Category Archives: Uncategorized

Today I move further south onto Kyushu Island to visit Nagasaki. Catch the bullet train to Hakata Where I change over to a normal train running at mortal speeds for the rest of the way. I was excited about crossing over to another island via the train but it happened without me even knowing. TheContinue reading “SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER – Hiroshima to Nagasaki”

It’s just after 8 o’clock in the morning. You and your family are readying for another day. There’s a flash of intense light that catches everyone’s attention, followed by sound and wind. You are over a kilometer from detonation so you and your family survive the mysterious blast, but your house flies apart. You thinkContinue reading “SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER – Hiroshima”

I’m excited today because I get to ride on a bullet train for the first time. I’m leaving g Tokyo for Hiroshima. With my pre-paid rail pass I simply reserve a seat on one of the many express trains that will go this way each day. Tokyo station is an experience in itself. It’s enormous.Continue reading “FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER – Tokyo to Hiroshima”

I’m still exhausted from yesterday’s effort so it’s an easy day today. I catch a train to the Tokyo Skytree Centre. The Skytree is very new and is a tall tower structure that performs mainly as a communication tower but has resturaunts and shops associated. It’s an impressive bit of engineering and lights up beautifullyContinue reading “THURSDAY 9 OCTOBER – Tokyo”

There are some options for day trips outside of Tokyo. With my prepaid rail pass we visit Kamakura, which is an ancient city on the coast in Tokyo Bay about an hour by train. Kamakura is considered the birthplace of the samurai way of life. My handy guide book explains “Minamoto no Yoritoma, Japan’s firstContinue reading “WEDNESDAY 8 OCTOBER – Kamakura and Yokohama”

The sun is still out and its a pleasant 24 degrees around Tokyo city today. We venture into the city again to one of Tokyo’s landmarks, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Its double towers and complex of buildings on the ground make it a formidable structure. The main reason for coming here is to visitContinue reading “TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER – Tokyo”

The typhoon hits Tokyo early this morning and the rain is coming down. There is some wind where I am but not too much. The city seems to be going about its usual business. The forecast for sunshine this afternoon looks highly improbable from this part of the day but surprisingly its correct. The rainContinue reading “MONDAY 6 OCTOBER – Tokyo”

It’s raining in Tokyo. There is a typhoon approaching despite the forecasts were saying no rain until Monday. The streets are filled with people and umbrellas as they go about their Sunday. Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan area in the world with a population of about 13 million people. I’m located in the eastern partContinue reading “SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER – Tokyo”

The day is taken up with preparing for flying and dealing with airports. It’s only a short flight but it takes up much of the day. But first a coconut and mangoes on the beach. It’s so hot and muggy. Already there are thunderstorms shaping. It really beautiful and peaceful on the water here. ArriveContinue reading “THURSDAY 2 OCTOBER – Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City”

Still suffering from a stomach bug, not from food I think but just something going around. It would be very easy for viruses to spread here on the streets, especially when eating street food. To maximize my health for Japan I spend most if the day in bed. Food is no motivation for getting outContinue reading “FRIDAY 3 OCTOBER – Ho Chi Minh City”