The end of the road? Stu it's been so interesting and wonderful following your journey. Photographs have been great and I am looking forward to seeing them all catalogued and descriptions on them. The time of your life is what you've had (until the next time). Sometimes you just know that it's time for home. Anyway thanks for allowing us to follow your experiences. Xxxx
Hello Geordie mate! Hello pal, loving your blog and all the pics on Facebook mate. Maybe you'll find the time to travel to Hamilton, Scotland one day to see all of us. Don't worry as we have a guest room ? take care and stay safe mate ?
thank u for putting tainan as highlight yassss! i do agree that coz the size issue that won't need to travel much during. But for me or the other taiwanese,we prefer to say the most beautiful scenery of TW,would be the people here! u can feel the environment of passionate,friendly and easy to go! maybe it was a bit short of ur taiwan tour. but we got whole day fun to do including:food,work and lifestyle.
do noticed that u miss Kenting (summer beach joy) and east of TW-Hualien(the last wonderland). Hope u have chances to back again as I'm here to welcome all the tourist from different country! xxx
I once wanted to be a backpacker to go to different places alone or with friends. I like the idea of traveling on the spot or from one country to another without prior booking or wanting the place to be cozy or luxurious. And with what you shared, I now include Philippines in my list. Thanks for sharing.
Continuation of travel Hi Stuart brill to read your blog and your personal experiences travelling. Now I know that I have been married to a traveller all these years rather than a holiday maker (according to your theory) lol. I hope you get your I phone up and running the thoughts of you losing all your pictures is unthinkable. I am lovng your travels and long may you enjoy them xxxx
We are listening! I have been following your blog for a while and its great but can I make a small request, and this will probs piss you off but here goes.............. can you break up your text with paragraphs as reading big blocks of text makes me go cross eyed! Loving your experience and you are super brave, but ex army no surprise. Take care and enjoy x
I'm listening as well I totally understand where you are coming from.... I've read my blogs back a few times when I've finished and thought that I should break them up but usually been too tired to do anything about it.
The next one will be a whole lot better ha ha
Wi-fi and SIM JFYI, here is a local site on some cafes with Free wi-fi in Kyoto (apart from the chains like Starbucks; use Google Auto-translate): http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2136249932344457701
Kyoto Station's underground mall at the northern Karasuma Exit should have free wi-fi. Traveler's SIM can be bought at Yodobashi and BIC Camera stores around JR Kyoto Station.
Cheers and enjoy your trip. After going back, you'll reminisce the days abroad (like I miss the British practice of pouring malt vinegar over fish and chips).
Phones and Wi-fi I suggest opening up Google Map and entering the keyword "Free WiFi" "フリーWifi". As a matter of fact, there is free wi-fi at all (if not, most) Starbucks across Japan, and the Renoir chain around Tokyo (I'm currently using it), but you need a phone for a code request for these two (there are dozens of other cafe chains offering similar services). There are of course cafes with wi-fi in places like Tokyo and Kyoto which can be used with a code (ask the staff). Many local people do not use this, as their phones and computers are already bundled with coded wi-fi (LTE highspeed) and would not prefer to use unsafe wi-fi networks which can be easily decoded (see the Economist survey on internet safety of cities around the globe). If you just want a SIM for your smartphone, go to a Yodobashi or BIC Camera Store for a visitor package. If you read guide books or websites like Japan-Guide, how tos are all written. If you can't handle that, go to a Seven-Eleven convenience store and they all have free wi-fi (Lawson also have similar free public wi-fi at some of their shops).
Not wanting to be a pest - just wanted to lend a helping hand to a person who seems to be feeling a bit miserable in the rainy season.
PS As for the FAX issue - that is because many people see e-mail for business as something less reliable (the other person can make excuses that s/he had trouble opening it in time, or the mail was undelivered because of a virus, etc; there will be no excuses if you send a fax, and ask the person to check it immediately over the phone- that's the way the Japanese work). Again not wanting to be a pest, but there is "local logic" to all things, and British people, however clever and charming they are to walk in the rain without umbrellas, can't claim their logic to be the global standard.
Hi. I think you just need to get out of impersonal megacities such as Nagoya or Tokyo, and go to smaller towns, like Hida Furukawa (Takayama is still a bit too big), in which people say hello to strangers, chat with a person sitting next to him in an izakaya or onsen, stay at a Minshuku B&B instead of hostels, ask for a volunteer guide. People are just busy with their own work in places like Nagoya, and aren't so bored as to reach out to another guy or woman who might not be wanting to be bothered (bothering another person is half-criminal in Japan; people leave you alone because you might not want to be talked to). Hike somewhere like Magome and Tsumago if you are near Nagoya, go to a Daio Wasabi Farm in the suburbs of Matsumoto, visit sake or wine cellars in the area.
Travel blues Sad to hear youre not good. However even when you have the "whole world in your hands" you can feel like that. There are quite sad things going on for you back home so that will be why. You were never going to "love" every single country you visit Stu x
enjoying your posts Hi Geordie, I'm enjoying reading your posts and blog and following your travels, it's a Shame you didnt like Jakarta .. Always wanted to visit myself. Not sure now! HOPE Bali is better and you get your feet sorted! Not fun being ill in these places. We just escaped Burundi and troubles there .. Poor people putting up with crap presidents .. Back in Geneva with two Congolese cats we've dragged everywhere with us.. Wondering what to do next .. You know the feeling! Continue to have fun! xx
Having left the British Army in July 2014 after 26 years of service I was invited on a 2 month backpacking trip round Asia with a friend and caught the travelling bug. On my return to UK I wanted to repeat the experience and do it again but on a much bigger scale. Not just Asia but THE WORLD! As a 46 year old, I am a bit older then most of the people I've met on the road but older means wiser, intelligence and experience? Read the blog to find out!... full info
Maureen
non-member comment
The end of the road?
Stu it's been so interesting and wonderful following your journey. Photographs have been great and I am looking forward to seeing them all catalogued and descriptions on them. The time of your life is what you've had (until the next time). Sometimes you just know that it's time for home. Anyway thanks for allowing us to follow your experiences. Xxxx