Japan Japan

Homeland @ Kuwana, Japan

2006-12-09T17:22:00.000Z

Kuwana, my base city in Japan. A small city near to Nagoya.

Visiting the extended family, Shiga-ken. @ Shiga-cho, Japan

2006-12-23T05:36:00.000Z

This is just some of Marcia's family, who live in the nearby prefecture of Shiga. At this stage I was still fresh to Japan, and my Portguese was still very elementary (has it even improved?).
Needless to say, it was an <b>new</b> experience.

Snow day @ Kuwana, Japan

2006-12-29T14:30:00.000Z

My first ever "dump at home". Waking up to around 20cm of fresh powder in town.

Kyoto... the old country @ Kyoto, Japan

2006-12-29T23:00:00.000Z

Kyoto is the "old-city" of Japan.

We managed to cram in a lot of activities within a few days.

We took the slow train down to the city while it was still snowing, and checked into a quaint little ryokan that night.
The following day, we jumped onto the scooter we'd organised and rode around western Kyoto, checking out the river, and the almost-deserted park.
On new years eve, we spent the day riding to Nara, about an hour and a half down the road. Not the best idea in 5 degrees, but we made it.
New years was pretty mixed in Kyoto, but we made the most of an unusual evening. Apparently, during the night, almost everyone visits the local temple to wish luck for the new year. We attempted to get near the temple, but the line, even at 1am, was hideous and unmoving.

Paintball @ Kuwana, Japan

2007-01-06T02:31:00.000Z

Man, these Brazilians sure do enjoy their paintball. I got ganked. It's in the blood or something.

Takasu Snow Park @ Gifu-ken, Japan

2007-01-13T15:00:00.000Z

A day at Takasu Snow Park in Gifu Prefecture.

Homeland - Kuwana at night @ Kuwana, Japan

2007-02-07T05:34:00.000Z

Kuwana night life.

Tsuruga - ferry to Hokkaido @ Tsuruga, Japan

2007-02-08T20:57:00.000Z

Only a brief 19 hours to Hokkaido.

Hokkaido @ Tomakomai, Japan

2007-02-10T03:00:00.000Z

Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, is absolutely stunning. Coming from Honshu, this place is about as remote as Japan gets.
As we went in the depths of winter, it was almost constantly snowing. There were two snow festivals - Yuki Matsuri - to see the weekend we went: one in Sapporo, and another in neaerby Asahikawa.

Date, Hokkaido @ Date, Japan

2007-02-10T17:00:00.000Z

This little pocket down in south western Hokkaido features it's own share of volcanic activity alongside a gorgeous lake.
It features Showa Shin-zan volcano, Toya-ko lake, Usu-zan volcano, and Nishiyama Crater Promenade.
The last was actually closed for winter, so we saved 300Y by jumping the fence. Bargin.

<ul>Videos
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1949160513">Fucking around</a></li>
</ul>

Sapporo, Hokkaido @ Sapporo, Japan

2007-02-10T21:00:00.000Z

The busiest weekend to visit Sapporo happened to be the very weekend we were traveling. No surprises there, as we were visiting to check out the famous Yuki Matsuri, or snow festival, held on the long weekend in Febuary. As such, we couldn't stay in Sapporo that night, but we still had a blast.

Asahikawa, Hokkaido @ Asahikawa, Japan

2007-02-11T03:00:00.000Z

This city had it's own snow festival, and in many ways, I preferred it.

It was more minimalist, and far less kitsch.

<ul>Videos:
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1948374901">Skating</a></li>
</ul>

Sounkyo Gorge, Hokkaido @ Sounkyo, Japan

2007-02-11T18:00:00.000Z

This little frozen village is very quaint, though we were expecting something a touch more Gorge-y.

Abashiri, Hokkaido @ Abashiri, Japan

2007-02-11T20:00:00.000Z

The ice flows from Russia are famed in Hokkaido - and seem to be the main selling point of this island in winter.

We didn't quite get the amount of ice as seen in the brochure, but dammit, it was still pretty cool.

<ul>Videos:
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1948622072">Floating Ice</a></li>
</ul>

Akan National Park, Hokkaido @ Akankohan, Japan

2007-02-12T02:00:00.000Z

This national park is situated in far eastern Hokkaido.

Io-zan, Akan NP, Hokkaido @ Kawayu, Japan

2007-02-12T15:45:00.000Z

This walled up little mountain was spewing out some serious sulphur.

The road home @ Obihiro, Japan

2007-02-12T20:00:00.000Z

Some sights on the long drive back to the port.

Ferry home @ Tomakomai, Japan

2007-02-13T19:14:00.000Z

Last point, Homeland @ Tsuruga, Japan

2007-02-14T02:00:00.000Z

Uga-kei Gorge, Mie-ken, Homeland @ Inabe-gawa, Japan

2007-02-16T19:43:00.000Z

A gorge near to Kuwana in Mie-ken (Mie prefecture).

Day trip to Sakakibara @ Tsu, Japan

2007-02-23T20:37:00.000Z

We went for a drive using our little map of Mie-ken, and thought it'd be nice to visit the Sakakibara onsen (hot spring). Unfortunately, the onsen seemed to be inside, so we gave it a miss. Though we still enjoyed some of the local scenery.

Inuyama and Little World @ Gifu-ken, Japan

2007-02-24T16:43:00.000Z

The local government here in Kuwana boasts free fortnightly classes in Japanese. We had an excursion to Little World and nearby Inuyama in Gifu-ken. The former was pretty kitsch, but the crew from the school were a pretty fun bunch - many Indonesians, Chinese and a Peruvian.

