In January I started researching for an “epic” birthday present for Mike. The idea was a festival where Snow Patrol were playing as we both love this band! However, as I soon found out, it was not really known yet at the time which bands would be playing . . . → Read More: Glasgow Snow Patrol concert]]> Saturday 12th June 2010

In January I started researching for an “epic” birthday present for Mike. The idea was a festival where Snow Patrol were playing as we both love this band!
However, as I soon found out, it was not really known yet at the time which bands would be playing where and most people just buy tickets regardless of who is playing. As I know Mike is a big wuss and wouldn’t like random bands plus a possible night in a tent with loads of drunk people shouting through the night, I knew this was not an option.

Glasgow Cathedral as seen from the cemetary - Taken by iPhone

Dashing Mike contemplating

I looked at Snow Patrol’s website but their only gig that was listed was in Northern Ireland, which after some research, turned out to be too difficult to get there and to be perfectly honest, Mike just wasn’t worth the expense
Gutted, I initially gave up and started thinking of other options that would be nowhere near as good as this idea. My luck struck as a month later, on Valentine’s day to be precise, I hear of a new date of a Snow Patrol concert in Glasgow. Much more feasable and a fun weekend away, I excitedly look on the website and imediately book the tickets (on my iPhone – gotta love technology!!). I inform Mike that a surprise weekend is booked for the 12/13th of July and to keep it free, he will be told what would be happening on his birthday -27th of April.
Mike cannot retain his curiousity and starts to do ANYTHING to try and find out what his present will be, including checking the calendar in case I wrote it down, as if I’m THAT stupid!! I don’t budge and as said I gave him the tickets on his birthday. Luckily the present is received with great joy and I get the go ahead to book the flights and the hotel.

Yesterday it FINALLY was the big day and we set off at the crack of dawn on the flight to Glasgow. On the way to the hotel we search Google for the “Top 10 things to do in Glasgow”. It is worth noting that looking for “top 10″ things is Mike’s favourite past time which I usually roll my eyes to, but this time actually quite a good idea. However, we find nothing interesting in the top ten’s this time, so we go see the impressive Cathedral instead.

On arrival at my hotel of choice, the 5 star Crowne Plaza, Mike is loving it. We immediately find out where the pool is and go for a swim, jaccuzi, sauna and steam room before getting ready for the 4pm start of the concert.

Whilst getting ready I get the exciting news that my best friend Marije has given birth to a healthy son named Teun, which sets the good mood for the rest of the day nicely.

Once at Bellahouston Park, I am pleased to find out it is a mini festival with many food tents, a massive drinks bar, a huge field and two stages for six (!!) bands as supporting acts- so I got what I wanted in the end

The first band, a local Glasgow band called ‘Frightened Rabbit’ was by far the best in our opinion! Many bands, beers and drunken Scots later, Snow Patrol kicks off at 9pm with obviously brilliant music, but also amazing stage displays and lighting. By this time we had moved twice to avoid run ins with “pissed up chavs” -as Mike puts it- and have the best view of the stage. Mike obviously has the better view being ridiculously tall at 6′6″ (198cm) and me being able to see all if tip toed. At my absolute all time favourite song “Run” I get to sit on his shoulders which was just awesome!

After the absolute epic concert is sadly finished we rush to the nearby sign saying “Gate B” thinking we can outsmart the legless Scots by being first out, only to find out this was not an exit.. and had to get to the other end of the park having to mingle with shouting drunks falling over their own two feet. We manage to get out without cigarette marks or having beer spilled on us and make our way back to hotel walking over a footbridge with the -almost mirage- sight of the Science Center and hotel in the near distance.

After room service that night and breakfast in the morning, we decide this is defenitaly an experience worthy of repeat – although preferably without the drunken chavs.

Now over to Mike’s version of events, who insisted he have his say:
–I’m afraid you will have to wait, as Mike is chilling after this exhausting weekend and you shall have to check back some other time, to read what he has to say–

no here’s the pictures, taken on Mike’s Canon EOS, mostly by Mike.

View Photo Album

After all the anticipation of:” will we or won’t we go” what with all the volcanic ash in the air, we were pleased that we could finally go on our first proper holiday! We jet of on an airplane and on . . . → Read More: Corsica]]> Corsica 2nd of May – 9th of May 2010

After all the anticipation of:” will we or won’t we go” what with all the volcanic ash in the air, we were pleased that we could finally go on our first proper holiday! We jet of on an airplane and on arrival to Ajaccio airport we pick up a brand new Peugot 308 with only 11km on it.

