30DWC Day 28: Village Vanguard Japan.

When I first visited Village Vanguard in Aeon Mall, I never thought it’s a bookstore. Why? Because I saw weird stuff, food and a lot of kawaii things inside, who would’ve thought it’s a bookstore? But when I searched what really is Village Vanguard, I found out that it’s a vintage bookstore, hideout for geeks, nerds, and other otaku. 

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Village Vanguard is a break from the constant nightlife that tends to surrounds each branch; away from all the flashing neon lights, pachinko machines and AKB48 songs, the so-called “exciting bookstore” offers an escape into a retro, random universe. Pop culture abounds, including The Simpsons, Star Wars, Akira, Chibi Maruko, and that one old Japanese anime you can’t remember the name of but know was all the rage back in the 70s.

Teetering columns of candy-colored comics and toothy bobbleheads form a maze of sorts; be careful, though, because a single twist can lead you to an even more bizarre corner. At the store I visited, a right turn from life-sized Beatles’ inflatable dolls led to a “vintage” corner full of creaky fountain pens and fake British East India Company charters, which connected to a series of rainbow afros and maid costumes. Then there was that corner dedicated to the Gothic, stacked with skulls and handcuffs ….

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Let me tour you around, then you tell me it’s a bookstore.

These are chocolates, not a fish.

A plapen case, nope not playpen. Do not google playpen.

Yakult gummy?! They also have a BIG one, like really big.

And a lot of cat stuff. *sigh

Toothpaste, to make it simple. BUT they have 30 flavors to choose from like kiwi, banana, mocha, etc.

and curry, yep. CURRY. Ukh.

Finally, I found the book station!

You can by Happy bags during New Year, I guess these are leftovers, basically the items inside are secret and you will only find out when you buy the item.

These are pens, don’t get fooled.

They also sell posters, at first I thought they sell it like that, I mean the frames included but nope they aren’t.

Those pictures only show a bit of what’s inside Village Vanguard, we spent over an hour just looking at at random stuff. The store is really amazing and just looking at them is really enjoyable. If you’re a collector, you can find stuff here you can add to your collection, if you like weird things you’re in the right place and if ou just simply like kawaii things, well, you can find them here. If you visit Japan and looking for omeyage, this is also a good place, the items are not that cheap but some are, so I recommend dropping by. Hehe. This isn’t a sponsored post. Just hoping. Lol.

Btw they have a website, just incase you’re curious 😀

Bored Sensei.

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30DWC Day 10: H&M Winter Sale

There’s a sale. Wait. What? There’s a sale!

Hontuoni?! (Really?!)

So last Wednesday while I’m on my way back to school, I came across this bid red sign waving at me, it was shouting come here! come here! And I went inside and saw the crazy sale the store has. But since I was currently at work hour that time, I didn’t buy anything but I promised myself to go back the next day, and so I did.

I woke up around 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon today, read some blogs while eating my favorite bread and went to H&M as promised. But before going out, I told myself that I am not going to exceed my shopping limit, and not to buy things more than ￥500. The store is just 10 minutes walk away from home.

So let me take you inside…

Who wouldn’t notice this hug sign? It works.

Upon entering, the signs were shouting sale sale sale! Yeah I know.

They have different kind of cute tops to choose from And they’re as low as 300 JPY or 139.48 PHP.

There are also  dozens of skirts and shorts you can choose from as low as 500 JPY or 232.47 PHP.

Cutesy sleeveless tops.

I bought one of this. It is super cute!

You can get these tops for 100 JPY or 46.69 PHP. Di ba parang divisoria lang (though hindi pa ako nakakatry mamili dun).

I also bought one of this top for 400 JPY or 185.98 PHP.

For men’s section, they have a sale but not as crazy as the women’s.I was just wondering.

After getting all the items that I wanted, I went to the fitting room and voila! Please don’t judge my shoes and socks, it was really cold!

This top is only 300 JPY or 139.48 PHP. Isn’t it cute? lol.

I also love the skirt I bought it for 500 JPY or 232.47 PHP.

This red top is actually a one-piece, but I could wear it like this, defo not with the red skirt. Lol. I got it for 100 JPY or 46.49 PHP.

They also have dresses to choose from and prices varies. You just have to be patient. I was also tempted to get this shirt below but as I promised to myself I wouldn’t get anything exceeding 500 JPY. I made it!

But then I saw this cute coat or jacket, what do you call this? But I still find it expensive for my budget. Ha Ha. I decided just to wait until the store give it up for less than 100 JPY. I usually do this and it always works, when I really like something but it is still to expensive, I play the waiting game. It will take months, but atleast I didn’t spend money on things (I still don’t need). What if the item was sold? Well, it only means it wasn’t meant for me, if it still there, it’s for me. Parang pag-ibig lang, kapag sayo, eh di sayo. Kapag hindi, eh di hindi. Char! Patience is a virtue ika nga. Ha Ha.

I was already ready to go when I saw more cute stuff and you know what happened next.

They also have accessories section and they are a lot cute items on sale from 50 JPY or 23.25 PHP to 500 JPY or 232.47 PHP. But they7re always on sale so I didn’t bother to check today, I bought some cute choker last year and I still haven’t use all of them. I only have one neck 😀

And I happily left the store. I couldn’t wait to wear all of them. Hihi.

