Well I was wrong about the Namba-Walk, that closed at midnight too, so I had to walk the streets of Osaka at 1am without knowing where I was going. It was kind of scary (especially after hearing so many ambulance sirens on previous nights) but the only people I met were those who offered me help, which just goes to show how safe Japan reall…
Konnichiwa friends,
Watashi no namae wa Lee desu, known by some as Flip Flop, by others as FatDog, Milk Bottle or McLovin. On Friday the 16th of April I set off to the Land of the Rising Sun, sugoi! It is the first time I am going away by myself and the first time I will be crossing the borders of Western Europe, I hope to start a long love affair with travelling but most of all I hope to experience Japan in all of its beauty.
Check back here to hear about my journey and, of course,…
Watashi no namae wa Lee desu, known by some as Flip Flop, by others as FatDog, Milk Bottle or McLovin. On Friday the 16th of April I set off to the Land of the Rising Sun, sugoi! It is the first time I am going away by myself and the first time I will be crossing the borders of Western Europe, I hope to start a long love affair with travelling but most of all I hope to experience Japan in all of its beauty.
Check back here to hear about my journey and, of course, to see many photos! I will do my best not to abandon this blog.
Mata ne,
Lee-san
EDIT: Well, some volcano foiled my attempt to leave the UK, but fear not my imaginary followers; I have rebooked for the 14th of May. The extra month at home offered exciting prospects; I had more time to learn about the language and culture of Japan, to raise my fitness to a level higher than rock bottom so that I don't get knackered from a little walking. But, as always, I ended up lazing about and now it is nearly departure time again, and no ash in sight! ...wait, there wasn't before...
Well I was wrong about the Namba-Walk, that closed at midnight too, so I had to walk the streets of Osaka at 1am without knowing where I was going. It was kind of scary (especially after heari…
KYOTO RETURNS
I have had an absolutely FANTASTIC day, possibly the best so far. A day of very successful transport and time management. But I'm quite tired now so the words won't flow as eas…
Konnichiwa!
I have been in Osaka for three days now, first impressions were that the city is quite different from Tokyo and Kyoto, and sure enough one evening walk down Dotombori street shows …
pauline
hi lee been reading and looking at your photos its sounds a great place to visit hope you enjoyed it photos are great i would love to go hope your journey home was good bye for now paula and alan x
Ryan-sama
LEE
I am so happy that you had a great time in Japan! I'm very glad that you decided to go, and now we'll have to reminisce about it for years to come. Who knows, perhaps we'll both end up in Japan in the future!!
I can't believe you met PJS, or that you found a table tennis club! The random crazy s*** that happens is always the best :P
Catch you soon, Lee-sama
Ryan-kun
Lee
Why hello Sir Ben, glad you and Gav made it back safely. I had to list you as a favourite as I thought you might read it, and don't worry I'll make sure you're my friend on facebook soon enough!
Mum, I want to bring some green tea home but surprisingly I haven't seen any! Maybe at the airport? Or the sachets in my hotel room?
Just uploaded the final blog, bye Japan!
Sir Ben of Leeds
Eyup Lee,
I just read your blog posts to help me get into my first day back at work after the trip. Good work, I like the writing style.
I'm glad to be listed as a 'favourite' and jealous of your chance encounter with one of my favourite all time footballers!
I searched for you on Facebook, to keep in touch, but in vain.
Safe journey back to blighty!
Ben
mum
hello lee, hope you had a nice day in Kyoto. it was nice talking to you , i enjoyed reading your blog, and looking at the photos. Would be able to bring some green tea home, i tried some at work it was nice. enjoy the rest of your holiday. love mum
Lee
Thank you Hazel & Russ :) It's a no go on the girlfriend nobody wants me. I'll do my best regarding the cheap spares but I can't see it.
It was great to talk to you yesterday Mum, tell Dad I reread the Da Flop post and it cracked me up.
Just uploaded a new blog and more photos for Kyoto, I think they'll appear under the existing ones for Kyoto.
Hazel & Russ
Hello Lee,
Have been following your blog with great interest,Love the pictures,Japan looks such a beautiful country.
Hazels waiting to see pictures of your new Japanese girlfriend....
Were glad to see your having such a wonderful time.
P.S If you see any cheap spares for a 1994 Toyota Celica GT4 WRC,do me a favour,smuggle them back....Seriously,keep well,and enjoy the rest of your trip.
Hazel & Russ
mum
hi lee, hope your well, sorry i miss your phone call. As the trip been exciting, what are you doing for the next few days. I am looking forward to seeing you thursday love mum
mum
hi lee, great to here you are enjoying yourselve. the photos are amazing and your blog is excellent to read. Hope you are not sunburnt. Do you like the food. love mum dad
Lee
Hi Daryl, thanks, how are you? I hear food is one of the more difficult things to get through customs but I'll do my best, at least you're not as awkward as Mark wanting a katana! Bah! If you're forcing me out of my room I might as well stay out here!
Just uploading some photos/blogs for Kyoto, Hiroshima and Miyajima, I'm finally over the jetlag and have a bit more time so the blogs are better :) enjoy
Daryl
Hi mate hope your having a great time, it sounds like you are! If you can, try to bring me back some fresh rice...it must be better than the crap they serve down new town! p.s our room = my room by the time you get back lol. take care
Lee
Arigatou Ryan-kun, hai hai Japan subarashi!
Mum, otenki sugoi! It's been HOT HOT HOT, too hot the last couple of days but today it's been cloudy and spitting rain, though still pretty warm. I'm glad it was cooler today because some of us just climbed thousands of steps and then got lost in a forest, Ryan you might know it; Fushimi Inari in Kyoto where there's hundreds of Torii gates in a row. And yeah I have a couple of photos of the group, I'll upload soon. =) Miss Sam too <3
Ryan
Wow Lee-sama, sounds like you're having a really great Japan experience! Not gonna lie, those eggs looked pure evil. Be careful, they might hatch into tengu inside of you.
Can't wait to hear more about the trip!
Ryan-kun x
mum
hello lee, lovely pictures i like the monkeys. Sound like your having a great time how is the weather, dont forget to send photo of your group. sam and rosie are ok sam missing you.
Da Flop
Woke up last night with a start.
Just like someone who sleeps next next to a motorway. Then after ten years, suddenly the trafic stops. And then its to quiet to sleep.
Looked at the clock, it was 2 am.
woke up ma flop. Said "cant sleep, house to quiet, no one down stairs cooking. No beep beep beep of microwave. no smell of pitza, no clinky clanky of knifey and forky. no T.V. blarring outy". Ma flop she say "house quiet because flip flop gone to Japan". You go back to sleep" Woke up at 3am. No good house to quiete. cant sleep! went down stairs, switched on T. V. Then Set microwave to do beepy beepy, put a couple of pitzas in oven. Everything now OK, everything normal, Next time you go to Japan, you set timer on microwave. to do beepy beepy, leave slanket on chair.
Pa Flip Flop xx
