16.9.2008 Onsen Well I spent 5 hours at an onsen, a traditional Japanese spa today with Takako, her sister and her parents. The Japanese really know how to do this in style. For a cost of £40 we had unlimited access to all the outdoor and indoor pools, hot baths, steam room, sauna, hot stone sauna and an hour long shiatsu massage. You have no reason to leave the place. Everyone is dressed in their gown, can have tea, lunch, ice-cream, play games on machines, c...

15.9.2008 What happens as we age? We arrived in Osaka with Takako today, having been on a bullet train I was doing my utter best to keep up with the gorgeous scenery outside, of mountains, rivers, small villages but as the train was moving so fast and kept going through mountains I soon began to feel seek and slept instead. The weather is getting worse by the day. Takako said that there is a typhoon expected so this week will be all cloudy and rainy. For me t...