As Promised

As I promised in my post before last, I'll start doing weekly posts on what I'm doing and where I'm going on my trip. I can't guarantee that it'll be on the same day every week, because my work schedule differs every week and most of the time I can't be bothered to write.
So today I'm just going to recap my plan :).

At the moment I am looking at a flight with Air China from London Gatwick to Tokyo via Beijing for about £545.00. I want to find out what kind of layover time I'll have, because if I can I'll go and explore some of Beijing. I'd love to film it, but I'm also terrified of being arrested for it!!

So by the 1st of June 2011 I should be landing in Tokyo, probably jet-lagged, grouchy and confused. I think I'll be losing a day flying out, so that'll take some getting used to.
For the first week, I'll be trying to get to grips with Japan in Tokyo. I think this is when I'm going to do more of the touristy stuff there is to do in the city.
A week later I'll be catching a night bus over to Nara city for a week there. I'm really excited about seeing the huge park, the tame deer and the daibutsu!!
Of course after a week there it is time to move on again, heading only a short way over to Kyoto. I haven't actually done a huge amount of reading up on Kyoto yet, but I know it was the old Imperial capital and is full of history.
Another short journey takes me only a few miles to Osaka, Japan's second city. Lots to do here, both modern and historical. Should be good.
After touring around that area of Japan, I have a slightly longer journey over to Kobe. Voted the world's best place to live, I'd like to see for myself. Who knows, I might even settle there one day.
The tour now brings me further south to Hiroshima, the city famous for being hit by an atomic bomb in 1945. Of course I want to visit the Peace Park in Hiroshima, but as I'm there for a week, I'll be doing a lot more as well.
And now I head down to Fukuoka, the closest city to mainland Asia. Smaller in comparison to other places, it stills looks very interesting, and I think there is a castle there too (forgive me if I'm wrong, I'm not lookiung this up as I write).
After Fukuoka for a week, I'm jetting all the way back up to Tokyo for a final week, this time to "live" Tokyo, rather than to see it. I'll be heading off the beaten track much more, and possibly heading out to the island of Niijima during this week too.

Now many of you may be thinking that a week in each place is a lot of time to see the attractions! However, this is after all a sort of holiday, so I'm going to be taking things slowly, relaxing more and having more fun. I'll be able to see past the tourist board and to what the city is really all about, I hope anyway.

I should be ending my trip mid-August, and then almost immediately starting university. I cannot wait for either, but I have a little way to go yet.

Until next time,
~GA

General

This is not a Japan related blog. Quite the opposite.

So today I had to work until 8pm to service the needs of the busy january sales shoppers. God I hate them so much. Anyway, towards the end of the shift, I got a message from a friend, quite unexpectedly, asking to meet after work. So we did and just drove around in the foggy darkness of a dirty English town. It was nice. Over the past few days I haven't thought of Japan as much. Either my mind has been elsewhere or I've simply been too busy at the shop to think about it. So I've had a good day really, though very tired. My next post will be Japan related, I promise.


'Til next time
~GA

Back on topic

I feel that over the last few weeks, since I've been planning my videos and whatnot, I have gone hugely off topic with this blog. It was supposed to start as an outline of my trip. So now I'm going to get back on track, and start posting a weekly part of my plan, in as much detail as I can get. It'll be good to see the difference between my plan and what I do.
~GA

Short n sweet

A short and sweet message to my followers, wishin you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Bring on 2011, should be sweet!
~GA

New video

Today I posted a new video for all of you to see. Use the above link to view it. Unfortunately it is just a repost of my first video, but I edited it, added titles and music and took off the crappy sound from the original. My apologies to any viewers in Germany, as copyright under Sony BMG Entertainment means it is blocked in your country. Everyone else, enjoy :).


'Til next time
~GA

Coming Soon!

Hey folks, a quick update that I have several videos in planning, to be filmed through January. So please keep an eye out on my YouTube channel (that's at www.youtube.com/user/GaijinAbroad) in the New Year for the first of my many videos!

Later!
~GA

Nothingness

I have nothing really to write at the moment, but I want to right. Today I have done very little, and even less that is productive. Didn't get up until 12.15pm. Went to town and did very little there. Went to the pub. Then I came home and did nothing productive. It's now 23.44, meaning I have essentially wasted another 12 hours by doing nothing. I think I need a new hobby, one away from Japan or any form of internet. Suggestions?

