So long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye Japan

Its a sad day readers,

Well its Pete and I's last day in Japan. We leave tommorrow at 12pm local time and i arrive back at 9.30pm GMT, which works out to be a 17hour flight. What fun!

I awoke this morning at a very conservative 10.30am and washed and dressed, and by 11.15 we were heading out in to the humid morning for our last day in Japan. First stop is the 100Yen store, where everything costs 105yen some souveniers of Japan for the folks back home. They sell everything in these shops, and im considering party bags for everyone as i went slightly overboard with my purchases.

Then i headed into Electric town and bought myself a nifty little 8Gb Nano ipod. Which is ACE, i take back all the things i said about them, but i'm still calling it and Mp3 player not an ipod. But today was quite a boring dy all in all, mostly getting things tied up this end.

Back at the hotel, i packed my bag for an hour, after doing my washing, as i like to go home with clean clothes in my back pack.

Kust sitting up for a wee while before going to bed before we wake up at 6 before we leave the hotel at 7 before getting to the Airport at 9.30 to fly at 12. Got some sitting about to do, but im gonna try and get a book, and of course i have my Mp3 player all filled up with other guys music to listen to.

Looking forward to getting home, but i will also miss this country. I could never imagine living here, but i could deffinetly come back. There is so much to see. The country is spectacular, and the people are amazing. The history and the culture are so intersting and unique and deeply interesting. This is a country that everyone should visit.

And i have have met so many interesting people,
Name Check:
Elle
Erin
Mike
Chris
Arto
Sabina
Kate
Brett
Simon
Laura
Nels
Mike (II)
Fred
Yona

And many many more, including all our hostelling hosts.

Im going to sign off now, go to bed and get ready for a long day of travel. Hopefully i'll see you all when i get back. The worst part is going back to work on Thursday! But thats Life

Goodnight World

Indy J-Punk Revival

Good Evening Gentle Readers
So here i am 2 days to go, and only one real day left to buy you lovely people some super gifts, which isnt enough time, so i'm going to buy some crappy gifts instead and myself an Ipod.
I promiced myself i would never buy an ipod, but my god, every other Mp3 player looks terrible. I have to give it to Apple, they have made a design classic, can believe in 20-30 years time, people will be calling it a perfect example of early 21st century design.
Anyway, what have i done in the last 24hrs? What haven't i done! I arrived in the hostel last night and after a shower found Pete and as usual we got chatting. A Japanese/British Hong Konger Pilot called Simon, an Aussie Sheila Laura and a Yankee exile in Canada called Nels, not short for anything. And in about 2 hours we were laughing and having a few tinnies and we were on the way out into Ropongie, the central party town and ExPat central.
After a riotous train ride, where we were were getting disaproving looks from the Japanese passengers, we stepped off the train and out of the station into what i thought was daylight, but was just the acres of Neon sign lining the 4 main streets.
After a wrong turn, we found what we thought was the Irish Pub we were looking form, but was infact another place, where i had my first decent, if a little watery, pint of Guiness. Couple of rounds and stagger into the night again. Finally spotting the Guiness sign from along the street we find Paddy Foleys, Tokyos first, and best, Irish pub. The interior of the bar was actually lifted straight from and actual Irish Pub in, of course, Ireland. And rebuilt in the basement floor of ROJ center on Ropongi main street. We didnt stay as long as we would of liked, partly due to the fact the rider cup was on the big screen and there were too many Yanks in the bar booing the Europeans, and then there was me, Pete and a guy from Falkirk cheering for our side.
Next stop was the Motown bar, a regular haunt of Transexuals, and as soon as we got in spotted a couple latched onto old fat sweaty western men, with fat wallets! Suckers, but i wasnt about to say anything. By this time it was 4am and we needed to wait for the trains to start at 6, so off to Kareoke we went, again!

After a large amount of confusion over the machine, without any english help, we got the tunes going and the party started. Highlights of the evening included a rather fine rendition of Maria and Dont ch! by the Pussycat Dolls, by your correspondant and simon. And or American/Canadian friend spectacularly dashing into the room and declaring "lets do this" and falling asleep with a remarkable suddeness.

Blinking we emerged into the Rising Sun. And caught the train to the fish market at the Harbour. The worst piece of timeing got us there at 7am, to find that it starts at 5am usually, and anyway, not on a Sunday. Bugger! So they had sushi, and i had McDonalds and we went home, finally falling into bed at 7.30, to wake at 4pm.

Today was mostly wasted, but in the evening we headed down to Akihabbera to look at the shiny things and eat at an amazing resteraunt, a kinda cook your own meat in Soy Sauce with rice and all that. Very nice, and pete bought an Ipod, and decided to go against my on Ethics and have decided to sell out to the Metrosexual man and get one too.

So tommorrow will be my last entry into the Blog in Japan. And then the next time will be on Wednesday night, when i will be summing up the trip, best, worst and top tips. So wont that be fun.

Syonara World

Hiroshima

Evening Chums,

Well im back in Tokyo until i leave in　３ days. Then i'll just have 14 hours on a plane until im kissing Aberdeen Airport Tarmac.

Havent posted for a while as i have been out of contact with the Information Super Highway. But i've been having a Grand Old Time in the amazing City of Hiroshima. Gorgeous so's it is. And the Weather for once was perfect, glorious sunshine but low humidity and only 22 degrees, Lovley.