Ooopppssss… I have a tip. If you will go shopping at H&M, they always have big sales on summer and winter. Plus, you can download their H&M app and join H&M Club, I downloaded it today and I got another 10% discount each.

Don’t worry if you can’t read Japanese, they would help you and they have translation of the app.

Here’s my receipt, you would notice the 10% discount I got there for each item, plus you can gain points and exchange it for coupon.

That’s ￥2,385 or ₱1,116 for 10 clothes!

And another ￥1,700 or ₱795.51 for 5 clothes, and there were 2 items that wasn’t on sale.

I added the total of original prices, I was just wondering how much these would cost me if they weren’t on sale and the total is ￥31,533 or ₱14,755.36 I saved ￥27,448 or ₱12,848. BUT. I know I wouldn’t spend that amount of money, super kuripot ko kaya. Plus I only buy things I know I would need if they are on sale. Plus if I spend on material things, I would still balance it by making tipid sa kain hahahaha.

 

Admit it or not, we Filipinos love shopping lalo na kapg sale or may tawad.

So that ended my day, and I feel great today because it is my 10th entry for my 30 Day writing Challenge. Yay! I have 20 more days to go!

 

How about you? Where do you usually go shopping? Do you like buying branded items, ukay-ukay, or divsoria? What’s your favorite brand?

 

 

 

 

 

Bored Sensei. 

30DWC Day 4: Cute Japanese Children Walking The Street.

Today was one hell of a day, oooppss that’s not a good way to start a post, but that’s how my day was today. It was craaaazy!

BUT WAIT…

Instead of focusing on how crazy this day was for me, let’s focus on the beautiful side of the day. While I was on my way to the station (about 11:05 a.m) I came across these cute Japanese children walking the streets, it’s not the first time I got to see this kind of scene, we usually see them on the other side of the road, on the corner of the street, but only today did I have a chance to get this close to them. Then I waved. Out of nowhere. I whispered hi and smile. I wasn’t expecting to be noticed. I know I look like a local (Japanese people generally like “Gaikokujin.”) so I am not that appealing to children – I’m not blond even or anything lol. But to my surprise, this little girl heard me and waved back!

My heart skipped.

I melted.

And that’s how I left the our Mother Earth. Nah just kidding.

Seeing these children innocently walking on the streets, with or without an adult accompanying them (it’s normal – they also have their variety show “My Fist Errand” in Japan“) never fails to amaze me and makes me imagine my future kids. Am I gonna be this confident in sending them places at a young age? Is it going to be this safe in the Philippines in the near future? And these thoughts added weigh to my undying admiration to Japan. The culture, the people, EVERYTHING.

I just hope that in the future, my country would be this safe for the future generations. We never know, but I won’t stop believing.

 

 

 

I hope these pictures and video clips I attached will make your day too and leave a smile on your faces. Let’s forget all the worries and bad vibes we had for the day. Let’s be like these children again and only worry on how to ask for candies or how to fic a broken toy we have. Let’s spread the love kahit inalis na sa Pinas ang salitang yan. Haha. 

Oyasuminasai!

Bored Sensei.

30DWC Day 1: My First Day Off This 2018

OHAYOU GOZAIMASU!

Today is Tuesday and it’s my first day off this year. YAY!

After coming back from Philippines for my winter holiday I started working the next day REAL QUICK. I didn’t even had chance to unpack my things and clean my house since then (I came back 11th of January). So to make the story short, my house is still a total disaster – until now.

Anyways… last night, I made a promise to write everyday consistently for 30 days, and this is my first entry. I will tell you how I normally spend my days off.

*insert drumrolls 

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10:00 a.m

I woke up with a familiar sound of my door bell, I didn’t wait for a second ring and immediately went to my genkan and shouted “hai!hai!”. Is it normal? NO. I don’t usually do this but since I was expecting my orders from Amazon today (I was super duper excited for my orders kasi lol) I didn’t even bother checking the person’s face on my monitor after hearing “Yamato Delivery” (ofcourse it was Japanese).

After getting my orders, I went back to bed and curled inside my futon, but I couldn’t go back to sleep (as usual after getting an order from Amazon) and started opening my boxes. I really love unboxing,  ewan basta nakakakilig lol. 

I ordred a mini table! YAY! Bumili talaga ako ng mini table kasi yung mayayaman daw laging breakfast in bed, CHAROT.

Last Sunday I was browsing online shops because I was looking for laptop accessories and as usual I ended up buying unnecessary things. I didn’t plan on getting a lapdesk, I was thinking of getting a Yamazen table but my boyfriend saw this cute mini table and we both loved it.

The second item is a laptop case. I was really happy with the color and it fits perfectly well, I LOVE IT.

But then….

They sent me a wrong keyboard protector *sobs. The packaging descriptions were all correct but the product wasn’t. I was really disappointed. I logged on to their website and click return.

I was busy reading directions on how to return an item when a friend called me, we talked a bit and I was shookt to the bones when she told me she was having a migraine because her mother is PREGNANT and because of the age, she’s having complications and now in the hospital. Whuuttt girl? I still can’t believe it.

Anyways, after a loooong chat, I took my coat and went to the nearest bank, I sent her money (she didn’t ask for it nor mention anything about borrowing from me  but I know that feeling of what she’s going through right now). It was my first time to send money through my local bank but I was really glad that the man inside the bank speaks English. WEW. It didn’t take 5 minutes.