Part 2

My brother needed another visa for Thailand, to get this he had to leave the country. He wanted to head to Cambodia, I had a little trepidation owing to the dangers listed in the ´Lonely Planet´ guidebook. At first we were going to go by train and bus but that would´ve been to arduous, the roads are very crappy and the trains very slow, instead we opted to fly ´AirAsia´, the first time we went to the airport I forgot my passport so we had to leave the next day. AirAsia felt pretty dodgy, I wasn´t sure of the captain´s abilities, when we hit some rough turbulence I got a little worried, I don´t really like flying.
We weren´t off to a good start in Phnom Penh, the customs official was a bit of a weasel, he actually asked me to hurry up and then wanted money for a visa. As we left the airport we were hit by Cambodia-50 tuk tuk drivers yelling at us, we had no idea what was going on, finally we chose one. The driver was the biggest legend and he knew a lot about Cambodian history, either that or he was making it all up. The travel on the tuk tuk was relaxing and fun but also very polluted, we also had to hold our bags close, otherwise some scallywag might grab it off you (thanks Lonely Planet)
The hotel was OK but I think it was located in the ghetto of Phnom Penh, there were huge piles of rubbish lying around and a market with some dodgy looking food. We strolled down to the main bar area along the river, without the hassling it would be nice, children selling books, tuk tuk drivers, theres just too much hassling, it wears you out. Even in bars and restaurants.
We saw the lovely temple at the heart of Phnom Penh.
Two other things that made the trip woth while were the S21 prison, where the Khmer Rouge took their prisoners and the Killing Fields, where the prisoners and many more were taken for execution. Our tuk tuk driver took us to both and then to the Russian Market, I smaller, dirtier, meaner version of the one in Bangkok. They were a little hostile if you didn´t buy from them. They were also many unidentified meats just hanging around, not very appertising. We had to leave Phnom Penh, so after 3 days we boarded a surprisingly nice bus for Siem Reap, it played some pretty sweet Cambodian karaoke. The trip went quickly. Siem Reap is so much nicer, beautiful old French colonial and less hassling, the hotel was beaut and cheap, and we ate the nicest bbq beef with pickled vegetables in a baguette. We set off EARLY for the temples, our tuk tuk driver made us swear an oath to go with him and then his brother turned up late! So we just missed the sunset. Angkor Wat was so beautiful, amazing and calm, a really lovely place and in suprisingly good condition. I was very impressed, the other temples were also good ( there are heaps of temples on a massive area),just don´t get your hopes up for the Lara Croft temple, it looks good in the movie but it´s not so good in reality.
There was a really cool temple with many faces carved into it, Cambodian achitecture is very impressive and unique. Hassling reached a zenith at this place, everywhere you went, it was exhausting and they are so desperate, they never give up. Whilst I understand it, I really wasn´t expecting it. My tuk tuk driver taught me a trick-give a lolly to the kids, then they go run away happy, this backfired a bit, I gave one of the kids a lolly and then from nowhere about 20 kids and 10 tuk tuk drivers had me surrounded in a frenzy, I´ve never seen anything like it, that was the end of that bag!
I was very happy that I saw those things in Cambodia, but it really wasn´t as I expected it to be. Still, a good experience. We flew back to Thailand the next day, a bit of a relief.












Bottom 2 pictures are at Ayutthaya




We went to Ayutthaya on the second last day. I bit city near Bangkok with many old temples scattered about, It was enjoyable. A little like Siem Reap.
I returned a week early because I run out of money after those 2 and a half weeks.
I´ve enjoyed it in Melbourne more than I expected, however I have had a cold for most of the time, therefore I haven´t done too much.

LIFE AFTER JAPAN Thailand and Cambodia Part 1

I equally apprehensive and excited about leaving Japan as I packed my things on the night before I left. I had organised for my friend to pick me up and take me to the airport. Unfortunately things got mixed up and he didn´t come. That was when I started stressing. I had to run with all of my luggage to Shin Imamiya station. I got to the platform with 3 minutes to spare! As I boarded the ´AirChina´ flight I was already missing the service of Japan. The service onboard AirChina is horrendous, plain and simple. I would say they were downright rude. I could tell the flight attendant didn´t want to be there. Beijing airport is depressing- modern, huge and empty.
The guy in the toilet directed me to the sink and then wanted a tip-I only had yen. The look on his face was heartbreaking, but what could I do? I had to wait there for 3 boring hours before proceeding to Bangkok. My brother met me at the airport. Talk about culture shock! Loud, noisy, dirty, smelly and poor, however the people were nice. The food was pretty good but my belly didn´t like it at all. The first day we went to the former royal palace but didn´t enter, instead we headed for a traditional massage at the training college. I thought I would feel better afterwards since it felt like absolute torture, her hands were like cold steel, but I felt the same, she had a great time though, whenever I cried out in pain she let out a little cackle.
The next day we went to the main shopping centre by taxi, they´re so cheap over there-you feel like a real rich boy. The other great thing about Thailand are the dogs just roaming around, no matter where you go there will be a loveable, friendly scruffy dog to pat.
Bangkok got a little boring and way too hectic, so we took a 3 hour bus and then a ferry to Ko Samet island. It was a bit of a letdown, I thought it would be nicer, it was a little dirty. There weren´t that many people there but there were heaps of bars. We did a little swimming and quite a lot of drinking-south east Asian beer is good.
I missed Japan a lot on Koh Samet.
On the last night we ate a beautiful barbeque. After those four days we left and got back to Bangkok, it was nice to be back in a proper hotel. The one on Samet was a little dodgy to say the least, certainly not the same one from the brochure.
Back in Bangkok we went to the craziest market I´ve ever seen, it left me dizzy. It was like a 40 degree maze with 100 shops and 50, 000 people. Interesting

