Guess Who Took Me To Get My Tattoo?

That’s right,
Yasu!
(That rhymes by the way)
Lunch: Cafe Roca

Gelato: Latte




“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people.
I thought, “This is what it is to be happy.” (Sylvia Plath)



“…and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”
(Vincent van Gogh)

 

An Inside Look At A Traditional Japanese Bath

I don’t think I’ve told you guys much about onsens.  Onsens are traditional Japanese baths. Basically, Japanese people wash their bodies via a shower first, then soak in a bath/hot pool – that’s how they cleanse themselves. However, there’s a catch. Not only do they do that communally with their family members (all nakey at the same time) they do it with strangers too. Which, is of course, terrifying at first especially when you come from a culture (Persian) where you’re taught to hide everything, always but after the initial soak, completely natural and complete relaxation. Ain’t nothing to it. These days, I gladly get naked.

Some other bits and pieces (tehehe bits):

*Usually there are separate onsens for male and female

*Tattoos are strictly prohibited – which is real shitty and rude if you ask me because clearly, Anisa sensei is not yakuza sensei and this is the 21st century and we should be accepting of everyone and open-minded. Alas, tis like the whale in the school lunch, tis “tradition”. So, one has to find ways around said problem, like going to private onsens owned by hipster young men (thanks Jun). But in all seriousness, I’m lucky because my tattoo is small, if your ink is larger than a fist.. you should probs stop reading this.

*Some onsens have cold baths so you can go from hot to cold to hot to cold and back again. I hope this doesn’t give you a medical condition because I am kinda-sorta-pretty much addicted.