Kyoto 14/11/08 - 19/11/08After another short Shinkansen ride (525 km's in about 3 hours), we arrived at Kyoto station. Kyoto is the Japan before the bombings of the war, with 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 1600 temples and over 400 shrines. Our first impression was drawn from the very modern steel and glass structured station with a huge atrium, 7th floor skywalk and 15th floor observation level. When we first arrived we found our way to the Nijo station and our...

Tokyo - Monday 10th - Wednesday 12th NovemberWe catch the speedy Shinkansen to Okayama, and walk quickly down the road to have a look at the black castle and its gardens, before jogging back to the station to meet a friend from home - we've arranged to meet Gaz, who has been living up in the hills near Okayama for the last few months.Gaz looks a lot thinner than the last time I saw him back in Wolverhampton, and now has long, wild hair and a beard, but seems happ...

Hiroshima 7/11/08 - 9/11/08 We covered the 350km to Hiroshima in about 2 hours including 4 stops along the way. The bullet trains were not only lovely to look at (if you like looking at trains that is), but very fast, efficient and had the, what we now know as typical, Japanese customer service. This even went as far as the ticket inspector bowing every time he left the carriage. These trains had 20 carriages on but he never missed a bow every time he left even ...

Osaka 4/11/08 - 7/11/08 The 3.30am wake up call was hard work but we were both excited about the Japan trip so we didn't mind too much and the train ride into Sydney airport was uneventful. There could have been a whole host of interesting things happening but due to our 'lack of sleep' induced coma we can't remember anything other than it getting gradually lighter and us getting gradually more awake.It was 6am by the time we got to the airport and first encount...

Back in Bangkok.For the last time, honest - Wednesday 13th February We complete a whistle-stop tour of all the best souvenir shops, and Dave gets last minute alterations made to his swanky new tailored suit before spending the rest of the evening trying to work out how to fit it into his rucksack. We say our goodbyes to Bangkok and head to the airport, possibly more excited than toddlers in Hamleys...