Japan

I have to say China was a struggle for me. I love travel and love to get really into the culture of the place I am visiting but after China I thought perhaps my travel days were over!

It was hard core, the spitting, line butting and smoking. I wasn't sure I really wanted to see much more of Asia. Plus I was getting excited about the next phase, starting my new job with RIM.

But the second I arrived in Tokyo I was refreshed. What an incredible city. With the most amazing people. I was staying in a really lovely guest house. Tiny, but that's Tokyo for you.

At the hostel I met a really lovely girl travelling with her dad. This was her first trip outside the US and we quickly bonded as I showed her the ropes of travelling. We headed out to Shinjuku which is the Times Square of Tokyo.

Tokyo was all lit for Christmas with a mix of Buddhist culture. You press a button on the light displays and it tells your future.

The next day I explored the temples in Tokyo. Again an amazing mixture of Buddhist culture. From the healing incents to the fortune sticks I really loved the atmosphere.

For those that heard that Japan was a crazy expensive city... yes it could get expensive and compared to the rest of Asia it is. However, there are plenty of inexpensive if not free things to do. Such as the view from the 47 floor of the Police office tower in the city. Where I was lucky enough to get the very few days of the year you can see Mt. Fuji.


Of course there are some must when in Japan. Sushi! I love sushi, so I had it for lunch and dinner 6 days in a row! As well as for breakfast at the fish market (more on that later).

Another is the "lifting stone". I heard about the stone on a Japanese News Show (think "Thank god you're here" or "Royal Canadian Airfarce") apparently you go to this rock and perform a few cleansing rituals then try to lift the heavy stone. Then you ask the stone a yes or no question and try to lift it again. If it is lighter than before is it a yes answer, heavier then a no. I travelled to this small neighbourhood, found the temple and the stone. I got a no answer :(

The imperial palace is another must do in Tokyo. It really is gorgeous and a lovely walk in the middle of the city, kind of like Central Park.

And last but not least, the fish market. The morning of my flight home I woke up at 3:30am to get to the fish market for the 4:30 Tuna Auction. This is a real market where 100kg Tuna's, fresh from the ocean and auctioned off to bidders from around the world.

After the auction I walked around and was spotted by a fish monger who immediately stopped his work to ask me about the sweater I was wearing. It was my Vancouver Olympics jumper. In very broken English he proceeded to explain that he and his new wife were heading to the Calgary Stampede for their honeymoon! Hey not my choice of romance but whatever :P. At this point we were now BBFs. He takes me to his stall and explains how to "fillet" (not sure the proper name) a tuna. Explaining how the belly is the fattest and best part, slicing a sliver off for me to try (yes at 5am in the morning).


Now righfully tired I head off to the airport for my trip home to Toronto! What an amazing trip!!!!

Here are a few stats from the past month and a half.

- 42 days
- 10 countries
- 2 hemispheres
- 7 time zones
- 7 flights
- 61 hours on trains
- 7 ferry's
- 35 nights in hostels
- 27158 km or 16876 miles
- 6 Pad Thais
- 8 Sushi meals in Tokyo
- 2.5 buckets of drink
- 3 stitches
- Hearing, Blue's "Too Close" a dozen times on the way to the Volcano in Bali
- one million fantastic memories

Next... mission 30 by 30 :)