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.....

Goodbye Tokyo!

Last days in megalopolis! Having left my room with its great view, said good bye to all friends and collegues, i am on my own now once again.

To miss no experience i decided to stay the last night in a capsule hotel in Akihabara, the part of town where all the computer nerds an otaku kids make their shopping dreams come true.

Tomorrow i take the plane down to Naha, Okinawa's main town and from there take the overnight-ferry to Miyako-Jima the same day, an island even farther south, already close to Taiwan. I'll stay there at Minshuku Kuromonchou, the house having been built around 100 years ago, something really special regarding the past, as okinawa islands where the only part of Japan being conquered by US-troops.

I hope to find calm weather there, it's said to have around 20°C, unfortunately it'll be rather clowdy. nonetheless i hope i can go swimming, as the beaches should be magnificent. Saturday i will go on to Ishigaki, the most southern Part of Japan, before returning to Naha, and from there going north again up to Kagoshima.

Some Akiba-Fotos.

Saying Good Bye!

Less than 24 hours before lift off!

I somehow managed to finish all preparations by now.
So in principle I could start right off .
Nervositiy augments again, but I'm far away from the peak (at least I hope so).

I said good bye most of my people, family, friends, collegues...
Only my girlfriend now, who is still present.
But within some hours I will have to say good bye even to her.
That hurts!
It hurts to have to say good bye to folks, even when I am so glad to actually engage in this journey. Which I will do alone, leaving every other behind (if I may say so... But that's what it feels like) and thereby loosing all security!

Euch allen viele Liebe Grüße und eine gute Zeit bis wir uns Wiedersehen!