Jul 2007

Argh - my legs are still shaking, but my stomach has finally settled down - We went to the Umeda Sky Building today, 39 floors in a glass lift then 5 more with escalator and staris, stairs weren7t bad but escalator was encased in glass and went diagonally across the building with nothing below - think the arc de triomphe, paris, but on a huge modern scale. will upload some pics later.

ＯＫ，　ｆｉｒｓｔｌｙ　Ａｌｉｓｏｎ　ｗｒｏｔｅ　ｍｙ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｂｌｏｇ　ｅｎｔｒｙ。Ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｒｅｅ　ｄａｙｓ　ｎｏｗ，　ｓｔａｒｔｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｕｓｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｅａｔ，　ｎｏｔ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ．　Ｖａｒｉｏｕｓ　ｓｔｒａｎｇｅｒｓ　ｈａｖｅ　ｓｐｏｋｅｎ　ｔｏ　ｕｓ，　ｓｏｍｅ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｌｙ，　ｏｔｈｅｒｓ　ｍｅｎｔａｌ，　ｏｎｅ　ｓｏｒｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｒｅａｔｅｎｉｎｇ．　Ａｌｉｓｏｎ　ｇｏｔ　ｓｈｏｕｔｅｄ　ａｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｓｈｏｗｅｒｉｎｇ　ｗｒｏｎｇ．　Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｃａｌｌｅｄ　ａ　Ｖｉｋｉｎｇ．　Ｆｏｏｄ　ｉｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｏｄ，　ｂｕｔ ｓｔｒａｎｇｅ，　ｈａｒｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｕｙ．．．　ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｍｅｌｏｎ　ｆｌａｖｏｕｒ　ｍｉｌｋ　ｔｏｄａｙ，and also tried a Japanese Mcdonalds... itsnot what you think, they sold teriyaki burgers.

we have been to den den town which is electric district plus has a transformers shop, osaka castle which is a museum, various gambling / shopping districts, including america town where we bought alison a hat, i wanted a shirt but pricey but did get a basic japanese suit, and this morning went to umeda sky building in town centre. baths are a menace but getting used to everything.

just to let you know that all is well. will leave a longer message later。

Because we'll see different things here's my thought up to now: 1. I am very happy, 2. Osaka is huge, loud, busy-ish, full of bikes, humid and hot (dubai at 2am was 35c though) streets are odd, different to home and full of food sellers, fishy smells　and bright lights. Room is Japaness basically a cupboard with a 2 matresses and a telly.Its awsome compared to the (admittedly fanteastic) plane - its great to lie down (just). People are really greatful great to lie down (just). People are really greatful, signs are not. Bathtime.go down stairs in robe. strip behind curtain. enter bathroom containing several nude men, one curtain. enter bathroom containing several nude men, one in bath, one in several nude men, one in bath, one in (possible) sauna, one washing, squatting by a little shower. wash. panic. leave.

well were finally here - although the journey wasn't great! We stayed in the Sofitel hotel at LGW to ensure that we were at the airport on time. On Saturday we checked in by 11.30 only to be told the flight was delayed until 15:00. So we hung around for ages playting cards etc. Finally boarded plane and left at 16:00 - but this meant our chsngeover in Dubai was neat (we had to make a run for it so saw very little of the airport but know its was very busy and really long)Flights were good but very long.Got to Osaka at 5pm ish and flew in and out of airport then got train to Hotel-although the instuctions to this weren't very good! But its clean and tidy. However there are strict bath times for men and women.