Unfortunately facebook and blogger are blocked in Vietnam, though I do have limited access. It seems I can update my blog, but I can't view it or any other blogs.
Some farewell pictures:
Here are photos of of my stay at a Capsule Hotel in Asakusa!
My last night in Japan and I’m doing the FINAL thing on my to-do list- I’m staying at a Capsule Hotel in Asakusa！！！ I’ve always wanted to do this.. so excited！！！
It’s much bigger than I expected which is great because if you didn’t know, I have a little claustrophobia.
とうとう日本にいる最後の一泊になってきました。ずっとしたかったものをやっとしている。。カプセルホテルで泊まっています！嬉しい～！！
My flight leaves in 23 hours. I don’t know when I’ll be able to go online again, but thank you in advance for thinking of me and for your ’good lucks’！
出発は後23時間。頑張ります！
As I mentioned in my previous post I have a few things left on my to-do list before I leave Japan.
Well, I can reveal that two of the remaining things were.. crossing Rainbow Bridge on foot and seeing the full-scale model of a Gundam Moble Suit!
Crossing Rainbow Bridge Part 1 レインボーブリッジを渡った第一！
It's been 3 long years coming, but I finally did it.. twice!
やっとこの有名な橋を渡った。。二回も！
Rainbow Bridge is about 15 minutes walk from Tamachi Station.. pretty sweaty in 30'C heat! The bridge spans about 580m and takes about 30 mins to cross.
South Side 南ルート
This side has view of the Bay. I crossed during the day time.
I finally arrived! Lovely welcome sign! やっと着いた！何か看板がちょっとボロボロ..
Up the elevator to the lucky 7th floor.. and presto!
エレベータをラッキーな７階まで。
Anyone wanna give me a lift?
Gundam Statue ガンダム立像 Actually the statue was originally in Tokyo, but was moved to Kanagawa prefecture a month before I first came to Japan so I missed it. Luckily it has come back to Tokyo for another year so I got to see it. I'm not really interested in the Gundam Series, but the chance to take a picture of an 18m tall figure is pretty cool! 今年からガンダム立像はまた東京に戻ってきた！実はガンダムシリーズに興味ないけど写真のチャンスです！
Isn't it huge!?
デッカッやろ？！！
Remembering Richard/ リチャードを思い出す為に。。
I tried to find Richard (RIP)'s favourite spot in Tokyo, and I think I kind of succeeded. I sat on a rock and enjoyed the view and a yummy Subway sandwich.
亡くなった友達の一番好きなスポットを探そうとした。成功だったね？
Crossing Rainbow Bridge Part2 レインボーブリッジを渡った第二！
North Side 来たルート
By now the sun had set and I got to enjoy the lovely night scene of
Tokyo and I thought a lot about how I'll miss Tokyo when I move in less
than 2 weeks. 今度は夜の東京の景色を見ました。
Rainbow Bridge(left) and Tokyo Tower(right)
レインボーブリッジ（左）と東京タワー（右）
Sowhat is the final thing left on my to-do list? ...You'll just have to wait and see!!
Thursday 9 August 2012
新しいブログ New Blog: Clare and Toshi in Hanoi
I will continue to update here about Japan, but info relating to Vietnam will be on the new blog.
I have a little over 2 weeks left and 3/34 things left on my "Things to Do in Japan Before I Leave" -an actual word document I typed before arriving in Japan.
I've suddenly been rather sociable! (I wonder why!?) Here are a few pictures of some outings:
Huw's Jazz Band
AEON party in Ohizumigakuen
Possibly my last time at my favourite Chinese restaurant! Xie xie!
Karaoke!
日本ではサンドウィッチはよくサンドに短くされます。サンドは砂と言う意味もあるからこの写真はぴったりと思いました(*^^*) Sandwich is often abbreviated to 'sand' in Japan. The beach at Kamakura was so windy that my sand sandwich got sandy.. :/
At a beach party with Branwen (my friend Michael DJing in the background)
Comedy night near Shinjuku. I volunteered as a 'prop'
To Mum and Dad- I met the guy who does the "Welcome to Tokyo Tower" voiceover for the lift at Tokyo Tower!
