aho

Ok! Money sent!

Normally I'd just PM you or email you but I just want to make sure that got it this time ;D

So are you still for the no shipping charge?

Dang, I goto sleep and miss out on the chance to buy

Probably too late for this but if Kelvyno doesn't want to buy I'll gladly buy! ;D

Hmmm....been thinking of ordering this in black and white but I wanted to try it on before purchasing...I guess it'd be cheaper to get it through you than order online and pay for all the international shipping though, so I'm interested in buying this if there are no other takers?

I haven't really checked the Tokyo thread and I didn't get time to read up on your situation or tastes but as far as how I spent my time living in Kyoto as a poor college student, shopping and bars will generally be found between Shijo and Sanjo. Kiyamachi between said streets would be a good place to just walk around at night for bars and clubs (not a club person myself but check out Sam&Daves or World). By far my favorite ramen-ya is located on Kiyamachi just south of sanjo on the east side. The name escapes me at the moment but there is nothing better than a fresh bowl of ramen at this place (you'll recognize it by the red banners and line...it's an outside ramen place) or even the kabab place next to it on the right (not very Kyoto rashii I realize). Around 7:00pm ish you will find many university students meeting for gokon or just trying to nanpa along the Kamo river under the Sanjo bridge along with the random couples just making out on the west side of the river by Starbucks and Lawsons. There's usually drummers with "fire dancers" and a crowd on weekend nights, and sometimes bands will set up in this area. Then theres the standard gaijin bar, as we all love to hate, "The Hub". I recommend this place if your looking to pickup those gaijin hungry girls, and fellow asshold gaijin (The first "street" south of sanjo between sanjo and shijo along kiyamachi, although closer to kawaramachi). Theres also a place gaijin frequent called "A bar" which is near the World club that I did frequent for cheap Yebisu, but it's impossible for me to describe its location.

I'm assuming you'll be visiting all the must hit temples and shrines, etc. but my favorite one is Kiyomizudera. Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji are also nice and if you get time follow the Philosopher's trail south, it's a nice walk (preferablly bike ride though). You'll end up in the Higashiyama area which has a pretty traditional feel and is also home to a nice restaurant. There'll be lots of little shops leading up to the temples and shrines and I recommend the cream puffs, macha ice cream, and any of the free food sample places on your way up to Kiyomizu. The imperial palace is nice as well. Tons to see but those are the one's I'd hit for sure. If you get time, just bike north up the Kamo until you hit the mountains, it's really nice anytime of the year!

For shopping (this is sufu afterall), the main spots are again going to be between shijo and sanjo on the north and south and karasuma and kawaramachi on the west and east. Since your in Tokyo I'm sure your used to the standard fare (Hare, Ships, etc.). If you had one of these stores in mind just ask and I give directions. Most of the good stores will be located on shijo anyways in or around Teramachi (the large arcade shopping street) or in Daimaru dept. store. As stated above the Shinpukan north of sanjo on karasuma has a few good stores and theres a BAPE nearby if your into that, or even the APC store alot further south by shijo. I also recommend the hanjiro store listed above although it might be hard to find at first. Just locate the KFC inside shinkyogoku (the OTHER arcade shopping street parallel to teramachi) and there'll be one of those shop reps holding a sign/ad that you can ask.

If you had any specific stores you had in mind just ask! Although you can find most of it in Tokyo anyways...

On a side note, does anyone know where I can get a white tee with a low boat cut like this:

http://zozo.jp/shop/beams/goods.html?did=638597&cid=695&pno=4

Just wondering if there were any brands that sold white tees in this cut outside of Japan...

and i agree with aho, osaka is a hole compared to kyoto, or anything else for that matter.

actually, just to be sure, that wasn't me that said it....i love Osaka's grittiness

Take this with a grain of salt...I didn't have the balls to post this on WAYWT because I know how horrid it looks (hell I just threw it together in seconds) and I'm not actually wearing it today. And to my defense, this is a very unflattering angle, the jeans aren't the best fit, I didn't even tie the tie correctly and the polo is a few years old! With all that said and done here are the pics:

Ok, blast away (I fear this will end up on worst waywt)

Makati is def. a nice area, but like everyone else has said I would stick to US schools and then after you graduate maybe you can live there for a while. Unless you are trying to work in the Philippines after you graduate than I wouldn't consider schooling there as you can get better, high paying jobs if you goto a US school and work in the US. Those condos they are building above greenbelt sure are nice though...

On a side note, Michelle Madrigal??!?!??? That girl is SMASHING hot...did you really get to meet her?

coinlockerbaby, I agree with you that when I first got to Kyoto I was initially disappointed at how "modernized" a city it had apparently become, lacking what my image was of a traditional Japan. But having lived there for about a year I started to realize that there indeed was so many traditional aspects of Japan spread throughout the city in the little nooks and crannies if you or someone who could guide you knows where to look. I think this is what makes Kyoto a really special place, the blending of new and old. I agree that all the temples, shrines and castles can get redundant at times but that really depends on what you are looking for, as stated above. When you were there did you check out the whole Higashiyama area? I feel that it has a more traditional feel (no gas stations, etc.) than some areas.

As for shopping, Kyoto does have a pretty rounded selection with all the usual stores one might find on zozo (beams, hare, etc.) and btw CityHunter, there IS a BAPE store in Kyoto! It's on sanjo between Karasuma and Kawaramachi dori...