https://www.stevedrice.net/ 2026-05-06T20:36:21+00:00 https://www.stevedrice.net/ https://www.stevedrice.net/_media/wiki/dokuwiki.svg text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day1 Day 1 - Departure Saturday, August 25th, 2007 It is a lovely day here in Cambridge. It is amazing how quiet it is so early the morning with last night's cool weather leaving a light dew on Parker's Piece. I am waiting for the bus to the airport having got up at 5:00 to catch a taxi to the bus station. I am not alone as there are a number of other people milling about with luggage on the side of the road waiting for the bus. Everyone is quite quiet though as I continue to appreciate the lig… text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day2 Day 2 - Arrival Sunday, August 26th, 2007 Amazingly, we are pretty much on time for our arrival in Narita despite our late departure. Morning was announced by the cabin staff turning on the lights in the plane (which always works) then prompting coming around with breakfast. Breakfast was a bit interesting as they offered me a choice of a vegetarian or text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:57+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day3 Day 3 - Tokyo Monday, August 27th, 2007 [View from Hotel Window (SW)] The first full day in Tokyo. When planning the trip I was a bit disappointed that we are only in Tokyo for two full days. As time is at a premium here I decided we needed a bit of an overview of the city so this first day I arranged a half day tour to get at least an understanding of how to get around and where things are. text/html 2015-10-10T11:10:39+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day4 Day 4 - Mount Fuji Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 Looking out of the hotel window this morning (I find myself doing this a lot as the view is incredible from up here) we noticed a number of people dressed in suits that would walk along a walkway for some distance stop, slowly walk back then do it again. On further observation we determined they were actually filming a movie or something text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day5 Day 5 - Yokohama Arrival Wednesday, August 29th, 2007 Finally we are in Yokohama and all settled in the room. Nice view of the surrounding area too with the theme park below and the Yokohama Landmark Tower just down the road and the tall buildings all around. Mind you, from this floor it is quite a good view anyway. text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day6 Day 6 - Convention Day 1 Thursday, August 30th, 2007 Our first full day of the convention and it appears to be already a bit of a disappointment. It is only the first day so perhaps I should not be jumping to conclusions but I am thinking that there are not really a lot of interesting panels and the number of those that are in both Japanese and English is quite small. I think I was hoping for a bit more communication between the two cultures but so far it appears as though the English panels… text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:59+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day7 Day 7 - Convention Day 2 Friday, August 31st, 2007 Second day of the convention. We tucked into some of the food we had purchased yesterday at the supermarket. Quite good but we needed a bit more. Heading over to the convention we figured out where the text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day8 Day 8 - Convention Day 3 Saturday, September 1st, 2007 Looking at the convention schedule last night we realised that we were not really interesting in attending anything in the morning so we made the decision to take the morning to return to Yokohama station to pick up the JR Rail passes that I had purchased in London. The JR Rail pass allows you basically unlimited travel on all trains in Japan including the bullet trains or text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:51+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day9 Day 9 - Convention Day 4 Sunday, September 2nd, 2007 A bit of a disappointing day. Well, it ended on a low note. Started not to bad...We started the day with a visit to a café that is operating at the convention for attendees. It serves a basic set of dishes including some nice light breakfast dishes. Not terribly Japanese (though the operator did not speak any English, having to come out from behind the counter to see what we were pointing at to eat on the poster on the wall) but not too … text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:51+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day10 Day 10 - Kyoto Arrival Monday, September 3rd, 2007 A much more peaceful area than Yokohama as I sit on the tatami mats in our room here in Kyoto. It is also a long way away from the centre of the city. We had a lot of time so mother made a call back to Canada to her husband using my rented telephone (might as well use it text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day11 Day 11 - Kyoto Day 1 Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 Kyoto is really quite interesting, much more so than Yokohama. So much to see and do. Getting around is a bit difficult as the distances are