Back from our tour

3000km through Ontarion and Quebec. Now we're back but no time so far for a recount, but there are plenty of fotos:

Ottawa and Ontario photos

Oh Canada....

I slept well in my in the basement room i got, spent my last money to get to Westminster, Elephant&Castle and for a steak pie with a half stout. I realize it has really been a long time since i have been the last time to London, and after so long a time in Tokyo this metropolis rather looks small as for the buildings as well as the dimension.
I am experiencing reverse culture shock, which isn't too surprising, but funny anyway to be enstranged by something you have known for your whole life. Here is a list:

• People are open and emotional.
• People are loud and noisy.
• People are dressed casually.
• Blond women catch my eye (especially my very own one...)
  
• There is so much more space, people blocking entrance/exit areas anywhay (just an international phenomenon)
  
• Eating with knife and spoon at every meal.
• Meals are large, and there is so much meat and no rice and I am having a hard time.
  
• Everyone speaks english.
• I have to think about how to do and say when I want to pay in a restaurant.
• You better tip.
• Waiters putting the change on the table rather carelessly. (Probably because off having forgot above)
• No shoes off/slippers on inside living spaces.
• So many really old houses..

The flight from London to Ottawa was very relaxed. Rather spacious seats, good meals, only no window at my seat, so i head to look out of the one to the front seat, and i could as there was now stupid shutting policy. More frozen landscapes. I saw the southern tip of Greenland, attached to an iceberg stiched polar sea, then the vast lands of New Foundland, patterned by frozen lakes, great, but couldnt take any pictures.

Now in Ottawa together with Kathi again. -4 degrees and lots of snow, and that where I just had welcomed spring temperatures.

Lift Off

Ok just a little update as i am now in London for some 24 hours, enough to make it to the center village and have some fish and chips and of course beer with nothing else going with it.
The flight would have been ok, but somehow, lights were turned out and everyone had to pull down the shutters, on a day flight, so to rather watch the stupid TV program than the vast landscapes of the frozen sea north of russia. Of course i couldnt stand such ignorance for too long, and took some time to stare out anyway.
And as always Heathrow offered its regular troubles, this time it was delayed baggage, so basicely all people from all planes arriving waited in the small baggage hall (really small in comaprison) 90min for their luggage.

But Baywaters is a cool place, rather touristy though, but with a good spirit, am getting somewhat of the expected reverse culture shock, amazing to be in an really international city again. But its strange, i really have to change habits again, I nearly forgot to tipp at the cafe tonight.
Futhermore English isn't the signmark of foreigners anymore, but of course in London people are from anywhere. And it wasn't so easy to find soe non-asian food for me.
And yes, Jetlag has its impact too, awake now for 24hours something.....

Last days in Tokyo

So finally I'am back! One week at the same place, and in an city i am familar with. Somewhat like home. Although Hotel Maruchuu in Minami-Senjuu is an interesting place. I thought about staying at the same place as when i arrived for the first time, but opted for this one, as its really tidier new and near to the next station. Although Minami-Senju is not far from minova, the surrounding is less inviting, infrustructure is rather low here, but i like the somewhat urban wastelandish atmosphere here, people all rather being workers than tourists, and the 9 floored building gets tottaly deserted after around 9am. Once again, i got a room with cool view, looking down on the freight-train terminal, having and the distant plattenbauten and innercity highway.

I am glad not doing too much of sightseing anymore, nevertheless couldn't prevent go to my favorite nearby places like Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara of course shopping too (glad to have an additional suitcase by now...) and preparing to finally leave. Upcoming days it's finally say good by to fellows and friends...

Tokyo Fotos

Nara and Kyoto

The second day in Nara i went straight to the student Volunteer Guide office. Together with the guide we went around visiting temples, the prefecture adminstration building and Nara machi, wherer there are a lot of old style houses preserved. She told me a lot about the sights,　but the real fun of course was chatting about different lifestyles of east and west, me learning new japanese words and "teaching" some english in return...

Today i went to Kyoto to get the cheaper bus to Tokyo. To be honest i had been disappointed by this town when i went there for the first time during winter, but today i liked it very much and discovered somewhat of its more discrete charm. Finally i made it into Nijo castle and the Nijo-Jinya, both having been closed during nenmatsu (year end period). The latter used to accomodiate feudal visitors to Kyoto who didnt make it into the Nijo-Castle. the cool thing about it, rather than wandering vast but empty tatami floored rooms you get a glance of the organisation of the tiny building and its structured with hidden doors, tunnels and so on to monitor and protect (ah the ever recurring japanese duality!).

To avoid notorious queeing along the temple gardens i skipped Ginkaku-Ji and visited Kodai-Ji instead and was rewarded afterwards by a pleasent stroll through the small alleys nearby.

Now i am spending some time in a stylish internet cafe before finally returning to Tokyo by nightbus, where i`ll stay for a week to get organised before leaving, meet friends and of course do all the shopping i postponed so far.

And i am really glad now, to stay at one place for a little longer time, as the constant changing of places really has become tiring. Nevertheless my stay in Japan finally comes to its end and as much i am looking forward to finally see my girlfriend again and returning to my homecountry, i already start to miss Japan somehow...

Kyoto Fotos