Tuesday 31 October 2006

Happy Halloween

Well its halloween and I have spotted many a chinese person doned in fangs and pointed hats. I spent my last day in Hong Kong hiking up millions of stairs to see the giant buddha on Lantau Island. Its is well worth the sweaty effort. Also learnt a little more about Buddhism - its so old but so many good lessons to be learned.

Am now sitting in the airport lounge waiting for my flight 4 hours early as couldn't take the crowds any longer so decided to take a break pre dehli.

Anyway hope you are all having a freaky halloween with lots of treats and not too many tricks.

Hello missy want watches bags come see...




Well day two in Hong Kong was a busy one. I started at the Art Gallery where I saw lots of traditional prints and some very interesting installations made entirely of human hair. Then to the history museum where I saw Hong Kong from the prehistoric times to today. very interesting but too much to take in in one hour. Then to the space museum to see the omnimax of Tom Hanks walking on the moon. Neat to watch on a globe screen and interesting seeing info on the 6 landings on the moon between 1969 and 72. Then I had a look through the craft markets on my way to the star ferry to Hong Kong Island. I went by cable car up Victoria peak to see the islands from far up and it was a beautiful view. made kinda romantic due to the haze/mist that is currently hanging over the city and the sunset. Then it was off to the ladies market and electrical shops before dropping dead back at the luxury coffin.

Hong Kong is really good for shopping but at the same time the whole spitting thing and the meat sitting out in the hot air and sun are both yuk. Oh and the being yelled at as hello missy all day is a bit tiresome as well. but would come back to shop.

This was Hong Kongs Hottest October since 1886 apparently somewhat due to the CO2 emmisions in the air.

Happy halloween to all for tomorrow.

Monday 30 October 2006

Hong Kong







Well this is one crazy place and it attacks all your senses at once. Hopefully this is a good learning experience pre india and SE Asia. My hostel room is the smallest thing I have ever seen and the shower is over the toilet -oh how hygienic.

I went down to victoria harbour tonight to see the light show that happens every night at 8pm and also check out the walk of fame. my hands are the same size as Jackie Chans and Jet Li. Maybe there is potential in me to be a kung fu fighter :)

Blog has not been working for me so sorry for lack of pics. I will keep trying.

Anyway am hiding in my room now away from all the noise, smell, heat, and crowds of people.

Sunday 29 October 2006

Osaka






Well like Kyoto I loved Osaka. There are great places to shop here and also to people watch. I even got to crash the filming of a bike scene in a movie.

Here is a list upon leaving Japan of the things I find funny:
• People wearing white face masks
• girls in super high stilettos even if walking on cobblestones or for long hours
• crazy amerika-mura or harajuku dressing kinda dressup party for 10 year old meets cartoon meets goth
• non smoking compartments that reek of smoke
• bike lanes that everyone walks in
• vending machines for drinks every 10 metres
• drinks called sweat
• each city,store train station having its own perky tune when signalling you to do something
• screaming greetings at you as you enter a restaurant
• grumpy faced old men
• super pushy old ladies
• girls with high heels riding bicycles
• school kids yelling hello to you and then turning away quickly and laughing like its a joke?
• toilets that make river noises when you sit down to help the flow and cover any embarrasing noises
• paying in a vending machine for toilet paper before going into the toilet

and there are more. Japan is truely a fun place and I will be back.

Saturday 28 October 2006

Kyoto










Well I love Kyoto and definately want to come back all the temples, shrines and castles are amazing and most reward you for the hard slog up hills and stairs with some impressive views.

Have met many lovely people on my stay here from Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada so it was nice to have some people to hang out with.

Managed to chase some Geisha - not really but did feel a little like a paparazzi stalker waiting for them to come out of their home and walk to their job. their faces are not a pretty as I thought they would be but their kimonos are incredible and even their little helpers are pretty cute.

My japanese is improving through pure need for survival as no where near as easy to navigate as in Tokyo which has english character signs everywhere.

hopefully I can upload some of the lovely pictures for you to see as this is one truely beautiful place.

Wednesday 25 October 2006

from Edo to Disneyland







Well it was another torrential rain day today but I had a great time. I met up with Satomi - the best tour a guide a girl could ask for who showed me all over Tokyo. We started at the famous Tsukiji fish markets which were interesting and had some of the best sushi ever. Then we strolled through Ginza to look at a few shops. Next it was Akihabara to buy a replacement camera for my broken one which I got a great deal on a canon powershot so am happy snapping again soon once I figure out how to use it.

We then went to Edo-Tokyo Museum definately one of the best museums I have ever been to. Edo is the period of the last shogun and samurai before the emperor came back to power moved to Edo and renamed it Tokyo. The museum has amazing minature models of everything some even move and have shows. also lots of life size replicas. I also got to see an exhibition of wood block prints from such famous names as Hokusai all very interesting and beautiful.

By now it was around 5pm so we hopped on the train to Disneyland to brave the fun in the cold wind and rain. It was actually great no ques, still very happy because of the music and the rides were fun. I went on the famous Big thunder mountain and Space mountain. My favourite was a ride made based on the movie The nightmare before Christmas only being October it was themed as halloween and it was visually amazing.

