For all the talk of redemption before this Ashes series had begun, there is little to show for it after two exciting tests. Michael Clarke would certainly seemed to have redeemed himself from some of the demons from his disastorous 2005 series. Much the same could be said about Simon Katich, although the jury may still be out on that one.
But the most important case of redemption is the one that remains unfulfilled. Ricky Ponting has again been caught against the searing light of public examination and accountability that captain's seem to come under the most at Ashes time.
First, take a quick look at Andrew Strauss. His captaincy has almost been one of absence at worst and lassiez faire at best, yet he has largely escaped the wrath of the public and media because 1) this is his first Ashes series in charge, 2) he is on home turf and gets the rub of the green, 3) his team so far has exceeded expectations, and 4) his opposite number has so much expectation on his shoulders.
Ricky Ponting's Ashes tour has perhaps only proved to us something we already suspected. That is, Punter is a good captain only so long as it means leading with the bat.
While his batting prowess remains exceptional and unquestioned, his inabliity to choose the correct bowler cost us the first test. In the second test, he again pursued Mitchell Johnson as the strike bowler when it was apparent the Queenslander was in a bad way mentally. Punter also dropped catches, missed run outs, and some of his field choices were reactionary and defensive. In neither test have we bowled England out twice.
However, against this damning backdrop, a friend reminded me the other day of some caveats in the 'new' Ricky Ponting era. Firstly, for the last 15 years, we have been spoilt by the riches of Warne and McGrath. I can't think of bowlers who were almost able to get wickets at will like those two, bar perhaps Curtley Ambrose. Secondly, Brad Haddin is not Adam Gilchrist. His batting and glovework are both sub-Gilly. Lastly, many players in the team are still learning their craft at the test level, let alone cementing their spot in the side. Phil Hughes, Nathan Hauritz, Marcus North, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle are all still relative newcomers to top flight cricket.
Having said that, there remains some inexcusable actions and choices from this tour so far. Obviously, not winning either coin toss and sucumming in the first test are the biggest and most damaging mistakes, but some selection choices are questionable. Not including Jason Krejza in this side was a mistake. Hauritz is a door-knob turner that doesn't do enough with flight or drift to make him a threat to anyone with concentration. Not taking a versatile backup batsman was a mistake. Brad Hodge or David Hussey could be brought in for the out-of-form and out-of-luck Michael Hussey. Not realising Johnson needed some rest and time in the nets was a mistake. Stuart Clark should have bowled in the 2nd test in place of Johnson.
Look, there are some positives to take from the first two tests. Peter Siddle has proven to be a handful and bowls like the workhorse that he is. His role cannot be understated and historically has proven to be something that Australia needs to be it's most successful. Michael Kasprowicz and Andy Bichel both bowled without complaint for long stretches to give the powerhouses of McGrath and Jason Gillespie a rest and support. Siddle also has a bit of mongrel in him and isn't afraid of asking the question of the batsmen, physically and verbally.
Hilfenhaus is the next surprise to have come from the series so far, and he will probably take 200+ test wickets for Australia, but you would love to see a bit more anger from him directed at the batsman.
Also, Michael Clarke has proven he will be Australia's next test captain, and with good merit. Poise under pressure at the crease, in the field or in front of the camera cannot be easily taught, and Clarke has found gracefulness laced with assertiveness in all situations.
Maybe it's time we did that most English of things and have a new Captain in the side while the former captain is still playing. Punter would have pressure taken off him and could focus on what he does best - batting and fielding. Clarke could command some new enthusiasm from his players and prove once and for all that the Australian side is actually new and his. With a truly new side and new captain, the talk of redemption from 2005 would become empty and meaningless. New battle lines could be drawn.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
KFC Teaser Playon
KFC Teaser Playon for Inside Cricket, Fox Sports 2008/09
Producer: Ed Reddin
Editor: Brett Rogan/Nick Barber
Monday, July 13, 2009
Ford Ranger Cup Playon
Ford Ranger Cup Playon for Inside Cricket, Fox Sports, 2008/09
Producer: Ed Reddin
Editor: Brett Rogan
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sydney v Essendon @ SCG, July 11, 2009
Ended up paying $60 for tickets which is a rip off. But the send off for Barry Hall and the kick-to-kick after was super.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Saturday afternoon footy and the real price of tickets
If you are a traditionalist and an idealist like myself, you will appreciate that there is no better way to enjoy a Saturday afternoon in the middle of winter than being able to trundle down to the nearest footy venue to watch a game of footy. Anyone who hasn't had the fortune to experience what I'm talking about, give this article a quick read:
At one time in the past, it really didn't matter so much if it meant driving your car up to the boundary line and watching your local footy team play, or getting up early to watch the schoolboys run around, or even going down to the nearest suburban stadium to watch the big boys play. In all reality, they would all cost more or less the same in terms of time, money and commitment.
But things have obviously changed. Big bucks in TV deals, national expansion, corporate stadia and mutli-millon dollar marketing strategies have put an end to that once and for all. But again, there could be argument for counting what this expansion has cost us and asking if the game has lost something in its never-ending thirst for market domination.
This week some friends and I decided to go and watch the Swans play the Bombers. This was a unique opportunity - not to watch the swans play, which is great, but rather to watch them play at the old fashioned time of 2:10pm on a Saturday afternoon. The AFL in its flailing drive to cement the game in Sydney usually pushes Swans games being played in Sydney to Saturday night or Sunday aftenoon, these time percieved as being the most attractive for local broadcasters and families alike.
So the chance to get down to the SCG and watch the boys play when footy should be played was too big an opportunity to resist. I remember a time when I lived in another state and gaining access to said game would have not been any hurdle. And for most games in Melbourne, this is still not a problem. One of my earlier blogs outlines a trip I had to Melbourne and successfull watching 4 games in 3 days - and at all games I was able to purchase a ticket at the gate. Cheap tickets sure, but still good honest seats, either behind the goal or right on center wing, albeit in the nosebleeds.
Well, you can forget about such pleasentries when you go to a swans game at the SCG. I attempted to purchase the tickets online, but found that I was not able to choose the location of the seats in the stadium that we would have (i.e., center-wing, forward pocket and so on). So I ventured into a Ticketek office to get the attendant to give me a diagram to see the layout of seats and their respective prices.
There are many types of seat prices as you can imagine. And there are some rules that I have that will rule out some seats. For instance, I will not buy a seat with an obstructed view. i will not buy seats unless me and my friends can all sit together. I will not pay more than $50 to go and see a game of AFL. This is not, after all, Radiohead at the Enter-center or even the Wallabies v All Blacks at ANZ.
