Rare Finds Arrive to Me!

Here are some rare items I found just before my trip to Japan!

This sweet baby plush, I found while doing regular searches via etsy. I love her deep blue color. She is about 10 inches tall and made in China.

 A very sweet face. May need some touch ups. She arrived from Belgium.

 She will be added to my cute baby plush Shevie doll collection!

Next, this amazing Lot of two Rune Naito Reproduced Mermaid Bottles, I found through Yahoo Japan auctions. They had a BIN price and since I sold my other mermaid in her original box, I figured I'd get them, mostly because, I decided on keeping the black mermaid instead.

I have already listed the red head on my etsy shop. They are both from the Rune Naito 2003 collection. One in red hearts, and the other in black diamonds.

 So far, I have seen the red hearts often, but to have the black diamond version is rare.

 Both came with out their boxes.

Lastly, these amazingly rare ceramic dog coin bank figurines with fur or mohair! I was searching through etsy, and it had just listed, a yellow dog with pink fur. So, I jumped and bought it. On the following day, the same shop had just listed a red with yellow dog! I couldn't believe my eyes... So before anyone else could snap it up, I quickly purchased it too!

 They were both shipped separately and arrived to me safely. They are about 9 inches tall. Both missing their rubber stoppers, and needing some light cleaning and brushing.

 I was able to replace this one's stopper, but I will need to buy more to replace the red with yellow's stopper.

 I may decided to keep just one and put the other up in my shop?! So be sure to keep an eye out for either on my etsy shop!

Amazing pieces found in the wild...

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls

5 Days in Japan: Day Four and Five

My previous adventures, you can read Day One and Two here, and Day Three here.

On Day Four of our trip, one of Judy's plans was to see the Osaka Castle. So, we got up early, had a light breakfast, and headed out to the Shinsaibashi Train Station to catch the subway to the castle. It was quite early, and the train station was dead after 8am. I guess most of the people were already at work or school.

 We read that the streets of Shinsaibashi are known for their shopping. From what we saw, most of the shops were high end merchandise. As we walked from our apt. down the street, we saw many interesting shops and restaurants along the way. Most of them closed still. We decided we'd try to check them out after our Osaka Castle visit. I noticed there were street poles with a lot of graffiti on them, which were also made to look like a person holding a light. It was very artistic! Sadly, I didn't take a shot of it.

 Once we got into the train station, we sat, drank coffee, and the girls had cinnamon toast. Then, it was time for us to catch the subway to the castle. Taby was very knowledgeable with her phone app on translations of the Japanese Characters, and also of our ride plan for getting us to our destination. Yay, Taby! Our personal tour guide in Japan!

 We arrived at Osaka Castle about 9am or so. There were people everywhere. You could see all the cherry tree blossoms too. But, first we had to find out where we could rent a wheelchair for me or catch a ride inside the castle grounds...

 We found an electric car taking tourists too and from the main castle grounds. It was about 200yen for adults, Seniors had a discount, and 100yen for kids. The tickets are only one way, but not bad a price.

I took some photos of the Sakura. So many tourists and lots of pretty cherry blossoms to see...

 The day was a bit overcast, but we still wanted to sit under some shade just in case. I decided since we couldn't find a wheelchair, I would sit on the bench, and told Judy and the girls to go ahead and enjoy the castle. Judy walked around close by to looked at the food vendors, and the girls decided to get some shaved ice desserts. Judy came back with a stick of fried crab!

 Sara got a rainbow flavored shaved ice, and Taby bought a Sakura flavored one. She said they had put some white icing on it. Both were delicious! The Sakura one, tasted interesting, not too perfumey to me.

5 Days in Japan: Day Three

You can read my earlier post here for Day One and Two.

We got up a little after 7am, and got ready for a day of activities... Taby chose for us to go to the Osaka Aquarium, possibly Lego Discovery and shopping.

 A much better shot of the giraffe in the day time. We had to check out of our apartment house. So, we rented a box within the Marketplace to store our luggage. Many hotels were already booked, luckily, we had another apartment house for the next two days.

 The Osaka Aquarium was very nice and the people were so kind and caring. We were able to get a wheelchair at no extra charge, and I could use it through out the day, even to the Marketplace, park and surrounding areas. We felt like, we were celebrities, as the aquarium a staff took us passed the lines, and to the very top floor, the 8th floor.

 When you first enter, there is of course the dome entrance, and you can see the sea life swim above and around you. Very similar to what we have back on Guam with Under Water World.

 On the 8th floor, there was a waterfall, and sea otters swimming about. It was cold at the top floor. to exit we had to take a hidden doorway to the next elevator.

The next floor were other animals, and penguins being fed.

 Taby loved seeing the whale shark most. As you walk down each floor, we are view every angle of this same tank with the whale sharks, manta rays, and sting rays. There were even a school of silver type fish, that when their mouths opened up, it was really big.

 Sara engrossed with the hammer head shark swimming above her...

 These huge king crabs just sat in their tank, mostly very still, that they almost looked fake, until the very large one started to move it one leg! Very creepy looking. But, I know my Dad would say, hey let's break out the barbecue!

We got to this one room, that showcase mostly really small sea animals. It was cold in this room, then it led to a waiting area and a hands on section for kids to touch and feel sea life. But, of course, Sara didn't want to do that. LOL

 As we rested we decided it was time for lunch.

 We went back to the Marketplace and decided on a sit down lunch at a restaurant, where you could watch them cook your meal in front of you. It was quite warm in this place, along with the hot plate on the table in front of you.

 Sara wanted to play chef, so she cooked the rest of our meal for us! We started to walk around the Marketplace for a bit.

5 Days in Japan: Day One and Two

Where to begin... Well, my mother in-law wanted to take a trip with us to Thailand originally, but, instead we decided on a 5 day stay in Japan! Sadly, my husband was not able to join us this time. So, our journey begins...

We got up early this morning, to catch the 2nd Narita, Japan flight. Sam greeted us as we waited at our gate before check in. After we got our seats, Sara and I looked out the window, and who do we see?! Daddy! Sam, was busily working to get our plane loaded. See him loading the bags...

 He also helped to guide the plane into position for takeoff. It was a nice way to say goodbye for 5 days. We love you Daddy and see you soon! After our 3 hour flight, we arrived safely into Narita International Airport and made our way out of customs, etc. and onto our shuttle for the APA Hotel. The weather was a cool 53 degrees. We loved it!

Since it was too early to check into our hotel, we decided to just leave our bags securely with them and make our way towards the Monzen Machi or Temple Streets on the way to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. We took a taxi halfway, since I can't walk the full length. So, we got dropped off halfway.

 There were so many interesting shops with food vendors, and cute Japanese souvenirs...

 I spotted a cute vintage Panda mascot at this one shop. Just adorable. I made sure to take a pic of him.

 Sara and Taby wanted to check this cute zen area, which was actually a walkway into a side restaurant. It was very peaceful looking.

 There was one shop where these young chefs, perhaps were cutting up eel and preparing them to be barbecued.

 The streets were narrow, but very neat and reminiscent of the old times. Lots of people were walking along and enjoying the sites, just as we were.

 Sara tried this stalls Milk flavored drinks. She chose, strawberry, of course! There was a huge "Lucky Cat" by this shop.

 The weather was nice and cool too. Inside, this bucket were fish, that would come up for air and then dive back down.

We were close to the Naritasan Temple. Look at the buildings!

 

 Right beside the entrance way, we saw this pond with lots of turtles gravitating towards a rock to bask in the warmth of the sun.

 

 I chose to sit and watch as Judy, Sara and Taby made their way up the narrow steps of the temple. Lots of visitors too.