Brad's Japan/Thailand Trip 2007 - Photos Up!

[bradavon]

It's that time again folks when I jet off to lands a far.

* On the Saturday 24th of February I jet off from Heathrow, London at 21:35 to Tokyo, Japan.
* I fly via Bangkok, Thailand with Thai Airways (don't ask it worked out cheaper) to Bangkok first and arrive at 15:35 (Sunday).
* I then meet my Thai friend who is meeting me at the airport. We'll hang out for the afternoon and have dinner
* I'll then be dumped back on the plane and fly out again at 00:50 arriving to destination at 08:30 on Monday the 26th of February.
* I then hop on the bullet train to Nagoya of which it should take 2 hours, assuming I can get on the right train of course.
* Another friend who happens to be Korean but lives in Japan and I met in Vietnam (confused yet? ) lives in Nagoya with her Japanese boyfriend. He's on a business trip but she'll be waiting for me.
* I arrive at my destination at roughly 11:30.

I then do lots of stuff, mostly unplanned as yet but I will be visiting Kyoto and Hiroshima.

* And on Friday the 9th of March at 9:45 I hop on a plane back to Bangkok.
* Oh by this point I'll have made my way back to Tokyo for a few days.
* I land in Bangkok at 14:45. I will then check-in to my hotel (of which I've yet to book).

I then do lots more stuff, mostly unplanned as yet but I will be going down south to visit the beaches. It's going to be uber hot in Thailand.

* Finally I fly out Saturday the 17th of March from Bangkok back to Heathrow.

Phew! - 3 Weeks of Asian stuffed madness!

* Any tips, things I should say or shouldn't say (to not offend someone)?
* How many days should I allow in Tokyo? I was thinking minimum 3 days.
* Places that are A MUST SEE while in Japan please let me know?

So guys I'll be leaving the sites day to day running in Tom's capable hands.

[bradavon]

Incidentally Expedia wanted £1800 for this little trip, which is absurd as it's actually only one extra flight over the normal London to Bangkok direct which only costs £475.

The way I'm doing it it's 2 extra flights but in theory it doesn't need to be (London to Tokyo, Tokyo to Bangkok, Bangkok to London).

There's no way I was going to pay £1800 they can jump. In the end I paid £953 which is still loads but much better. This is through STA Travel, who I've used before and are bloody good, very polite/helpful and very knowledgeable about the areas. STA Travel specialise in backpackers so really know their stuff.

I understand Japan is an awkward place to get to. I thought Thailand to Japan was a brisk walk but no way it's another 9 hours, it's 10-12 from London to Thailand. That's some distance I'll be travelling.

[thelostdragon]

Isn't any nuclear radiation left in Hiroshima, dude?

[bradavon]

Isn't any nuclear radiation left in Hiroshima, dude?

I don't believe so. It's a city, people live there, it has a museum and people/tourists visit it. I think it will be very enlightening but maybe there isn't anything to see and it's all in my head.

It's certainly something to bare in mind of course.

[Yi-Long]

Hiroshima has the memorial museum and stuff, but although it has lots and lots of pictures of what happened, it doesnt explain WHY it happened.

Anyway, things to do would be Tokyo Disney, which is probably even smaller than Euro Disney, but still fun ofcourse.
Also go out at night and eat at some of those local small food-stalls which will be around.
Plus I really loved staying at an outdoor hotel in the mountains/forrest near mount Fuji, where there were fireflies at night.

I love Japan. I'm thinking of just working for a few months, then get all my money saved up, get a one way ticket and just go there and see what happens...
Japan truly is the most beautiful nation in the world.

[bradavon]

When did you go Yi-long?

Have you seen other parts of Asia? Thailand is also easy to get around.

There's no way they'd explain WHY as that's far to politically dangerous. Is Hiroshima worth visiting? Or is there actually not much to see. Thanks but I won't be visiting Disney, it's really not my thing. Good to hear they have outside food stalls also in Japan, yeah those are great. They seem to be all over Asia.

Can you give me some more info about where you stayed in Mount. Fuji? How long did you go for? What did you do in Tokyo?

So many questions, so much to take in. I'm cool with Thailand as I've been there loads but Japan is another story.

p.s - Thanks for the advice.

[Yi-Long]

I was in Japan in 2001. Just a couple of days. 4 days or 5...

I havent been to Hiroshima and unless I'll ever go to Japan for a longer time, I doubt I will ever visit it. I know about the museum because it was in a documentary on dutch TV, that it was weird that the museum was full of pictures and stuff, but nowhere did it explain why it happened. Like the disaster just came falling out of the sky for no reason.