With this in mind, you may begin to appreciate my dismay when I realised that the 'Bronze' tickets, which sell for $20, are limited to 3 bays in the entire stadium. Only 3 bays, probably aorund 800 seats for the most affordable tickets.
Now to me, but a game that is loosing its foothold in an already slippery market, could not be doing more to bring less grassroots fans to the game. The majority of seats are of the 'silver' type, about $35, or nearly double. The cost of 4 mates going to the footy skyrockets from $80 to $140.
There are possibly several outcomes from this scenario. Firstly, crowd numbers are down. Sure 20,000 people to a game at $40 a ticket will generate more money than 30,000 at $20 a ticket. But with numbers down, the atmosphere drops off, the game looks shit on TV, and I'm sure you'd find the players want to play in front of more people as well. And big-crowd atmopsphere is one of the big things that this sport has over so many others in Australia.
With elevated ticket prices, my expectations go up as a spectator as well. If i get the sense that the players aren't playing to the best of their ability, or if the entertainment isn't up to scratch, or if my beer is flat and my pie cold, then you can forget about me going again any time soon.
But at the local footy match, my beer comes in a can straight from the esky with ice still clinging to the sides, and I can decide if my sausage sandwhich has onion, or egg, or tomato sauce, or barbeque sauce or none at all. I might even get one for free if I share a joke with the bloke serving it. Sure, maybe the standard of footy isn't super-quick, but there is something romantic about watching an 18-stone bloke at full forward taking a classic chestmark with 3 blokes hanging off him. Or watching the local butchers son, young Johnny, cheeks flush with pimples, playing his first game of senior footy at age 16, and hey, even getting a few touches.
In contrast, once at a game at ANZ stadium, my friends and I made the mostake of also believing the ticket agent that there were no tickets left in the 'bronze' section. Once inside the stadium, having purchased our 'silver' tickets for $60 (whcih were shit), we actually found that most of the 'bronze' seats were vacant.
So what have we decided to do this week? well, I think we've actually decided to through caution to the wind, try the old-fashioned approach, and elected to purchase our tickets (shock-horror) on the day at the gate. Even if we can't get 4 $20 tickets together, we may well be able to purchase them as singles and find seats together anyway. Or we might even be able to find that oldest of spectator vantage points - standing room. Although I think the fun police may well and truly put a stop to that as well...
At one time in the past, it really didn't matter so much if it meant driving your car up to the boundary line and watching your local footy team play, or getting up early to watch the schoolboys run around, or even going down to the nearest suburban stadium to watch the big boys play. In all reality, they would all cost more or less the same in terms of time, money and commitment.
But things have obviously changed. Big bucks in TV deals, national expansion, corporate stadia and mutli-millon dollar marketing strategies have put an end to that once and for all. But again, there could be argument for counting what this expansion has cost us and asking if the game has lost something in its never-ending thirst for market domination.
This week some friends and I decided to go and watch the Swans play the Bombers. This was a unique opportunity - not to watch the swans play, which is great, but rather to watch them play at the old fashioned time of 2:10pm on a Saturday afternoon. The AFL in its flailing drive to cement the game in Sydney usually pushes Swans games being played in Sydney to Saturday night or Sunday aftenoon, these time percieved as being the most attractive for local broadcasters and families alike.
So the chance to get down to the SCG and watch the boys play when footy should be played was too big an opportunity to resist. I remember a time when I lived in another state and gaining access to said game would have not been any hurdle. And for most games in Melbourne, this is still not a problem. One of my earlier blogs outlines a trip I had to Melbourne and successfull watching 4 games in 3 days - and at all games I was able to purchase a ticket at the gate. Cheap tickets sure, but still good honest seats, either behind the goal or right on center wing, albeit in the nosebleeds.
Well, you can forget about such pleasentries when you go to a swans game at the SCG. I attempted to purchase the tickets online, but found that I was not able to choose the location of the seats in the stadium that we would have (i.e., center-wing, forward pocket and so on). So I ventured into a Ticketek office to get the attendant to give me a diagram to see the layout of seats and their respective prices.
There are many types of seat prices as you can imagine. And there are some rules that I have that will rule out some seats. For instance, I will not buy a seat with an obstructed view. i will not buy seats unless me and my friends can all sit together. I will not pay more than $50 to go and see a game of AFL. This is not, after all, Radiohead at the Enter-center or even the Wallabies v All Blacks at ANZ.
With this in mind, you may begin to appreciate my dismay when I realised that the 'Bronze' tickets, which sell for $20, are limited to 3 bays in the entire stadium. Only 3 bays, probably aorund 800 seats for the most affordable tickets.
Now to me, but a game that is loosing its foothold in an already slippery market, could not be doing more to bring less grassroots fans to the game. The majority of seats are of the 'silver' type, about $35, or nearly double. The cost of 4 mates going to the footy skyrockets from $80 to $140.
There are possibly several outcomes from this scenario. Firstly, crowd numbers are down. Sure 20,000 people to a game at $40 a ticket will generate more money than 30,000 at $20 a ticket. But with numbers down, the atmosphere drops off, the game looks shit on TV, and I'm sure you'd find the players want to play in front of more people as well. And big-crowd atmopsphere is one of the big things that this sport has over so many others in Australia.
With elevated ticket prices, my expectations go up as a spectator as well. If i get the sense that the players aren't playing to the best of their ability, or if the entertainment isn't up to scratch, or if my beer is flat and my pie cold, then you can forget about me going again any time soon.
But at the local footy match, my beer comes in a can straight from the esky with ice still clinging to the sides, and I can decide if my sausage sandwhich has onion, or egg, or tomato sauce, or barbeque sauce or none at all. I might even get one for free if I share a joke with the bloke serving it. Sure, maybe the standard of footy isn't super-quick, but there is something romantic about watching an 18-stone bloke at full forward taking a classic chestmark with 3 blokes hanging off him. Or watching the local butchers son, young Johnny, cheeks flush with pimples, playing his first game of senior footy at age 16, and hey, even getting a few touches.
In contrast, once at a game at ANZ stadium, my friends and I made the mostake of also believing the ticket agent that there were no tickets left in the 'bronze' section. Once inside the stadium, having purchased our 'silver' tickets for $60 (whcih were shit), we actually found that most of the 'bronze' seats were vacant.