Skype

In an attempt to spread into every major internet based social thing, I now have a skype dedicated to this whole thing.
Username is Gaijin.Abroad, feel free to add me and we'll chat.

Until next time,
~GA

Youtube2

As you should know, I'm going to be doing some videos on my trip for youtube. And I'm also thinking now, seeing as I have a camera and I want to get this thing rolling, I might do some pre-trip videos. And thus begins GaijinAbroad's Pre-Trip Series!! Part 1 is already uploaded onto youtube, albeit unedited and untitled as what it is. So aside from a general vlog I might do, I want to do some trips to related places in the New Year. So first off, I'm going on a trip to Picadilly, London, to the Japan Center, on Regent Street.

Secondly, I'm having some trouble figuring what I can and can't put in my videos with regard to music. I don't know how the whole copyright, buy on itunes etc. stuff works. So if anyone knows, hit me up and help me out!!

Until next time,
~GA

The Snow is Gone (B.B. king Xmas remix)

Okay no this post isnt a remix of any song. More just that finally all the snow is gone. It's not that I dont like the snow, just that the UK is completely incapable of functioning at all when it snows, even if it's only a little bit. All transport shuts down, the shops empty of essential food and businesses before workless. This is the 3rd year in a row now that the snow has stopped the country. Aah do something about it! Here, we'll all give you a year to figure out something.


'Til next time
~GA

Clean living

I think my time time in Japan will be my moat healthy. I don't smoke or do drugs, but As my friends know, I drink an eat crap. But when I'm away I'm going to be avoiding junk food like McDonald's and Burger King. I don't want to travel 6000 miles just to eat what I can have at home. And as the drinking age in Japan is 20, I won't be drinking either. Shock horror!! That and the fact that I'll be active everyday all day, not wasting any time sitting around, I'll be super healthy!
My body is going to tale a beating come September and university.


Until next time
~GA

New Video Cameraaaaa!

Yes, so I got my new video camera today, a blue Sony DCRSX33EL.CEH, along with a case and an 8gb memory card. HOWEVER, it's for Christmas, and I'm not allowed it until then :(. Still, after Christmas I'll post a test video of myself to check it's youtube quality!!

http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Camcorders/buy-SONY-DCRSX33EL.CEH-Camcorder/619175

Until next time,
~GA

All work and no play makes GA a dull boy

Having had my plans last week ruined by the snow, I decides it was time to have some fun and spend some money. So I had a work Christmas party over the weekend which was good, then went to visit a friend at the University of Kent in Canterbury. About time I did something fun.

Until next time
~GA

New Competition

The Japan National Tourist Organisation is running yet another competition through seejapan.co.uk. Again it is a pair of London-Tokyo economy tickets with JAL. For more information and to enter, here's a link: http://www.visitjapan2010.co.uk/great-japan-prizes/
You can also win flat screen TVs, Casio watches and vouchers for SO restaurant.

'Til next time
~GA

Niijima is back on the agenda

So after watching all of the StreetEnglishTV shows on youtube, one came up that I am definitely interested in: Niijima. I think I mentioned it in an earlier post, but I've looked into it a bit more and I'm coming round to the idea.
The boat to the island is only Y8000 (about £60), and accomodation is from Y5000 (about £38). So for a chance to go to a pacific tropical island that is part of Tokyo is too tempting to resist!

So what I reckon I'll do is spend just one night, but as much of the 2 days as I can out there during my 2nd week from Tokyo (the last week I'm in Japan). Considering my original plan months ago was to start off in Okinawa, this is a much cheaper and easier alternative.

til next time
~GA

Boycott the JR Pass!

Okay, don't fully boycott it, it is good for certain things. However, if you are undertaking a trip like I am, and are on a tight budget like I am, there is a better alternative. The bus!!

The Willer Express Bus Pass can be used on night and day journeys between most major cities, including Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe, Kyoto-Osaka and Tokyo.

For only Y14,000 the bus pass can be used for 5 non-consecutive days of your choice!! This bus pass ought to last me the whole trip for my major travels, so it is a great deal!

Til next time
~GA