So i was sitting in the Hostel in Matsuyama and just sat down with a couple of tinnies and started talking to this Aussie Bloke. And one thing led to another and the next day we were on a train to Hiroshima. What an idea! I had seen everything there was in Matsuyama and really wanted to make the most of the time i had in Japan so it seemed like a good idea.

We arrived in Hiroshima and took the tram　where Brett was staying and hopefully me as well. The World Peace Center in Hiroshima is THE place to stay. A small traditional Hostel run by, but not in a bad way, an American church group. The two current managers, they chage every few years, are Don and Pauline, a pastor from Washington DC and the two nicest people on earth. Im sure i saw him literaly bending over backwards to help his guests.
However there was no room at the inn for poor scott, and not even a stable to rest his weary head. But a quick phone call from Don had me checked into the Plaza round the corner for a night until a room was free.
After 10minutes of directions from Don, for what was really literally just round the corner, i set off and found the place to be a massive eduactional complex, 13 floors of conference rooms, study centers, and libraries. The top two floors were accommodation and were just perfect, single bed, En Suite and CNN on the TV.

I checked in and headed back to the WPC to pick up Brett and head into town. We set off for the nearest Irish Pub, Molly Malones on the main street and had the worst pint of guiness i have ever had, but also a fine Burger and Chappit Tatties, with a side of Crusty Bread and potato wedges, i was hungry. I dont believe you can fully understand how much you miss a simple thing like bread, when all they have here is bland tasteless white dough, no good for anything, so bagguette was just the thing.

Stuffed and Bloated and not looking for another pint of that stuff they called guiness we wadled into the street looking for a pub. On Dons recommendation we went to a sports bar which was dead, but it didn't matter as we were tired like a couple of pussies so we called it a night.

At a very bright a breasy 8.30 i skipped into the peace center, checked in dumped my bags and we headed out along with another scotsman, a recently graduated Cambridge student with a job in The City to go back to, you know the type, a scottish Ya. We were being given a guided tour of the Peace park and its 65 memorials by one of the Peace Park workers and personal friend of Dons. Standing about 4'6" tall she was a Super Tanker of information about the war and the bomb, and unusually for the Japanese, wasn't a Denier of Japans War Crimes. Infact she was telling us all about them, and she was the first Japanese person i met who was a republican and didnt love the Emperor. Anyway, 3 hours later, and 3 completely interesting hours at that, we bowed our goodbyes and she refused our offers of money, which was good, bacause i wasnt wholey behind that plan!

We toured the Museum, and im not going to go into that. But i do have a more balanced view of the war, and am now a supporter of the Bombs, but still anti nuclear.

We went out at night, but this time we were not tired. I have to say that a hard drinking Aussie Cricket fan is probably the best drinking partner on a night out. Loud, starts conversation with random people, and every 5 minutes at some antics at another table utters "fucking Yanks" and calls be a "Pommie Bastard" and reply with a suitably witty jibe about him being a bloody convict, hand picked by Britains finest Judges.
We crawled out of the last Pub about 4am, staggered into a Taxi and we pushed the directions into the drivers hand and 15 minutes later we were being sick in the sink and toilet of the center, and proudly fell asleep.

At 8am we were woken up by Don for breakfast, and despite the sore head i wolfed down 3 pancakes and syrup, two large glasses of OJ and then went back to bed.

It was 1pm by the time Brett and I shook hands and exchanged emails and he headed off one way and i took the train the other, to Tokyo. And here i am, sitting waiting for my towels to come out of the drier so i can have a much needed shower.

So until tommorrow readers, i will bid you adue.

Shenanigans

*******ADDEDNDUM********
After i wrote this i decided to go for a stroll round Dogo again and find a nice place to eat. I stumbled across the Onsoen again and went for a soak and found this delightfull reseraunt across the way. They serve their own brewed beer, a lager, a light and a stout, All delicious, well i assume the lager was as good as the other two. And i had some fine grub. Good night, i may sit in the lounge and wait for Peter now, his train i assume arrives at 10.30, but i dont think he realises how distant it is from the station. I hope he heads my advice and takes my advice and hops on the Tram.

****************************
Good Afternoon Readers,

I may disapoint some today by having no misshaps to report, today was simply marvoulous. I saw pretty much everything today, i am so much more efficiant when i sightsee alone. And still had time for a nice hour sleep in the park. Bliss.

What a wonderful city this is. Yesterday i was convinced it was the size of London, but now i relise that the percived size of a city is

Size = ([backpack weight]x[quality of directions])*heat

Which made Matsuyama the size of Kent. Today I showered and Dressed in a light shirt and some comfortable trousers, slipped on the sandles(which are begining to hurt again) and skipped out into the warm but breezey day. First on my carefully planned Itinerary was a spot of bathing at the Onsen. So at 10.30am i walked in the door, and after some mild confusion and much bowing, was shown to my private room (payed extra for this) where i washed again before heading to my deliciously hot and very relaxing bath. Only able to stand 10 minutes of this, and with my Tea and Rice sticky things finished, i showered off, dried my self down and stepped out into the sunny day, more refreshed and relaxed.

Hopping on the Tram took me right to the end of the road where i was to find the Chair Lift to Matsuyama-Jo Castle. The guide books and i agree, this is one of the most impressive castles in Japan. A little like Stirling in its location, but without the gentle slope on one side, the only sensible way to reach the 135m high Castle is by Ropeway or Chairlift, they both cost 250yen each way, and as there was a 30 minute wait for the ropeway, i climbed on the Chairlift.

