Business Hotel Shoraku Kawaguchi

... crib about 15 minutes after I left, and had a change of heart. He now wanted to head to Tokyo first, to enjoy the weekend nightlife and catch a Giants game on Saturday, etc.... and he was in a mad dash to try and catch me. The race was now on and Birnie was already cheating. He was hopping on trains that our seishun kippo wasn't eligible for and the goal was to catch me before the split to Fuji or Tokyo. He also was able to enjoy the exquisite experience ...

... Mt fuji was not going to let that happen. I decided to do something practical to alleviate it by whipping of my hostel area map and visiting the local supermarket. Surprisingly this supermarket was very similar to our own in the UK except way more fish. I had a communication problem with the old lady at the checkout over the need for a carrier bag. I got frustrated and walked out, carrying some distance a 2ltr bottle of water, a 6 pack ...

Today has been a good day. After the melodramatics of the previous entry let's try and keep this nice and lighthearted! So much for leaving Tokyo at first light, i mean it sounded cool but was never going to happen. I awoke to a prod and way to enthusiastic voice "Rich mate, if you're going to bounce you better get a move on." Ahh Aussie boys - Don't leave home without 'em! I couldn't tell which one it was from my waking squint but i was ...

... to make that train! I must say I was sorry to say goodbye to Kyoto; I had a lot of fun there and met some really nice people. Will definitely visit again someday. But return to Tokyo I did, and decided I really ought to go out in Roppongi, the major ex-pat 'resort' in the capital. Had the most amazing sushi there; really fantastic; and I think less than 10GBP including my beer. The grilled salmon cheek was out of ...

... store...coming back with bags full of....stuff that you might find at any dollar store. We had an awesome dinner where they cook thin pancakes on a grill with cabbage and bean sprouts, egg, beef, with noodles and a brown sauce on top. (see photo) Okay, just wanted to give everyone an update. I am here safe and sound in a very smoky Internet cafe (the Japanese are big smokers). More to come...

... we finally asked in another restaurant where it was. When we finally got there we were seated next to a window with a gorgeous view of the while city which seems to go on forever. We ordered a la carte some meat on sticks and Thai fried rice and a sushi roll. This turned out to be cheap and yummy as promised at less than $15 each for the whole meal (remember these prices include all taxes and tips which makes a big difference). From here we headed home to do some ...

uhhhhhhhhhhh woke up Tues morning in Paris.. no sleep and now its wednesday night in Japan! Arrived in one piece, thanks JAL! Im staying with Mel in her lil house just outside Tokyo, and it's been awesome to see her after 1 year or so since she has left! ... a few more nights here and before you know it, home! We intend to head into central Tokyo tomorrow and ill be most ...

... Tokyo was gonna be this big, fast panic-stricken city where no one would give you the time of day. Had a meal this afternoon in Asakusa ( just a 10min walk from here) and there were three middle-aged women sitting at the next table having a meal. They looked beautiful. All were wearing kimonos and had their hair elegantly pulled back with chopsticks. With their meal they managed to polish off three large king browns of Japanese beer!! Go girls ...

... be upgraded. she looked at me and asked what would i like to use to upgrade. is she asking me to bribe her? can't you do this out of the kindness of your heart? most people behind customer service counters don't appreciate my sense of humor. she deducted my precious frequent flyer miles for the upgrade. she deducted alot! oh well at least my back will feel a little better...

... but at a station just outside Tokyo. The doors weren't opening and we couldn't understand what was happening - Japanese trains are supposed to be very reliable. The train guard was running up and down the train and there were men wearing hard hats running up and down the platform. Someone eventually told that us someone had just jumped in front of the train. We had to exit through the drivers compartment on to the platform. There were workers holding up ...