I'm sorry it's been so long since I've updated this, I kept hanging on as I was hoping to add photos at the same time but I've had a lot of trouble getting that sorted so I think I'm just going to have to wait and paint you a picture in words instead [insert alternative cliche of choice here]. So I've now reached New Zealand and it feels a little strange to be in a country so similar to home; I can't believe I can actually communicate with people (albeit people with funny accents) and there are so many Brits on my Kiwi Bus, in fact it's pretty much all Brits.

Japan was such an incredible country. I left Osaka early the day after I got there so I didn't get to see much of the city, but where we went was even better! My second night in Japan saw our tour group lodging in a temple with some nice monk hosts who cooked us a delicious vegetarian meal (I can't believe I said that. I mean I even enjoyed tofu the way they cooked it). At first I was a little worried about the assumed frugality of monk accommodation, but once I discovered the heated toilet seat my fears abated. There was one Hawaiian (sp?) monk who drank into the early hours of the morning with us (a mixture of beer, whiskey and sake, mmm) and seemed to regret it when we saw him at prayers at 6am the next day. The monastery was in Koyasan, a town on the top of a mountain that was really beautiful; the train and funicular journies up showed us some of the best of Japanese scenery.

After the monastery we headed to Hiroshima on the bullet train, my first experience of many of this world famous transport. The trains really are brilliant, apart from the 60 second rush when you try to drag your massive rucksack aboard before the doors shut: they leave on time, every time, and there's more foot space and reclining options than an aeroplane - it's so much more comfortable. In Hiroshima we took a day trip to the stunning Miyajima Island which featured some wild deer and a mountain which I wisely chose not to climb. Of course a visit to Hiroshima wouldn't be complete without seeing the Peace Park which was extremely touching. The A-Bomb dome was incredible to see, being the only building within the immediate radius of the bomb that survived, and the museum featured some really harrowing stories which really left me in two minds over the act which ended the Second World War.

Next stop was Kyoto, the imperial captial, where we saw a lot of trainee geishas on the street in their kimonos. A standout moment was seeing some members of my group stop some kimono-clad girls to ask for directions on the street. It made a great photo! Being in Kyoto meant seeing a lot more temples etc. I'm a little ashamed to say that after a while one temple blends into another, especially when they don't even let you take any photos inside. Still, I felt pretty cultured by the time we moved on to Hakone!

Hakone is a popular holiday destination just outside the bustle of Tokyo, with lots of viewing points for Mount Fuji. We managed to spot the mountain from the train but unfortunately by the time we got to Hakone it was living up to its reputation as the shyest mountain in the world, being characteristically shrouded in cloud. Hakone also has sulphuric springs and pools and I was even convinced to eat an egg cooked there in the eggy smell since it claimed to add 7 years to your life! We went from Hakone to Tokyo, where I only spent one night, but still saw some key palces such as Harajuku and Shibuya where the world famous street crossing is (the one Oxford Circus's new arrangement is modelled on) and some key people (met up with Emily Finch from back in good old Orpington whose knowledge of Japanese was so helpful!). We also celebrated Siri's 20th birthday in Tokyo which was a lot of fun - before we got an early train from Hakone, we both got up at 6am for a naked dip in the onsens, the natural hot springs!

It was a shame not to see more of Tokyo, but I was glad to arrive in Auckland and spend a couple of days with Janine, Allan, Lesley, Sebastian and Amanda, members of my long lost family on the Scottish side. Those days of recuperation were much needed and very much appreciated! Then I started my Kiwi Experience bus today from Auckland, the first stop being the Bay of Islands in the very North of the North island. The beaches are beautiful here but it's not quite warm enough for a swim! I walked up a hill to see the nice view which constituted my exercise for the day. Tomorrow I will go back to Auckland and stay a couple of nights in the city, as I haven't really seen it yet, before commencing my journey South across New Zealand.

Both my phones are working here and I should be able to check my email/facebook regularly so please do all keep in contact as I am not hearing from people so regularly now and I miss you all still! Best wishes from the other side of the world (where covering the election was much easier seeing as I wasn't asleep)!