Our Brand new ride

We set off to the other side of South Corsica past some amazing landscapes and stopped off at a lovely beach (Roccapina) on the way to have some lunch.
We were staying at a place called Ranch Campo, which we lovingly started calling ‘the gay ranch’. Ranch Campo is situated near Palombaggia beach, supposedly the best beach in the area! After having arrived and settled in at our ‘mini villa’ we decide to walk the ’short distance’ and soon find out that although it’s a lovely walk with loads of plants, trees and flowers that Mike endlessly points out to me, it is quite far! The beach looks nice but we are not majorly impressed, we must have been spoiled with Barbados!!

As Mike had kindly read all of the lonely planet, done all the Internet research and made a loose plan and a top 10 of things to do or not to be missed, I was happy giving him the reigns!
So in the next week we saw loads of amazing beaches (courtesy of some website with a top ‘however many’ beaches of Corsica), explored nearby village Piccovagia and nearby town Porto-Vecchio and went on a few stunning hikes with the best one by far from a lighthouse on ’seven sister like’ cliffs to Bonifacio and scared ourselves driving along the cliffs in the mountains. Or it could’ve been just me that was afraid to look.

Mike not feeling too flash

We also went horseriding -at Chex Pierrot in the mountains near Quenza – with a lovely chap who did not speak any English, but in our little French plus hands and feet we understood each other. The Frenchman and his boss (Pierrot) were just having some lunch and whether we wanted to or not, we got some too: chunks of bread cheese and some red wine, very nice actually! And the fire place was very welcoming too as it turned out to be quite cold up there in the mountains. On the horseride it was Mike’s turn to s#!¥ himself as mr Frenchie, the dogs and me gallopped along, Mike was hobbling after us. Frenchie asked us: ‘good?’ and I said:’YEAH!’ whilst Mike just looked ill. He got the hang of it in the end though and despite the cold and some rain, we saw some awesome views up there.

chilling at the Bar on Palombaggia beach

Another of Mike’s plans was to go canyoning: climbering rocks and coves, through river and white water and some cliff jumping thrown in, all in attire of trainers, wetsuit and helmet. Sounded ace to me, but unfortunately the weather gods were not with us. The weather on the coast was amazing but up in the mountains, where the canyoning would have taken place, it was too cold apparently to do it, so unfortunately this was cancelled. At least it gives us a really good reason to come back one day!!

On the last day we checked out some more beaches but they were not that great. As as it’s really sunny and didn’t see the famous Palombaggia in the sun on our first day, we decide to see if maybe it is as amazing as everyone thinks it is. Sure enough, it is packed -which must mean other people think the beach is awesome- but makes it a tad less fantastic for us. We walk toward the distance where it’s less busy and sun it up, after a while we feel like a beer and see a bar further along. We walk over to check it out and BANG! This must be where amazing Palombaggia is! It is to us anyway, chilled out music, comfy wooden loungers and comfy chairs/sofas/beds on the beach, beer in hand, sun on face, what more do you want?! We are VERY content anyway, it’s the perfect end to a perfect holiday.

View Photo Album

The plan is, as always, to post any photo’s and blog from the last year and then to keep up the good . . . → Read More: Sorry I have been so long]]> Just a little test on my iPhone, and YES I have been ridiculously not been updating my blog at all and am planning to change this in the very near future!!!

The plan is, as always, to post any photo’s and blog from the last year and then to keep up the good work. This time it may actually happen as I found this iPhone app I am currently using, and it actually works!

testing photo album and sizes of pictures. which one works best for you on your computer/resolution?

It’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know

I have decided to take advantage of the awful recession that is pestering most of the world these days. The airline I work for is allowing their cabin crew . . . → Read More: Koh Phi Phi Thailand]]> Koh Phi Phi Thailand – the whole month of February 2009

It’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know

I have decided to take advantage of the awful recession that is pestering most of the world these days. The airline I work for is allowing their cabin crew (and most of their staff) month(s) of unpaid leave, with keeping your job for when you get back and the use of the discounted  staff travel, who in their right of mind would not take advantage of this?!.