Toshi worked really hard to impress his superiors and prove his skills, and despite being the youngest ever to be hired and competing against longer-serving rivals, he was successful in being transferred after less than 3 months at the company! I'm really proud!!!
A week of stress finally 'boxed up' and done! 荷物を詰めることがついでに終わった！
At the airport: This isn't goodbye; it's hello to a new life!! 飛行機では「さよなら」じゃなくて新しい生活に「ハロー」です！
I'm happy to report that Toshi is safe and sound in Hanoi after just a week's notice of his transfer. Looks like he is living in Ha Noi's Cầu Giấy district, West-South-West of the centre. I hope that he (and eventually I) will enjoy this next adventure!!
I apologise for the delay! I had been busy helping with my co-worker's wedding, then I've been having some technical difficulties.
News: As for the 'Adventure' that Toshi and I will be embarking on, it looks probable that Toshi will be starting late next month, and that I shall follow early October. I'm trying not to stress out (and failing..)
Camping May 30th 2012
I appreciate you've probably had enough of seeing my camping photos, so I'll just put up two. We left straight after our work finished (we both happened to finish at 6) and hurried to a place called Kawai (no, not kawaii , meaning cute!). This campsite was amazing- no ants or insects to speak of at all! And a lovely, clear stream flowed nearby. Definitely want to go again!
Charlie's Wedding June 2nd 2012
Charlie and his wife Rimi chose to hold a Western-style (as do approx. 90% of couples in Japan) in their favourite Italian restaurant. As couples in Japan legally marry at the local City Office (the same as in France and some other countries), the couples are free to hold any kind of ceremony or party afterwards and officials do not participate. The vows and exchanging of the rings were led by Charlie's old friend, Walter. I was given the honourable task of being receptionist and greeting the guests, as well as organising the party games for the after-party.
Reception-ing and posing with the bouqet!
The lovely couple, and hosting the 'Shoe Game' at the after-party
Feel free to watch the video below of the popular Wedding party game called 'The Shoe Game' hosted by myself in Japanese.
Hadn't realised my Japanese had such a Welsh accent!
Venus Transit June 5th
Clouds, clouds, and more clouds ;( Oh well, only another 105 years to wait.. Disney Sea June 10th
Since Jen's departure from Japan, it had been a long time since I'd been to Disneyland or Sea, but I finally managed to coerce convince Toshi into going with me! For someone who loves Disney movies and songs, he had been a bit grumpy, but I think in retrospect he isn't such a fan of rollercoasters..
Anyway, we had a good time =D
No, not Mexico, the Indiana Jones ride!
A Planetarium (yay!) and a bunch of Japanese girls wearing their school uniform who all looked exactly alike (..;)
Typhoon #4 June 19th
Not a happy, drenched bunny with a destroyed umbrella (>.<;) But at least the rain was warm!
It's been quite an interesting year astronomy-wise, a lunar eclipse back in December, a spectacular supermoon last month, an annular eclipse today, another lunar eclipse on June 5th and there will be a transit of Venus on June 6th, which I am very looking forward to! (Unfortunately only partially visible in the UK)!
This was the second eclipse I've experienced, as I viewed the partial solar eclipse while I was on a Girl Guides camp half my life ago in August 1999.
At the peak!!!!!
My own pictures: Before, during totality and after!
Most eclipses occur over the sea, since the Earth is 2/3 water, and this eclipse was particularly special due
to the fact that its totality was visible from several of the most
densly-populatied cities in the world.. my very own Tokyo included (others being Hong Kong, Osaka, San Fransisco). There
certainly was a lot of media hype, and luckily the eclipse occured in the morning before work
started!
Something that I was really disappointed with, though, was the lack of media emphasis on
the fact that special sunglasses are *absolutely necessary*, and I regrettably saw people viewing the eclipse with their naked eyes..
Stay tuned for pictures of the transit of Venus next month- I'm glad to be able to use my eclipse glasses again too! (*^^*)
If you've no idea what I'm talking about, look here
