Konnichiwa Bloggers - Delta Bravo is returning to base!
I’ve been away from home for about 7 months. I’ve been in New Zealand for about 5 months now and although i love this country it’s time for me to start heading home. In the last month i have travelled all around New Zealand and with the winter arriving here and the summer in full swing back in the UK it’s time to start heading back. I have did my best to run my websites whilst travelling but there really is only so much you can do - if i never use an internet cafe the rest of my life it will be too soon!!
This was not an easy decision for me as after New Zealand we were planning on going to South America. However, that is merely being put on the backburner until the start of next year and going home allows me to save more money, work more on my websites and organise everything much easier.
All is not lost though. The minute i decided to go home there was only one place that i knew i wanted to stop on the way back - Japan! I’ve been to 8 countries in Asia so far. My original plan was to do a trip of China, South Korea and Japan around the time of the Beijing Olympics but i don’t have the time to do that just now so Japan was the place i knew i was going.
I can’t put into words how im feeling about this. A part of me is concerned about how unorganised i am but a big part of me is excited about the fact i am unorganised and haven’t planned anything out. I bought the Japan Lonely Planet Book yesterday and i reckon i will be staying around the Ginza area in Tokyo when i arrive and i’ll probably head to Kyoto a few days later however that’s about all i’ve got so far haha. I’ve got 5 days to get everything arranged before i go so i should be ok. Plus i’ve got nearly two weeks in Japan so i can organise things there 
As i said, im extremely excited about all this. I’ve wanted to go to Japan ever since i can remember. Growing up i hated kiddies films like Mary Poppins and ET and all kind of stuff but i was really into Martial Arts films all the time (plus my best friend is a huge anima fan) - i use to hire out Jackie Chan and GodZilla films (GodZuki got Big G into a lot of trouble!) and i’ve been importing video games from Japan since i was in my teens. Plus im a tech nut so i’m gonna be in geek heaven!
In the last 4 years of travelling i’ve met a lot of cool people from Japan who have spoke about their homeland - now i wish i made the effort to stay in touch with them! When i was kickboxing training in Auckland a few months ago my training partner most nights was Gujee, a Japanese lad who was on a working holiday visa just like me. Again, i forgot to get his email address as i thought i would be back in Auckland in a few months!
Anyways, in the next few days i will be writing posts to cover the next few weeks. I’ll probably give you all an update once im travelling but until i get home the number of posts will remain around one a day. On the plus side, when i do get home i will be able to start posting more and helping visitors with problems and questions
Sayonara!
Kevin
Tom O'Leary | June 8th, 2007 at 12:56 am #
Hi
I am an Australian currently living in Japan, and I’d just like to let you know that you won’t be dissapointed when you get here. Ginza will be a great place to make a base in Tokyo, but it can be expensive as that is where the beautiful people do their thing. No matter what you get up to when you are here, you will have a great time.
Tom
Kevin | June 8th, 2007 at 1:02 am #
thanks Tom
I’ve actually found the same and im keen on booking a hostel close to Asakusa station. It’s cheap and has had a lot of good reviews so it should be good…plus it has free wireless internet so i can keep on top of things. It seems to be popular with backpackers so i should be able to meet people too (im travelling myself so this will be a good thing).
shypys | June 8th, 2007 at 2:49 pm #
I wish I too could travel around - earning thousands of bucks at the same time. :p Have a great trip Kevin.
Tom O'Leary | June 8th, 2007 at 7:36 pm #
Hi Kevin
Good choice. When I stay in Tokyo I usually choose Asakusa. It is close to a lot of things and is just plain old interesting. Asakusa will be an excellent base for your exploration. Have a great time!
Tom
Dave Starr --- ROI Guy | June 8th, 2007 at 10:10 pm #
Great idea, the stop in Japan. I’m an American, currently living in the Philippines who ha slived in many countries, but my three years in Japan was a highpoint to be sure. You will not be disappointed.
Number one tip I did not see you mention, especially if you are going for two weeks or longer … buy a Japan Rail pass _now_ before you go. You can not buy it once you enter Japan. Trains are the only practical way to get around … and besides, they are an important part of Japan in themselves .. but they cost quite a bit … your JR pass will _more_ than pay for itself … a great ROI.
If the hostel idea doesn’t work out, look at the Olympic Inn chain … they have 4 sites in metro-Tokyo, one nearly in walking distance of Roppongi and they are reasonably priced, I’ve used them often. I don’t know where the “happening” idea about the Ginza comes from, it is a pretty boring place to me … just high-priced stores. The beautiful people and the nightlife that most Westerns like is in Roppongi, and the wild and crazy folk hang in Harajuku and for ‘real’ nightlife as opposed to the Westernized kind I like Ikebukuro. And, of course, you must visit Akihabara.
Kevin | June 9th, 2007 at 1:40 am #
thanks Tom - im really looking forward to it. I picked up the lonely planet book for japan a few days ago and i got a phrasebook today to help me get around
Dave - whereabouts in the phillipines are you? I spent 4 weeks there 3-4 years ago. I stayed in Manilla mostly but i was spent christmas down in the Bicol area. I stayed near in a really bad area when i first arrived in Manilla so my initial impressions of the country were bad. However, the more i stayed there the more i enjoyed myself - plus the fillipino people are very friendly and made me feel very welcome (again, excluding the initial place i stayed where i was a walking dollar sign!)
Thanks for the tip on the railpass. im gonna look more into that and ill more than likely do exactly what you have advised and buy a railpass in the next few days - do you know of the best website to buy such a pass?
The hostel i’ve decided on is called KhaoSan Tokyo - its close to the subway and the area looks nice. I’ve been reading so much about Japan the last few days that i’ve already decided that 12 days isn’t enough so i’m gonna be back there at one point in the next 12 months. I definately wanna travel the whole country - Sapparo, Okinawa etc
Again, thanks for the tips guys.
Jack Books | June 12th, 2007 at 11:14 pm #
Hi Mr. Kevin,
Did you meet Miss Kumiko Suzuki there? please take some photos, and post here
i think it would be great if you post your photos of your journey around the world.
just like john chow, look how his photos of the computex really2 entertaint us. so i believe your photos.
especially, if you can meet Kumiko Son
okinawa | July 26th, 2008 at 9:48 pm #
Mensore! Japan is an amazing place, I feel so priviledged to be living here.