So Monday the 2nd of February was the big day that I was planning to fly to Bangkok, but the ever changeable weather in the UK had other plans with me. As all the people in the UK will remember, it snowed heavily the night before and that day and all flights due to leave from London Heathrow before 5pm were cancelled..

I thought I would be safe, as my flight was at 9:30 pm, but as the day progressed it became clear i was not going to Bangkok that day…

Loh Dalum Bay in Koh Phi Phi

View from Viewpoint Massage place

Now it’s not a massive big deal to most people, but on a staff travel, and therefore stand by, ticket, this is an absolute nightmare. I’ll explain why:  A full flight was cancelled and as I later found out: the previous day’s flight was cancelled too.  So all these people that were supposed to be on those flights, had to be rebooked on the next few flights, incl the day after, the one I was planning to travel on.  As ’stand by staff’ you obviously -and rightly- come after full fare paying passengers,  so this was not happy news for me at all.
It wasn’t looking good, but thanks to my friend’s boyfriend Paul, who works as a pilot and pestered all the pilots on my flight to give me a jumpseat (one of the empty crew seats by the doors), I got on the flight!!!!
And thanks to some passengers who didnt show for the flight at all, I ended up getting a whole row of seats, so I was happy as Larry and off to Bangkok the day after I planned to go, not bad going in this nightmare!!

And today, 3 days later, I am in my paradise Koh Phi Phi, all relaxed from the Thai massage I’ve just had, sitting in a pub with free wireless internet, writing my blog whilst having an ice cold Coke

I arrived here yesterday: flew from Bangkok to Phuket with Thai Airways and then stayed in the hostel I always stay there: the On On. It is quite a dump to be honest, but I initially went there 4 years ago purely because the film The Beach was filmed there (posing as a Bangkok hostel). The hostel is really nothing much at all, but I know it is open 24 hours so even when I arrived at 1 in the morning,  I could get a room and know that the next morning I can catch a taxi that take me to the harbour to catch the boat to Koh Phi Phi, as I know they do good deals on a taxi-boat ticket straight from the hotel.  So with the above in mind, the rooms that are slightly under standard are a small price to pay. Literally.
I only felt truly relaxed when I was on that boat the next morning, and even more so now that I am here.

Loh Dalum Bay

Loh Dalum Bay

I’m staying in one of the cheapest places here (250 Baht a night, which is just under a fiver), a backpackers dorm room, sharing with 12 other people! It’s not ideal, but I’ve got to watch the pennies as a month without salary does not leave much of a budget. I won’t be staying long though, as Cella has very kindly offered me to stay with her and her husband Aiad when I buy a matress (which will be soon, need to go back to Phuket to find one).
I met Cella 4 years ago when we worked together for Ashwindum Muay Thai Stadium and Monkey Beach Bar, right here in Phi Phi. Coincidentaly enough, Cella is Dutch like me and we kept in touch all this time (hail to facebook!).
She works at Visa Diving Centre and they need more sales people,  Cella makes one phonecall and I have a job! How amazing, all within 24 hours of arriving in Phi Phi!!
I start tommorrow, but be fore I start the job, I will go for a dive with Cella in the morning.

So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going for a meal with Cella, Aiad and the rest of the Visa Diving Team, to celebrate Aiad’s birthday. I’ll check back here soon

A week later..

The new pier in Phi Phi, getting ready for diving!

Arriving back to Phi Phi after diving

I can’t believe it’s already a week ago when I wrote my last post! Not too much has happened since then. But let me tell you about my dive! After i had met most of the Visa Diving crew I was going to be working with, we headed off on a boat at 8am in the morning. Cella works as the videographer of Visa diving so she dived with me and the other divers whilst filming it all.
I hadnt been diving for 4 years (!!) but it really is like riding a bike, I hadn’t forgotten. On the first dive almost straight away we saw a turtle swimming along, the poor thing only had 2 legs to swim with, one front and one at the back! He swam down to us and then past us. Amazing. Later on we saw some more turtles and also loads of other colourful fish.

On the second dive I was having problems with my ears equalizing. With diving, just as flying, you put pressure on your ears, and you always have to equalize your ears for them to get used to the new pressure. My ears were hurting as hell, so I kept having to go up a tiny bit to ‘blow’ my nose then go down again. It took a lot of time and even at 12 meters it was still hurting.