...Keith, our HSE officer in the Office would have had a fit at how dangerous this was. A tiny Primary school seat is given for you to sit on, with no restraint. The only thing stopping you falling out is the primitive instinct not to bloody kill yourself. Below you about 7m down is the least comfortable looking Steel Net to, i presume, make sure none of the bigger bits of your body fall down into the forest, in the event of your tragic slip and enevitable death. Anyway...

Surviving the Chairlift i mosied on up the path to the castle stopping at ever bench for a few minutes in he sun for my back to dry off and so i could get a few more minutes of video. And 30minutes later and 3 bottles of Pokari Sweat, i reach the entrance. Handing the girl my ticket i had a shifty round the interior of the castle. As with every castle in Japan, at somepoint the whole thing has fallen down and had to be rebuilt, either through was, lightning, arsen, carelessness or earthquake. Building a castle out of wood just doesnt make much sense, but then they only got the Cannon about 100years before they had Battleships, Fighter Planes, Aircraft carriers and the like. They learn quickly. So none of the castle im looking at is 900 years old. But like an old broom, you can change the head, and then you can change the handle, but its still the same broom you bought 20 years ago. ...ramble ramble ramble...

The castles interior was quite dark, very wooden, and to be very honost, quite dull. But i couldnt come and not see it so i did. Taking another 20 minutes to get back down, again on the chairlift, i head into town. Wondering down the main Arcade, i find myself wishing i had brought my hat, and 10seconds later, im waking past a shop that sells hats, so another 45seconds pass and im walking out the shop, the proud owner of a large white, wide brimmed hat. Pleased as punch. Then i find myself thinking, i wish, for the last 10 days, i had brought a pair of sunglasses, but i always forgot to buy them, as for no good reason, the Japanese dont seem to wear them. but lo and behold, a sunglasses shop, and in a similar time, im the proud owner of some decent, sensible sunnys. Nothing fancy or ridiculous, just plain glasses, tinted to shade the eyes.

With my lunch, just bought from Family Mart, in my hand i head to the park and findd a comfy bench to sit on while i slurp my pasta, and quaff my sweat and rest my piggies. I wake up 65minutes later to find i had been asleep, ha. Checking my watch, which said 4.30 i proceeded back to the hostel, to shower and change and to confide my day to this blog.

Im going to wonder around Dogo after it gets a bit darker and hope to find a nice resteraunt to eat in and have a pint before i head back here and wait for Pete, wo should be in around 10.30 so at the hostel by 11.15?

Good night Readers, tommorrow, quite day at the Two Shrines

Train, plan.... Oh no, just trains and trains

Well, i have figured out where all my money is being saved. Whole days spent sitting on trains!
After an amazing night at the Nagoya Marriot (id recomend it whole heartetly, just ask for a view of the city, not of the fire escape) I set off on another epic cross country train journey. But i got to Matsuyama eventually, at 5.09pm on the dot, even a 4 hour train journey was spot on time. Looking at the map, and seeing the city from the Train line, you would, i think, be forgiven for thinking Masuyama is a small city. And it is, but then so is aberdeen. So off a popped from the train, all sprightly and rested from a 3 hour dose as some of the best senery in Japan flashed by. The hundreds of little islands in the Inland Sea are worth staying awake for, so im told. I countinued sprightly for the next 30minutes, convincing myself that it would be just round the next corner. My mistake was to confuse the castle proper for the castle gardens which are just across from the Station, where as the castle, which i was navigating by, is actually a few Kilometers away on a bloddy great hill. So one hour and 37minutes after i popped off the train, i trudged into reception, where, sweating and dripping on the nice gentlemans floor, i checked in, paid for the night in a twin, which im certain i wont see pete in, i podded up stairs to find a simple yet comfortable En-Suit. For the record, im staying in the Masuyama Youth Hostel. So i unrolled the matress and made up my bed, unpacked my clothes and hung them in the cupboard, turned on the tv and promptly sat and stared at the wall for 45 minutes.
Exciting Stuff bannana fans, i know. But try filling out 750 words on a train and check in.
Waking from my stuper, i washed and changed and headed out into the cool night. Crickets chirping i bounded down the stairs and into the lobby to find someone had nicked my shoes. I thought this is just wrong, im not in Lost in Translation, Laurens warning of local lads running off with big white man shoes is not coming true, so i but my emence brain to work and sat down to think what was up. Slurping on a cool beer, my eyes were drawn to 4 large cupboards with Shoe Cupboards written in very large letters and my mystery was solved. Pleased with myself i stepped into the cool eve pleased as punch with myself and feeling tommorrow would be a better day.

And We'll find that out in the next Thrilling Installment of....

Pete and Scott's Oriental Adventure,
I might make this into a book?