Hangzhou - the Chinese tourist destination. @ Hangzhou, China

2007-03-05T22:00:00.000Z

Hangzhou is a little city south west of Shanghai, and it is apparently the home of the original West Lake. The Chinese seem to love their lakes, and this lake is pretty spectacular. You can take a boat to the middle island - once a home to a retired General - and the world inside is incredibly peaceful.
This area is incredibly beautiful, but also quite complicated to navigate it's intricacies without a guidebook or a lick of Mandarin. Needless to say, it was a novel experience.

Sweet Shanghai @ Shanghai, China

2007-03-08T17:25:00.000Z

Shanghai is an impressive city. I got conned on my first day outta about 400Ruan - maybe A$60, but hey, better than in Europe right?
It's a pretty foreigner familiar city, though it has less impressive sights than Beijing. Nevertheless, the nightlife is good and the city has a fesh vibe (in some places at least).
I spent most of my time there walking around, from Old Town to the French Concession, to Pudong and beyond. Did find a cool little jazz club with salsa one night with a group of swedes that I met - most enjoyable.

Beijing, China @ Beijing, China

2007-03-12T17:38:00.000Z

Wow, Beijing is a big city. The forbidden city alone is huge. Man, you need a bike to get around, and the place is certainly bike friendly. I got around very easily on my last day there on a rented bike for about 1.50.
Beijing also has these overpriced night markets near the Forbidden City that are a total rip off. I wanted to try the deep fried scorpion to check off my list, but it was around 10 times the price of everything else. Dammit - the spiders were cheap in Cambodia.

The Great Wall of China, Simatai section @ Great Wall, China

2007-03-13T18:40:00.000Z

Just go. It's incredible.

Incidently, we went to the Simatai section, and we weren't disappointed. Only one other group and hardly any tourist stands.

Beijing, China @ Beijing, China

2007-03-14T22:00:00.000Z

Finally got to the Summer Palace. It was early spring. Maybe a bit cold for a swim.

We also managed to sample some tasty Peiking Duck at the "place that sells the best Peiking Duck in Beijing" according to an American friend (on the far left in the dinner photo), Jeff, whose major interest in travelling revolves around "good food, and good conversation". No arguments there.

The photo of the tunnel represents the underground view of Tianamen Square, as guarded by federal police, which was closed due to the polical meetings within for around a fortnight (don't want anyone protesting or anything - damn free speech huh?)

Osaka, Japan @ Osaka, Japan

2007-03-31T15:00:00.000Z

We picked up Gabi from the airport and spent the weekend at nearby Osaka, seeing the sights.

Nagoya, Japan @ Nagoya, Japan

2007-04-02T17:00:00.000Z

A day trip to nearby Nagoya city.

Takayama and Shirakawa-go @ Takayama, Japan

2007-04-03T17:00:00.000Z

A day trip to the mountaineous Hida district.
Takayama is a small craft-making community in the mountains. Nearby is the World Heritage site at Ogimichi - a small village comprised of tens of traditional style homes in the region.

Mount Fuji @ Fuji, Japan

2007-04-05T20:44:00.000Z

The iconic Japanese symbol was as shy as a little boy, but he did poke his head out from behind his mother's skirts once in a while.

Tokyo, Japan @ Tokyo, Japan

2007-04-06T22:29:00.000Z

Having lived in Japan for almost four months now, I can say with some officiality, that Tokyo isn't so kooky.

If it's your first port of call in Japan, yah, it's out there. But when you live next door to a Pachinko (pinball gambling), know where to get what food, and Kanji is a way of life, then Tokyo aint sooo amazing.

What did surprise me were the parks. The one in mid city around the Palace was beautiful and incredibly peaceful. The one at Shinbuya was full of locals on the wekend, playing music, skating, laughing, singing... it was great - not the stereotypical crazy Tokyo you hear so much about.

Sakura @ Kuwana, Japan

2007-04-12T11:27:00.000Z

A couple of photogenic moments in our hometown, round Sakura time.

Shikoku, the quiet island @ Shikoku, Japan

2007-04-14T09:49:00.000Z

Three boys and three girls, concrete camping and a hell-of-a-lot-of driving... needless to say, it was worth it.

The Boss @ Kuwana, Japan

2007-05-02T05:20:00.000Z

OK, so in Japan, they take this whole "Boss" thing very seriously. Sacho-san - ie. honourable Boss - is what he's called, and he's a dude.
He's kind of both cool and conservative. For example, on arriving in China, he strolls right through Immigration. When they stop him, he simply waves his hand, implying one of his underlings will handle the trivialities.

Icehockey @ Nagoya, Japan

2007-05-05T12:49:00.000Z

So, since January, I've been doing this Ice Hockey course in Nagoya. It's been good. Don't understand much, but good.
I don't have any of their equipment and the such, but it's still a good intro into a sport I've always been curious about.
Not a big fan of the rental skates tho, I've had to request their sharpest pair every week. When I started, I was using skates so rounded that I couldn't stop to save my life, and thus, I was flailing all over the shop.

Sumo @ Tokyo, Japan

2007-05-13T20:00:00.000Z

We spent around 14 round hours getting to and from Tokyo by bus to see the first day of the May tournament and we weren't disappointed. Ok, so there's a lot of pomp and ceremony - not to mention countless showdowns - but it is a surreal experience being in a huge stadium dedicated to this very unique religion cum sport.

Friends from Korea @ Kuwana, Japan

2007-05-28T03:55:00.000Z

Thomas and Heri - visiting from Seoul - enjoying our local Japanese cuisine.