pictures

Ok, I made it to Kyoto this evening but I am still pretty sick so I need to rest. I may have to see a doctor if this doesn't clear up soon.

Anyway, I uploaded some photos so have a peek. They are on my flickr account. I will post again with a better description once I feel better and can think straight.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lhale/

Hiroshima & Miyajima

I am at the Hiroshima Peace Park now and have use of a free computer for 30 minutes. It is pretty amazing the damage that can be done. It is beautiful today so I am greatful for that. My health is still bad but I am taking medicine so I hope it will improve soon. Once I get access to a more suitable computer I hope to upload the awesome pictures I have been taking.

I will make my way to Kyoto later today. I am excited about visiting Kyoto as everyone has told me it is a wonderful place.

Cheers for now.

Loren

Hiroshima

Well, I made my way to Hiroshima via the bullet train or Shinkansen. It was a nice ride and I was able to nap on my way. It's good also, because I still have very bad jet lag. I woke up again at 3 am and can't sleep so here I am.

I am staying at a nice hostel and the folks are so nice and fun. We had a party and good food and drinks. Unfortunately I am still sick so I am doing my best to enjoy. I will probably go sightseeing tomorrow with them.

I have some good pictures but will have to upload them later so stay tuned. I look forward to sightseeing tomorrow. My Japanese is getting good practice alsol. They said I can speak very well. That's nice to hear.

I am running out of time on my pay for use computer so I will update again soon and have pictures.

Cheers.

Solitude amidst an ocean of people

It is pretty amazing, the strange feeling of being alone while walking amidst a seemingly ocean of people. So much action going on, people talking, laughing, doing business, making plans, eating, etc. All this and you are alone and have no idea what is being said and what is going on. The world is all new, all over again.

Even simple things like ordering coffee or breakfast is fun and interesting. If you love to people watch then this is heaven. I hope to interact more but it's difficult with the language barrier and the fact that is everyone is so busy. Oh, except for a slightly crazy old man at the train station that could speak english, or should I say spit english and insisted on standing very close to me even though I continued to move away.

I will make my way down to Hiroshima, I am so tired, I hardly slept last night. I hope I can rest some on the train.

Cheers and Smiles.

Loren

Tokyo I have arrived!

I made it! I am in Tokyo and it's amazing!

It was a rough 12 hours or so of travel but I survived. The really amazing thing was my favorite Japanese language teacher was on the same plane! We didn't get to sit next to each other but when we landed she helped me find my way around the airport a bit and get a cell phone. Then we rode the train to Tokyo station together. It was nice.

Then I had to transfer to the Yamanote line and make my way to Ueno station. From there I had to walk about 15 or 20 minutes to find my hotel. I passed it the first time and stopped to ask a nice police man for directions. It is kinda funny, he only spoke about 3 words of english so thank goodness for my Japanese, but as the conversation continued, if you can call it a conversation, more like a game of pictionary, his english got dramatically better. hahaha. Strange.

I finally found my hotel and checked in. Made my way accross the street to a ramen shop and had some soup. It was about 9:30 PM by this time. There was hardly anyone in the shop when I arrived and the cook and helper girl was very nice to me. They didn't speak any english, well, maybe 5 words but we managed and I was able to practice my Japanese and have a fun little conversation. It's amazing how people can function without language, using pictures, gestures, smiles, etc.

Then I went back to my hotel and passed out. Even though the bed was less than desirable. :) Better than an airplane seat for sure. Now if only I could get back to sleep as I type away at 5 AM. Been up since 3 AM. :( Night!

Hmmm. My pictures aren't working on this post so you can check them out here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lhale/3103276352/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lhale/3103276358/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lhale/3103276362/

Sick but Packed

Well, I leave tomorrow around 1 PM for Tokyo and I am pretty excited! Probably not as excited as I should be but I have been sick for a few days now. :(

I am doing my best to get well before I leave but think it will linger a few days into my trip. Such is life. I can't let it get me down though. I have been waiting for this trip for a while now and I am determined to have fun and enjoy this adventure. An adventure it will be as well. I don't have all my hotels booked, so I will be winging it some of the time. I haven't been practicing my Japanese like I should either so I will be a little rusty.

I will take the BART tomorrow to the Airport to save a few bucks. I haven't taken Bart to SFO before so that should be interesting. Then I have a 12 hour flight to Tokyo. Once I arrive, it will be fun finding my bag, renting a cell phone, getting my Rail Pass, finding my way on the Train to my Ryokan in Ueno area, changing trains along the way, etc.

Once I finally get to my room on Friday night, I think I will pass out. :) hahaha.

Wish me luck!

Travel Delays

Wow, Thailand is in pretty bad shape right now. The majority of the middle class in Thailand is protesting against the government and has taken over the the major airports in Bangkok and shut them down for a week now. This has caused an amazing amount of damage to the country, not to mention my travel plans.

I have finally booked new travel at an additional cost and a two week delay, but never-the-less, I will be going on vacation! My new itinerary is as follows:

I depart SFO on December 11th
Arriving in Tokyo on December 12th

I hope to hop on a train as soon as possible and head south to perhaps Hiroshima or maybe even Fukuoka and work my way back. I would like to stop by Himeji, Osaka, Kyoto, and Shizuoka. I hope to find at least one or two nice onsen along the way.


Once back in Tokyo I plan on going to Harajuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Imperial Palace, Roppongi, and Yokohama. I am looking forward to meeting some great people, having Christmas in Tokyo, and having a party with friends on the 26th.

I depart Tokyo on December 29th for Bangkok and arrive that night.
On the 30th I will make my way to Koh Samui for some Island fun and plan to be there for New Years.

Then I will take a boat to Koh Tao for more island fun and then Scuba lessons.

Around the 7th of January, I will make my way back to Bangkok for some sightseeing until the 12th when I return to SFO.

It should be a great trip and I am really looking forward to it. I hope Thailand can get itself back in shape soon.