So what have we decided to do this week? well, I think we've actually decided to through caution to the wind, try the old-fashioned approach, and elected to purchase our tickets (shock-horror) on the day at the gate. Even if we can't get 4 $20 tickets together, we may well be able to purchase them as singles and find seats together anyway. Or we might even be able to find that oldest of spectator vantage points - standing room. Although I think the fun police may well and truly put a stop to that as well...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Sachin Tendulkar Playon
Sachin Tendulkar Playon for Inside Cricket, Fox Sports 2008/09
Producer: Ed Reddin
Editor: Nick Barber
Inside Cricket Teaser
Coming Up Teaser for Inside Cricket, Fox Sports 2008/09
Producer: Ed Reddin
Editor: Paul Harrison
VO Talent: Brendon Julian
New Zealand Haka Playon
New Zealand Haka Playon for Inside Rugby, Fox Sports 2008
Producer: Ed Reddin
Editor: Miles Townend
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Super 14 Road to the Finals 2008
Super 14 Road to the Finals 2008 for Inside Rugby, Extra Time and Super 14 Final 2008
Producer: Ed Reddin
Editor: Ian Miller/Miles Townend
VO Talent: Greg Clark
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Dale Steyn Playoff
Dale Steyn Playoff for Inside Cricket, Fox Sports 2008/09
Producer: Ed Reddin
Editor: Brett Rogan
Chris Gayle Playon
Chris Gayle Playon for Inside Cricket, Fox Sports 2008/09
Producer: Ed Reddin
Editor: Andrew Hunter
Monday, July 6, 2009
10 Things I learnt
originally posted: Saturday, 20 June
Some reflections about what I learnt on the trip:
10 Things I learnt about the Japanese in Tokyo:
1) Japanese women are HOT
2) The most useful phrase in Japaese is "Suimasen" (Excuse me)
3) Everyone in Tokyo has a Nokia mobile with a large screen and internet access.
4) Everyone has 'good luck' trinkets hanging from their Nokia's, even old men.
5) The JR public transport system makes the Sydney system look like a joke. Honestly, it's an emabarrasment
6) The food requires some getting used to, but is delicious if you are brave and curious
7) The Japanese service is exceptional. No tipping required.
8) The Japanese generally will try and do everything they can to help you if they see you are in trouble/lost/etc.
9) The Japanese are also very curious as to what you think of their country.
10) Did I mention how hot the women are?
10 Things I learnt about Thailand:
1) Thai women are hot, but not as hot as Japanese women
2) Bangkok is a hell hole
3) I have never seen so many whores as I did in all of Thailand. It's greasy but it must be a massive part of their economy
4) The booze is cheap and the food is good if you know where to look
5) The Thais love a good temple. They're everywhere
6) The Thais are either very friendly or trying to gouge every cent out of you
7) Never ever get on a tuk-tuk. I mean it.
8) Get used to being hounded for a massage, or a tailored suit
9) There are markets everywhere. Apparently it's because factories frequently go out of business and their wares subsequently get sold on the street.
10) Thailand has been corrupted by tourists
10 Things I learnt about Spainiards in Barcelona:
1) Spanish women are hot, but not as hot as Thai women.
2) The most useful Spainish phrase is "Una ceverca pour favour" (One beer please)
3) The Spanish lifestyle is the one I could most easily get used to. Get up at 10am, lunch at 3pm, afternoon siesta, dinner at 9pm, hit the bars from 10pm till sun-up.
4) The food is delicious, as is the beer.
5) Catalan people are proud.
6) The architecture is amazing and inspiring. Gaudi certainly changed expectations about Modernity.
7) Attending a Barcelona FC game parallels any other sporting event I have ever been to.
8) The bars are awesome. Intimate, soulful, entertaining.
9) The Barcelona subway shits on the Sydney rail system from a great height. And I couldn't even read the language.
10) Beware of pickpockets and prostitutes, especially if you are blazingly drunk. The hookers are horrendous and will actually pay you to sleep with them, only to drug you and steal your wallet/passport. The pickpockets will find a reason to come into contact you (like try and show you a football trick) and then steal from you.
5 things I leant about England (I was only there for 12 hours):
1) The English women are horrific (apart from those I know or who are with my Australian mates)
2) The English culture has become largely homogenised due to rampant political correctness.
3) The Australian network of friends and alliances is very much alive and kicking.
4) The tube shits on Sydney public transport
5) There are pubs everywhere
10 Things I learnt about Barbados:
1) The Barbadian women are hot, but not as hot as the Spanish women
2) Barbados has been corrupted by tourists, but not as badly as Thailand
3) The locals are awesome once you get to know them. Friendly, and they love (and know) cricket.
4) The beach culture is world class. Shame about the deteriorating quality of the beaches...
5) I never liked dark rum until I tasted Mount Gay Rum. Delicious.
6) The food is good without being great.
7) I was able to relax here more than anywhere on the whole trip
8) The public transport system is like organised chaos. But once you understand it, its an effective, entertaining and cheap way of getting about
9) Attending a cricket game here was probably the most entertaining sporting event I went to on the whole trip. Try to sit in a stand with the locals if you get the chance. And make sure they don't think you are English.
10) Don't waste your time in Bridgetown. It's a shithole. The nightlife and beaches are far better on the south coast
10 Things I learnt about New York:
1) Everyone has a Blackberry
2) American women are hot, but not as hot as Barbados women. But New York is such a melting pot and there are so many nationalities, that it's hard to discern who is American and who is not.
3) The booze is either rediculously expensive or ludicrously cheap
4) New York is still very much the centre of the western universe.
5) I couldn't live in New York. The pace is probably too hectic and you need thick skin. But travelling there is great; every day is a different adventure.
6) Getting used to tipping is not easy.
7) Getting used to taxes not included in the cost is not easy.
8) Getting used to driving on the right hand side of the road is not easy.
9) I found Dive bars are by far and away the best places to drink at. Reasonably cheap and genuine locals to drink with. Sports bars, English-themed bars and nightclubs are all going to rip you off. Having said that, NYC has some of the most exclusive clubs on the planet.
10) The Subway is massive and daunting, yet once you understand how it works, it's very easy. And unlike Sydney, it is frequent and runs 24 hours a day.
10 Things I learnt about Canada:
1) Canadian women are hot, almost as hot as the Japanese. They have the best personalities.
2) Canadians LOVE ice hockey. And with good reason. It is a far better game that I imagined it would be, but you have to see it live to appreciate it.
3) Canadian booze is good, probably better than US booze.
4) Canada has a lot in common with Australia; similar goverment, similar laws, similar currency, similar sense of humour. They even understand Rugby and cricket (but not AFL unfortunately)
5) Canadians can't handle the heat. They think 24 degrees is hot.
6) Canada has some spectacular attractions. British Columbia was incredible
7) The transport systems in Toronto and Vancouver are a breeze. Sydney has nothing going for it at all. Only Melbourne compares well to any of the systems I was on.
