Lego story #007: Building the Treehouse (part 3)

Bathrooms, glorious bathrooms!

Some of my best memories of Japan are of onsen (hot-spring baths). 

The first one I visited had a rotenburo (outdoor bath). Under the blanket of night, bathed in dim light and misty hot waters, surrounded by manicured shrubbery and stone, I felt transported to another planet. 

Since then, I've had the fortune to visit quite a few baths. Somehow, it's these memories that the Lego Treehouse evokes.

Bag 8 begins a room fully dedicated the joys of cleansing, soaking, and meditating. 

The wooden vessels bring Japan to mind. Common as it may seem, this large round tub is one of my favorite pieces in the whole set. Against its dark brown sparkle light-blue—almost brilliant azure—drops of water.

The sand-green flooring also suggests wood planks, though they may actually be tiles.

There's a cleverly made seat for conducting nature's business. Bottles of shampoo? Even a hair-dryer!

I love the color scheme: brown, blue, green. Even the doorknob fits this palette.

Unfortunately, there isn't much space for walking around. Then again, neither Japan nor treehouses are known to have spacious rooms.

Bag 9 completes the bathroom.

The bathtub is now accompanied by a shower, plus a little soap stand. Press the movable grey handle to get the shower running (in your mind).

I thought the square wood box was for storing clothes, but it's actually a sink.

No curtains in the windows, but I suppose no one's looking if you're in a forest.

The bathroom exterior comes with a pulley system. Also notice the wooden barrel—for catching rainwater, I imagine.

One of cleverest constructions in this set is this walkway. You'd have to touch it for yourself to see how flexible and adjustable the walkway is at at every joint. Utterly amazing. Anyway, it leads from the bathroom to the third and final room. 

That empty branch is ready and waiting. Now, on to the kids' bedroom!