So, the reason half a dozen blogs have just appeared is that I've been transferring stuff over from my blog at gapyear.com News flash: for those who haven't heard via e-mail, I'm coming home on October 28th, and don't really know what I'm doing thereafter, although I am probably going diving in Egypt in February. Ok, now, at long last I have done a bit of sightseeing. Enjoy! [img=http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll277/SilmarilUiMedb/Kyoto%209th%20September/Yasaka-jinja1.jpg] Yasaka Shrine - located at the far eastern end of Shijo Dori, free entry, and right in front of the lovely [View Full Entry]

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Three random things I did not expect in Japan: 1) I have developed a sudden urge to paint my nails. I never paint my nails. Haven't for years. But now it seems I must. Moreover, looking at the results, I seem to have been mysteriously compelled to pain my nails a bright slightly glittery blue. 2) There is Starbuck here, but there's also Excelsior, the local equivalent. And it's near work, just waiting to intercept me on my way in. I walk an hour to get to work, and in this weather that means I am thirsty. And they sell an [View Full Entry]

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Just a brief blog to mention going to see a production of three Noh plays. I would strongly recommend it. For those who don't know what Noh is (oh dear . . . so many bad puns, so little time), check out wikipedia etc. I have never seen anything like it. It is slow, and long, and not much happens. But it is also utterly engrossing to the point of doing something very weird to your mind. There's definitely zen in it. The woman I went with, who studies Noh dance, said that she thought it was a zen practice just [View Full Entry]

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I moved into Ebisu's on Monday, and have spent most of the week sorting out practicle stuff: hunting round 100yen shops for stuff for my room (from a nice little pot plant to a much-needed soap dish), stocking up on food, working out where the shops actually are, and of course all the admin. Below is a suggestion of how to approach all this: Alien Registration Card: When you come to Japan on a working holiday visa, you have to get an alien registration card. To do this, go to your local ward office (mine is only 10 minutes walk, they [View Full Entry]

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I arrived in Kyoto this lunchtime, so can write up Tokyo in full. I stayed at Khaosan Tokyo Original hostel. It was cheap, clean, and very conveniently located. It was a bit cramped, the shower was annoying (stopped every two seconds) and I got eaten alive by midges that came in off the river. Would I stay there again? Maybe. I managed to wander around a fair amount of the city thanks to a friendly German called Mika, who helped me sort myself out on my first, extremely jet lagged and tired, day, and a girl called Chris from Hong Kong, [View Full Entry]

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I'm procrastinating packing, so figured I'd try and explain this . . . Pros - chance to live in Japan for a year!!! How is that not the most amazing thing ever??? - opportunities to learn a new language, engage with a different culture, and all that other stuff that looks good on the CV. - working will enable you to travel for longer elsewhere, as at the very least you could cover the costs of being in Japan, making a potentially expensive part of your itinerary cost-neutral - if you're wanting a year abroad in one place (perhaps you're considering [View Full Entry]

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First stop should be the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which lists eligible countries, application procedures, and any contry-specific variations. This page of the Japanese Embassy in London outlines the requirements and process for UK citizens. And this youtube video gives helpful info on what to put in your application paperwork (and is fairly amusing). Basically, if you are a British citizen, a [View Full Entry]

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Not many (I doubt you really want to see 100 photos of tilework. The carets are the ones I ended up buying. And now, just as I'd finally gotten the hang of [View Full Entry]

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Seriously, insanely long journey. Left hotel 5.20am local time, now 9.15pm local time and still not even time to check in. Got as far as Tehran without incident, but then getting to the airport was stressful in the extreme, and a major rip off. Still, here we are, ensconced in aircon with internet access and a snack stall to spend our last rials. Earlier . . . Saw Narjes for lunch on 11th, and dinner on 12th. Stayed with her at her uni accommodation on 12th. Had my fortune told (very good actually!), tried Iranian pizza (amazingly bad), watched the Keira [View Full Entry]

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We arrived in Yazd from Isfahan on the 6th June. The bus journey was good, a nice air conditioned very punctual bus. We're staying at Kohan Kashana traditional hotel, which means courtyards, fountains and general lovely atmosphere, all for 300,000 rials a night (twin room, inc. breakfast, en suite). I've managed to get ill, by eating a camel burger on the 6th. Severe stomach cramps and all the usual food poisoning joy followed, until finally last night I decided I'd better go to a doctor (the LP says to seek medical attention immediately if suffering abdominal pain as well as, erm, [View Full Entry]

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