8) Getting around is a breeze. The cities I went to are all laid out on a grid system, and are ususally oriented north-south and east-west.
9) Canada is enormous.
10) Canadians are very environmentally concious. They have recycling bins everywhere and plastic bags cost 5 cents
10 Things I learnt about travelling:
1) Always try and get the bottom bunk if you are staying in a dorm. Much easier to get in and out of if you are massively drunk or need to take a piss or if you have a 'special friend' staying with you.
2) I think the most useful item I took with me was either a torch or my camera. People love to see photos of where you've been, and torches are good when you have to rummage around in your luggage at night in a dorm.
3) Try to carry your passport and credit cards with you at all times. Even if you loose everything else, you can always start again with those.
4) Don't think that being Australian will get you any special priveledges. There are Australian's EVERYWHERE, and enough of them are either Queenslanders or jerks, that they have spoiled it for the rest of us.
5) No matter where you go, people are jerks
6) No matter where you go, people are idiots
7) Always try to keep the exchange rate in mind. A beer might only cost 5 euros, but that translates to $10 aussie dollars. Our currency is junk.
8) Get used to people trying to take advantage of you if you appear to be clueless. What would you expect.
9) If you are travelling a long distance on a bus, don't get off when it stops. It may very well leave without you, taking your luggage with it.
10) Get to know you limits so that when you are horrendously drunk, you don't end up somewhere you don't want to be. Help is a lot further away in a foreign country.
Some reflections about what I learnt on the trip:
10 Things I learnt about the Japanese in Tokyo:
1) Japanese women are HOT
2) The most useful phrase in Japaese is "Suimasen" (Excuse me)
3) Everyone in Tokyo has a Nokia mobile with a large screen and internet access.
4) Everyone has 'good luck' trinkets hanging from their Nokia's, even old men.
5) The JR public transport system makes the Sydney system look like a joke. Honestly, it's an emabarrasment
6) The food requires some getting used to, but is delicious if you are brave and curious
7) The Japanese service is exceptional. No tipping required.
8) The Japanese generally will try and do everything they can to help you if they see you are in trouble/lost/etc.
9) The Japanese are also very curious as to what you think of their country.
10) Did I mention how hot the women are?
10 Things I learnt about Thailand:
1) Thai women are hot, but not as hot as Japanese women
2) Bangkok is a hell hole
3) I have never seen so many whores as I did in all of Thailand. It's greasy but it must be a massive part of their economy
4) The booze is cheap and the food is good if you know where to look
5) The Thais love a good temple. They're everywhere
6) The Thais are either very friendly or trying to gouge every cent out of you
7) Never ever get on a tuk-tuk. I mean it.
8) Get used to being hounded for a massage, or a tailored suit
9) There are markets everywhere. Apparently it's because factories frequently go out of business and their wares subsequently get sold on the street.
10) Thailand has been corrupted by tourists
10 Things I learnt about Spainiards in Barcelona:
1) Spanish women are hot, but not as hot as Thai women.
2) The most useful Spainish phrase is "Una ceverca pour favour" (One beer please)
3) The Spanish lifestyle is the one I could most easily get used to. Get up at 10am, lunch at 3pm, afternoon siesta, dinner at 9pm, hit the bars from 10pm till sun-up.
4) The food is delicious, as is the beer.
5) Catalan people are proud.
6) The architecture is amazing and inspiring. Gaudi certainly changed expectations about Modernity.
7) Attending a Barcelona FC game parallels any other sporting event I have ever been to.
8) The bars are awesome. Intimate, soulful, entertaining.
9) The Barcelona subway shits on the Sydney rail system from a great height. And I couldn't even read the language.
10) Beware of pickpockets and prostitutes, especially if you are blazingly drunk. The hookers are horrendous and will actually pay you to sleep with them, only to drug you and steal your wallet/passport. The pickpockets will find a reason to come into contact you (like try and show you a football trick) and then steal from you.
5 things I leant about England (I was only there for 12 hours):
1) The English women are horrific (apart from those I know or who are with my Australian mates)
2) The English culture has become largely homogenised due to rampant political correctness.
3) The Australian network of friends and alliances is very much alive and kicking.
4) The tube shits on Sydney public transport
5) There are pubs everywhere
10 Things I learnt about Barbados:
1) The Barbadian women are hot, but not as hot as the Spanish women
2) Barbados has been corrupted by tourists, but not as badly as Thailand
3) The locals are awesome once you get to know them. Friendly, and they love (and know) cricket.
4) The beach culture is world class. Shame about the deteriorating quality of the beaches...
5) I never liked dark rum until I tasted Mount Gay Rum. Delicious.
6) The food is good without being great.
7) I was able to relax here more than anywhere on the whole trip
8) The public transport system is like organised chaos. But once you understand it, its an effective, entertaining and cheap way of getting about
9) Attending a cricket game here was probably the most entertaining sporting event I went to on the whole trip. Try to sit in a stand with the locals if you get the chance. And make sure they don't think you are English.
10) Don't waste your time in Bridgetown. It's a shithole. The nightlife and beaches are far better on the south coast
10 Things I learnt about New York:
1) Everyone has a Blackberry
2) American women are hot, but not as hot as Barbados women. But New York is such a melting pot and there are so many nationalities, that it's hard to discern who is American and who is not.
3) The booze is either rediculously expensive or ludicrously cheap
4) New York is still very much the centre of the western universe.
5) I couldn't live in New York. The pace is probably too hectic and you need thick skin. But travelling there is great; every day is a different adventure.
6) Getting used to tipping is not easy.
7) Getting used to taxes not included in the cost is not easy.
8) Getting used to driving on the right hand side of the road is not easy.
9) I found Dive bars are by far and away the best places to drink at. Reasonably cheap and genuine locals to drink with. Sports bars, English-themed bars and nightclubs are all going to rip you off. Having said that, NYC has some of the most exclusive clubs on the planet.
10) The Subway is massive and daunting, yet once you understand how it works, it's very easy. And unlike Sydney, it is frequent and runs 24 hours a day.
10 Things I learnt about Canada:
1) Canadian women are hot, almost as hot as the Japanese. They have the best personalities.
2) Canadians LOVE ice hockey. And with good reason. It is a far better game that I imagined it would be, but you have to see it live to appreciate it.
3) Canadian booze is good, probably better than US booze.
4) Canada has a lot in common with Australia; similar goverment, similar laws, similar currency, similar sense of humour. They even understand Rugby and cricket (but not AFL unfortunately)
5) Canadians can't handle the heat. They think 24 degrees is hot.
