Well, here's a quick post to prove I'm still alive and to share with you what I have been investing a lot of time into lately. I have been busy readying my CMS Odeebo (after yet another structural redesign) for my latest project. A resource for learning Japanese I have named Tasty Miso. It's essentially a blog but will provide lessons, reviews and so on. I'm in the process of adding some nice features to the site such as image commenting so I have plenty to keep me busy.

I did consider posting more Japanese related posts here on this blog but I didn't really want to overrun the blog with Japanese related stuff but have finally realised a separate blog just for that works out well.

Although much research into Japan had taught me a great deal, for some reason, nobody ever bothered to mention escalators. I travelled through France, a man rushed up the escalators exclaiming "excusez moi!" and I obediently moved aside to let him pass as did others on the moving stairs.

I'm in Japan, I encounter my first escalator. "Don't stand next to me" my girlfriend said. Dazed and confused after sleep depravation I replied "Huh?". What had I done wrong? "Stand in front of me" she said. "Hm", I thought, there is no one behind me or in a rush, does she not want me to stand next to her? I had to ask "Why am I standing in front of you?". "We do this in Japan". Sure enough there was much truth in her reply. Generally without fail and irregardless of if there are but three people on an escalator and no danger of anyone rushing past. Most Japanese people kindly stand to one side of the escalator to let passers by, well, pass by. More...

One of most surreal experiences I had when visiting Japan was the strong feeling of déjà vu when looking at an area I had never been to before.

It happened an hour or so after a train journey from the airport. My girlfriend was taking me somewhere, I didn't ask where. I was left feeling too zombie like after the flight to be able to think properly. After arriving at the destination, taking some steps and walking out onto a street. I had a feeling of déjà vu and exclaimed "Hey, I recognise this place, isn't your house in that direction?". A good many months ago I had spent a few hours every now and then looking at the area my girlfriend lives in. I found it rather interesting being able to do a virtual tour of Japan in this way. More...

Well after my two weeks and two days in Japan I'm back in England and arrived on the 25th August at around 8AM. The jet lag is mostly gone but I'm still not used to the climate. I remember when I first arrived in Japan I thought the airport was incredibly stuffy. It was a clingy type of heat that you could almost swallow. It felt quite uncomfortable to breath. I decided to go outside the airport to get some fresh air. That's when a wall of heat much warmer and much more stuffy than the one inside the airport hit me. That was probably my first surprise. It was almost similar to being in a sauna. I wanted to go somewhere cooler but it wasn't an option. You just have to endure it. After the first week of continually repeating "Wow, I can't believe how hot it is!" I began to get used to it. More...

At last, my chance to visit Japan (and my girlfriend) is here! Just about to set off to catch a plane at Birmingham International airport for 9:20AM. Off to Paris then on to Narita. I've never flown before so nothing like jumping in at the deep end with a 6,333 mile journey on my own.

Farewell!

When you see yourself visiting a foreign country sometime in the not so distant future you begin to ask yourself questions. Maybe questions related to small issues such as health insurance or finding your way around especially if the country in question speaks a language you are not too familiar with. After considering the many minor troubles that might arise it suddenly dawns on you that you may have overlooked something very important indeed, something big, huge in fact, something that might make or break your decision to depart from the sunny, hot shores of England.

"Where can I get a pint?"