lithuania... Estonia..!!"
- " Wow, you even know where Estonia is! What do you know about Estonia?"
mumbling something like "..what.. know.. Estonia..?" as an answer,
- "What you know of Estonia?" (Skip some words, and change others to more simple ones - that's how they usually understand English)
and again something I don't remember and that made no sense anyways, as answer. But it continued.
"What are you doing in Japan? Students?"
- "Yes, students... And you?"
"Salarymen. Japanese salarymen! Ha-ha-ha"
-"Ok, very funny.."
"You are very beautiful!"
- "Arigato"
"Oohhh, sugoi!" ..(.and they said something like "they speak Japanese" to each other)
- "So, what's up?"
"..What ...up...??! What...up??.."
-" Yes, what's up - what are you doing?"
"What doing? DRINKING!"
and it went on..until we simply said "Sayonara!" to those two ridiculous guys. They were truly gigling like 12-year-old school girls.
Don't even try to bother us, if you don't speak any English! And especcially if you don't understand that I'm not talking in English, but in Estonian..Don't make a fool of youself!

It happens really often, while walking, or sitting somewhere, that random Japanese guys try to make friends with us. Because we are white, and blonde. (well, for Japanese I am blonde!). I get that almost every time I'm walking around Shibuya.
 Yes, I'm pretty sure it does happen every time I walk around there...or anywhere. I just haven't been walking around much lately..
It is extremely funny sometimes. And other times it just annoys me. It happens way too often. So it is the easiest to start speaking to them in Estonian, so they think you are crazy, and they leave.

I know it's not nice or polite, but come on - how many of these "friends" can I take??


So today I went to the gym in the morning and then I had two castings. So bored. Unless I have a job, I am extremely bored. And I repeat - nothing, nothing at all, makes me as happy as working!

There are holidays coming again soon..I hope I figure out what to do..I don't like to be bored at all! I'm in Tokyo and there is no reason to be sitting in the apartment! My room is for sleeping only! And that's the reason, I'm not too good with the blog either..

Simple cut

For Saturday noon I had an appointment with Ms Shirota in Blanco in Omote-Sando.
She cut my hair. About 15 cm, and layered a bit. It was just becoming too much.
Now it feels a bit funny. And light. Oh yes, so light.

It was also my first time in a hair salon in Japan. You might wonder if I have never really cut my hair in Japan before, since I am here for the third time already. Usually I just let them do the small things at jobs. It's the easiest way and I don't have to pay.

So it was a nice experience. I was fortunate to be there at the same time with a student from USA. She helped me to understand the hair stylist a little better. Because those Japanese! Ms Shirota asked me something like if my hair was going early. And I really didn't know how to answer that.
I mean - how early does your hair go?
Thanks to that art student, we made it clear, that my hair grows fast.
All that fun of cutting and treating and shampooing cost me just 4400 yen. At leat 2 times more than in Estonia, but hey, this is Tokyo we are talking about.

With my hair all light, clean and glossy, I went to my favourite store - Kaldi coffee farm - that is also in Omote-Sando. Then I went to the 100-yen store in Harajuku, and then walked back to Roppongi. It is supposed to be about a 40-minute walk, but since I stopped in 3 different stores on the way, it took me 3 hours to get back home.
But on the way, I did find some good places to do my grocery shopping. And...I found black bread! Made from rye with syrup and seeds and everything!
Yes, it is imported from Germany, and been in the package for at least a month, but it still tastes and smells like Estonia, so it is enough for me. And 8 slices just cost 300 yen, so it is affordable.


When I got back home, after walking for 4 hours, I had a rest and a light dinner and went to the gym for an hour, to be in time to meet Reelika and Triinu (the two other Estonian girls in town) at 8.30. We had a nice evening with a bottle of Japanese plum wine at Reelika's place.

So again, I got 3,5-hours of sleep and went to my job today morning. For underwear.
I was expecting to have around 18-19 cuts, but at the end, there was only 8. So it was super easy. I was working with Sabrina - a girl from USA - who I'm also working with for the same job in Tuesday.
The make-up and hair was ridiculously cute and ugly, but somehow I managed not to lose my mind.
In the end, we ate some of the decorations again. They were supersweet and of course I felt guilty after eating a complete sugar-bomb, but they were way too inviting..





They also had a lot of fruit for the setting and they gave a lot to us. I think it is the first time I get fruits, not sweets, to take home from a job. And since fruit really is expencive here, it was the best thing ever.


Now it's already late in the evening, but today was the first day, when I got home before 4pm. We finished the job two hours earlier than supposed to, so it was great. I finally had time to check out the Hanamasa supermarket in Akasaka. It is a 20-minute walk from my apartment, but it is worth going, since they really sell some cheap fruit&vegetables - the things I eat the most.