6) Canada has some spectacular attractions. British Columbia was incredible
7) The transport systems in Toronto and Vancouver are a breeze. Sydney has nothing going for it at all. Only Melbourne compares well to any of the systems I was on.
8) Getting around is a breeze. The cities I went to are all laid out on a grid system, and are ususally oriented north-south and east-west.
9) Canada is enormous.
10) Canadians are very environmentally concious. They have recycling bins everywhere and plastic bags cost 5 cents
10 Things I learnt about travelling:
1) Always try and get the bottom bunk if you are staying in a dorm. Much easier to get in and out of if you are massively drunk or need to take a piss or if you have a 'special friend' staying with you.
2) I think the most useful item I took with me was either a torch or my camera. People love to see photos of where you've been, and torches are good when you have to rummage around in your luggage at night in a dorm.
3) Try to carry your passport and credit cards with you at all times. Even if you loose everything else, you can always start again with those.
4) Don't think that being Australian will get you any special priveledges. There are Australian's EVERYWHERE, and enough of them are either Queenslanders or jerks, that they have spoiled it for the rest of us.
5) No matter where you go, people are jerks
6) No matter where you go, people are idiots
7) Always try to keep the exchange rate in mind. A beer might only cost 5 euros, but that translates to $10 aussie dollars. Our currency is junk.
8) Get used to people trying to take advantage of you if you appear to be clueless. What would you expect.
9) If you are travelling a long distance on a bus, don't get off when it stops. It may very well leave without you, taking your luggage with it.
10) Get to know you limits so that when you are horrendously drunk, you don't end up somewhere you don't want to be. Help is a lot further away in a foreign country.
when you are sitting only 17 rows from the ice, tickets don't come cheap
originally posted: Sunday, 17 May 2009
Hello again everybody, hope you are all well as am I. Since I last wrote, I have been to Niagra Falls, Vancouver, Whistler and now I am back in Toronto. So there is a lot to get through before explaining why I ended up back in Toronto.
Niagra falls is very impressive. The tourist organisation that manages the tourism there has done a fine job of seperating the commerical influences from the falls. Subsequently, the falls are touristy without being overblown. The drive there was nice as well - we stopped in at a winery where they make an "ice" wine, which is apparently very rare, but delicious.
I flew to Vancouver and spent a week there, which was great. The city is very well organised, clean and picturesque. The city seems to have embraced the international style of architecture completely, yet it has not lost any of its feel or identity. The city is also obviously undergoing a major facelift with the Olympics coming only 9 months or so ago, so it was a good time to be there.
While in vancouver, I took a bus up to Whistler for a day trip, and I have to say, the trip up there rivals any road trip you could possibly take - possibly even better than the great ocean road. Hired a mountain bike while I was there, and spent the day riding some awesome cross country trails, that are ski trails in the winter. Unfortunately it was raining most of the day so didn't get great photos.
Also managed to go to an ice hockey game while in Vancouver, which was awesome. It was a playoff game, and tickets were not easy to get. And when you are sitting only 17 rows from the ice, they didn't come cheap either. But the atmosphere there was incredible. 18,000 fans going nuts.
Hello again everybody, hope you are all well as am I. Since I last wrote, I have been to Niagra Falls, Vancouver, Whistler and now I am back in Toronto. So there is a lot to get through before explaining why I ended up back in Toronto.
Niagra falls is very impressive. The tourist organisation that manages the tourism there has done a fine job of seperating the commerical influences from the falls. Subsequently, the falls are touristy without being overblown. The drive there was nice as well - we stopped in at a winery where they make an "ice" wine, which is apparently very rare, but delicious.
I flew to Vancouver and spent a week there, which was great. The city is very well organised, clean and picturesque. The city seems to have embraced the international style of architecture completely, yet it has not lost any of its feel or identity. The city is also obviously undergoing a major facelift with the Olympics coming only 9 months or so ago, so it was a good time to be there.
While in vancouver, I took a bus up to Whistler for a day trip, and I have to say, the trip up there rivals any road trip you could possibly take - possibly even better than the great ocean road. Hired a mountain bike while I was there, and spent the day riding some awesome cross country trails, that are ski trails in the winter. Unfortunately it was raining most of the day so didn't get great photos.
Also managed to go to an ice hockey game while in Vancouver, which was awesome. It was a playoff game, and tickets were not easy to get. And when you are sitting only 17 rows from the ice, they didn't come cheap either. But the atmosphere there was incredible. 18,000 fans going nuts.
The Canucks were tied 2-2 against the Chicago blackhawks with about 2 minutes to go when the ref called a powerplay against Vancouver. The fans didn't like it, and when Chicago scored a few seconds later, the fans reacted by throwing anything and everything onto the ice. Game had to be stopped for about 5 minutes. Then when Chicago scored again with about 30 seconds remaining, well you can imagine what the reaction was like. Not pretty.
Anyways, I am back in Toronto because a top Canadian bloke I met in Barbados called Bruce rang me recently and offered me some work with him and his landscaping company. He lives in Barrie, a city about 90 minutes north of Toronto, so I'm heading up there for 4 weeks or so to do some cash-in-hand work, and stay with Bruce. To be honest, I'm a bit over hostels and am looking forward to doing some honest work (and getting some money coming in instead of going out would be good as well...)
before I go on about Canada eh...
Originally posted: Sunday, 3 May 2009
Hello all again, I hope you all are well. Everything here in Toronto is good. I would say of the places I have been to so far, Toronto is good, but not great. The one thing that saves it from being a shithole is the people. Canadians in general are really down to earth and accommodating. I have made some good friends who are fun to hit the piss with. But, before I go on about Canada eh, I will have a parting shot about my last week or so in New York after my last update.
I went to 2 baseball games in the space of 24 hours and have to say how much I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it was a Thursday night, I went and saw the Mets play the Padres at their new stadium. Unfortunately the Mets went down 4-5. And I have to say, sorry Yankee fans, but their new stadium (cost US$900 million), in terms of getting food and beers and the number of vendors, and getting to the toilet or whatever service you require, is much easier at Citifield than it is at Yankee Stadium.
Having said that, the following day I was at the new yankee stadium to see them
beat the Indians 6-5 in a barn-burner. There was about 6 home runs hit, and Derek jeeter hit the game winner in the 8th inning. It was the Yankees first ever win at their new stadium and their second only game ever there. I had bought my tickets online months ago, and it turned out they ere bleacher seats. I have never truly experienced 'the bleachers' before, and it is not somewhere where you take small children or the faint hearted, but the vibe there is electric - just make sure you never wear the opposing teams colours or Boston red sox gear, because you will get abused like I've never heard.
