Facts and Figures

Until I Go to New Zealand

4 months 16 days 8 hours 36 minutes 23 seconds or
20 weekends or
139 days or
3,320 hours (2,213 waking hours) or
199,236 minutes or 11,954,182 seconds

Until Daves Wedding
6 months 19 days 21 hours 36 minutes 7 seconds or
29 weekends or
204 days or
4,893 hours (3,262 waking hours) or
293,616 minutes or 17,616,966 seconds

In the Summertime

Well its been a while since I have updated this blog. A fair bit has happened. I have been to all sorts of places in Japan, including Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Nagoya. As you can tell from the pictures my little sister turned up in Japan intent on absorbing as much of the sights, sounds, smells and Sake as is possible in three weeks. Ultimately I think that she succeeded in this and left me a shell of my former self.

Unfortunately I was only able to get some of the time off from work, so when Alex was recovering from 11 late nights in a row I was off to work. I think I have just about recovered from this regime now, and ironically it is only now that I have caught a cold.

You can see from the pictures that we took in some cultural sights and sounds and also the night life in Tokyo and Osaka. The only respite from the hustle and bustle was a short trip to Shimoda which is a small seaside community which swells in number in the summer time. It was relatively quiet there when we arrived. It also has a fair bit of historical importance as it was there that the American fleet landed and forced Japan to open itself up to trade.

Tokyo Disneysea was also an interesting place to visit but I would have to say that I prefer Disneyland.

One of the more novel features of our holidaying was the Hotel we stayed in in Osaka. A very cheap place to stay but it came with a rather strange odour and …umm unique bathing facilities. The next-door neighbours were also rather interesting!

Well it is now summer time and I am no longer working two jobs (for the next three weeks anyway) I intend to head over to Nagano at the end of August for a few days R&R but otherwise it will be a matter of trying to avoid the heat. Today the TV informs me it is 37 degrees in Tokyo. Nice.

Shabu-shabu - dinner - day 1

A tree outside Sanjusangendo Temple in Kyoto

Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto

Warming ourselves in the sun in Shimoda

The look of pure relaxation and enjoyment commonly associated with taking a roller coaster.

hi·a·tus (h-ts)n. pl. hi·a·tus·es or hiatus

A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break: “We are likely to be disconcerted by... hiatuses of thought”

Osaka-Kyoto

Just a quick update...I and Alex have made it to Osaka and today we visited a couple of interesting places. Took a heap of photos and once we get back to terra firma I will upload them.

Tomorrow we will head to Nara and then on to Nagoya on Monday...should be interesting!