Scott Cocks it up Again

Well, what to say about today. Well to start off with im currently staying in the Nagoya Marriott, in their cheapest room, a very lucky 6000yen but i deserve it after the crappiness of today. I woke up late, yes i know mother, and relised i had missed the morning train out of hakuba and would have to wait until the afternoon, (1.30pm) to get all the way down to Matsuyama. I arrived at the station in plenty of time and trying to remember what direction the train arrived two nights ago, i waited in the center of the bridge until i saw a train coming at 1.30pm. Brilliant ide i thought, so lo an behold spot on 1.30 a train roles in and i run down the correct side of the bridge, check its a limited express train and jump on, only to find two minutes later, another train pulls in on the opposite side, but looking more convincing as my train. About to run out and get on that one, i was stopped suddenly by the doors closing and th train puling away. Various thoughts ran through my head, the most publishable was Arse! So getting off at the next stop i had to take the slow train down the hill, and so would miss my next express to the next station, 2 hour, 30minutes later, of a journey that should only have taken 60 minutes, i arrive at Matsumoto station, to find, instead of the 20 minutes i would have had to wait if i had caught the last train, the next Express was leaving in 3 minutes, super, so i ran to the train getting on in plenty of time and finding lots of room in the non-reserved section.

Now, all well and good, and so my luck continued for atleast 20minutes before i relise, though this is a limited express train, ony stopping at 8 stops before Nagoya, it is also the slowest in the class and CRAWLED along like an 80yr old on a Sunday jaunt. Already 4pm i had another hour and 20 minutes to wait until i go to nagoya which by that time i had no hope of even catching the Nazoimi to Matsuyama and still be there in time for check in which finishes by 12pm. On checking my emails at Nagoya, hoping to tell pete i would be in late, and also to find out where i was going, as when i pulled my Rail Pass out of my pocket, all my train details and hostel booking info, flew from my pocket never to be found. Arse Shitting Bollocks, so on checking my email, i found, for an un named reason Pete would also not be making it to Matsuyama that eve, or perhaps the next day! How strange you and i think? But that mystery is for another day.

Unwilling to pay 30quid for a steak again, im ff down the corner shop for some food in my room, then hit the bar and bed, i hope to arrive in Matsuyama by checkin tommorrow (4pm) where i will probably keel over and never move again, or more than likely, have a couple of cans from the vendor, ha.

Good Night World

Lazy Days and Sundays

Good Evening,

welcome dear readers to another exciting, or as it happens today, a rather unexciting entry. Today was not the most active of days, not realizing how much yesterdays train journey took out of me, i slept until after 12pm and on my rousing, felt quite lethargic. I managed the 20minute walk down to the convinience store, a 7-11 i may add, to buy buy the days provisions. With only 20,000 yen in my pocket, i become awaye of the need to find a bank or Bureau Exchange about the stations tommorrow, when i start another 10hour journey to the Island of Shinjoku to the south. I expect to spend 5 relaxing days, soaking in the hills and temples, and of course in the Onsens as well!

With another Italian meal bought i head back up the hill to my Youth hostel and eat my meager offering.　　Ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ　ｕｐ　ｍｙ　ｓｔｒｅｎｇｔｈ　to climb the hill, or rather catch the gondola, to the top. CLimbing on two gondalas, through the clouds, i looked up and down the valley, and felt happy. Though the mountains, i have to admit, have nothing on the Scottish hills, in that fact you can't see the massive eroding forces of Glaciation at work as easily, the still impress, and seeing the densely packed forests of Trees and Bamboo covering the hills like a thick skin. The top of the hill was disapointing though, after another 20minute walk to the sumit, or what might have been the summit if i could have seen, i was greeted by dense layers of cloud, not as impressive as i had hoped. So after all that, i poked about a bit, had　a coke from a vending machine, on top of a mountain! and proceeded back down the hill, and back to bed.

So as you can tell, not the most important of days i have ever had, but i feel worth it. Everyone needs a bit of relaxation. And it was nice to not have finished the day, sweating like a rather sweaty pig. I may go for a bit of a bath later, and hope i even see someone to talk to tonight, unlike last.

So Au-Revoir, or what ever they say in Japan. Im off by train to Matsuyama so i doubt there shall be much to report, but what little there will be, i shall document with little skill, but ample amounts of passion.

Addendum

Hello again,

i do however understand that some fairly evil stuff went on on both sides during the Second World War in Asia, some of us having relatives that did not come back, and even sometimes worse - that did, from that side of the world. But it makes you wonder what must you have to do to warrent such an action. I do however believe wholeheartedly in my signatures on the 12 nuclear disarmerment petitions i signed while i walked through that Peace Park. I don't believe anyone should ever have to finde themselves in that situation again.

Scott

Nagasaki beyond The Bomb

Good Evening Gentle Reader,

I feel i must apologise for the lack of postings these past few days, i have been living the high life in the southern port of Nagasaki. Amazing city, and amazing people, and home to one of the worst atrocities ever conceived and committed by human hand.

But first the good. By Shinkansen it is a mere 5 hours from Kyoto and on arrival you are instantly hit by the fact that it is on the same latitude as Death Valley in America, but combined with the humidity of south east Asia. I went to Nagasaki with one aim, to have a nice, comfortable relaxing time, so i promptly checked myself into the biggest hotel i could see from the Train Station, little did i know it was the New Nagasaki, the best hotel in town. I walked through reception and was created at the desk with a slightly distasteful smile, but on handing over 14,000yen for the two nights in what turned out to be there worst room, which turned out to be 10 leagues better than anything else in town, the frown turned upside down and was handed my key card, the 8^th floor, over looking the Downtown area and the Port.