So home now very wet and cold but happy it was a succesful day. tomorrow a morning of shopping then off to Kyoto.

Tuesday 24 October 2006

Dynamic Tokyo in the rain





A huge thankyou (Domo Arigato Gozaimasu) to Yoshi and Ritsuko who have been amazing since I arrived yesterday. I feel like a queen. Today they booked me on a Hato bus tour of Tokyo which was great I did everything from tea ceremonies and BBQs to temples, shrines and shopping. A highlight was walking through Asakusa - one of the older districts. The shops were very tempting but I have sworn to myself that I am not going to buy 10 kilos of stuff like my last trip to Japan.

I was also treated to absolutely Oiishi yummy sushi at their daughter Nao's best friends family restaurant. I am now a lover of fresh tuna belly and flounder. Oh and I had sworn to go on a diet once I left Europe but oh well too much good food to eat in Japan.

Unfortunately the weather has decided to bucket down with rain but luckily I was born and bred in Auckland so don't let a little rain stop me from seeing everything. Not doing too bad only about 4 days of rain all up now in 6 weeks.

Sunday 22 October 2006

Meeting the Takeuchi's and Harajuku




Ok so arrived in Tokyo and found Nao's family house very easily thanks to a great hand drawn map. I am very jet lagged but trying to stay up and adjust. Went to Harajuku quickly tonight and saw some of the famed dress up girls and guys unfortunately my camera is getting worse so very few unfuzzy photos. All fun though. Naos parents are fabulous and have made me feel like a queen I basically have my own house and a very nice one.

Saturday 21 October 2006

Enjoying speaking English

well am in London for a night before I fly to Japan and I am really enjoying being able to speak english freely. Although have been so programmed to walk on the right I am now driving all the english mad.

Can't wait to get to Japan hopefully I can make it round within budget as Europe proved to be much more expensive than I had predicted.

Friday 20 October 2006

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast






A quick Hi to Nancy and Cindy as to say thanks for recommending an amazing restaurant in the main square in Sorrento I ate and drank so much my tummy almost popped and the waiters were amazing.

So I left rome and am now in Sorrento via Naples. I am learning to take life like the Italians - Cruisy - as if you don't over here things like cars trying to run you down, ciggarette smoke in your face, stray cats and dogs that jump on you, trains that are cancelled for no apparent reason and paying for everything from shitting to moving might start to drive you mad but I actually find it hillarious.

I am loving seeing all these italions who think they are bronzed gods strutt the streets and a few fabulous poofy hairdoos.

Sorrento and the whole of the Amalfi coast is spectacular kinda the medditeraneun version of the Great Ocean Road or the Coromandel only their beaches are tiny and some lack sand but the cuteness of being at the base of a great big cliff and with turqoise waters makes up for it.

Tomorrow I leave for London and that makes for the end of my Europe league. I am a little sad as am just starting to get my accents right and know the low down on what to do, where to eat and who its safe to talk to. But atleast I have a wealth of places I now know I will come back to.

Tuesday 17 October 2006

Rome






Well I left the lovely security of the family in Germany and am now back to going it alone in Rome, Italy. I have to say I love this city as dirty and chaotic as it is. There is just so much to see and do and so much craziness to even make the long walks between sites exciting.

I have to say I must have a nack with taxi drivers as I have been proposed to by pakistanis, fijians, somalians and now italians. If only non taxi drivers were as in love with me.

Also bumoed into my contiki guide whilst queing in the sistine line (a mere 5km) so that was nice to catch up after about 2 weeks break.

Now as I am seeing christmas stuff starting to appear in shops everywhere please don't forget me as you all know what a nut I am at Christmas and this year I will be in a buddhist country by myself so a bit miserable to say the least so all emails will be welcome.

Wednesday 11 October 2006

meat, schnapps, cake, cheese, chocolate





Well I am still having a great time in Germany only I think I have gained ten kilos from eating so much meat and sweets and schnapps and bread and cheese. It is very nice(so I can't stop eating it) but so heavy and filling.

I visited a monastery yesterday which was very old and very interesting and I was lucky as we knew a guy who works there so got to peek in places that most of the public don't get to see.

Today I went shopping in one of the big cities of Baden Wurtenburg called Karlsruhe. It was fun saw lots of lovely clothes and shoes and Jewellery and gifts but tried not to buy too much as no room in my rucksack.

Anyway have to say that everyone should visit Germany in Autumn as the trees are so beautiful and there are so many every where.

Monday 9 October 2006

Pforzheim Germany




Well I am now being spoilt rotten in Germany staying with a family I met way back in the 90s when I was playing the piano accordion. They have given me my own room and it makes a nice change not to have to pack my bags in the morning. I don,t have to think much either as Angelika has planned a full schedule of exciting things for me to do.

Today I went for an orientation walk of Huchenfeld with their dog Teddy it was fun and now I can say I have walked a dog something a person growing up in a cat family rarely does.

Tonight a family friend is coming round to cook dinner that she started preparing 2 days ago as it is a special dish made in southern Germany. Sounds devine and you know me never turn good food away. I am also getting used to drinking beer. very strange.