It's been a hectic few days since we got back but I've finally found the time to sit down and think about how I can possibly sum up the past four weeks.
In a few words, it can be simply put as "the best marathon trip ever organised". I look back now on when I originally booked everything in, and I know that I didn't really make any definite plans on what I would do or what I wanted to see - I think doing most things on a spontaneous basis is what made it better. Instead of it being a "now what do we NEED to do today" it was more of a "what do we WANT to do today?".
I can't really say how it was per say. Anyone who has traveled overseas before can probably understand that the experience is your own and to try and share that with people back home is hard. All I will say is that the photo's don't do things justice. Multiply the "gee, that looks pretty" factor by a billion and then maybe, MAYBE, you'd be close to how it felt to see it all first hand.
That said, it was over all too soon. Already we're preparing to throw ourselves back into work (I have a performance on 5 April that I need to get ready for and Mark is back at work today) and adjust to normal life. The one thing I have found weird is talking entirely in English again. I had gotten used to using French and what little Japanese I know.
Inevitably I am already attempting to figure out when I can go again ;)
I hope you all enjoyed reading along with us. Its been fun, and its nice to have a record of our thoughts and travels. Already things are starting to fade in this goldfish memory of mine.
March 12, 2008
March 10, 2008
Tokyo Photos
Are here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/24532281@N04/sets/ - because there is too many to post in with whit notes below. There is three sets so far; the Shinkansen (super fast train), Kyoto Temples and Kyoto Rock Garden.
Also some of the shots are not pro work as I was getting a handle on the camera and what not, there is a few others as well that I need to resize and make smaller to they won't take forever to download to you!
We didn't get to go into the Imperial Palace in Kyoto as you need to apply for access.
And we didn't allow enough time to go see the Monkey Park and the bamboo forest, mainly because it takes 2 hours to get up to Kyoto, and we left Tokyo a tad too late.
The temples we saw were HUGE! They are all made of wood as well. You can't get into them so we just wandered around and took some pics and admired them. Here is one shot;
I liked the rock garden a lot, there was no grass there, it is all moss. There was a few cherry blossom's coming out as you can see, and there was some of what looked like conifers that had been trimmed to be just the main trunk with a little head of needles - very neat.
A sample shot;
And this is the Shinkansen - 2 and a bit hours to travel over 500kms, it was super fast;
Go check out the sets I posted above, they will be worth it I promise! :)
More stuff later.
Also some of the shots are not pro work as I was getting a handle on the camera and what not, there is a few others as well that I need to resize and make smaller to they won't take forever to download to you!
We didn't get to go into the Imperial Palace in Kyoto as you need to apply for access.
And we didn't allow enough time to go see the Monkey Park and the bamboo forest, mainly because it takes 2 hours to get up to Kyoto, and we left Tokyo a tad too late.
The temples we saw were HUGE! They are all made of wood as well. You can't get into them so we just wandered around and took some pics and admired them. Here is one shot;
I liked the rock garden a lot, there was no grass there, it is all moss. There was a few cherry blossom's coming out as you can see, and there was some of what looked like conifers that had been trimmed to be just the main trunk with a little head of needles - very neat.
A sample shot;
And this is the Shinkansen - 2 and a bit hours to travel over 500kms, it was super fast;
Go check out the sets I posted above, they will be worth it I promise! :)
More stuff later.
We're home!
Landed yesterday morning, as Tokyo is only 2 hours behind it was a minor time/sleep lag to deal with.
It is great to be home, back in my bed, catching up with friends and what not.
I have done about 4 loads of washing since I got back and cleaned the suit case out. Also I tried a few of the scotches I bought, they are delightful!
On the flip side, my fridge died yesterday morning, and due to the service centre stuffing around they can't fix it till tomorrow :(
I am just going through some of the Tokyo pics we took with the new Nikon and will upload them soon.
It is great to be home, back in my bed, catching up with friends and what not.
