Ok, we have done a lot since the last entry, travelled miles across Japan Am now sitting in an internet cafe in Osaka, but more about that later,

Despite getting up late on Wednesday, we were determined to get to Kyoto, so went off to Tokyo Central to get the Shinkansen (sp?) which is the Bullet Train to your normal people. Shock horror, it cost us 70quid each, one way, but we wanted to try it so coughed up

The train was so clean and smooth, i don’t know what a Eurostar is like, so can’t compare, but to normal British trains it woops their asses! Whole journey took just over 2 hours with no problems, we even managed to get off at the right stop.

When we got there though, we wondered why we had bothered, it was exactly the same as Tokyo, just a lot more cheap looking… to say we were upset is a bit of an understatement, we were distraught that it had cost so much, but were determined to make the most of it. To save ourselves some extra money, we decided not to bother with a hotel but to rough it instead, meaning we could go straight out.

Walked around for quite a bit until we decided we would catch a train to a station which looked like it was near some shops. Now, something you should be aware of here… there is JR Rail which is the overground and Subway (which is obviously underground) however the ticket machines look (sorta) similair so of course we bought the wrong one. We only realised this after we had then gone onto the JR platform, so headed back to the ticket office where we were actually given a refund!! (lets see that in england!) and told which ticket to buy.

Dont ask why, but we again bought (the same!!) JR ticket but this time went down to the subway. It of course didn’t work, and we were sent back up to get another refund (boy did we feel stupid!) before we could finally get our tickets! lol…

Sanjo was a lot different from the city part of Kyoto, with more bars and nice scenery (though still pretty city based) however it did make us feel a lot better. Went to an all you can drink for 1500yen and tried to make the most of it, but got turfed at 12 as everything shut!!?!?!

This of course left us with nothing to do but wander the streets and try to find somewhere to sleep. No mean feat when its freezing cold and pouring with rain! doh! After trying to sleep on a step to the metro, justin got fed up and insisted we had to move on….

Only place left open was a Karaoke bar, so we proceeded to sing the rest of the night away (and cheekily sit in the foyer for the final hour when we ran out of money :)) - Left there at about 5:30 to walk down the canal for about 6 miles and watched the sunrise

Wasn’t sure what else to do, so went back to the main Kyoto station to look around. Its a massive building, but we weren’t actually sure why… We saw an escalator, so got on it… then at the top was another one… and another… and another… it just kept goind up and up until we were on the roof. We don’t have a clue what the designer was on when he thought up this place, but boy did he have a good idea… The place is amazing, the most amazing piece of architechture you will ever see! I hope the photos will come out as it really is awesome to look at… if ever you go to japan, you MUST go to Kyoto just for the station if nothing else!!

We were absolutely knackered by now, but stil thought we must find the cultural but of Kyoto, as there must be more than just city… We jumped on a train to Higashiyama.. and there we found it… The most beautiful part of Japan we have seen yet. Amazing, and hopefully captured in all the photos. There were shrines and temples and everything just looked… WOW!

There was even a Zoo, which we went into to have a look at the animals. I think it was good, but can’t really remember as when i sat down to have a rest… i just fell asleep. Justin can to find me, sat down, and fell asleep too!! lol… we realised now it was time to head to Osaka (if anyone tells you they are far apart, they’re lying… they’re only a 2.50 train ride from each other) - justin caught up with some sleep on the train whilst i had to stay on guard to make sure we didn’t miss our stop.

You think the buildings in Tokyo are impressive, head to Osaka. They are even more so (well the few we have seen so far) massive clean structures, that really give the place a futuristic feel. Even a huge ferris wheel that goes around one of them! - mission one was to find somewhere to sleep (boy did we need it) so headed to tourist information where they directed us to a local capsule hotel (Capsule Inn).

Findind the stupid place though was more than easy, even with the help of 2 maps and countless locals (one who even very kindly walked us around the whole area to find it!) it still took a good 30 minutes to get to it!!

If you don’t know what a capsule hotel is, imagine basically a load of pods, the length of a person, and high enough to sit up in stacked one on top of the other. You are allocated one of these, we you basically just go to sleep. Single sex only so no bring backs,. though the leeds people who rudely woke me up by shouting outside (they have no doors, just a blind) claimed he would be able to get someone back. I hope not as the sound proofing is pretty bad…

Slept there for a few hours, then headed out after a shower and teeth brush to find some nightlife. After walking about 5 minutes from our hotel, we hit THE shopping centre. This is pretty much underscribable to put the whole picture.. but basically it spans over 3 and a half miles!!!!!!!! There are arcades EVERYWHERE and anything you could ever want clothing related. Its called the Ebisubashi Shopping Street (which becomes Shinsaibashi Shopping Street further down) - but if you just head to that you will find the rest… believe me!

Eating wasn’t a problem, but finding a club proved hard. So hard in fact that we had to log in here to look them up That done, and this entry filled in, means we can finally leave and go get wasted in Osaka

Can’t do too much though as have to be out hotel by 10am tomorrow, and then sightseeing, before heading back to Tokyo to go a HardHouse/Trance night at Club Code in Shinjuku - HURRAH!

