Songkran in Bangkok Ok, so I wouldn't say that we left Koh Lanta kicking and screaming. However, the thought of Bangkok with all it's noise, pollution, cars, dogs and hawkers wasn't "ideal". After a ferry journey with some sun baking and the obligatory "slip, slap slop", all to the sound of George Harrisons "My Sweet Lord" we jumped on a plane and touched down two hours later. Taxi please sir - We were immediately reminded that we were in the midst of Songkran - The Water Festival/Thai New Yearwith groups of 10-15 people on the back of a pick up truck [View Full Entry]

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Finally...That Cocktail! Horay for Thailand! Our two weeks in one of the most amazing beach destiniations will be brought to you by both Yvette (week 1) and Dom (week 2).. Travel & Bangkok So we probably would have failed the auditions for the Amazing Race. The reality TV show where a dozen couples or friends are flung from one exotic destination to another, with challenges and activities along the way, all aiming not to come last, or else elimination from the race will ensue.... Firstly, we arrived at Hong Kong airport for 2 hours intransit, but I'd left my Hong K [View Full Entry]

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Signing off From Tokyo So team, it time to sign off from Tokyo and what a wonderful adventure it has been. Looking back at the 3 months, I can't believe I've had so many great opportunities and luck. Challenging, but rewarding job; great bunch of people at my apartment; new Japanese friends through work; opportunity to visit my old host family and friends again and a chance to live everyday life in Tokyo, one of the world's most alive and dynamic cities. So here is my partner in crime, the very hansom Dominic Salomoni signing in...! ;) Dom Signing In... [View Full Entry]

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Our First Big Ticket Item Dom finally arrived in Tokyo on 28th March. Hooray! After a day of rest and relaxation, I quickly whisked him around town for some sightseeing, and not intending to stretch things, on Day 2 we somehow managed to cover the Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba & the Fuji TV building, Asakasa Shrine, the Yasukuni Shrine and dinner in Shinjuku! By Day 3, we were then on the train to Hakone to try our luck at seeing Mt Fuji - as on most days its either covered by cloud or smog. And luck was on our side.......... The [View Full Entry]

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Amongst the Mountains & Blossoms I finished up at work on March 10th and the Wunderman Denstu team put on an amazing send off. Big dinner, piano bar karaoke and presents! I then spent a leisurely week in Tokyo, catching up on personal admin and sleep. Then, on Friday 17th March, I boarded Japan's budget airline carrier, Skymark, for a 1.5 week trip to my old stomping ground in southern Japan. I spent 10 months in 1995 living as a high school exchange student in Hita city, Oita prefecture, Kyushu island. One of the things I enjoy the most about [View Full Entry]

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Part 2 - Entourage for a Day 4th March 2006. Super Aguri Press Conference & Media Activity 10:30 - 1:30 - Preparation & Media Time I turned up to the Hollywood Plaza in Roppongi at 10:30am to a corridor of 7 elevators serviced by 7 men in black suits, ear pieces and security tags. Feeling a bit "play school - which window to choose" I advanced confidently to the nearest elevator and requested to be escorted to Level 12. Upon arrival, I was shocked by what I saw - my colleagues had also transformed into head-set, walkie-talkie bearing uber-important back [View Full Entry]

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Part 1 - Being on the project team Introduction Like all good stories, the emotion and satisfaction felt from the stories' end - that ultimate climactic high - can often only truely be felt when there is a significant low point, a battle or even a tragedy with which to juxtapose the ultimate (positive) outcome. War stories, love stories, you name them. The rollercoaster provides the adventure and enables one to magnify the glory at the end. So I am going to take the luxury of presenting my next story - 8 Weeks with Super Aguri Formula 1 - as [View Full Entry]

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Thank God It's Friday... ...Could possibly be the best name for a pub ever. Genius. And you know your night is going to be out of the ordinary when the evening starts at 11:30pm, on the street, drinking a $3 beer bought from the 7/11. Why pay $10 inside a bar when the 7/11 provides such a reasonable alternative? Genius. Then 30 minutes later, our hands were in the air for 'Living on a Prayer'. Followed by Venga Boys 'Brazil' and Madonna's 'Hung Up'. Genius. However, after an hour and a half in the 'Mowtown 2' bar in Roppongi, we had [View Full Entry]

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In contrast to my every-day life in Tokyo - working, going out, commuting and relaxing (!?) - my time here has also been punctuated by some wonderful opportunities to experience and reconnect with Japanese culture. Needless to say, Japan has an abundance of cultural sights of significance, however finding them in Tokyo takes a little more hunting than in cities like Kyoto and Nara. Yokohama & Chinese New Year So I've been really lucky to have been invited out on a couple of occassions with some of the girls from work to their weekend outings. The girls are a great bunch [View Full Entry]

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Shinjuku, Nakano Sakaue & Sakura House So my previous installments have touched on my living arrangement and the local area, however now being several weeks into my stay in Tokyo, I thought I would provide more insight about what it’s like living in Nakano Sakaue Sakura House. Shinjuku The first advantage, as I’ve mentioned previously, is the wonderful proximity we have to Shinjuku. I’ve discovered there are two distinct sides to Shinjuku - the western side - known for its office buildings, expensive hotels (including the Hyatt’s ‘Lost in Tra [View Full Entry]

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