I fell asleep on the most comfortable bed ever and on my awakening, discovered it to be 9pm so quickly showered and changed into my lightest but smartest clothes, did my hair, and perambulated up the road to the Best Western Premier, not the best hotel in town, but, as i was assured by an American in the lift, do the best stakes in the hemisphere. I found this slightly hard to believe, but proceeded smartly to the restaurant, on the 14^th floor, overlooking the whole of the city. Marvelous, i was greeted by perfect English and shown to my table by the window. The second place setting was removed and i was left alone with the menu. On the Americans advice i had the Sirloin Steak and Garlic Rice, didn't open the menu, didn't look at the price. When the steak arrived, it already look promising. Being a steak killer, and liking mine better than well, i was pleased to see dark black lines running perfectly angles along the Steaks marbled surface, on experimentally flipping the meat, to my delight, found the lines to be at the exact same angle on the other side. On cutting into the, slightly thicker than my usual preference, Sirloin, the middle was perfect. A lovely shade of Grey slightly reddening at the center, but in no way dripping blood. I have to tell you gentle readers, this steak was delicious, and no offense intended to anyones steaks i have previously tried, was definitely the best i have ever tasted. It had the blackened taste of wood on the outside, but the whole piece seemed to melt into my tongue and run down my throat. It was delicious, washed down with a 2001 Chilean Pinot Noir. Bliss!

I walked back to my own hotel and stopped in the second floor for some rather disappointing Guinness and conversation. Promptly heading up the stairs to Bedfordshire in the Land of Nod.

I woke up and took the tram down to the Glover Gardens in the south of the town. Quite nice, if a bit National Trusty, and not very much history, i had left my camera at home, as i had not charged it, and it was too hot to carry my backpack. Leaving slightly disappointed at the meagerness of the Glover House, i trammed it back up to the Nagasaki A-Bomb Museum.

Im not going to pull any punches, but the lowest pieces of human filth, of which i count our beloved Churchill, who sanctioned this Atrocity should forever burn in the lowest level of hell, i was distressed. The thought that to spare the possible lives of 20,000 American service men, in a war that was already finished, bar the piece of paper, with the barbaric wholesale slaughter of 70,000, for the most part, innocent Japanese, and 12,000 foreigners, including 8,000 British and American POW's disgusts me more than i have venom to spew on this page, the pictures i saw in that Tribute made me sick to the lowest reaches of my stomach, and drew tears from my eyes. I felt a shit!

The most amazing thing was the fact that anyone has forgiven this act. The people of Nagasaki, in this museum, take a balanced and reasonable stance to the event, when by all rights they should be screaming murder, and hanging and gutting any WW2 Ally that foolishly walked in the door. For this i have supreme respect for these people. And the sights i saw will stay with me, hopefully till the day i die. The Allies may have won, but the Human race lost, big time!

Well, then, i'm now sitting in my new K's hostel in Hakuba in the Japanese alps, after an 11hour train ride, including a trip on the Naizomi Super Express, 300Km/h cannot be given full justice on this page, but i saw little of south Japan on the way back. So i arrived here about 3 hours ago, and it is indeed lovely, i may relax a bit in the morning, and then go take some pictures of this beautifully mountain range in the afternoon.

For just now, however, readers...

Good Night, and i hope you have a better sleep than you deserve.

Oooh, what a lovely Hangover

Well Readers, i feel i have to apologise for the lack of Logging for the last two days. For all of you worrying that i am somehow wasting my holiday writing silly letters, for the last two days i have seem to have been determined to drink the whole of japan.

On Monday we arrived at K's backpacking hostel in Kyoto. Settling into our rather comfortable dormitory, we headed though to the communal living space. In about 20 minutes we got talking to: a Welshman - Mike AKA Mapman;Two Aussies - Ell and Erin; a Finish guy called Arto, a Dutchman called KKJHDJHGWKUSMSKShsjksdkjooooksdkj, or Chris for short and two English guys - Simon and Jack. The Aussie girls introduced themselves with, "hey, you wanna look at my porn" and i could tell it would be a good night.

Beer, Beer, Beer, Whisky, Finish Vodka, and some beer was drunk that night. Lots of embarrassing photos, and complaints from the neighbors and fellow guests. Finally crawling to bed at 3am and going out like a light.

I was rudely awoken at 9.30am by my alarm, and lay they staring at it, wondering who set it, and then i remembered. We had all decided to go for a bike ride tomorrow round the city, the only way to see it.. trust me! So I staggered up and showered, and on my arrival discovered that we were actually ready to go. Everyone looked surprisingly chipper, how annoying. We were 6 and the hostel only has 4 bikes, so we were directed to the town center to hire them form Gap! Quite the done thing for stores to rent bikes, so for a 1000yen we were the owners of 6 reasonably new bicycles.

Riding a bike in Japan is unlike any two wheeled experience i have ever had. For a start, bikes are treated as pedestrians, so they go on the pavement, down one way streets, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and just generally a good time for all! We started out a little wobbly but no one had forgotten how to ride a bicycle in the intervening years since they last had. Following our official guide Mapman we set off for an amazing tour of the city, people walking just float out of the way as your bike nears them. Not like any city i know, where they would shout and cry out to you. Touring one of the Shrines, and following the river up to the north of the town to the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace is HUGE, build on such a grand scale, wide, long stretches of gravel road separating mysterious walled garden and buildings. Unable to see inside without special permissions, we were left just to imagine what i would be like behind the 30foot walls.

As our stomachs began to rumble, we headed back down into the center of town looking for food, and planning what we would do that night.