The Visa Dive Shop where I work

Inside of the shop where we chill and check emails if there are no customers

Such a shame as I later found out the rest of the divers were below me seeing lots and lots of sharks! I missed out this time, but I’m going to try again in a few days or so (When Clare and Adam come over ) I did see seahorses and clownfish and loaaaaads more cool stuff. I am so glad Cella came along as she made the most amazing DVD of the whole dive.

After that, I’ve been pretty much working, no partying as of yet, altho today, FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH woooooo!! we are going for a big meal and drinks with the whole crew, as one of the Instructors is leaving and Cella’s mum is here.
As I don’t have that much else to talk about but my new job, allow me to give you a little insight of a day in the exiting life of Marjolijn on Koh Phi Phi

I start work at about 9 or 9:30 in the morning. We don’t have set hours we have to work, but the more you are in the Dive shop, the more chance you have of selling stuff to customers. And as we get paid by (10%) commission, I try and be there as much as I can.
Usually I am the only one there so early, so I put the music on, hand the boards out (with advertising the different dives and courses we have) and put my laptop in the back of the shop. Ferry’s start coming in from 9:30 and then arrive every hour or every half an hour.

My personal 'mixed shake lady' she gets it ready for me as she sees me walking towards the shop!

The donut/samosa lady that comes around daily with yummy snacks

When people with backpacks walk past I hand out maps of the island (with a little cheeky pricelist of Visa Dive Shop) and help them point them in the right direction and then ask if they plan to dive whilst they are here, and if yes, explain the different choices. Hopefully I book such people in straight away, but usually they want to find accomodation first. If these people end up coming back and book in with someone else, I get 5% commission. In the mean time we nip to the shop for water or food, but usually I walk to the beach to get my mixed fruit shake, last year I was into the mango shakes, but have totally discovered the mixed one now, its got lots a fresh fruit and ice cubes, so really it is a smoothie.

There is also a cute lady walking around in the morning with homemade donuts and in the afternoon with homemade samosa’s. I can’t resist them, especially since they cost next to nothing anyway (TBH10 , which is about 20p)
This goes on until about 1pm when the morning boat with divers returns. It’s busy in the shop for a bit and usually I take my lunch break at about 1:30 for 2 hours or so.
I order my lunch ahead at the bakery (an omelet or sarnie or some Thai food) and when it gets deliverd to the shop I am off with my towel and MP3player to the beach. I sunbathe, swim and snooze til about 3 or 3:30, then go back to ‘my’ place (I’ve moved into Cella and Aiad’s place now), have a shower and change of clothes and its back to work for me!

The Monkey Beach Bar where, I worked 4 years ago - just before the tsunami

The manager still remembered me : "Marlboro Light!" he shouted..it was my nickname as they couldn't pronounce my name

A few more ferries arrive and then it’s waiting for the new arrivals to walk past showered and fresh and ask them if they want to dive whilst they are here, or people who stop to look at the signs. It’s not easy and I don’t like to push, but thankfully there are plenty of people who want to dive and just walk in the shop. Trouble is there is lots of competition, 18 (!!!)other shops on the island, two of which on the other side of the street. You are only allowed to sell your dives and dive courses from your shop, or on the step if your shop, not on the streets, so it can be quite tough.
Althought between staff is no competition and we banter across the street or practise our poi if we are bored and take the piss out of each other. The shop closes at 9pm and towards 7:30 or 8pm we usualy (not always) start buying each other beer and stand on the front of the shop chatting and getting the attention of passers by to try and get them to come diving.
at 9pm we wait for the famous 6 words (let’s get the f@%$ outta here) and we head off for dinner together, or a few of us and usually a couple of drinks afterwards in our fav pub Roling Stone, which features the brilliant local Rock band ‘Made in Thailand’:

Then the next day its all same same but different ! … 2 weeks later

Busy beaches now...

but Phi Phi will always remain beautiful, no matter how busy it is!

Same same but different is a phrase used a lot in Thailand, and I feel that Koh Phi Phi is same same, but different since 2004, my first time here..

But first, let me tell you about the past few weeks, as today, sadly, is my last working day on Phi Phi and tomorrow I shall be leaving to Koh Lanta for a few days to chill, be a beach bum and then its back home to work
Since my last edit of this post,I have had a fantastic time and met great some people like Jesse, the Cali/Hawaiian surfer/dive chick and Aimee the Indo/Ozzie cool chick who I hope to meet up with again in the future (again hail facebook! ) We partied loads with all the other divers who work all over the island and did some rock climbing, boat trips and more diving. James also popped over to Koh Phi Phi and will come to Koh Lanta with me.

