Hi Guys, well I was intending to blog before I left Japan but I have been in Australia a week & a half since then. Japan was awesome & would recommend anyone to go there, I certainly did not see everything & would like to go back there in the future.

In Kyoto I spent time in a typical fashioned Japanese guesthouse with sliding doors/sleeping on floor - that was brilliant, also went to the castle and Manga International Museum. Which is very different to what I've done and loved it - different from visiting temples. I was there the entire afternoon reading English Manga books. Really worried now that I am going to take it up as an obsession! After Kyoto I went onwards to Osaka (2nd largest city) which is similar to Tokyo with its bustling nightlife & happening citylife. In Osaka went to the aquarium (immense) & apparently the biggest ferris wheel in the world (where I was bricking myself when at the top). I decided to go down to Hiroshima to the A bomb memorial park/museum - it was certainly eye-opening! Why would anyone would want to make/test/drop WMDs is beyond me!?! Even though it was quite emotional in the morning I did visit Miyajima in afternoon which was lovely - felt magical with wandering Japanese deer on the streets, a shrine on the coastline (but looks in the middle of the sea).

I went back to Tokyo to visit Shaun (a friend from school), we visited a lot of places that I had already done but was willing to revisit again. Also saw some other parts of the city that I missed on my first visit. Had sushi a lot when Shaun arrived, although they are not as common as one would think in Japan. I have since seen so many more in Australia!! We then went onwards to a place called Nikko, which is well out in the sticks. However it was good to see a bit of rural Japan, they had a world heritage site - you know what that means - more TEMPLES!!! Although they were stunning in the surrounding mountains, but agian the weather was awful - just kept raining & raining, I have now purchased a pair of chopsticks for home & have mastered them after 6 weeks in HK & Japan - woohoo!

At the moment I am working my way South from Brisbane on the East coast. I know this is unusual as most backpackers work there way North - to keep up with the warm weather! Its like being a deranged bird flying the opposite way to everyone else, at least I do not have a problem with transport. Stayed in Brisbane for 4 nights, stayed at a place called BASE where its constant partytime. It's a cool city with plenty on offer there with even a fake beach by the river. Also could not leave without a tour of the XXXX beer factory. Since Brisbane have been stopping off on beaches - Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour & now Port Macquarie. My particular favorite was Byron Bay it had a certain atmosphere, really easy to chill there for days. Today went to a Koala hospital, they were so cute although obviously they had stuff wrong with them. Future plans is to travel down to Sydney via one more stop then visit some relatives in Penrith. Keep you updated next time, I hope everyone is well!!