KAREOKE

We all met on the porch at the hostel at 8, so by 8.55 we were ready to leave. We headed into town, desperately seeking a Bar. I hadn't been to a bar since i got here, so i was eager to get a couple pints of Guinness down my throat, just to make me feel better. Trawling up and down the main street, we were put off by service charges and drink prices before finally, down a darkened alley way, found the Free Ball sports bar. Highly inflated drinks prices, but i was in no mood by then to care, so we paid 3.50 for Guinness, and i don't want to think what some paid for the Cosmopolitan they were drinking. Fun, laughter, loud obtrusive Manchester United TV and two drinks later we were back on the street, eager to do the Chavvy thing and get a couple of tins down the river, so we spent two hours looking out across the river onto Kyoto City at night. The locals didn't even stare, so a good time was had by all in the end.

2am came and we remembered why we had left in the first place... to hit the Karaoke bars of Kyoto! We picked the nicest and cleanest looking place, which also happened to be the only one open to 6am, and we'd need it! After some haggling by the looks of it, i think some people were moved round and we were given a room big enough for our party of 9. Rosy from the Alcohol we soon started burning up the tiny stage, dropping some pretty fly tracks, or something like that, basically we sang badly, very loudly, for a long time. Until we were told to leave actually. So Bleary eyed we staggered home in the rising sun, via McDonald's and flopped into bed. With the knowledge that we needed to be out of the hostel by 11.30 the next day heavy on my mind, i ignored it and fell asleep.

Banks and Bullets

Dear Readers

Good evening/morning dearest readers, i have so far been disapointed by the lack of comment and email from you people back home. This saddens me! But oh well, your faithfull japanese correspondant will continue to keep you all updated with the latest goings on from the crazy Land of the Rising Sun.

First thing this morning i needed to change some money. Regular visitors to this travel blog will know that i spent the whole of yesterday with no money, entirely not my fault, i had been assured that this would not be a problem on a sunday. Little did i know that know one wants to change Yen Travelers Cheques only the almighty Dollar, and the equaly Great British Pound. Anyway, i headed to the bank for opening time, and was greeted by chaos!! The i realised that most of the people were just queing for the ATM machines. I stood around looking lost for a while until a very nice japanese bank worker approached me and asked me what i was in for. Using my now patented kowtowing while humbly explaining my ignorance away because i am just a westener, she took pity and showed me to the Forign Exchange Desk. About 5 minutes into the transaction, i was asked for my current address in Japan. Panic flushed over me, what was i to do, Pete had buggered off to take some more pictures, and i was stuck. Try explaining in english to a non fluent Japanese man the fact that you were to stupid and forign to know where you stayed and you had to get your snap happy friend to tell you. So i darted out, bowing to the back door, almost knocking over a 4' 7" Japanese lady in my hurry and embarresment, i darted across the street and into the maze of shopping alleys between out hostel and the bank. Finding Pete taking a picture of a shop selling, of all things, Coffee and Curry, i hastely grabbed the details of our booking and ran back to the bank, sweat pouring down my face. Why i was rushing was a complete mystery to me, as i had not been keeping anybody waiting. Back to the bank, and i did not know what to do, all the rushing i had just done contrasted starkly with the now slightly impaciant waiting i was now doing. I did not know what to do, the sympathetic bank worker was no where to be seen, and i could not just go back to the forign exchange desk, as it was now sans teller. So i waited

and waited...

and waited...

before i spotted my friend the bank employee, catching her eye, by means of staring at her until she looked at me, she approched and i explained, badly, that i was back. She just strode over to the desk, dinged the bell and walked away. She belted the bell and scarpered, i was terrified everyone that was now staring would think that i had just hammered the bell through the desk, but i was interupted from that particular fear by the reapearence of the teller. So started the long process of currency exchange.
Banking in Japan, it seems to me, is still taking seriously, they still appear to take care of your money and want to be completely sure they are doing the right thing, and not giving you anything less that what you wanted. So after the forms in triplicate, i was given a card with a number on it, and pointed, i though, to the normal desks. I wondered over and stood about thickly, looking at this card. Another long period of wait, and i worked up the courage to ask another bank worker what the hell i was doing in this country! He ran over to the desk i was just at, and in that moment i realised it was a waiting card, my number would be called in a minute. Too late to stop him, he rang the bell and my teller appeared all ready to get a complete bollocking form what i managed to gather was the manager of the bank. I was black affronted, and i stood behind the manager looking particularly appologetic for that time in the morning. The teller ran away and got my money and showed me into a side room, hesitatent to go into a small room with a fairly large man who i just got shouted at, i entered sat down and with all the beauty and dignity of a tea ceramony was handed my passport, and money on what appeared to be, no joke, a silver platter. Thanking him far more than any man should thank another for doing their job, i left.

Lessons to be learned: erm.. dont go to that bank again!

So we headed back to the hostel to pick up our bags, and proceeded to the central Tokyo train station, stopping briefly to pick up our Japanese Rail Passes, tickets that allow us unlimited acces to the countries JR rail network for 14 days. Booking our tickets out of Tokyo, we hopped on a sleek white... bullet, the only word to describe it, into a cool simple but comfortable train. At the train station we picked up Bento Boxes, basically lunch packed into little compartments, and as soon as i sat down, whipped mine out of the bag and dug in. Not having eaten for atleast 2 hours i was ravenous. My chopstick skill was actually complimented by Yura, Petes pen pall on the first night in Tokyo, which was suprising, as in GB i had always op-ted for the fork at a chinese, But with the skill of a native i shoveled it down my throat, Rice, backon and sausage, meatballs, and noodles. Delicious, and with that the train pulled out of the station and we began the next stage of out Japanese adventure.... Kyoto!