I have done about 4 loads of washing since I got back and cleaned the suit case out. Also I tried a few of the scotches I bought, they are delightful!
On the flip side, my fridge died yesterday morning, and due to the service centre stuffing around they can't fix it till tomorrow :(
I am just going through some of the Tokyo pics we took with the new Nikon and will upload them soon.
March 08, 2008
On the final stretch
A little over 6 hours till we leave Tokyo, and another 15 odd till the official end to The Holiday.
We have a heap of stuff we need to catch up on so expect some post home-arrival updates with pictures and stories and what not.
But for now we must go and pack and make sure we are not over the 42kg weight limit - we did need to go get some little wheely cases to take on the plane with a few bits and pieces ;)
We have a heap of stuff we need to catch up on so expect some post home-arrival updates with pictures and stories and what not.
But for now we must go and pack and make sure we are not over the 42kg weight limit - we did need to go get some little wheely cases to take on the plane with a few bits and pieces ;)
March 07, 2008
Midnight Snack Run: Tokyo edition!
There is something about walking around to the convenience store, buying noodles, cookies, nuggets and drinks and then coming back to the hotel room to consume it with an Asahi.
(It's 0130 here.)
So far we have wandered around Tokyo, specifically to Akihabara where all the electronics are (think Paddies markets for computers), and Harijuku where the alternative area of the city resides.
Both have been interesting and great to see, but nothing amazing - we had some high expectations which has kinda been the problem in most places that we have been (bar Paris).
Tomorrow we are going to head to Kyoto to check out the temples and whatever else we find. We also picked up a Nikon D60 DSLR yesterday which will get it's first workout on the day trip so expect some snazzy pics! :)
(It's 0130 here.)
So far we have wandered around Tokyo, specifically to Akihabara where all the electronics are (think Paddies markets for computers), and Harijuku where the alternative area of the city resides.
Both have been interesting and great to see, but nothing amazing - we had some high expectations which has kinda been the problem in most places that we have been (bar Paris).
Tomorrow we are going to head to Kyoto to check out the temples and whatever else we find. We also picked up a Nikon D60 DSLR yesterday which will get it's first workout on the day trip so expect some snazzy pics! :)
March 04, 2008
FYI my phone does not work in Japan!
If you need to call me then please call Danica.
For family matters call my Mum as she has Danica's number (only if it is urgent).
Otherwise just drop me an email.
For family matters call my Mum as she has Danica's number (only if it is urgent).
Otherwise just drop me an email.
OK, all the pictures from Paris have been sorted and uploaded. There are too many to put here, so I have uploaded them to my photobucket account for y'all.
Password is 'paris'.
http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b353/nytevision/Paris/
Had a wonderful long weekend in Vaxjo, Sweden with Jason and Mikki and their little girl Ella. Did some nice relaxing bike riding, got to see some of the local sights, ate excellent food and generally chilled out and recovered from what has been a marathon holiday so far.
The flight to Tokyo was pretty good. Japan Airlines seem to have figured out that your economy class travelers deserve a little comfort too - and that perhaps implementing the use of ergonomics in the design of their airline chairs isnt such a bad move.
Another big timezone shift, but this means we are all the more closer to our own home timezone. Its 3.20am now and we are both awake and excited - waiting for the rest of the city to wake up so we can go out and explore it.
Password is 'paris'.
http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b353/nytevision/Paris/
Had a wonderful long weekend in Vaxjo, Sweden with Jason and Mikki and their little girl Ella. Did some nice relaxing bike riding, got to see some of the local sights, ate excellent food and generally chilled out and recovered from what has been a marathon holiday so far.
The flight to Tokyo was pretty good. Japan Airlines seem to have figured out that your economy class travelers deserve a little comfort too - and that perhaps implementing the use of ergonomics in the design of their airline chairs isnt such a bad move.
Another big timezone shift, but this means we are all the more closer to our own home timezone. Its 3.20am now and we are both awake and excited - waiting for the rest of the city to wake up so we can go out and explore it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)