So...in a very hypothetical way...if YOU were to plan around a four week backpacking trip, where would YOU go? And...let's say you really wanted to explore a country as much as possible, so you don't want to jump around too much...
China/Tibet
China/Vietnam
Vietnam/Thailand/Laos
India
Indonesia
So, let's hear it. Where would you go and why?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Another reason why Japanese elevators suck...
Something I forgot to mention in last night's entry that a dream I had reminded me of (OK, how weird does that sound...)
Last night my coworker told me that the service elevator we usually take at night to take out the trash...broke. I mean, at around 9 or 10 am that day, people were taking it from the second floor and it literally dropped to the basement!! I am assuming everyone was OK because there weren't a million Japanese people running around freaking out, but how scary is that?? To free fall for 3 stories?? The scariest part is I work on the NINTH floor and take that elevator almost every night....I don't want to even think about what would happen if the elevator decided to drop and let me free fall all the way down to the basement...like that scene in Speed. Told you, Japanese technology isn't what it's cracked up to be...
Last night my coworker told me that the service elevator we usually take at night to take out the trash...broke. I mean, at around 9 or 10 am that day, people were taking it from the second floor and it literally dropped to the basement!! I am assuming everyone was OK because there weren't a million Japanese people running around freaking out, but how scary is that?? To free fall for 3 stories?? The scariest part is I work on the NINTH floor and take that elevator almost every night....I don't want to even think about what would happen if the elevator decided to drop and let me free fall all the way down to the basement...like that scene in Speed. Told you, Japanese technology isn't what it's cracked up to be...
Overreliance
I just spent the past five days without a computer due to a really nasty virus basically giving my computer AIDS. I have had plenty of computer related mishaps in my lifetime to understand how overreliant I am on my computer/the internet (especially in university around finals!). However, this week I REALLY realized how utterly important a computer is to me here...it is my lifeline to the world!!! I have the "internet" on my cell phone here, so I can check gmail and facebook (sort of), but it just isn't the same! I use the internet to keep on top of my shows, to read the news, and obviously to keep in touch with everyone! It would be impossible to live here without a computer. Let us hope this never happens again while I am here (ie I just installed an anti virus program--something I sort of neglected to have on my computer for the past year and a half...oops). I am just grateful my coworker speaks computer and was able to fix it (I can just imagine myself at a computer store trying to gesture out my problems)! He also supposedly saved my pictures and music, but at this moment I am unsure where they are? Now I just have that joyful task of redownloading/installing everything I can, except I was super prepared and brought like nothing with me, so I am not sure how I will be getting back some programs...
Over this week, in search of amusement, I actually turned on my TV. I seriously hate Japanese TV because it is a bunch of lame slapstick game shows (exactly that stuff you watch on youtube as a joke). It's so obnoxious it gives me a headache. BUT, my apartment has a satellite package included in my rent, and I discovered this channel that shows all the popular US dramas (CSI, Alias, Lost, etc) --of course like at least one season behind lol--as well as some movies. Most of it is in Japanese, but some shows are in English with subtitles. So that was at least a little useful. I also started a book my friend sent me in...May, I think =) Better late than never!
I am so incredibly busy (and on the tightest budget ever) this upcoming month!
Here is the lineup so far:
September 6-Work party
Weekend of September 13-Camping on Iki Island (sub-tropical island off Nagasaki)
Weekend of September 20- TOKYO!!!
Weekend of September 27-KYOTO/NARA!!!!
Cheers!
Over this week, in search of amusement, I actually turned on my TV. I seriously hate Japanese TV because it is a bunch of lame slapstick game shows (exactly that stuff you watch on youtube as a joke). It's so obnoxious it gives me a headache. BUT, my apartment has a satellite package included in my rent, and I discovered this channel that shows all the popular US dramas (CSI, Alias, Lost, etc) --of course like at least one season behind lol--as well as some movies. Most of it is in Japanese, but some shows are in English with subtitles. So that was at least a little useful. I also started a book my friend sent me in...May, I think =) Better late than never!