The only place I can compare it to would be standing in front of the scoreboard at adelaide oval during a cricket match. And I have to say, sorry Mets fans, but in terms of atmosphere and being in awe of a stadium, the new Yankee stadium (cost US$1.5 billion) is much better than Citifield. Even so, to think that you might be one of the first Australians at these new stadiums was pretty nice.
I also was able to go back to Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks last game of the year, in which they flogged the Nets by about 30 points. My only regret about my time in new york is not having gone to an Ice Hockey game. They say it is much better live than on TV because there is so much going on away from the puck that you don't see on TV, much like AFL I would imagine. But all in all, New York was great. I got so much in there and took about 500 photos, so I was ready to leave when the time came.
And so here I am in Toronto! There are some things i like about it here. The pace is not too hectic, and the infrastructure is good. Subways and streetcars are frequent and easy to use. There are enough places to get smashed at. But apart from the CN tower and parts of the waterfront, there is not a whole lot to do or see here. And I have not been able to land some work like I would have liked. I have some leads which hopefully turn into something, and I'm in no danger of running out of money anytime soon, so I'm still having a fun time.
I went to a Major League Soccer game here last week, which was just like an A-league game on steroids. And Last night I went to see the Blue Jays play the Orioles at Rogers Stadium. It has a retractable roof, and is much like Docklands stadium, but they play on artificial grass, as was the soccer game. The city actually reminds me a bit about Melbourne, but without the intimacy or the identity or the art or the culture or the sport. The other bad thing about Toronto is the price of booze; about CN$6.50 for a pint.
Some people I have met have told me also how beautiful British Columbia is, so I am contemplating heading to Vancouver if I can't find work here. Whistler is also not far from there, so I could head up there for some Mountain biking/hiking.
Hello all again, I hope you all are well. Everything here in Toronto is good. I would say of the places I have been to so far, Toronto is good, but not great. The one thing that saves it from being a shithole is the people. Canadians in general are really down to earth and accommodating. I have made some good friends who are fun to hit the piss with. But, before I go on about Canada eh, I will have a parting shot about my last week or so in New York after my last update.
I went to 2 baseball games in the space of 24 hours and have to say how much I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it was a Thursday night, I went and saw the Mets play the Padres at their new stadium. Unfortunately the Mets went down 4-5. And I have to say, sorry Yankee fans, but their new stadium (cost US$900 million), in terms of getting food and beers and the number of vendors, and getting to the toilet or whatever service you require, is much easier at Citifield than it is at Yankee Stadium.
Having said that, the following day I was at the new yankee stadium to see them
beat the Indians 6-5 in a barn-burner. There was about 6 home runs hit, and Derek jeeter hit the game winner in the 8th inning. It was the Yankees first ever win at their new stadium and their second only game ever there. I had bought my tickets online months ago, and it turned out they ere bleacher seats. I have never truly experienced 'the bleachers' before, and it is not somewhere where you take small children or the faint hearted, but the vibe there is electric - just make sure you never wear the opposing teams colours or Boston red sox gear, because you will get abused like I've never heard.The only place I can compare it to would be standing in front of the scoreboard at adelaide oval during a cricket match. And I have to say, sorry Mets fans, but in terms of atmosphere and being in awe of a stadium, the new Yankee stadium (cost US$1.5 billion) is much better than Citifield. Even so, to think that you might be one of the first Australians at these new stadiums was pretty nice.
I also was able to go back to Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks last game of the year, in which they flogged the Nets by about 30 points. My only regret about my time in new york is not having gone to an Ice Hockey game. They say it is much better live than on TV because there is so much going on away from the puck that you don't see on TV, much like AFL I would imagine. But all in all, New York was great. I got so much in there and took about 500 photos, so I was ready to leave when the time came.
And so here I am in Toronto! There are some things i like about it here. The pace is not too hectic, and the infrastructure is good. Subways and streetcars are frequent and easy to use. There are enough places to get smashed at. But apart from the CN tower and parts of the waterfront, there is not a whole lot to do or see here. And I have not been able to land some work like I would have liked. I have some leads which hopefully turn into something, and I'm in no danger of running out of money anytime soon, so I'm still having a fun time.
I went to a Major League Soccer game here last week, which was just like an A-league game on steroids. And Last night I went to see the Blue Jays play the Orioles at Rogers Stadium. It has a retractable roof, and is much like Docklands stadium, but they play on artificial grass, as was the soccer game. The city actually reminds me a bit about Melbourne, but without the intimacy or the identity or the art or the culture or the sport. The other bad thing about Toronto is the price of booze; about CN$6.50 for a pint.
Some people I have met have told me also how beautiful British Columbia is, so I am contemplating heading to Vancouver if I can't find work here. Whistler is also not far from there, so I could head up there for some Mountain biking/hiking.
opulence and decadence
Originally posted: Friday, 17 April 2009
Hello again all, hope you are all well and good. New York - it's a big city, and it had a lot to live up to when I first arrived. In many cases it has, but others not so much. That is not to say that it hasn't been an awesome experience; certainly there are so many things going on here that it is difficult to be bored for any length of time.
Firstly, the scale of the place is mind boggling. Manhattan is a big place, the buildings are monumental, and there are so many little communities to experience that it's hard to believe. I have tried to do as many 'touristy' things as
possible during the day, and then trying to find local niche bars and restaurants during the night to find out what the locals are like. You also hear a lot of accents and languages here, more than anywhere else I've been.
The locals can be quite accommodating once you break through the inital period, but they like to hear about what others think of their city, and are just as curious about yours, but of course, they've met Australians before, so knowing them is no novelty.
I have had many favourite experiences since being here, such as going to an
NBA game, and visiting the Empire State Building, both childhood dreams. But something I have enjoyed the most has been sitting in a place like City Hall Park, or Madison Square, and admiring the scale and ornamentation of the skyscrapers surrounding you.
Not only is it inspiring, but it has a certain aura that gives you a sense of the opulence and decadence that must have existed when New York was in its hey-day of the mid 19th century to the late 1920's. As such, it is not surprising that many local papers refer to the city as gotham, and i'm not sure, but it would not surpriuse me if the notion of a 'super-hero' was born here at that time "Leap tal
l buildings in a single bound, faster than speeding bullet, able to stop a speeding locomotive..." You get the feeling that this place has been, and in some senses still is, the centre of the (Western) universe.
The food is also interesting in that there are fast food joints EVERYWHERE. And the beer is either expensive (US$5 at most bars, US$9 at Madison Square Garden), or inexplicably cheap (US$1.25 at convenience stores). And tipping is another experience that takes some getting used to.
