Sunday if for Photos x14 (I think)

This has been one of those weeks where I am still not sure if this is really MY life. Okay, I know it's my life (duh) but it's been really good, in a kind of pinch-me sort of way :) I do hope I'm not boring you all with my pictures, but if I am, well, go enter my contest instead! Easy to enter, and fun prizes to be had!


A good friend of ours, who studies traditional kimono, invited us over to her house and showed us how to dress in kimono. Holy moley is it an involved process! She then dressed me up in one of her kimono. This is me with her, and her mom (who plied us with sweets from her family's sweet shop downstairs--sooo good!), getting dressed.
The two of us all dressed up! This shrine is on the lake and so pretty. The coolest part about this day, and the one I feel so utterly blessed by, is that they gave me this kimono. I am so grateful I don't even know where to begin! It's beautiful, and I look forward to displaying it at home.

This is the bamboo forest in Kyoto. Very cool to explore.
Close-up of the bamboo.
The river valley near the bamboo forest. We took a steam-engine train ride up this valley, which offered some spectacular views!
Tokyo at night, as viewed from the Tokyo Tower. Can you see Mt. Fugi in the distance?
Super moon! Not quite full yet, but still pretty!
These koy are hung in honor of the boy's festival that was this week. There have been schools of them everywhere. I may have taken a lot of photos...
Do you know this dog? Bonus to you if you do!
Dorky pic of me with all our luggage about to board the shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo. 4 bags, too many gifts, and I am still not sure how we've managed to survive this trip!

Hope you enjoyed! :)