More tommorrow on our going on in, this once capital, city of Kyoto

Sore Feet in Electric Town

Mushi Mushi World,

Well today has been fun, tiring but fun. Woke up far too early today and chatted to a few of the folks back home (Lauren) as it was about 9.30pm GMT and Pete went off round town with the camera, capturing Tokyo in the early morning, without all the crowds on the streets. Then seeing sense we all went back to bed for a few hours and got up again at about 9.30am (GMT+9). After a breakfast of Buns and Jam, and a rather delicious Ham Toasty for me, we set off on what was certainly an interesting day.

First port of call was Akihabara, or Electric Town, the only place to get the latest in electronic Gizmo. Mmm, the new 50” Plasma screens from Pioneer were on display, still like Hen’s teeth in Britain, with HD sources on them, I fell in love, and I’m spoiled for any other television. Pete dragged me into a Manga shop, 8 floors of comic book heaven, I think he actually had a little accident in his pants when I first went in, the child like gleam in his eye would have made a grown man weep. So I tagged along, and it was pretty good. I have to say, some of the titles and cover art could only be described as erm… adult, and these weren’t even the “Adult” titles, ha.

One interesting point to make is American Express Yen Travelers Cheques cannot be exchanged at the Money Exchange booths, only at banks. So if you run out of money ,　and need to turn some Cheques into cash, don’t… well not on a Sunday. So I think I did today on about 700\ which is about 4 GBP.

We then went to visit Otemachi Park in the center of Tokyo. On a Sunday, gathered round the Metro Station, Japanese Teenagers, and some old enough to know better, dress up as their Cos-Play character, a carefully crafted and researched secondary identity, with full background story and character. Some of them are dressed up as if they were characters from a Manga comic and some appeared to be Daemons, Junkies, Japanese stereotypes and I even so a little bo-peep shep-herd! They gather and show off to their friends and pose for tourists’ pictures. Quite a few professional photographers could be seen as this felt like the Japan that the west sees in films and TV shows, the strange youth culture in Japan of Ultra Stylized fashion, and what seemed like a form of rebellion. To a youth culture that still has to conform and to a large extent do as it’s told, they seem to let it all come flooding out on a Sunday, the one day of the week they feel they can express themselves. I am not sure what this means for the future of this nation, nothing bad I believe, but I think they days of suited conformity to the corporate line could definitely be changing as the teenagers today mix there own distinct culture with the world they can see through there television sets. Having said that I don’t believe the outside world has all that great an influence on this nation. Looking about myself today, asides from the Multinational fast food chains, I still saw a city and a people who seem to enjoy living there own lives. Mixing fashion influences and adding a very Japanese angle. I think Japan can hold out against the might of　Imperial America longer, sadly, than Great Britain can.

With sore feet but lifted spirits we shuffled back on the three metro lines to our Youth Hostel for a quick shower and a spot of Blogging. Tomorrow we head for Kyoto, and a new, exciting, adventure awaits us.

So don’t forget to tune in at the same bat time, on the same bat channel for more exciting tales of Pete and Scott’s Oriental Adventure

And we're here!

Mushi Mushi,

Hello from Japan, im am writing this sitting in our Yoof Hostel in Tokyo, the Sakura Hostel (flower hostel, aww!). It is simply delightful, probably the most amazing place i have ever been, everything is so different! Pete and I have just been wondering about, mouths open, agasp at all the woderful things, the smells the sights!

The flight over for me didn't go that badly, i had probably the most room of any of the Cattle Class passengers, and the service beats most of the British carriers. One of the only good things i can say about the French. I took off at 6am and probably arrived your time about 12am so an 18 hour flight in total, but i did have a stop over in paris for 2 hours (CDG is the worlds worst airport, staff and design equally awful)

Got through customs with relativly few hassles and took the Narita Express into the center of town. From there catching a metro to Asakusa where we are now. All in all a great start to a day.

But MY GOD, the heat is incredible! Its only 30'C but the humidity is about 90% and i have had to change my shirt 3 times! Thank your particular higher power that our room as the most almighty Air-con!! Score

The Best
Vending Machines - Anything you like can be bought from vending machines, particularly the fantastic Coke Bottle Cans, metal bottles of ice cold coke. Needed as you are loseing so much liquid.
Food - Petes penpal in Japan, Yura met us in the city center - amazing buildings - and took us up the top of the Tokyo Council Buildings, two really tall towers in the downtown area with an observation deck. Tokyo at night has to be one of the most beautifull cities i have seen. Red and orange lights strech off into the far horizon. She took us to a Japanese resteraunt, where im sure they supplied food we never asked for, but im not complaining, it was delicious. Mostly Chicken and Meat, and no Fish as far as i could tell, which was suprising.
The Toilet - You have not experienced the full wonder of our basesest of bodily fuctions until you have used a super loo. While music plays, a delicate scent is pumped into the cubical, and after you have finished your nasty business, a simple press of a button and a gentle warm jet of water fires straight up your..... well we can all guess. Anyway i felt both overjoyed and violated at the same time.

The Worst
The God Awfull Heat!The Metro!The Travelers Panic - The Travelers Panic set in quite early on when we first arrived at the metro station, causing the above three problems. I think we now have a good grasp of the train system now, but i still find myself longing for the simplicity of the London Tube, I Know!