The foodstalls in japan arent like the foodstalls in HK or Thailand (which is basically 1 or 2 people and a few bakingplates with lots of food), but their just tiny local restaurants where a few people can sit down and eat.

I have no idea where I stayed around Mt Fuji. I was with other people and TBH I was just there along for the ride. It was a nice hotel in the forrest/mountain area. Pretty basic, and we had those beds/matrasses on the floor. personally I liked it alot, cause I like being outside and especially at night when it's quiet and you can see the stars and smell the forrest etc etc.

In Tokyo we went to the chinese temple, which I recognised from my Metropolis Street Racing game (Dreamcast), and also went to shopping malls and streets and stuff. We stayed at a few hotels. One was in an outskirt of Tokyo, near Sanrio World/Land... and there was a SEGA arcade and a nice 7-11 where they had lots of Manga. It was very very safe there, and at night me and my friend decided to go out to get some snacks, maybe a drink, and visit the 7-11 again, and tehre was no hotel security WHATSOEVER! The doors are just open 24-7 so we could just walk in and out of the hotel Amazing. Loved it. Walking outside also felt 100% safe.
When we stayed in a hotel in downtown Tokyo, me and my friend first decided to check out the top floor of the hotel. When the elevator stopped there, it turned out to be some rich club or whatever... but we were welcomed in and we just walked around a bit and looked out the windows to admire the view. Then went down and just took a stroll around the neighboorhood, again feeling completely safe.
When we were with the whole group, we were on our way to a restaurant and we did see a group of youngsters who looked like they might be 'tough' or in 'gang' or whatever, but they werent very intimidating looking cause they looked like extras from a Jackie Chan movie... their dress-sense is horrible.

Teens in HK, who are in gangs, look a bit more intimidating and dangerous. But didnt run into any trouble in HK either, so that's a pretty safe place as well.

I've been to thailand and although it has it's charms, overall I was left feeling a bit depressed. There are lots of homeless begging children, when we were at Pataya I was in the bus and you could see filthy old fat white guys with young teen girls on their arms, and it all just looked a bit rough and dirty.
I dont like seeing begging children, and I feel even worse knowing I cant help them cause if I give money to 1 or 2, there are 50 kids looking on who I cant give anything. Not to mention the old people. So that kinda stuff always bothers me.

They did have nice Fanta in thailand though. I enjoyed the supermarket and the hotels etc. ALMOST got in a fight with a chinese guy whow a sin teh same group as me, cause I was walking down the hotel corridor and he said to his friend and girlfriend 'See Pok Kai Kwai Lo' when he saw me... not knowing I understood what he said... so I just gave him my 'you're dead meat' stare and vowed to punch him out if he would become trouble. A day later his girlfriend found out I spoke a little bit of chinese, and after that they were all nice to me. Played card-games in their room which was fun.

Anyway, in Japan/Tokyo we visited 2 amusement parks (1 was Disney, the other had the world's largest/longest/fastest/whatever rollercoaster) and went to restaurants and shops etc. Plus when we headed for the mountains/forrests we went to those hot lava/water pits and stuff, and people would make black eggs (smelled like hell btw...)

Japan was basically just the greatest place I ever visited. It is just so amazingly gorgeous and safe and all that. There was a huge heatwave going one while we were there, and TBH I didnt care. I just felt right at home and relaxed and safe etc.

I guess everyone has places where they feel they belong and want to be always. For me that place would definately be Japan. I can only wish to one day be able to live there...
HK is cool as well, cheap food, cheap transportation, cheap clothes, etc. 2nd favourite place.

[gasteropod]

What did the Chinese guy say about you, Yi? I don't understand Chinese lol.

[Shingster]

I don't speak cantonese either, but seen enough films to know what he was saying, "fuck off and die white boy" or more literally: "go rot in the gutter, ghost face"

[gasteropod]

That's awful

[Markgway]

Yeah, I think we can say that Chinese can be as racist as anyone else.

Just go to Chinatown.

[Yi-Long]

Yeah something like that, but he didnt say it directly to me but to his friend(s).
it was meant more like 'ow there's that goddamn white boy' or something...

[gasteropod]

Just go to Chinatown.

Had experiences of it, or something? I once went to Chinatown in London, but other than that I haven't really been around Chinese people, especially to have experienced racism or anything

[Yi-Long]

Chinese people arent all that racist towards white people. Some chicks only want to date chinese guys, but I'm not sure if that classifies as racist.
I believe they can be racist towards other cultures, but since most of them dont express those feelings outloud, but just among friends and stuff, I dont think it causes big problems.

Obviously, there's racism in every culture you visit. Cause there are dumb people in every culture.