And now my mission is complete - I've managed to put down most of what happened during the past week. And did I enjoy it?

Of course I did. I was busy as hell, but I was working five days out of eight, so supertired and superhappy. I just hope it will be like this until November.

Make me busy

After the job on Monday, and also on Tuesday and Wednesday, I was on casting-duty. I don't think I booked anything. Don't really even remember any castings.

On Tuesday I also made a new contract in Roppongi Tipness. It's much different from the one in Osaka, where it was located on the 4th to the 6th floor, with a view on the Umeda Ferris Wheel from the swimming pool. In Roppongi the whole Tipness is squeezed in the basement. A bit depressing, but I guess I will manage. They don't have as many machines in the gym either..and the staff isn't as kind, and there are too many foreigners (who are too loud!). But the only thing that is truly good - Tipness is a five-minute walk from my apartment.


On Thursday I was working for a brand called Felissimo. Just a simple catalogue. Or well, a cute catalogue. As I finally realised, it was the same client who I worked for two years ago in Estonia. So of course they loved me. And I loved the free WiFi. And the job too of course. They ordered the nicest lunch too.

Kamemeshi with salmon and its egg

In the evening I went swimming after the job and casting, and then to Feria for dinner. And I got a nice 4-hour sleep before my next job.

On Friday I was working for Nagalieben, also a familiar client. But they are special. They do hospital clothes. So from nine in the morning, until six thirty in the evening, I was shooting uniforms for nurses. Also a few robes for patients and two for pregnant women. All together around 25 outfits I guess. I didn't even try to count.
 Oh was that fun. At least we had WiFi again.

I'm sure I got more wrinkles under my eyes thanks to the job. Just too much smiling. And I didn't know that nurses could dance at work!
As last year, they had booked many models to do the job. So this time I was working with three other girls. The two guys came in for about two-and-a-half hours: had lunch, did 3-4 cuts for patient gowns and left. Unbelievable!

After the job I still caught all my four castings for the day. Which is unusual if you're working. I was dead tired after all this, so I had a nice 10-hour sleep.

Double-Fudge

When coming back from Korea, I had a lot waiting for me. First of all the apartment, that completely dazzled me. And then the jobs.

The decision of leaving Osaka earlier was the smartest. In the week I was here for castings, I booked 5 jobs (one of them a two-day job). So, already on Sunday ( the first day of my contract) I was working for Fudge magazine (they have a natural&cute style)

On Sunday morning, after my first night in the new apartment, I woke up at 5.55 am thanks to a earthquake. It is kind of funny on the 13th floor.

After the quake

Later in the morning, had to take a subway from Roppongi to Shibuya (changing in Ebisu, that is close to Shibuya) and go on from there on foot. But I decided to walk to the meeting place from Ebisu. So ignoring the agency's directions, I asked some help from a policeman, and started walking. And as fortunate I was, it started pouring. My map got soaked and ripped. Luckily, just before I reached the Fudge office, a car pulled down next to me and the driver handed me his umberella. And this truly happens only in Japan. (Of course it has a little to do with the fact, that they sell these cheap, 400-500 yen umberellas here)
So thank you, whoever you were!

The shooting place was about an hour drive out from Tokyo, in a place called Johnson Town. It was kind of a American style theme village. I guess like a Americatown (as there is chinatown).

The job was easy, and the clients were nice. I had only 4-5 cuts too, but it still took long. I had to do all sorts of things - from singing on the bed, to climbing on a bus.

Well yeah, these pictures will be useful only in Asia.

After the job we went to eat in one of the small buildings, that was made into a burger-bar. The lunch choice was a hotdog, a ham&cheese burger or a Teriyaki chicken burger. I hadn't had a burger for at least a year, so this home-made one was truly great. Even though I really don't like eating fastfood. (Well, this one didn't come fast anyways).
The drive back to Tokyo took almost 3 hours. Damn traffic!



On Monday I was working for Fudge again - now the client was willing to pay for the taxi, because I had to be at the office at 6.30 am. The studio was out from the city. This time it was a nice villa near a train station called Zushi (I've also worked in a place called Kuki). And the shooting theme was 'party girl'. So they let me laugh, and sing, and dance, and play a guitar, and so on..A lot of acting. When I had finished a few cuts, Sarah (from Donna) came. The 'party' continued.

The results are once again not too useful in Europe, but surely perfect for Asia. I'm waiting for October so badly, to see myself in two spreads in Fudge magazine. Jippijeeyy.

Point of view

On Saturday, after arriving in Tokyo once again, I moved to my new apartment. And it surely is something - I live on the 13th floor in Roppongi Duplex Tower and I have a full view of Tokyo tower. Amazing. Of course, it has its price.