Posted by Justin

day 6 was my birthday! since we got home at 8am from ropongi, we woke up around 2am… damnit

I decided to walk down to Harajuko to buy some clothes and then headed out of Tokyo to Iberaki around 8:30pm. I forgot my phone which was such a pain!

Went to Chiraki’s house and her mum bought me the latest Utada CD. Really good!!
Also recieved a hello kitty stuffed toy from Chiraki.

Proceeded to a traditional jap restaurant (don’t know the name but the sign is in the gallery) Had some very nice and interesting food washed down with many exotic cocktails. The Raw Wasabi Octopus wish was soooo delicious. It’s got to be my favourite.

After dinner we proceeded to a 24 hour karoke bar. Sang our hearts out till 5am. Tdu is a really good singer, a PRO. But towards the end he decided to sing the bon jovi hit but the chorus was just too high, major voice breaking - frickin funny, we have it recorded and should be available to download as soon in the movie section.

Chiakiy and Mitceco sang utada/ayumi/ in contrast, ben and I sang Outkast, Blue(argh), oasis, rhcp’s, etc all good fun.

Left the karoke at 5am - watched the sunrise and cruised around a bit.
Headed back to Tokyo around 6am.

Got on the EXPRESS train to Nipori by accident - the fee should be almost double. The conductor could speek good english and tried to tell us we had to buy a premium ticket but we acted really really r-e-a-l-l-y dumb!

It was hilarious! ‘passport??? do we need a passport??, we have ticket,’

The conductor spent 30 minutes trying to explain and got all of his other friends to try and expain… they did a good job! but we did an even better one. GOT AWAY WITH IT.

Got back to yoyohgi station just before 8am. I went to the local noodle bar and ordered udon. I’m a pro now! getting into the routine. Ben says he hates the bars… “it’s the smell”. It must be the MISU. Delicious!!!

Got home, phoned becks and co. oh and the folks. Did a bit of jounal and went to sleep at 11am - needed to wake up at 2pm to fetch Chiakiy at the station.

Haven’t written on this for a while, although i seem to remember saying ‘i’ll do this tomorrow morning’, but of course, come tomorrow, i was fed up hehehe
Yesterday was actually quite a barrel of laughs, the morning was the usual sit chat and drink coffee type affair (which happens every morning) so not too much strain on me there
Then it was looking for a nice domain we could use for our adt page (the one where people all meet up and stuff), finally plumped for iADT.co.uk, although perhaps i could also get ADTLA.co.uk (the ADT Liberation Army!).

Lunch was absolutely delicious, i went to the spread eagle with cheryl and had warmed pitta bread filled with chicken tikka pieces and loads of salad… mmmm mmm!

On way back, popped into WHSMith to get the latest copy of Bizarre magazine, which this month is quite good, but some bastard had torn open the porn bit (which i don’t open, i leave it sealed) so know i need to take it back, cause my brother will think it was me :( :angry:

After getting back, i was in for a nice suprise as Ashar turned up and it was really good having him back up in 301, makes me feel at home there. I was in such good spirits that i started work on iADT.co.uk, and have created this rather nice orange effect.

Oliver was on the rampage cause his sound card didn’t work, so he brought it in, i ended up staying really late to fix it, i better get some recognition!!!

It was quite funny actually, i was downstairs ranting to zak about someone had openeded my magazine, and was showing him what was inside (it was an add for ‘toys’) so i said, look, you don’t want any bondage tape, grrr…

Only then did we realise a students dad was behind us, except i didn’t know who he was, and asked if he wanted any :lol: whoops!
The ADTLA had all arranged to meet up at 8:00 to go to a new restaurant which has opened up for Craigs birthday, so we had to leave college to 1. get there in time and 2. have time to drop off my bike at cheryls.

We first met Steven, Simon and Heidi in the Litten Tree to play a bit of pool and generally have a laugh, before moving onto this restaurant place to meet everyone else.

Hmmm…. Heidi got a bit drunk and seemed to become either incredibly horny, or just really wanting to know about sex, so made up most of the conversation for the night. I think people were trying to take advantage of her, so made sure simon kept his claws off :lol:

Food was great though…. and yes that is all i am going to say about it….

After eventually paying the bill (and stuffing all 9 of the free mints into my mouth :lol:) we headed back to the litten tree again, which was Thursday Night Karaoke.

Now i’ve never done it there before, but man is it fun after waiting around for ages, we eventually did ‘Pretty Fly for a White Guy’, which was me Ashar and Simon as the blokes, and Donna and (someone) as the gals…. they were LOUD!!!

Getting late, so had to take Heidi back to the car and a bit later leave ourselves (cause it had shut!) where we firstly went to put craig back in his car and help him with his wheel chair and then to run back to Cheryls (it was now 12:25) to get my bike….

I thought she was going to be angry, but she is sooooo sweet when she’s tired, even if she had been annoyed, i would have just picked her up and put her in a little ball
CHatted for a bit, then cycled home (although i kept her on the phone) to get home and in bed at about 1:oo.

SO her we are, after a bit of sleep, i’m back at work and whilst not rearing to go, and quite happy to move slowly along with the pace!

I must get back upstairs cause i got donna and lisa coming to find me, then i have to teach raphael after break..

woop woop!