Even though it was my 3rd time here, I am sure I will be back again. For those who have been to Koh Phi Phi before, it sure has changed! 4 years ago was the first time I came here, I stayed for about 3 or 4 months and left 6 days before the tsunami happened. Back then it was quieter, although even then there were a lot of day trippers on the island during the day (in their kitten heels on the beach – NUTTERS!) and some resorts, but mainly backpackers and hostels.

It's amazing how much things change in a year, me and Anna stayed here last year, its now a resort and a popular, busy beach bar, was very chilled last year...

Eventhough the tsunami was 4 years ago, they are still rebuilding on the island...

Last year I was here for 2 weeks, visiting Cella with my friend Anna and in those 4 years since the tsunami, it had changed tremendously. Obviously a lot had been washed away so many new hotels/guesthouses and shops had popped up and many were being rebuilt as we were there.

And now another year later, it is crazy how many buildings have been demolished to make place for new buildings with airco and nice clean floors etc. even MORE shops now and some more resorts. This island is sadly beginning to become a money making machine and locals are running around with $$ in their eyes…

It has become a massive party island so if that is what you are looking for, it is a fantastic place to be. many guesthouses and hotels to choose from and plenty of great restaurants with Thai or Western food. Although because of the partying, there are few places to stay where it is not noisy.. So if you are looking for peace and quiet, this is definitely not the place to go to, as even during the day the beach is packed..

So on a last serious note, I do hope Koh Phi Phi will return to its roots one day, and become that lovely, beautiful chilled out place again. till next time Koh Phi Phi, I will miss you

the amazing view from the top

Today is our last day in Japan. We decide to spend our whole day taking a relaxing 1,5 hour hike in the mountains, in specific: Mount Kurama. We take a train from Kyoto to Kurama, the hike starts here, all over . . . → Read More: Japan Day NINE (last day)]]>

the trail lined with lanterns

the amazing view from the top

Today is our last day in Japan. We decide to spend our whole day taking a relaxing 1,5 hour hike in the mountains, in specific: Mount Kurama. We take a train from Kyoto to Kurama, the hike starts here, all over the mountain to the other side to Kibune Guchi where we can take the train back to Kyoto.
They say it takes 1,5 hours if you keep your pace, but we want to relax and take in the sights and views. There are temples and shrines on the way, so we set off on the train.

Shoro

Kinone Michi

We arrived in Kurama, where we entered the temple, got given walking sticks and took a little cable cart up to the start of the trail.
The trail is lined with lanterns, which makes it look very pretty, but also very handy should you end up staying there til after dark.
The views from the top are indeed very impressive and on our way down, we get to Kinone Michi. This means: “The path on the exposed intertwining roots of old cedar trees”. We were warned by our guesthouse owners to be careful not to trip up.
Not long after, we stop at a little viewpoint where some Japanese hikers are also taking a break.

The Japanese hikers

The Kanji sign for our train station

We end up in converstation and the Japanese seem very impressed with Michiel’s Japanese and the fact he is studying at Osaka University (aparently a higher degree than the man himself has).
They are all very polite and the women suggest we have our picture taken and after lots of bowing and thank yous we are on our way again.
At the bottom of the mountain we realize is not the train station, it is another 20 minute walk so we venture into the village a little before heading to the train station. Just as well by the way, that Michiel has learned, and subsequently taught us, the Kanji for train station or we would never have known where it was as this village has no signs in Latin (English)!!
When we get back to Kyoto we have a nice last dinner and head back early for packing and sleeping as tomorrow is an early day for flying back home…
Bye Japan, it has been fantastic meeting you!

me and loads of Nijntjes

completely imerged in a manga comic book

on the . . . → Read More: Japan, Day EIGHT]]> Today the plan is to go to a manga museum. Michiel is very interested in Manga, both films and comics and we think it is worth checking out as it is such a big part of Japanese culture.

