admin
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Post by admin on Mar 27, 2008 10:17:44 GMT
Hey folks, Well, we've got our bags all packed, my laptop is set up and good to go (as well as laptops can that is, blasted things! hehe)... And we are off to Japan within the next 16 hours or so. I won't really have proper internet access for about a day or two (may have a little here and there) - but I will be using this thread as a kind of updates and communication kind of thing while I am there. (I'll still pop up now and again in other threads, and will check in to see whats going on as usual, but will be mostly leaving moderation, etc in the capable hands of Dan and our sub forum moderators). Ok, must go back over our pre travel checklist with Kana one more time, so will talk to you all again soon! ;D Thanks all! - Paul
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2008 12:11:43 GMT
You guys have a safe trip! And don't forget to post a lot of pictures!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2008 22:12:14 GMT
HAVE FUN!!!!!! get a nihonto while ur there =]
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2008 22:43:26 GMT
Take some good drugs before your flight, Paul! It'll help with the 11 hour plane ride! ;D I still have nightmares about that 14 hour flight from Honolulu to Brisbane when I was 13 years old! ;D
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Post by jpfranco on Mar 27, 2008 23:25:08 GMT
Safe and fun trip Paul. Enjoy!
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Post by themaster293 on Mar 28, 2008 2:22:07 GMT
It is less dangerous to fly then to drive! Have a safe trip.
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Post by salvatore on Mar 28, 2008 4:43:40 GMT
Hell no! Flying is bad! Lol. They always say that, it is safer to fly than to drive. This is true, but if something goes wrong, I am not going down thousands of feet! An irrational, yet rational fear! Safe trip Paul, and bring a katana, you haven't lived until you've killed a zombie on every continent,lol.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2008 7:21:47 GMT
Have fun paul!
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Post by rammstein on Mar 29, 2008 3:11:25 GMT
Remember to feed Puaul!
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admin
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Post by admin on Mar 30, 2008 11:47:03 GMT
Well, we made it there in one piece.. Hehe. I must admit I am something of a nervous flier, but statistically it is safer than driving a car - true enough that if something goes wrong, your pretty much stuffed - but then again, if you blow a tyre on a highway at speed - same kind of result... Anyway, am definitely having a ball - I really am in love with this country... Meals are delicious, very (very) fresh and at least half as expensive as in Australia (sometimes up to three or four times, but better quality!), the Japanese bath (O furo) is a heaven sent idea, complete immersion - and with temperature controls as standard - just turn on the tap... And yup - I am currently sitting on TATAMI - and unfortunately there is not a sword within reach (luckiest tatami in the world... Lol). Speaking of which, Katana are surprisingly rare and hard to get in Japan. I noted with interest the immigation card listed prohibited items as drugs, guns, explosives and swords! I would have taken a photo, though as fate would have it our camera has seized up and we can't take any photos until we buy another one... Anyway, will try to post a few snaps and give some more updates as I go. Very glad to be online again, at least one addiction has been dealt with - but I'm going to have to get a bokken or something soon... Chat to you all later! - Paul
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2008 14:36:27 GMT
Heh yeah from what i heard you can't really get a proper katana in Japan unless you're buying the real deal for few thousand. With swords, you can get a permission sometimes, when you're going to train in Japan or some competition ;D
I heard that ofuro water's temperature is quite high, am i right? Sounds scary to me >.< I'm not the kind of person who can stand high temperatures.
Ah, yeah, don't cut the poor tatami. Owners ( your wife's family i suppose ) would get angry ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2008 14:44:50 GMT
Nice to hear that you are enjoying yourself Paul! And boy I have to say that I envy you more than ever Paul, going to Japan is one of my dreams which I hope to fulfill someday. Now on to some more serious stuff, you muuuuuust take as many pictures as you can! . And you must eat as many Japanese dishes as possible and review them here, and if you get the chance to eat some otoro(fatest part of tuna) I hope you will write about how good it is in at least 100 words! ;D. What kind of trip is this? Just for fun or business related? Will you visit any weapon museums? Thanks and hope you will have a good time.
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Post by YlliwCir on Mar 30, 2008 20:17:06 GMT
Paul, you lucky, brother. My company sends people to Japan once in a while, maybe some day.... Here's one for you ;D; Have a good time, my friend.
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admin
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Post by admin on Apr 3, 2008 15:28:20 GMT
That about hits the nail on the head there Ric. Definitely having fun so far, it's not business related - just a chance for Lana and Kana to catch up with the rellies and her friends. And for me to help out, and have a bit of fun when I can. Speaking of which, here's a few snaps - more coming soon. The view from our apartment window. Sakura in full bloom everywhere, stunning... Yours truly feeding the Deer. Nara is famous for its Deer as shrine guardians. Cheeky buggers get too much free grub though - one of them had the audacity to headbutt baby lana in the leg when no food came from them...! And the obligitory Teriyaki burger photo!! Of course, I've been eating much more real Japanese food - but I have to have one of these everytime I am here, best thing Maccas ever did. More photos soon. - Paul
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2008 16:38:33 GMT
Paul, is there any chance that you will adopt a 19 year old Swedish guy? ;D. The Sakura('s?) looks amazing, and it's nice to hear your having a good time . More photos please!
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Post by themaster293 on Apr 3, 2008 18:30:51 GMT
That Mc Burger looks GOOD!
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Post by randomnobody on Apr 3, 2008 18:36:56 GMT
Looks like you're having a ball over there. Be sure to hit a few museums (that allow photos ) for us.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2008 17:50:02 GMT
Ahhhh, damn, that first photo with sakura all over the place made me want to be there so much ;D That was unfair of you, showing off xD Nah, seriously, glad to hear you're having fun out there, it certainly is good to have a break every once in a while.
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admin
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Post by admin on Apr 12, 2008 13:19:10 GMT
Well only a couple more days left in the trip... Haven't quite taken as many photos as I might have liked (anyone who has travelled with an 11 month old baby will know what I mean... Lol). But here's a few more to wrap things up: Out in the countryside by the Asuka tomb (around 1300 years old). Lots of Japanese sightseers were there taking photos of the Sakura in the hills. A SERIOUS bamboo forest. Got half the hillside cleared... Thirsty work! (and it helps that Kana is friends with a family who owns an Izakaya - Japanese food and drink house! We went there twice and they kept stuffing us with delicious food and giving me beer, and wouldn't let us pay for it!!). And for those fans of the Sakura (they are just about gone now, its a short but spectacular blooming affair!). Due to our jam packed schedule (Kana hasn't been back to Japan for about 5 years, so had a lot of people to catch up with) - I only managed to get to see some Shinken once - at the Kasuga Shrine Treasure House in Nara - where I saw some national treasures such as Yoroi and 1000+ year old Tachi mounted in the Kenukigata style... No photos though, because as is often the case in Japan, no photos are allowed of these kind of... Oh dear! As I am writing this Lana has fallen over in between the TV and the wall... Gotta go! (she's ok btw, just a small bruise!) - Paul
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2008 16:57:46 GMT
Hehe looks you had some fun there ;D Damn, sakura are really beatiful when blooming. Glad to hear your kid's ok.
Other than that, never thought about it before, but why photographing in sword museums is forbidden? Is there some worthwile reason to it or just because someone got the idea?
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