quite large but we have seen a number of bicycles, which has to be the transportation of choice. text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:02+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day12 Day 12 - Hiroshima Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 I am at a loss to explain today. On the one hand we were tourists visiting another area of Japan on the other hand we were reliving an atrocious event in human history. Was it enjoyable? I guess I would have to say yes text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day13 Day 13 - Kyoto Day 2 Thursday, September 6th, 2007 A bit of a tidy-up day -- our last full day not only in Kyoto but also in Japan. So, we had to squeeze a lot into it! [Imperial Palace] Of course we started with the visit to Kyoto Palace that we had arranged only a few days previously. The tour was to begin at 10:00 so we headed back to the park north of the hotel (ok, ryokan) for that time. Passing through the front gates immediately in front of us was another wall surrounding buildings… text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day14 Day 14 - Japan Departure Friday, September 7th, 2007 Now at sea. I am seriously worried about sea-sickness though I suppose it will be a bit of training for the train trips ahead of us. Getting my thoughts together is quiet easy with the dull throb of the engines and the (now) gentle motion of the boat here in our private cabin. text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:59+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day15 Day 15 - Ferry Saturday, September 8th, 2007 Our lives are pretty much governed by the mealtimes. Breakfast is between 8:00 and 9:00, lunch between 12:00 and 13:00 and dinner is between 18:00 and 19:30. The bar is open after dinner ends to about 21:00 though we have not really stuck along to really pay it a visit (not drinking/smoking tends to make a visit to a bar a bit pointless). text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:57+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day16 Day 16 - Beijing Arrival Sunday, September 9th, 2007 Beijing. A city of smog. Sorry, a BIG city of smog. I sit in our hotel which is, frankly, a bit of a let down, even by the standards of the ferry (which, itself, was not even anywhere in the league of the hotels in Japan text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:59+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day17 Day 17 - Beijing Day 1 Monday, September 10th, 2007 Relax. I remember that, isn't that something we did a few years ago? Yesterday? The weekend? Seems so long ago. Breakfast turned out to be quite good in the basement. It is a buffet style breakfast but they have a good assortment of local (Chinese) food on offer. Yes, they do have the eggs, bacon text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:58+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day18 Day 18 - The Great Wall Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 It has been a warm day. And a long one. A lot of travel. Jacky requested that we meet him quite early at the front of the hotel (but not so early so as to require that we miss the breakfast included in the cost of our room text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day19 Day 19 - Beijing Day 2 Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 Finally, a day to ourselves. Well, almost. There is so much to see in Beijing: Everything is so big. Tiananmen Square -- The biggest square in the world, 44 hectares, Forbidden City -- The world's largest palace complex, 74 hectares, and our destination for today: The Summer Palace, a whopping 294 hectares, half of which is occupied by Kumming Lake. text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:03+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day20 Day 20 - Beijing Departure Thursday, September 13th, 2007 I am a bit sad to be leaving Beijing though I think we have basically covered all of the major sites we were interested in seeing. I would have liked to have experienced more of the real city rather than the tourist stuff (and the food) but I think we have done quite well for ourselves. Now, the blacky ink of the night outside the windows of our train cabin is occasionally dispelled when we pass quickly through the villages text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:01+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day21 Day 21 - Xi'an Arrival Friday, September 14th, 2007 Breakfast on the train consisted of a Styrofoam container with some (tasteless) steamed dumplings that were offered by a lady walking down the carriage aisle pushing a metal trolley. Of course, they cost us a bit of money as well text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day22 Day 22 - Xi'an Departure Our Hotel Room Thought you may be interested in some pictures from our hotel room in Xi'an... [Out the Window] Hum, not so good a few out the window, what of the room itself? [Mother's Unmade Bed] Ah, hum...Mother refuses to take pictures of the room. Not the best hotel that we have stayed in text/html 2015-10-10T21:12:03+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day23 Day 23 - Shanghai Arrival Sunday, September 16th, 