me and loads of Nijntjes

completely imerged in a manga comic book

on the way we see some big rabbits…, i already explained to you about Dick Bruna, the creator of Nijntje AKA Miffy, well, this is her but loads of them!! off course I dont miss the opportunity of having my picture taken with this celebrity
Once in the Manga museum we see it is a massive library as well as a museum. Lots of children, but also adults come here to read the books. There are people sitting, lying and crouching everywhere, clutching a manga book. The history of Manga is explained, as well as some of the Japanese Kanji Characters, how they came about… a special project was displayed and explained which took my interest. it’s called Linga Comica 3 by ASEF, the Asia-Europe Foundation. It’s basically a project, which they ‘plucked’ 14 emerging comic artists, for a 2-months online collaboration through comics. They all came from different countries and were paired up to write/draw a story about certain topics such as cultural differences or global warming. it was so interesting to see these comics by two artists in two styles come together and a fasinating read. unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures, so if you were interested, you’d have to click on the websites to read and see more.

Michiel and I in traditional Kimono

How the Kanji for trees/forest is made up

Another interesting special exhibitions was about how the Japanese used to wear Kimono’s and where Manga began in Japan, a story that captured me is the tale on Genji. Everyone in Japan has heard of it, as it is actual history, that became more popular when Ms. Yamato Waki brought out a manga version. It is about Genji, who is the emperor’s son, who lives as his subject after this mothers death and therefore loses his right of succeeding throne. He has love affairs with many court ladies including his stepmother! drama! me and my brother both bought a book (there are 12 parts) which we will swap after reading. luckily it is written in English as well as Japanese
There was also a section about european comics and how this was seen as European manga, comics such as belgian suske en wiske and tin tin were mentioned and very old comics were shown. Apparently manga was initially made for children but when these children grew up they still liked manga so it grew with them and became for teenagers too, then adults. now manga is read by young and old.

In the evening, we go to the Kodai-ji Temple to see the ‘light show’ it is not really a light show but more clever positioning of lights so that the autumn colours come to their right even in the dark. it looks amazing especially with the lights reflecting in the pond.
the baboo garden next to it also looks fantastic, it was definitaly worth seeing!!

Kodai-ji temple at night

Life Size 'Dick Bruna' posters in Osaka-Umeda

Today we venture out of Kyoto and to Osaka, about 40 minutes away by train (although sometimes the journey can be longer, depending on time of day and where in Kyoto/Osaka you are). This is where Michiel studies and lives. We aim to visit . . . → Read More: Japan, Day SIX]]> DAY SIX

Life Size 'Dick Bruna' posters in Osaka-Umeda

Today we venture out of Kyoto and to Osaka, about 40 minutes away by train (although sometimes the journey can be longer, depending on time of day and where in Kyoto/Osaka you are). This is where Michiel studies and lives. We aim to visit Osaka Jo (Osaka Castle), the Umeda Sky Building and Michiel’s lab and Uni.
When we arrive in Osaka Station, we see lots of ‘Dick Bruna’ characters on posters. For those of you that don’t regonize the name; Dick Bruna is the illustrator and writer of Dutch children books, mostly famous for ‘Nijntje’, which incidentally is callend ‘Miffy’ in the rest of the world (Nijntje being a Dutch diminutive word for ‘rabbit’). It is funny to see the life size characters, which we associate with Dutch life, in Japan with Japanese writing underneath, so we see this as an opportunity to record this weird phenomenon!!

On the way to Osaka Jo, we bump into a sign that says you can do a Sightseeing Cruise, talking about feeling at home! We decide to do it with the ’special discount ticket’ for the Osaka Jo and the cruise combined.

Views of Osaka city and Tosabori River

After the relaxing cruise we walk towards Osaka Jo and take in the amazing views on our way. on top of the castle we have a nice little view and inside a museum-type story about Osaka and the castle’s history. Coming back down the castle looks even better in the late afternoon sunlight so we snap away a few more shots of the castle and the sun going down. By now we have to get our arses back on the train to town where we are meeting Michiel. We can’t be late as our phones do not work in Japan (you have to have a UMTS phone and sim) so we have no way of contacting each other.
On our way we see a really REALLY busy zebra crossing and more star wars-police men with their Star Wars Darth Vader Lightsabers! (photo’s of these in Japan, The Photos Day SIX)
Luckily it all goes well and we manage to meet each other, how did we ever do it without mobile phones? I can’t remember, it’s too long ago for me!!
We walk to the Umeda Sky Building which looks like an alien-type-supersonic-arc de triomphe! There is a cool little German Christmas Market underneath with lovely Christmas music. It sure does not feel like Japan here.