The downside has been the expense, and the curtness of some of the people. Nontheless, a good time. I'm off to see two Baseball games in the next 2 days, and then heading up to Toronto. I met some people who live there, and apparently the job market is better there, and it is less expensive.
Hello again all, hope you are all well and good. New York - it's a big city, and it had a lot to live up to when I first arrived. In many cases it has, but others not so much. That is not to say that it hasn't been an awesome experience; certainly there are so many things going on here that it is difficult to be bored for any length of time.
Firstly, the scale of the place is mind boggling. Manhattan is a big place, the buildings are monumental, and there are so many little communities to experience that it's hard to believe. I have tried to do as many 'touristy' things as
possible during the day, and then trying to find local niche bars and restaurants during the night to find out what the locals are like. You also hear a lot of accents and languages here, more than anywhere else I've been.The locals can be quite accommodating once you break through the inital period, but they like to hear about what others think of their city, and are just as curious about yours, but of course, they've met Australians before, so knowing them is no novelty.
I have had many favourite experiences since being here, such as going to an
NBA game, and visiting the Empire State Building, both childhood dreams. But something I have enjoyed the most has been sitting in a place like City Hall Park, or Madison Square, and admiring the scale and ornamentation of the skyscrapers surrounding you.Not only is it inspiring, but it has a certain aura that gives you a sense of the opulence and decadence that must have existed when New York was in its hey-day of the mid 19th century to the late 1920's. As such, it is not surprising that many local papers refer to the city as gotham, and i'm not sure, but it would not surpriuse me if the notion of a 'super-hero' was born here at that time "Leap tal
l buildings in a single bound, faster than speeding bullet, able to stop a speeding locomotive..." You get the feeling that this place has been, and in some senses still is, the centre of the (Western) universe.The food is also interesting in that there are fast food joints EVERYWHERE. And the beer is either expensive (US$5 at most bars, US$9 at Madison Square Garden), or inexplicably cheap (US$1.25 at convenience stores). And tipping is another experience that takes some getting used to.
The downside has been the expense, and the curtness of some of the people. Nontheless, a good time. I'm off to see two Baseball games in the next 2 days, and then heading up to Toronto. I met some people who live there, and apparently the job market is better there, and it is less expensive.
a nice carribean sojourn
Originally posted: Friday, 3 April 2009
Hello all again, hope you are well. Barbados was a nice carribean sojourn that was again in contrast to Barcelona and the other places I have visited. On the first day I was there, I was walking with a local, and they told me that I was walking too fast...
It is really a place where it is very easy to forget about the time, and then what day it is, and so on, until you just realise that you eat when you are hungry, drink when thirsty, and sleep when tired.
The schedule was similar to Phuket; swim,
banks beer, swim, banks beer etc. But it was slightly better here because 1) less tourists, 2) more waves for body surfing and 3) the locals are better.
Having said that, some repeat tourists I met said that they couldn't believe how quiet the tourist season had been this year. Another concern according to them is the degrading of the beaches over the last 15 yeasrs or so - apparently the beaches have receded about 30-50 meters from where they once were.
Regardless, the locals are some of the nicest people to meet, but you do get the sense that they are getting a bit tired of all the honkys in their country. But I got the best idea what kind of people they are when I went to the 2 cricket games there, which was awesome.
The first day in particular, I was sitting a stand that was predominantly locals, and the whole time is like a party. People call out to each other to say hello, theres music, drums, horns, lots off calling out and sledging, and once they realised I was from Australia and not Eng-u-lund, there was high fives all round.
I also discovered that I HATE touring: Going on a car or bus for 20 minutes, get out, take a picture, walk around for 5 minutes, get back in the car for 20 minutes. Eat some shit food. Rubbish. Wasted a day doing that.
It has a community spirit that was
reminiscent of holidays to Kangaroo Island as a youngster, and a pace that takes a few days to adjust to. The food was not as good as some of the other places I've visited, but again I was told that the taste has been 'dumbed down' for the tourists.
Hello all again, hope you are well. Barbados was a nice carribean sojourn that was again in contrast to Barcelona and the other places I have visited. On the first day I was there, I was walking with a local, and they told me that I was walking too fast...
It is really a place where it is very easy to forget about the time, and then what day it is, and so on, until you just realise that you eat when you are hungry, drink when thirsty, and sleep when tired.
The schedule was similar to Phuket; swim,
banks beer, swim, banks beer etc. But it was slightly better here because 1) less tourists, 2) more waves for body surfing and 3) the locals are better.Having said that, some repeat tourists I met said that they couldn't believe how quiet the tourist season had been this year. Another concern according to them is the degrading of the beaches over the last 15 yeasrs or so - apparently the beaches have receded about 30-50 meters from where they once were.
Regardless, the locals are some of the nicest people to meet, but you do get the sense that they are getting a bit tired of all the honkys in their country. But I got the best idea what kind of people they are when I went to the 2 cricket games there, which was awesome.
The first day in particular, I was sitting a stand that was predominantly locals, and the whole time is like a party. People call out to each other to say hello, theres music, drums, horns, lots off calling out and sledging, and once they realised I was from Australia and not Eng-u-lund, there was high fives all round.
I also discovered that I HATE touring: Going on a car or bus for 20 minutes, get out, take a picture, walk around for 5 minutes, get back in the car for 20 minutes. Eat some shit food. Rubbish. Wasted a day doing that.
It has a community spirit that was
reminiscent of holidays to Kangaroo Island as a youngster, and a pace that takes a few days to adjust to. The food was not as good as some of the other places I've visited, but again I was told that the taste has been 'dumbed down' for the tourists.It is very hard not to like this city.
Originally posted: Sunday, 29 March 2009 
Aahhh Barcelona. The people. The food. The drinking. The women. The sights. The sounds...
I went to Barcelona with not too many expectations, but left with some great memories and some amaxing experiences. I love the Spain lifestyle: Get up about 9. Breakfast at 10. Lunch at 3. Siesta. Dinner at 9. Party till the sun comes up!
And the food. I probably gained 3 kilos in a week. Tapas, Paela, whatever. And
you can get a beer anytime you want and from wherever you want. Barbers, Bakeries, Phone stores, McDonalds. and I don't mean a paper cup, it's like a big ass glass of beer. The Barcelona bars are so cool as well. Smooth music, beautiful bar people, chilled ambience.
The Barcelona architecture is so bold and inspiring. And some of it very old. It certainly reflects the people and where they've come from. And if you ever go to Barcelona, don't ever equate the Catalans with the Spainish. After what they went through under Dictator Franco for 30 odd years, you can appreciate their joi de viere
and their attitude and sense of pride.