2007 If it's Sunday it must be Shanghai. A lot of travelling and still the big trip to Hong Kong to go. It is nice to be able to sleep in a real bed again though. A much nicer hotel than in Xi'an. I like the view out of the window too text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day24 Day 24 - Suzhou Monday, September 17th, 2007 Some people reading this might wonder how we decide what to do each day. Having a tour makes this a bit simpler as we just go with the tour (deciding on the tour was a long process anyway, but that is not the point here). Today we had the whole day to ourselves, so how did we decide what to do with it? Well, the most important information comes from the tour guides. Yesterday our guide gave us some good ideas. We also noted a few things while w… text/html 2015-10-10T21:10:21+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day25 Day 25 - Shanghai Departure Tuesday, September 18th, 2007 Thank goodness we are on the train. Sorry to spoil the suspense of whether or not we would make it. What do you mean you had no doubt? Well, if you knew the trials we faced today...It was a bit touch and go for a while there. Why? Hum, where to start text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:02+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day26 Day 26 - Hong Kong Arrival Wednesday, September 19th, 2007 I love Hong Kong. Always have since my first visit back in, let me see, 1997, the year of the handover...This is my third visit but only my mother's second with her previous visit spoiled a bit by another monsoon (I am sensing a pattern here text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:53+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day27 Day 27 - Cheung Chau Island Thursday, September 20th, 2007 It is good to be back. I have been too long away from Hong Kong. I miss the place. It feels quite comfortable to me now. Perhaps a bit too comfortable. Today is one of the days I really looked forward to on our whole trip as it was the opportunity to do something I have never done in Hong Kong and that is to visit Cheung Chau island. text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:53+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day28 Day 28 - Hong Kong Day 1 Friday, September 21st, 2007 I can't think how many times we crossed the harbour today. Spent most of our day there. I am not sure if I am complaining, mind you, just noting...Have spent a lot of time on water this trip. text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:03+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day29 Day 29 - Hong Kong Day 2 Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 A disappointing day today. After the amazing experiences we have had here over the past few days today ended with confusion and disappointment. It is getting near the end of our holiday and I think we are both tired and our patience is wearing thin. Being away for such a long time is great but I don't think I could be a full time tourist! text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day30 Day 30 - Hong Kong Departure Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 Mother's plane was to leave before mine at 12:45 for Vancouver so we had to be up quite early in the morning. We did not have time to eat as we sleepily checked out and piled our luggage into a taxi for the trip to the text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:01+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/day31 Day 31 - London Arrival Monday, September 24th, 2007 * 5:25 [GMT] Arrive LHW (Terminal 3) ---------- Postscripts text/html 2015-10-02T20:10:02+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/introduction Japan/China Journal 2007 Introduction China, Japan. The very words conjure up images of the exotic and unusual -- the foreign and appealing. As a child I remember the wonder that I experienced as I saw animation that originated in Japan. Somehow it was very different than the other cartoons from the United States. It seemed to have an text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:57+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/postscripts Postscripts Sunday, December 2nd It is very near Christmas. Here in Cambridge it was raining earlier but the sun has now come out. I have just finished the first draft of this journal and am quite happy with it. I will have my mother have a look at it before I put it onto the web site but I think I have captured the spirit of the trip. I hope that those of you that have read this will enjoy it and I have some how brought part of this unusual and important part of the world to life for you. text/html 2015-10-02T20:09:58+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/travel/asia/japan/journal/sidebar * Japan/China Journal 2007 Japan * Day 1 - Departure * Day 2 - Arrival * Day 3 - Tokyo * Day 4 - Mount Fuji * Day 5 - Yokohama Arrival * Day 6 - Convention Day 1 * Day 7 - Convention Day 2 * Day 8 - Convention Day 3 * Day 9 - Convention Day 4 * Day 10 - Kyoto Arrival * Day 11 - Kyoto Day 1 * Day 12 - Hiroshima * Day 13 - Kyoto Day 2 * Day 14 - Japan Departure * Day 15 - Ferry China * Day 16 - Beijing Arrival * Day 17 - Beijing Day 1 * Day 18 - The Great W…