Osaka-Ji in the evening light

The Umeda Sky building with the scary escalators in the top!!

To get up to the top floor you have to take escalators a few floors up, pay and get an elavator to a certain point (which by the way, is a glass elevator on the outside of the building AAAAHHHHHHHH- do something that scares you everyday….I certainly did!)
At this certain point, to get up higher, you need to take escalators, that go from one tower to the other, with a WHOLE LOTTA NOTHING underneath! and glass windows on either side, just so you can see how high up you are… another thing that scared me, but I still did it! in the other tower we had to ascend some stairs or take the old people’s lift up to finally get to the outside observatory level. This was not so scary, funnily enough, as there was a floor below us so you couldn’t lean over and fall off, which was nice cuz I could enjoy the views and the really cool fluoresant flooring that lit up because of the black light above .

The ultra cool fluorescent flooring on the Umeda Sky Building

Me and Robot Repliee Q2

After this we venture into town for something to eat and find a little Japanese style take away where you can buy ‘ramen’. Ramen is a type of noodles and is cooked very quickly, you sit on bar stools, choose your flavour and ingredients and its in front of you in a matter of minutes. Tastes very good too!!
Then it’s time for us to follow Michiel to his campus and the lab where he works. Unfortunately the robot I was most interested in (The Geminoid) was in a different lab and we couldn’t go and see it, but we did meet two other robots, a few robot toys and LOTS of computers! Very interesting indeed to see what my brother is up to all day (mainly play with robots )and see his enviroment.
It was getting pretty late and we end up catching the last train back to Kyoto and straight to bed as we get in

We are a little templed out, so we go for a hike/walk we found in one of the guide books, named: Tetsugaku-No-Michi (Path Of Philosophy). The path takes its name from one of it’s most famous strollers: 20th century philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who is said to have walked this every day to . . . → Read More: Japan, Day FIVE]]> DAY FIVE

We are a little templed out, so we go for a hike/walk we found in one of the guide books, named: Tetsugaku-No-Michi (Path Of Philosophy). The path takes its name from one of it’s most famous strollers: 20th century philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who is said to have walked this every day to keep fit and think.
Unlucky for us it is lined with temples and even though we thought we had seen enough, we cannot resist.
First up is Honen-In. As many of the other temples, this also has a beautiful garden that looks lovely in this autumn with the fabulous autumn colours.

Tetsugaku-No-Michi (Path Of Philosophy)

in the garden of Honen-In

We also find a buddha tucked away in a corner and a little mini tower.
Next in line is Nanzen-Ji. This exited me even more as they had a fully blown aqueduct!! Weird to see in Japan, as it feels like going back to Roman times seeing it, but it is very impressive indeed. Not only could you walk under it and be amazed by the autumn foliage around it, you could also go up and see the water flowing over the heads of others. How the Romans ever invented this is beyond me. Very clever piece of work.
Within the complex is a gate called the Sanmon, it symbolizes the three roads to Buddhist liberation and is well knows as one of the three biggest gates in Japan. The gate is in true Zen style, with a gabled roof of baked clay tiles and with 5 pillars and 3 entrances. My parents don’t want to go up so they wait downstairs as I go up. The view is amazing and can see all over the mountains and over the temples. The photo’s do not do it justice. As do none of the photos by the way, you really have to see it to believe it!!!! The stairs up and down are very VERY low, silly mini Japanese people! so there is a massive sign saying Mind Your Head. a little different from Mind The Gap, haha!

The view from gate Sanmon in Nanzen-Ji temple

Kinkaku-ji or Rokkuon-Ji-The Golden Pavilion and the Kyoko-chi, mirror pond

After this, we decide, as we are not too far from it, to go see another temple on our to do list: Kinkaku-ji or Rokkuon-Ji-The Golden Pavilion. The 2nd and 3rd floor are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer and the roof is thatched with shingles. The pond in which it stands is called Kyoko-chi, which means mirror pond. A name i can understand it having as it served as a mirror, its almost as if you see double!
As the sun was setting, it let an fantastic light on the temple and again the photo’s do not do it justice. I was hoping for a glorious sunset complete with pink, orange and red skies but unfortunately it was cloudy and there was none of the sort. Never the less a fantastic day which ended with a beautiful pizza (yes I know!! no Japanese food today ) PS the rest of the photos will be added ASAP on Japan-The photos underneath. hopefully tonight-japan time xx