One other thing I've probably learnt on this trip is that public transport in Australia, especially Sydney, is SHITHOUSE compared with the places I've visited. Foreign public transport is efficient, affordable, frequent, punctual, vast, and comparitively easy.
The highlight of spain however was the Barcelona FC game I went to. 75,000 people going crazy as BFC gave Malagra a 6-0 touch up. Biggest crowd I've ever been to in a sports event. The noise was amazing. It is very hard not to like this city. The only downside was the expense, but
that just shows how shit the Aussie dollar is.
Aahhh Barcelona. The people. The food. The drinking. The women. The sights. The sounds...
I went to Barcelona with not too many expectations, but left with some great memories and some amaxing experiences. I love the Spain lifestyle: Get up about 9. Breakfast at 10. Lunch at 3. Siesta. Dinner at 9. Party till the sun comes up!
And the food. I probably gained 3 kilos in a week. Tapas, Paela, whatever. And
you can get a beer anytime you want and from wherever you want. Barbers, Bakeries, Phone stores, McDonalds. and I don't mean a paper cup, it's like a big ass glass of beer. The Barcelona bars are so cool as well. Smooth music, beautiful bar people, chilled ambience.The Barcelona architecture is so bold and inspiring. And some of it very old. It certainly reflects the people and where they've come from. And if you ever go to Barcelona, don't ever equate the Catalans with the Spainish. After what they went through under Dictator Franco for 30 odd years, you can appreciate their joi de viere
and their attitude and sense of pride.One other thing I've probably learnt on this trip is that public transport in Australia, especially Sydney, is SHITHOUSE compared with the places I've visited. Foreign public transport is efficient, affordable, frequent, punctual, vast, and comparitively easy.
The highlight of spain however was the Barcelona FC game I went to. 75,000 people going crazy as BFC gave Malagra a 6-0 touch up. Biggest crowd I've ever been to in a sports event. The noise was amazing. It is very hard not to like this city. The only downside was the expense, but
that just shows how shit the Aussie dollar is.a seething den of sin and inequity
Originally posted: Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Hello again all. Today is my last day in Thailand, and it has been a remarkable week. Bangkok and some other places in Thailand are a seething den of sin and inequity. You can't go anywhere without being hounded for a taxi, tuk-tuk, massage or tailored suit. That is not to say that the Thai people are not genuinely affectionate. Most are helpful and interested where you have come from, but others, unfortunately, are out to fleece you as much as they can.
I spent 4 days in Bangkok getting around to most of the tourist spots. I met up with an American broad called Lisa, and she said something very relevant: Getting around in Bangkok does not feel like a vacation. She was dead right, so i caught a plane to Phuket and spent 2 and a half days at Patong Beach. Still very touristy, but far more relaxing, cheaper, and easy-going than Bangkok. It was the Thai experience I was looking for. Unfortunately I probably spent a day or 2 too many in Bangkok, but so it goes. Nevertheless, the contrast to Tokyo was profound and precisely what I was hoping for.
Anyways, off to Espanol tonight. Hopefully the Australian dollar will continue it's upward trend.
Hello again all. Today is my last day in Thailand, and it has been a remarkable week. Bangkok and some other places in Thailand are a seething den of sin and inequity. You can't go anywhere without being hounded for a taxi, tuk-tuk, massage or tailored suit. That is not to say that the Thai people are not genuinely affectionate. Most are helpful and interested where you have come from, but others, unfortunately, are out to fleece you as much as they can.
I spent 4 days in Bangkok getting around to most of the tourist spots. I met up with an American broad called Lisa, and she said something very relevant: Getting around in Bangkok does not feel like a vacation. She was dead right, so i caught a plane to Phuket and spent 2 and a half days at Patong Beach. Still very touristy, but far more relaxing, cheaper, and easy-going than Bangkok. It was the Thai experience I was looking for. Unfortunately I probably spent a day or 2 too many in Bangkok, but so it goes. Nevertheless, the contrast to Tokyo was profound and precisely what I was hoping for.
Anyways, off to Espanol tonight. Hopefully the Australian dollar will continue it's upward trend.
dignified refinedness
originally posted: Thursday, 12 March 2009
Hi all, The trip so far has been good. Japan, of couse is an amazing country with very interesting people. The places are amazing - contrastingly ancient and progressive - and the people have a certain sense of dignified refinedness that demonstrates their strength of will and ethic.
The highlights would have been the Fish Market, Asaksa temples, the
architecture in Haraguru, and the lights of Shinjuku and Shibuya. The only lowlight would have been not getting to see the Imperial Palace - it was closed the first day I went and then the second day I found out you need to apply for a pass, and that the day i had gone all the allocated passes for that day had been given out.
Nonetheless, good times had. Great food, good beers, and good, if somewhat disjointed, conversation. The people I met were so knowledgeable and curious, but I found their heightened sense of self conciousness meant that they rarely appraoched me to strike up a conversation; it nearly always had to be the other
way around.
The scale of the place is mind-blowing. 4-10 storied buildings from central tokyo all the way to Narita airport - a 50 minute express trainride away. Obviously some mammoth buildings in the major hubs as well. But you get to experience things like Shinjuku train station - the busiest in the world. The Tokyo fish market does something like 1 billion yen trade a day.
Anyways, the trip to Thailand was fine and now finding the way around Bangkok. Polls apart from Tokyo obviously.
Hi all, The trip so far has been good. Japan, of couse is an amazing country with very interesting people. The places are amazing - contrastingly ancient and progressive - and the people have a certain sense of dignified refinedness that demonstrates their strength of will and ethic.
The highlights would have been the Fish Market, Asaksa temples, the
architecture in Haraguru, and the lights of Shinjuku and Shibuya. The only lowlight would have been not getting to see the Imperial Palace - it was closed the first day I went and then the second day I found out you need to apply for a pass, and that the day i had gone all the allocated passes for that day had been given out.Nonetheless, good times had. Great food, good beers, and good, if somewhat disjointed, conversation. The people I met were so knowledgeable and curious, but I found their heightened sense of self conciousness meant that they rarely appraoched me to strike up a conversation; it nearly always had to be the other
way around.The scale of the place is mind-blowing. 4-10 storied buildings from central tokyo all the way to Narita airport - a 50 minute express trainride away. Obviously some mammoth buildings in the major hubs as well. But you get to experience things like Shinjuku train station - the busiest in the world. The Tokyo fish market does something like 1 billion yen trade a day.
Anyways, the trip to Thailand was fine and now finding the way around Bangkok. Polls apart from Tokyo obviously.
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