Goodbye Japan, welcome Australia!
Trip Start
Jun 08, 2007
1
6
23
Trip End
Jul 05, 2007
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Tokyo,
Japan
Friday, June 15, 2007
Thursday involved a short train journey from Kyoto to Osaka (Japan`s second city) followed by a lunctime visit up the Umeda Sky Building - similar to the twin towers except for a roof top garden linking bridge (oh, and it`s still standing of course....). Incidentally, our GW Office boys will be happy to learn that I`m now in possession of 5 fridge magnets from the first week of the tour - make the space bigger Steve, i`m gonna need a bigger area!!!!
The rainy season has apparently officially started in Japan as of yesterday and our umbrellas can certainly confirm as such. They took one hell of a beating! Nevertheless, when the rain slowed we took the journey across town to see the Sumiyoji-Taisha Shrine. Fantastic scenery, as it`s been all week to be honest and a major feast of culture.
A lonely planet recommendation took us into downtown Osaka to the Pig and Whistle for good old fish, chips and the start of yet another mammooth drinking session. Everyday seems to descend into one at some point! This fuelled one of the absolute highlights of the week - an hour spent in one of Osaka`s karaoke booths for some proper drunken frivolity! The order of performance went something like this:-
Me/Chris (duet) - Alanis Morissette - You Oughta know
Carl (debut performance) - Green Day - Basket Case
Chris - Oasis - Don`t Look back in Anger
Mark - The Eagles Hotel California (with harmonies from Chris/Me)
Carl - Robbie Williams - Feel (backing vocals by Chris)
Me/Chris (duet) - Gun`s n Roses - Sweet Child O`Mine
Carl/Chris (duet) - Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
Me - AC/DC - Back in Black
The best five quid I`ve ever spent (well, today at least!)
Stage names for Mark, Carl & Chris need to be developed over the forthcoming weeks after what can only be described as scinilating performances.
The next day, up early and feeling ever so fresh (honest!), we did a bit more sightseeing in Kyoto including of the Imperial Palace (and our first MacDonalds breakfast - managed to resist for a whole 6 days!).
Umeda Sky Building, Osaka, Japan
However, a mix up on "Engrish people only entry time" meant we couldnt actually see the temple as we had to catch a Shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo. Never mind....we saw the walls outside - is that good enough for a temple tick??Sat here in the airport lounge at Tokyo Narita waiting for the flight to take us on the next leg of our adventure - Australia. It promises to be awesome. Hope the room draws are kind over the next seven nights (if you know what I mean) although we have introduced rule 47 (Z) which states that "you can`t draw the same person for two nights running....".
Japan has given us some amazing memories to take away. Such a friendly and polite (verging on anally polite) race of people. The contrast between the sprawling mass and bright lights of Tokyo and the culture and greenery of Kyoto has made it the perfect start to our adventure. The other three countries have a big act to follow..........
Sayonara Mr. Myaggy and G`day Bruce!
C
PS Photos to follow - unable to upload from here.
