Zzzzzzzzzzz *droooooooool*

[snapdragon76]

I didn't get very much sleep last night. Rusty, resident dog, was howling because he missed his owner who is out of town for almost a week visiting her son. I explained to him that I'm sure in the seven years they've been together that she's gone out of town for various periods of time and always came back so that no, in fact, he was not abandoned. I had to shut him up in the bedroom. I felt a bit bad about it, but I had no choice seeing I needed to be able to at least get some sleep. He seems calmer this morning.

Anyway, enough about that. I want to show you the pictures of the room I'm staying in now. Just my bedroom, though for privacy's sake.

Image One -- Taken from the doorway. There's not a tremendous amount of space due to the boxes against the wall, but it's actually quite cozy.

Image Two -- Taken from the far wall (by the window). I practically over took the top of the dresser...

All righty, now onto the important stuff: My trip to EPCOT!

We left about 9:30. Most people would think that was a bit late, but I think it was a good time. It's about an hour away from where we live. The lady I went with is very nice and her husband works for Disney (even though he's in Atlantic City at the moment). We listened to Queen on the way up, which was cool.

We had planned on going to the car showcase (where you could test drive various models of cars), but the line was kinda long and we wanted to get into the actual park itself. So we bypassed that and headed into the park. Due the Cast Member discount, we didn't have to pay to get into the park, which was mighty nice indeed! We mainly heaed toward the World Showcase as soon as we got in. Well, actually, first we got our Fast Pass tickets to the newest attraction "Soarin' " before we went to the other stuff. Because there's the Food and Wine Festival taking place there, there were a few extra booths from varioous countries scattered throughout the World Showcase. We passed by them to see what kind of stuff they had. Some of it sounded pretty decent. We lingered a little bit in England because we wanted to look at some of the Beatles stuff there. We also wandered through one of the shops and browsed the various teas and teacups that were on display. There was a thing for a tea demonstration, but it was at various times and we weren't really going to wait.

We passed through France and Morocco and headed straight toward Japan. I said I planned on lingering quite a bit in Japan. We decided to eat at the steakhouse there. It was very nice. The girl who was our chef (Machiko was her name) said she was from Yokohama. I had the chicken as well as hot Green Tea (which was quite tasty despite not being sweetend) and we shared a plate of sushi. I was determined to properly use the chopsticks and I was pretty proud of myself for doing it throughout the entire meal. After we finished, we headed towards the shop that was below the restaurant. There were all sorts of things: fans, parasols, clothing, yukatas, shoes, and snacks! I got a set of teacups, some tea, and a few boxes of snacks. Two things of chocolate Pocky and two things of Panda cookies. I wanted to get a yukata, but I wasn't sure of how to properly pick one. After we left the shop, we watched the Taiko drummers do a show. It was very cool. We also bought some Kirin Ichiban beer. I myself have never really had a fondness for beer due to the biterness, but this one wasn't so bad. I mean, there was that little bite you get, but it didn't linger and had a very nice aftertaste. I didn't get a chance to taste any sake, though.

After Japan, we passed through America, Italy, Germany and China and went into Norway. There was a boatride that we went on. It took you through the history and mythology of Norway. After that, we passed through Mexico and back into the other part of the park. We made our way back to the "Soarin' " ride. I tell ya, the Fast Pass is the greatest thing ever invented. We just walked on past the regular crowds. Although I was tempted to yell "Suckers!" at them, I didn't.

"Soarin' " was cool. It makes it seem as though you're hang gliding over different parts of California. You can even smell the pine trees and the orange groves as you go past them. Next we went to the "Test Track." Since the wait for groups was over an hour, we went in the single rider line. Even though we got seperated, it was OK. The ride itself wasn't so bad. It simulates all of the different conditions car makers do to test them before they go to market. Afterwards we decided to go to the Mission: SPACE ride. The other half of my party decided not to go at the last minute, but I still went. It was pretty cool. It simulated how it would be if you were on a shuttle to Mars.

After all of that, we went back into the World Showcase since there were a few things we wanted to get. There was A New Zealand booth that had food there that was tried (not my me, though). We went back to Japan since there was something else I wanted to get. One of which was a maneki-neko or beckoning cat. I actually got two, one for the house and one for my desk at work once I get one. I also found the cutest cat rice bowl and chopsticks. Due to the discount, I saved 40% on everything. Then we went to France to get some pasteries.

It was getting kind of late, so we headed back toward the car. I was getting sore and tired, so I was ready to leave. I had a blast, though. Eventually, I'll post pictures of what I bought.

i also got a cell phone yesterday. i'm not supposed to brag about it, hense the lower case and the small font.

Comments

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

That must have been so much fun! It's funny to read about you traveling to various countries all in a matter of hours. ^_- (Panda cookies are tasty, too. Not as good as the Koala cookies, but still good.) I commend you for using chopsticks as well. So many people won't even give them a try, and they do get easier to eat with the more you do it.

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was! We said we were going to eat our way around the world! We didn't quite get there, but it was fun regardless. And actually, the lady I was with bought someof the koala cookies. She said she discovered them when she went over to Japan this summer when her husband was performing at Tokyo Disney. I said it was too bad we couldn't find any of this stuff here locally.

Yeah, I didn't have too much trouble with the chopsticks. I kept having to readjust them to make sure I had my grip on them, but otherwise it was smooth sailing.

Thanks for updating.......

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

glad you had a good time. I live in NJ but have never been to Disneyworld. Have to go sometimes:)

Re: Thanks for updating.......

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Yes, you do!

[zelamenomiko.livejournal.com]

Maaaan, I'm jealous, I wanna go! ^_^ I wanna see Japan, even if it is in miniature. Mmm, yukata's, and tea sets and sake sets . . .

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think this is as close as I'll come to seeing the real McCoy.

And it's too bad I didn't see any cute little chick rice bowls. I woulda gone "EEEEEEEE! Hotaru!!!" and had everyone look at me strangely (I mean, more than they already do).

And there were plenty to be found. There were even sushi trays and plates and soup bowls and stuff. I really wanted to get a yukata, but I felt like a dork trying to find one.

[zelamenomiko.livejournal.com]

Oh, that would have so rocked if you'd found a Hotaru chick bowl. Then the entire LD list would have been soooo jealous.

Yukata's are kinda hard. I have one that's a deep purple with a bright fan pattern, but someone helped me pick it out, so I can't give advice on the best way to pick one. ^^;;

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

And of course, I'd never rub it in... *snerk*

They had one that was even in the shape of a cat. Very cute.

Yeah, I just stood there, looking lost the entire time I was browsing through them. Finally I just said, "Ahhh, forget it."

I still want one, though.

[zelamenomiko.livejournal.com]

Of course not! How could you even THINK such a thing? ^_~

Awwww, cuuuuuute!

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd clog love_deeper with all sorts of pictures of it saying stuff like, "OMG!!! See my cute lil Hotaru rice bowl!!11!! Isn't it just the cutest?!/1!! Doncha want 1?"


*snickers*

And it was utterly adorable. Of course, the one I got was pretty darn cute, too.

[zelamenomiko.livejournal.com]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! And we'd all be insanely jealous!

I'll bet it was! Wanna see, please. ^_^

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Well, I do plan on taking a picture eventually, but then I'd have to upload like about three pictures which seems a bit wasteful to say the least...

[zelamenomiko.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh, I see. ^_^

[snapdragon76.livejournal.com]

Maybe either after Thanksgiving or my friends Graduation party thing. I'll be taking pictures then...