Last lessons

On Wednesday I had my last lesson in Yao, we cooked up yaki soba and drank ice cold Kirin beer. Not a bad way to finish off. Then I had my last day in Korien, I also got my final tako yaki from my favourite shop, it tasted good, I´m going to miss it. After that I went to Kyoto, we went to a sushi train restaurant. There are two disgusting thingss you should never eat in Japan, sea urchin is horrid, it´s texture alone will give you nightmares, the second thing is nato, I didn´t think nato was so bad, last night shattered that conception, the smell is disgusting and the taste is like toilet, it also has a sticky texture. I don´t think man was supposed to eat fermented soy bean. Many Japanese don´t like it, my advice- don´t eat it.
Today I had my last private lesson then I picked up my ticket, AirChina back flipped on me so now I have to leave on Sunday instead of Monday.












Final tako yaki

Golf

Today I had my final lesson with one of my private students in Hirakata, halfway between Osaka and Kyoto. Afterwards we went for ´shabu shabu´-thinly sliced pork and vegetables cooked in boiling water and ten dipped in sesame or sour sauce. I ate way too much, I wasn´t really hungry to begin with. After that ordeal we drove to the driving range. It wasn´t fenced off- a bit of a worry considering there were cars and people nearby. I think 3 of my shots managed to land in the putting area, about 30 metres to the right. By the time we left I was just happy that I hadn´t killed anyone and was still able to leave Japan un-arrested.

Umeda Skybuilding

My computer has been having some problems recently-a bit of a hassle. Last Wednesday I had my second teaching day in Korien. We had a going away party. I had a bit of a fever and felt a cold coming on so I drank about 10 bottles of lemon juice. On Saturday I felt a little tired so I missed footy training. I headed to Kyoto. We went to karaoke at 7. I´m really going to miss karaoke, great times. On Sunday night we had a few drinks and watched possibly the best movie of all time-Police Academy! Today me and Natsuko went to the Umeda skybuilding, two buildings connected at the top. It´s like a weird ´transformer´ or something out of a manga comic book. We went to the top where you can stroll around the rooftop, 360 degree views at 173 metres, pretty impressive-imagine the empire state building-thats 450 metres! After that we saw ´Angels and Demons´. Wasn´t as good as the book, but not bad.

No internet

I haven't written in a while because my internet was out of action for a week. I don't have too long left in Japan so I've been preparing for my departure. I bought a ticket for Bangkok which is very exciting, I also have to get the visa.
On Friday we went to Kyoto for the Aoi festival where they dress up in very old style costumes and parade through the streets. Friday night I went to see my friend Giordan, we ate dinner at his house, his mum is such a good cook. I stayed with them when I first came to Osaka so it was great seeing them. After dinner we went to Giordan's friends izakaya/club hybrid, with sharks, lobsters and fish swimming around. I was so tired after that and I returned at about 1.
Yesterday we had footy training at Mayashima island, near Universal studios. We did some drills then played a practice game. Afterwards I headed for Stew's Working Holiday party for my farewell. The food was so good. Many people were there, including a French Canadian, a Pommy and a Kiwi.
Some of my fiends signed me a card and gave me a few gifts which was nice. I got 2 Osaka nike tshirts from Daisuke and a caritature potrait from Mizuha.
Today I slept until 2 then went for a run, and studied. I feeling a bit strange about leaving Japan, I'm sure I'll get reverse culture shock when I leave. One things for sure- I'll miss the service in Japan, it's so great, over here the customer is king. I'll also miss the tv ads, they're so entertaining and quirky.

Golden Week

This week is the public holiday week. Friday night wasn't the most exciting. We got some sake. The cup, cheap sake really doesn't taste good.
I worked on Saturday, Saturday night I went with my flatmate to a party at 'Hub' pub in Namba, didn't drink too much because early Sunday I had to rise for a work BBQ.
We drove out into the mountains around Yao, my workplace, located 10 km east of the centre of Osaka. It's so nice to get out into nature, such a big change from the grey sprawl of Osaka, of which we got a good view of.
We set up our bbq on the side of the road, Japanese usually bbq thinly sliced meat and vegetables and then dip it in a special sauce-fantastic! After the barbie we went down to a small lake and went fishing. My bait kept falling off the hook so I really didn't believe I had a chance of catching anything, and in fishing, if you don't have any faith that you'll catch something there's no point. So I just read a book and relaxed.
To my suprise 5 little fish were caught.
Today we went to the Osaka museum of history, it was OK but a little small-there weren't so many artifacts. There was good info about the Naniwa period of ancient Osaka. Unfortunately pretty much all the info was in Japanese. Still, I had fun. After that we went to Umeda. There was also a festival in Nakonoshima, I had the best soy sauce ramen(Chinese noodle soup) and it was only 300 yen.