There is a long story behind me moving here, but it isn't really that important. I got here finally, so that's what matters in the end.

After moving in I was unpacking my things the whole day, so I didn't really have any time for seeing around. I knew Roppongi a bit already before, but in the night time. And that is something completely different.

So now here I live, alone in my single-room apartment, with a double bed, all electronic devices I need (except blender!) and cabel TV. It is a pitty to have it all for myself, but hey - my friends are always welcome!







Hmm, did I mention?
I can see Tokyo tower even from my bed.
And it is awesome!

Seoul: Until we drop

My second, and the last day in Seoul was long. And I repeat: it was a looong day.
It started around 9 am, with me having less than 7 hours of sleep. (And let me remind you - the night before I slept only two hours). There wasn't a big hurry or anything, I just wanted to do as much as possible in the time left. I picked up my visa from the Japanese consulate first. Then I had a quick breakfast in a park nearby.

The area where I stayed, and also the consulate, was close to a big palace - Gyeongbokgung, where I had a nice one-and-a-half hour walk.









I went back to my hotel around 1 pm, to drop of some stuff I didn't need anymore, so that I could have less to carry, when coming back shopping. And well, I did do some nice shopping. Mostly I bought some cosmetics and other body care products, but I also found a cool shop on Myeong-donggil, where they sold (and I bought) some cheap (mostly Korean) designer clothes.
I was so busy spending my money, that I almost forgot to have lunch again. Besides the Turkish ice-cream I got for free, I only had a vegetable croquette from a bakery to eat. So when I got back to the hotel again (around 7) I could truly say, I was shopping until dropping. Or at least, almost until my arms got ripped off from all the bags.

I planned to have a nice Korean dinner in some nearby restaurant, but you wish! I didn't have any time for that, because I still had much to do before going out.
I took a shower, I bought a lovely scarf, I got a set of make-up brushes and a new mascara from Missha, I called Mr Taeki Noh as promised (although like seven hours later than supposed to) to say my goodbyes to him, and I (almost) packed my suitcase.
I took the subway and then a taxi to downtown. And again! the taxi drivers couldn't handle the address. And this time I even had it in Korean! So finally I gave the (second) driver a cellphone number to call, and I somehow finally met Peter. He is a actor/model/DJ/manager, who I now know thanks to Thomas. We first went to eat some Korean barbecue. And it was delicious! Although a bit messy to eat (as a beginner with metal chopstics, I managed to drop a large part of the side dishes).
After picking up Peter's dj-ing stuff from his apartment, we went out for some fun.
And yes, fun I had!

Until 4.30 am, when I realised it was time to go to the airport.
So nope, I had no sleep. I took the subway to the airport after picking up my things from the hotel, and with a 2-hour flight (and some nice turbulence), I was yet again back in Tokyo.

Should you trust Taeki Noh? or: Hi Seoul! Soul of Asia

This was my first day in Seoul.
 I arrived in Ginpo airport a little after 11 am, took the subway to Gwanghamun station and found the Japanese consulate with the help of my map and some nice Korean people. I gave in the application for a new working visa and then took a cab to my hotel.



Well, at least I tried to. The first taxi driver, who's car I climbed into, couldn't find the hotel on his GPS, so he denied. The second driver didn't have a fancy car like that, so he called somebody instead. Finally a random Korean guy from the street came and offered me his help. He first asked, if he could take me by his car. Hmm..Did I trust him enough? Of course not. So he offered just to join my taxi and instruct the driver. And he decided to pay for the ride as well...
Now he knew, where I lived. Well done, well done!

I checked in, changed visit cards with the Korean guy and said goodbye. I walked around the area and found out, that it is exactly on one of the most popular Korean-style shopping street - Insadong, that sell souvenirs, cosmetics, antiques, clothes, jewellery and whatever else you can imagine. Perfect for my short visit!



I wondered around a bit, had lunch and did some shopping. Around 6.30 I went back to the hotel, and the guy, named Noh Taeki (and yes, his first name is Noh !), called. He was waiting for me downstairs.

He took me to the N-Seoul Tower, that is the highest tower in Seoul. He'd made a reservation at the tower's Italian restaurant, where we had a six-course dinner. A bit awkward. There are no free dinners, you know.



When I got back to the hotel (at 11pm), I almost decided to go out to a Fashion Party, but since things worked against me (like sleeping only two hours last night), I quit the plans.

Now here I am. In my small hotel room. With plans and fears for tomorrow.
The main thing is - let's get some sleep now!!

Oh yeah, Happy Late First of September to everybody!
The universities started earlier, but thanks to being so busy for the last days, I wasn't as sad as I thought I'd be. Still, reading all those posts about everybody going to uni, I feel envious.
Lucky you!