Archive for Blog Series
Reasons To Hate The Tube #8: Rain
It’s been eight months since I last shared a reason to hate the Tube. In that time, the mechanical behemoth has continued to plod along; left stations with doors open, closed large portions of the network and struggled to cope with mosquito swarms. At least it wasn’t looted.
Anyway, Rain. We don’t get a lot in England and us Brits certainly don’t talk about the weather a lot. Summer 2011 has been a scorcher – a spectacular display of su…
Oh, who are we kidding? It’s been pants and in particular, the extremely damp kind. Why is rain particularly bad for the Tube? Surely being in an enclosed carriage, metres beneath the earth makes the whole issue of rain defunct, right?
Wrong. People stop walking. Tourists in particular are renowned for their ant-like behaviour – back to the safety of the hill! It only takes a single drop to overload the Tube with soggy armpits. It’s hot in the tunnels, and having dripping businessmen rub up against you is hardly the most enjoyable of situations.
Pour Show
Not only that, everyone runs around with gigantic umbrellas – the branded, golf kind that shout “I went to an Insurance trade show and all I got was this lousy umbrella”. They’re massive – you could do a pole-vault with them, they’re so big. They’re particularly adept at poking people’s legs and eyes still coated in the acid rain that London inevitably produces.
So in a moving greenhouse that’s the Circle Line, rain above ground is the last thing you want in August. Everyone’s jetted off to whatever poolside retreat suits them – it should be a clear run. The commute should take 40 minutes as opposed to over an hour. Everyone has a seat. August is nice on the Tube, even with the 63 degree heat and the swarms of families standing in doorways and on the right.
Except it’s not. It keeps raining and people keep catching the Tube from Leicester Square to Covert Garden. Climate change – what a washout theory.
The Japan Travel Diary Is Complete
So having processed over 4,000 photos and tidied up the entities, The Japan Travel Diary 2011 is finished. Don’t know what it is? Check it out here – it’s pretty self explanatory. It was created to chronicle the way I changed over the solo-trip, and as a helpful resource for anyone who may choose to visit the wonderful country themselves.
It’s packed with helpful sightseeing suggestions, things to eat, places to stay – all the while supported by the photography I took.
All I can say is enjoy, and roll on Nepal 2012. Oh, I never mentioned that – Nepal – 2012 – Me.
Tokyo Photography Begins
With my Japan travel diary slowly taking shape, and the photography processing beginning, it’s only fair I begin to share my photographs here. The light in Tokyo on my first day wasn’t ideal (especially at the mid-day period I was shooting). In fact, it was in a shaded park in Harajuku which made it even harder to expose. The below are but a small selection of what will eventually be shared.
Day 20 – Last Day – Mt Fuji
6.54AM, Ueno – Just got woken up by an aftershock, only lasted a few seconds mind you. At least it wasn’t as bad as that snoring I could briefly hear through the wall.
1.38PM, Mt. Fuji – It’s cold 2,300m above see level – I’m glad I ran back to the hotel for a jumper. The tour’s been really good so far – there’s only 14 of us and the guide is good. She speaks very good English and is very sweet. It’s clear today, both at the foot of the mountain and at the fifth station. That means stunning views of the summit and the area around the mountain. We’re just on the way to Hakone for lunch, to look at some volcanic activity and then a boat cruise in a lake. It’s turning out to be a really nice last day.
I’ve talked to a British family on and off through the day and it’s quite funny, having settled in, to see them in the culture shock state I was in when I first arrived. It’s interesting what three weeks makes for your perceptions and comfort zone.
6.09PM, Last Shinkansen of the Trip – What an awesome end to my trip. Wherever we went in Hakone, we could see Mt. Fuji. The tour guide said this was very rare – it’s an amazing mountain that juts into the sky. After lunch, and having made friendly with Sharon, a woman I was plopped on the same table with, we went to the sulfur volcanic activity area up a gondola ride. It was cool apart from the smell (utter rotten eggs). We then took a faux pirate ship across a beautiful lake before being dropped off at the nearby station. As per usual, Facebook saves the day for keeping in contact with Sharon.
It’s remarkable to consider just what I’ve seen the last three weeks. It’s been an incredible trip – everything about Japan, from the people to the culture, the kindness shown to me, the amazing sights I’ve seen, the food, stories, new friends – it has changed me. Self confidence, a desire not to just sit in silence wherever I go (although London might prevent that on occasion), the need not to be terrified of food I’ve never tried – it is all literally life changing. Who knows what awaits me in the future, but hopefully God blesses me with the ability to continue traveling healthily.
Life in London is always hectic but in my busy life it is important to remember how lucky I am in life. The important things – friends, family, food – should always overlook the trivial. Always take life as it is, but make sure it’s with a smile.
6.55PM, Kanda – Forgot to say, I bought the most awesome wooden frog ever. Best memento for my desk to accompany the owl and pigeon.
Day 19 – Tokyo Return
10.57AM, Nagoya Station – Off to Tokyo! At least this time I know how to get to my hotel.
12.39PM, Shinkasen – That was cool, I happened to look up from the book I’m reading and you could see Mt Fuji in all it’s glory. It’s certainly one impressive mountain. There’s something particularly relaxing travelling via Shinkansen with a bento box for lunch and a book for entertainment.
2.51PM, Senso-Ji – Pretty decent temple, but no way near one of the best that I’ve seen. What is good is that it’s really busy so I can blend in and photograph without being noticed. I had a chat with an old man who tapped me on the shoulder and wanted to know all about my trip. The Japanese are so inquisitive about foreigners. At the end he took our picture and wished me well.
7.47PM, Ueno – The kindness of the Japanese never ceases to amaze me. While sitting at the counter in the hotel restaurant, and following a broken conversation, two old ladies decided to buy me some sake. I’d probably have forgotten to try it if it wasn’t for them. The world may be a horrible place but the majority of people aren’t there to take from you. Rather they are there to share love and kindness.