I think thats enough for today, should ahve a slightly more relaxed day tommorrow, trying to keep quite cool, it is ment to be only 25'C tommorrow. Im off to have a quick tinny before bed.

Sayonara Great Britain.



Disclaimer - Scott can not be held accountable for the spelling in this article. There are at least 12 new buttons on the keyboard, and for no real reason can suddely start typing like this 　伊ts　伊sヴぇｒｙあんおいんｇ and can be quite frustrating.

Here is some information for my fellow travelers on Communication from and in Japan

By phone

Emergency call
Emergency call can be made from any phone at free of charge:call 110 for
police or call 119 for fire and ambulance.

Pay telephones
Public pay telephones (公衆電話 kōshū denwa) are easily found, particularly near train stations, although with the popularity of mobile phones, public pay phones are not as quite as numerous as they once were. Gray and green pay phones accept ¥10 and ¥100 coins, and pre-paid cards. Some of the gray phones, as indicated on the LCD display, can make international calls. Another type of phone, IC pay phones, use an different IC-type card, but all can make international calls. Both types of pre-paid cards may be purchased at convenience stores, train station kiosk stores and sometimes in vending machines next to the phone. International phone charges from pay phones can be unusually high; third-party phone cards are a reasonable alternative.

Mobile phones
Japanese mobile phone (携帯電話 keitai denwa or just keitai) standards are largely incompatible with those in the rest of the world, so it is unlikely your mobile phone will work in Japan. However, if you have a 3G phone and a carrier that roams with Vodafone (Vodafone Roaming Partners), your phone should work on their WCDMA network. Also, some of Vodafone's newer 3G models accept GSM SIM cards and thus you can use your usual phone number while in Japan.
Travelers on extended trips can purchase a mobile phone on monthly contract with a major credit card, which can work out to be cheaper than a rental phone for longer durations. The major mobile carriers in Japan are NTT DoCoMo, KDDI's au and Vodafone. Expect to pay around around ¥5000 per month, assuming light calling; a cancellation fee may apply when the contract is terminated. Prepaid mobile phones were previously an economical option for visits of over a few weeks or so, but now they are no longer available to tourists and require either a Japanese passport or an alien registration card.

By mail
You can send postcards to anywhere in the world for 70 yen. Public mail deposit boxes are found throughout Japan. They have two slots, one for regular domestic mail, and the other for overseas and express mail.

By net
Internet cafes (インターネットカフェ) can be found in or around many train stations. Here, you can upload your pictures from a digital camera, and if you forgot your cable, some cafes will lend you a memory card reader for free. Manga coffee shops (漫画喫茶 manga-kissa) usually have internet PCs as well. When you get tired of browsing the web, you can browse comic books, watch TV or play video games. The cost is typically around ¥400/hour, with free drinks. Often they have special night fare around ¥1500 for the 4-5 hour period when no trains are running. Internet cafes can be a safe and inexpensive place to spend the night if you miss the last train.
A number of Business Hotels have internet access available if you have your own computer, sometimes for free. In most cases, access is usually provided by a VDSL modem connected to the hotel telephone system. Please beware that some of the hotels that offer free internet access do not include the rental for the modem in the "free" part of the service, so check before you use. Setting up your network interface for DHCP is usually all that is required to gain access to the internet in such situations. Many also tend to have rental or free PC's available for hotel guests.
Some larger train stations and airports also have rental PCs to netsurf and send e-mail, usually about ¥100 (coin) for 10 minutes.
When using public access PC's, remember to be careful not to the accidentally hit the left side Alt-Shift keys together, or you'll be writing in Japanese—even if you don't know any. On the other hand, if the last person left the computer this way, you can use this key combination to switch back to the Roman alphabet. It is also possible to find Wi-Fi "hot spots" around many large cities in Japan, especially near tech-related businesses and large corporate buildings with unsecured wireless networks (the Apple store in Ginza, Tokyo has a fast, open 802.11g connection).

Money Money Money, Must be funny in Japan. Nope, rather Dull

Got all my Money and Travelers Cheques, i have about 100pound of yen in cash, and the rest(about 1200squiders) in TC's. Looks quite impressive, but the Yen notes are so dull, very grey with pictures of quite dull looking Japanese men on them. But one of them does have rather impressive hair! I got all from my local bank, and American Express does Yen Travelers Cheques, which some people don't. There was also the option of having and American Express Travelers Card, which works just like and AMEX credit card, except you load it up before you go. Handy, but only does Dollars or Pounds, and quite a few Japanese shops don't really accept plastic. But AMEX is very widely accepted where they do. Conscious i have to impart some of my wisdom for my fellow travelers, a few of Scottie Boys top tips.

1. Never keep all you TC's together, thats just stupid, get a money belt (fanny pack) to put some in, and secrete the rest amongst your stuff, just don't forget where you put it all, you dont want to get home and do your washing and find 10000 yen in your smelly keks.

2. Sign you TC's as soon as you get them. Dont want no foreigner nicking them do we!

3. Make a list of all your TC's numbers and spend them in order of the list, making sure to score them off as you use them, this means you know exactly what you have left, and how much you have spent. And makes sure you have not lost any!



Thats about it folks, that was the first post for a while from me. Only 6 days 13 hours and 27 minutes to go, im peeing myself with excitement.



Scottie Boy