Back to reality

Well I'm back to school. At least today there's no school - I won't bother asking why I'm in no mood to teach today! Still thinking of my vacation and Japan at the moment. So how were my two weeks off? Great! And I had company from back home so it was even better!

I walked so much in Japan and it was worth it. The weather was awesome (between 10-16 degrees during the day). Hakone was beautiful although Mount Fuji was very shy (main reason we went there was to see it). Kamakura was a crazy day of hiking and we saw Mount Fuji and weren't expecting it. And what to say about the different neighborhoods of Tokyo? All different! Yeah stuff is more expensive in Tokyo than in Canada and definitely Korea. But Japan is so rich compared to Korea (as a direct comparison). Japan is so clean it's unbelievable. And so organized also. All I know is that I love that country and I have to go back. Both countries are so close and yet so different. In terms of people though it's hard to say. Japanese and Koreans are very friendly. I wonder how Japanese are at work though. Can't be worse or weirder than Koreans (at least to my Western ways).

Feeling so weird to be back in Korea. If at least I was living in Seoul if would not be depressing. Now I'm back in this dump called Yongin and it's so dirty here compared to their evil neighbors (Japan). I feel like I just want to quit everything and just travel for a whole year! I'm crazy! Anyways for now I have a new semester starting March 2nd with a new co-teacher. I have 2 co-teachers; one is great and the other which I hated with a passion is leaving so I'll get a new co-teacher. I hope for the best! It can't be worse.

Shibuya - party animal heaven; and questionable men asking us questionable things!

Shinjuku - skyscrapers heaven - and fancy boutiques.Leather bracelets that go for 100,000 Yen - let's relax here! Also another questionable area with many men with long hair... for some odd reason!

Ikebukuro - mix of shopping malls on one side and university / Plateau Mont-Royal looking area on the other!

Asakusa - where the hostel was... not much to say because we did not really walk around. There's a famous temple but it's under  maintenance right now. There's also a porno cinema right next to the hostel which we saw everyday (!) Thing is nothing is covered and kids walk around there on weekends...

Central - Imperial Palace and government buildings - jogging seems to be the "in" thing to do around the Imperial Palace!

Ginza -  fancy fancy fancy - fashion brands and awesome restaurants!

Akihabara - geek heaven and maid cafes (we tried one! we even have our level 1 card !)

Ueno - Ueno park is pretty big and full of street artists, music and museums.

Harajuku - fancy area like Ginza but for a younger crowd. Freaks on a bridge posing and dressing up as anime characters and goths. Also in the park are the famous Rockabilly guys - as seen in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwcaQ3qJ88U

Ebisu - Yebisu beer museum and the best whiskey bar in the world (!)

Roppongi - bars, restaurants, clubs (Cavern club amongst them where you can only hear Beatles cover bands!). Roppongi Hills is also located there which is a huge building with appartment, offices, cinemas and restaurants. For some people that would mean never going out of this tower!

Ryogoku - Sumo arena and Edo Museum. Not unusual to see sumos walking here in their kimonos.

Hakone - outside of Tokyo (45 min. by bullet train, 2 hours by regular train). Mainly a hot spring resort and sightseeing of Mt-Fuji.

Kamakura - outside of Tokyo (50 min. by reg. train). Great hiking trail, near the ocean and features a big bronze buddha (the Daibutsu).


Takadanobaba station: you can hear Astroboys theme song in the station when it stops: awesome!