'Tokyo is a giant city of 5.3 bazillion people. Though it was largely decimated by American bombers during World War II, it has risen from the ashes and now boasts the highest number of giant television screens per square mile of any city in the world'* For such a large city, it has no discernible centre, and is best looked at as a number of different areas joined together by an extremely effective subway system. Each group has its own centre - Shibuya for teen...

Sydney was a chance for us to catch up with friends who have made the move to Sydney over the last few years, and also to stay with Sarah and Pete who moved out here in January and managed to get a house and some furniture, including a bed for us (but not for them!) just in time for our arrival from Queensland. We had a bit of a reunion with lots of ex-FSA staff at the Opera Bar on Friday night after work and it was fantastic to see everyone. Drinks turned ...

After hanging out with Dr Karl Kennedy until the early hours none of us were feeling particularly fresh when we got to Melbourne airport at 6 am on Tuesday morning. Jon had a slight panic when he couldn't see our 7.30am flight to Adelaide on the screen, but calmed down when we reminded him we were flying to Brisbane. Despite our weakened states, the good people at Jetstar thought we looked not only willing but able to sit in an exit row and we found ourselves i...

Australia is full of British backpackers. Always has been, and probably always will be. And the first thing most British backpackers want to do when they get to Melbourne is to go and see Ramsey Street, the home of the Neighbours we all grew up wanting to have. When I was younger, I wanted a Scott and Charlene to root for. I wanted Madge's shoulder to cry on. I wanted to play cricket in the street with Helen Daniels. I wanted to see Dr Karl if I was sick. I wan...

We left Chile on Thursday night, and arrived in New Zealand 15 hours later on Saturday morning - the international dateline is a crazy thing. We haven't been to New Zealand in a couple of years and in that time the war against fruit and vegetables has stepped up. There were more customs officers that passengers getting off the plane, and all were in search of one thing - the rogue South American apple or banana that has the potential to bring the entire country...