Ruth you should do some travelling. i found that people from different cultures tend to be far more tolerant and understanding of people not being clued into their cultural faux pais. i spent years in america and found the people far less judgmental and opinionated then the English, just don't talk politics and you would be fine in America. English people tend to be so critical of Americans even the expat comunity don't understand them and i became a sort of outcast in the expat community, kind of a mutual thing, because i socialized and hung out mainly with Americans.
travel broadens the mind and seeing life from a different perspective gives you a more three dimensional view of everything.
Travelling
Moderator: Moderator Team
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Walltowall
- Getting settled in
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 1:07 am
Hi everyone,
Apologies about the hiatus, but internet access has either been patchy or I've been short on time, where e-mails and blog have to take precedence!
I've made it to the ends of the Earth (well one of them at least) being in Vladivostok on the far side of Russia. Tomorrow I'm taking the ferry to Japan. I must say after about a month in Russia I'm pleased enough to be moving on! It's not been a bad country, but I came here primarily for the journey and it's not a terribly exciting country generally, whereas I'm really looking forward to the rollercoaster ride of culture-shock that Japan will undoubtedly provide.
The trans-siberian has certainly been quite an experience. I've generally been lumped with a compartment full of Russians who almost never speak a word of English, but on the long three day journey I took across a great lump of Siberia I met some Americans and Danes in the restaurant car which really help liven up the trip. Needless to say much vodka was drunk and time passed remarkably quickly.
So yeah, things are going fine and it'll be good to move on and see what Japan holds in store.
Dan.
Apologies about the hiatus, but internet access has either been patchy or I've been short on time, where e-mails and blog have to take precedence!
I've made it to the ends of the Earth (well one of them at least) being in Vladivostok on the far side of Russia. Tomorrow I'm taking the ferry to Japan. I must say after about a month in Russia I'm pleased enough to be moving on! It's not been a bad country, but I came here primarily for the journey and it's not a terribly exciting country generally, whereas I'm really looking forward to the rollercoaster ride of culture-shock that Japan will undoubtedly provide.
The trans-siberian has certainly been quite an experience. I've generally been lumped with a compartment full of Russians who almost never speak a word of English, but on the long three day journey I took across a great lump of Siberia I met some Americans and Danes in the restaurant car which really help liven up the trip. Needless to say much vodka was drunk and time passed remarkably quickly.
So yeah, things are going fine and it'll be good to move on and see what Japan holds in store.
Dan.
sounds fab, really appreaciate hearing your news. Any chance you might take in some of their gardens whist in Japan? If I went or rather when I go? I intend to spend some time in their historic gardens.
Vladivostoc ay! you can now 'say when I was in vledivostoc.....'
Cumbria was gorgeous - beautiful place.
Roll on woolacombe whoop!!
Keep sending the news xx
Vladivostoc ay! you can now 'say when I was in vledivostoc.....'
Cumbria was gorgeous - beautiful place.
Roll on woolacombe whoop!!
Keep sending the news xx
Hi everyone!
I'm enjoying Japan a LOT at the moment! Unfortunately I'm here during the wet month of the year, although it's drizzle rather than Indian monsoon. I'm in Tokyo and I reckon I can quite easily spend a good while here without any problem. There are several areas of interest that comprise the city centre and I feel that after four or five days I've only just scraped the surface. I'm taking it easy though, and enjoying the place rather than doing any intensive sightseeing.
I've realised that I don't think I've linked through to my photo website, which features my favourite photos from the trip so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eurobahn/sets
Let me know what you think!
Dan.
I'm enjoying Japan a LOT at the moment! Unfortunately I'm here during the wet month of the year, although it's drizzle rather than Indian monsoon. I'm in Tokyo and I reckon I can quite easily spend a good while here without any problem. There are several areas of interest that comprise the city centre and I feel that after four or five days I've only just scraped the surface. I'm taking it easy though, and enjoying the place rather than doing any intensive sightseeing.
I've realised that I don't think I've linked through to my photo website, which features my favourite photos from the trip so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eurobahn/sets
Let me know what you think!
Dan.
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Walltowall
- Getting settled in
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 1:07 am
As regards toilets I'm taking photos of all the rooms I'm staying in on my trip as I noticed especially for the Russian hotels that decent photos online were often lacking. Likewise a few people wondered about the state of the toilets on Russian trains, and they do vary! In contrast Japanese thrones have a great set of controls on an armrest although I've no idea what most of them do!
Aside from that though the toilet humour of the site is limited! I've just been uploading some photos of temples and neon streets in Tokyo for a bit of contrast. Part of the area I went today apparantly inspired Bladerunner! I've have to track down that area on another day, and preferably early on in the evening before too many dodgy characters appear on the streets! On the whole though Tokyo's an exceptionally clean city; there's even signs stuck to the pavement asking pedestrians not to smoke on the streets!
Aside from that though the toilet humour of the site is limited! I've just been uploading some photos of temples and neon streets in Tokyo for a bit of contrast. Part of the area I went today apparantly inspired Bladerunner! I've have to track down that area on another day, and preferably early on in the evening before too many dodgy characters appear on the streets! On the whole though Tokyo's an exceptionally clean city; there's even signs stuck to the pavement asking pedestrians not to smoke on the streets!
Had a rather dyspraxic day trapsing around a Japanese temple and shrine complex today to the north of Tokyo. There was lots of steps, different levels, raised thresholds and taking shoes on and off that all in all made me feel really clumsy. I'm fine going upstairs but down - argh - it's a different story and I'm so slow, especially when my brain can't easily work out the different steps and depths, seeming to think that the world is a lot more 2-dimensional than it actually is! I had a good time though, and took some nice photos I think (will be checking them shortly), although somehow I managed to lose the LCD cover for my camera which is a real pain, so I'm going to head to the shops tomorrow to get a replacement. At least being in Japan getting replacement accessories for Nikon cameras shouldn't be that difficult 
I'm currently heading north from Tokyo, aiming to reach the northern island of Hokkaido in the few days. I'm using my Japan Rail Pass now so it's bullet trains all the way.
I'm in Sendai at the moment, where the local delicacy is calves tongue, which I am proud to say I tried for dinner this very evening. I also took a boat trip across a bay that looks out into the Pacific - my first time I'm face to face with this mighty Ocean, as officially I suppose Vladivostok looks into the Sea of Japan. I could have contemplated how many thousands of miles it was to the next landfall, but I was too busy admiring the splenid islands that are dotted throughout the bay. I also visited the one-time dwelling of a samurai which is about as Japanese as it comes!
I'm in Sendai at the moment, where the local delicacy is calves tongue, which I am proud to say I tried for dinner this very evening. I also took a boat trip across a bay that looks out into the Pacific - my first time I'm face to face with this mighty Ocean, as officially I suppose Vladivostok looks into the Sea of Japan. I could have contemplated how many thousands of miles it was to the next landfall, but I was too busy admiring the splenid islands that are dotted throughout the bay. I also visited the one-time dwelling of a samurai which is about as Japanese as it comes!
My cousin Mark only taught me three things about life before going to teach aikido in Ethopia.
The second of these was that wherever you are the the world, however terrible, however shitty, there is always a McDonalds. And that McDonalds will always have clean toilets. Especially the disabled ones, where there is also room for your backpack.
The second of these was that wherever you are the the world, however terrible, however shitty, there is always a McDonalds. And that McDonalds will always have clean toilets. Especially the disabled ones, where there is also room for your backpack.