But being a white guy, I dont have much to complain about, regarding racism aimed towards me. (pretty much never happens)
I'm sure it's more 'difficult' being black, arabic or asian in today's culture in the western society.

[Markgway]

Had experiences of it, or something? I once went to Chinatown in London, but other than that I haven't really been around Chinese people, especially to have experienced racism or anything

Sometimes they treat you like a shoplifter.

Very chatty with the Chinese but as soon as you approach it's like you're gonna rob them.

Very dismissive I felt.

And if you ask a question it's like you're wasting their time and being a nuisance.

Not in the slightest bit warm and friendly.

[Yi-Long]

Nothing to do with you being white and them being chinese, Mark.

It's because you're Scottish. Nobody likes or trusts the Scottish

[ReconFive]

Nice Brad we should meet up while your over here

What beaches were you planning on visiting?
I've only been to the south-eastern gulf coast and Koh Samui (which is beautiful), but there are obviously many others.

Let me know

[bradavon]

I've been to thailand and although it has it's charms, overall I was left feeling a bit depressed. There are lots of homeless begging children, when we were at Pataya I was in the bus and you could see filthy old fat white guys with young teen girls on their arms, and it all just looked a bit rough and dirty.

What you describe is a problem over most of South East Asia, even parts of Malaysia. As for Pataya I've not been as it sounds awful, it's really not a good example of Thailand.

Pataya is after all Patpong but beaches, it exists for proposition. IMO you need to brush off such images as it's real life unfortunately.

Ironically for me that's what makes Thailand so real. Personally I love Thailand have been many times. If all you saw was Pataya though I can see why you didn't like it.

Nice Brad we should meet up while your over here

What beaches were you planning on visiting? I've only been to the south-eastern gulf coast and Koh Samui (which is beautiful), but there are obviously many others.

Crikey are you still there?

As for beaches I'm not sure tbh. I've been to Thailand nearly a dozen times but have only ever been to Phuket. I hear Ko Samui is a bit commercialised, is it not? It even has a runway I believe.

Maybe one of the smaller ones. Beaches is the main thing I'll be doing in Thailand, as well as the usual stuff I do in Bangkok such as wandering around and visiting MBK. I love that place.

I have no idea where I stayed around Mt Fuji. I was with other people and TBH I was just there along for the ride. It was a nice hotel in the forrest/mountain area. Pretty basic, and we had those beds/matrasses on the floor. personally I liked it alot, cause I like being outside and especially at night when it's quiet and you can see the stars and smell the forrest etc etc.

That sounds amazing.

How far from Tokyo is it? How come you moved around in Tokyo so much if you were only in Japan for 4-5 days?, that's a quick trip.

Thanks for the advice Yi-Long.

[bradavon]

Okay these are the places I was thinking of visiting:

Mount Fuji - A must
Kyoto - A must, already planned for the 27th
Hiroshima - I'm unsure if it's worth it or not
Sapporo

Tokyo - Zebra Crossing. I hear it's amazing
Tokyo - Tokyo Tower

Any other places I must see and do?

[HungFist]

* How many days should I allow in Tokyo?

I'd recommed 13 years.

Hiroshima: this may sound weird but it's the most beautiful town I've ever been to. I could post pics but maybe you don't want me to spoil the view.

[gasteropod]

Kyoto: The Anagram Lover's Tokyo!

[bradavon]

Hiroshima: this may sound weird but it's the most beautiful town I've ever been to. I could post pics but maybe you don't want me to spoil the view.

Please do. It will give me an idea of whether I should go.

Please post as many photos as you can/want to.

So any "must see" places to go?

[gojensen]

Damn I'm envious

Wish I could just pack up and go off like that...

[HungFist]

Hiroshima: this may sound weird but it's the most beautiful town I've ever been to. I could post pics but maybe you don't want me to spoil the view.

So any "must see" places to go?

To me going to Japan isn't like that. Japan is a second home to me. Never felt as home anywhere before. It doesn't matter where I go or what I see. I just wanna be there.

Hiroshima pics

[bradavon]

To me going to Japan isn't like that. Japan is a second home to me. Never felt as home anywhere before. It doesn't matter where I go or what I see. I just wanna be there.

That's how I feel about Thailand but I do appreciate it's very different to visit as live there.

Anyway back on topic care to help recommend some places anyway? Are your photos online? You must have loads.

p.s - Nice photos thanks, it looks really clean. I'm not sure there's much to do there though. Is the museum worth visiting? I've got this idea in my head that Hiroshima is very humbling, is that correct?

Even the idea the whole city is only 50 years old is humbling.