Konnichi wa! O-genki desu ka? We are still in one piece after braving a two night crossing from China to Japan on the ferry. It was very calm apart from one night which sent all us Westerners heading for our bunks around 9pm! The ferry was great and virtually half empty so it felt a little like a ghost ship, spent most of our time playing cards with the others travellers and competing in Tim's ping pong tournament! (Not so easy during rough seas) Now we are safely stowed in a hotel in Tokushima to watch Awa Odori which is a massive festival, kind of the Japanese Mardi Gras, am trying to persuade Tim to take part as the motto of the parade is "The dancing fool and the watching fool are equally foolish. So why not dance?" At this stage he is not convinced. Anyway after here, we are spending a few days at the surfing beach, then heading to Hiroshima, Kyoto and Tokyo. Sayonara friends xx