I am so incredibly busy (and on the tightest budget ever) this upcoming month!
Here is the lineup so far:
September 6-Work party
Weekend of September 13-Camping on Iki Island (sub-tropical island off Nagasaki)
Weekend of September 20- TOKYO!!!
Weekend of September 27-KYOTO/NARA!!!!
Cheers!
Monday, August 25, 2008
On that note...
Does anyone know a thing or two about computers????? I really really don't want to have to venture into a Japanese computer store and try to explain my problem =/. However, it might have to happen as my computer pretty much has AIDS at this point. I have a full extensive explanation of what is going on, that I tried to post on one of those "computer help" forums...only to find I can't post anything (part of my computer's problem)...so if you or someone you know might be able to fix my problem, please let me know and I'll email you the details =)
F for Frustration
I am very frustrated for two reasons right now:
1. I somehow downloaded a really dreadful virus onto my computer. Fast forward to about 6 hours of annoyance and clicking later, and it is somewhat maintained, yet some stuff is still screwed up on my computer. LOVELY.
2. I just got a revised quote for a flight to Thailand over my winter holiday...and looks like I won't be going there anytime around then! Unfortunately, with my job, I get set dates off. I can't pick and choose when I get holiday, and of course I get the actual New Years week off making it RIDICULOUSLY expensive to fly there (the ending price was somewhere around 1,200 USD--no thank you!). This also just kind of opened my eyes and made me realize it would cost this much to fly there/anywhere during ANY of my holidays. You have to travel overseas during off season. Too bad I don't get it off! So, although after Okinawa I started looking more into staying an extra six months for traveling purposes, I am now slowly drifting back to only staying until April, as I am not going to pay ridiculous traveling prices. I think either way I will put off S. East Asia until after my contract is up and then maybe take a trip there before coming home. This is all so frustrating though! So, now for New Years I think I am going to try to go to Korea and China. The ferry to Korea from my city isn't too expensive, and you can actually take ferries to China as well. So screw airfare! UGH. So anyway, back to me staying or going home, what are all of your opinions? Is it worth it?
1. I somehow downloaded a really dreadful virus onto my computer. Fast forward to about 6 hours of annoyance and clicking later, and it is somewhat maintained, yet some stuff is still screwed up on my computer. LOVELY.
2. I just got a revised quote for a flight to Thailand over my winter holiday...and looks like I won't be going there anytime around then! Unfortunately, with my job, I get set dates off. I can't pick and choose when I get holiday, and of course I get the actual New Years week off making it RIDICULOUSLY expensive to fly there (the ending price was somewhere around 1,200 USD--no thank you!). This also just kind of opened my eyes and made me realize it would cost this much to fly there/anywhere during ANY of my holidays. You have to travel overseas during off season. Too bad I don't get it off! So, although after Okinawa I started looking more into staying an extra six months for traveling purposes, I am now slowly drifting back to only staying until April, as I am not going to pay ridiculous traveling prices. I think either way I will put off S. East Asia until after my contract is up and then maybe take a trip there before coming home. This is all so frustrating though! So, now for New Years I think I am going to try to go to Korea and China. The ferry to Korea from my city isn't too expensive, and you can actually take ferries to China as well. So screw airfare! UGH. So anyway, back to me staying or going home, what are all of your opinions? Is it worth it?
Sunday, August 24, 2008
There is light at the end of the tunnel
as in the weather is actually COOL & PLEASANT! I have been sitting here with my slider open all day and air conditioner off! You have no idea how exciting this is...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Well thats the last time
I go running at 11 pm at night. Not because I saw any creepy Japanese hoodlums (do they even exist??)--there were more police officers out patrolling the streets than normal people--but because I ran through about 5 spider webs. And then every time proceeded to probably look like some crazy white girl trying to dance like she was in an 80s video, as I was freaking out and afraid a spider was on me somewhere.
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