Welcome to Japan

With the adventures in Thailand coming to an end (it was a good thing we left Thailand when we did because my visa expired the day we left - talk about perfect timing) it was off to Japan.  We got our flight at 6am and sat on the plane for 6 hours before arriving in Tokyo International Airport.  The screening to get into Japan is kind of crazy.  To get through customs you hand over your passport and then put your index fingers on a scanner so they can scan your fingerprints.  Then you smile for the camera so you can have your picture added to the file.  This was definitely the most rigorous screening we went through.

After all of the security checks we were released into the airport and it was time to find the train system so we could head out to Yokosuka (pronounced Yokoska) and meet up with Patrick.  Even though the train system in Japan is incredibly extensive, it was not too hard to figure out where to hop the train - that is once you get your pass and figure out the basics of the train system.  If you are heading to Japan for a week or two, I definitely recommend getting the Japan Rail Pass.  It is a little pricey (but so is the rest of the country) and has to be bought outside of Japan, but it will save you a lot of money and works on the bullet trains as well so it is a heck of a deal (if you plan to travel a lot on the train systems).

We got it figured out and hopped on a train to Yokosuka.  The train ride was about an hour and a half long and the train was pretty crowded for a bunch of it, but it was still very convenient.  We arrived at our destination and I called Patrick so we could meet up.  He came to get us at the train station and it was great to see his face walking down the street with a big grin.  The cab to his house was fast and pretty easy so most of our trip went off without a hitch.

Patrick has the sweetest house he is renting in Japan.  It is pretty close to where he works in Yokosuka (close enough that he can either bike, take a short train ride, or walk) and is much nicer than staying in a hotel.  It is a 4 bedroom (small bedrooms and two are used for an office and storage) place with 1.5 baths and a full kitchen.  He also has a washing machine which was great to use since we had been doing a bit of hand washing as well as having others wash our clothes in Thailand.  It is a really warm feeling home and I am glad that Patrick has found some place where he can relax while in Japan.  

Once Keith and I were settled in we headed out for some sushi (you can't go to Japan and not eat sushi).  Patrick knew of a great place that was only one train stop away from his place and it was really cool to see him speak Japanese with the waitress (at this point I was still trying to not say hello in Thai instead of Japanese).  One of the most helpful things on the way to dinner was Patrick explained a little bit about the local train systems and how to get where we needed to go (very, very, very helpful).

When dinner was over we headed over to the hotel where Patrick used to stay to get a drink and meet some of his co-workers (most of the guys who are working in the ship yard for a short amount of time stay in the hotel).  I was also introduced to the best Japanese drink known as a Chu Hi (spelling is probably not correct on that one).  It is Japanese vodka mixed with some kind of citrus juice (most of the time) - either lemon, lime or grapefruit.  You can find them canned, but fresh juice chu his are definitely the best.  While in Japan I definitely recommend trying one (if you drink).  My favorite was the grapefruit, but all three are really good. 

Koh Samed, Thailand

Since I had such an amazing time on the beaches of Thailand I decided it would be great to take Keith to an island so he could experience the more relaxing way of life.  (It is not hard to have a more relaxing way of life than the trekking in Chiang Mai.)  Since we did not have enough time to head very far south and hit up any of the islands that I had been to earlier in the month we hit Koh Samed.  

Not only is Koh Samed close to Bangkok (only a 4-hour bus ride and a 45-minute boat ride) it is also touted as a locals island (it is supposedly huge with the people in Bangkok).  We were expecting an island paradise with great snorkeling and fun in the sun.  What we actually got was the worst island I had been to.  Koh Samed was dirty, expensive and had crappy snorkeling.  In defense of the island we did stay in one of the touristy places on the island (there are supposedly a couple of really nice beaches that are harder to get to and a lot more remote).

Anyway, we stayed at an ok guesthouse on the island that was close to the beach and close to restaurants (very nice).  We spent two nights and one full day on the island so we did get to swim in the water and tired to sign up for a snorkeling trip.  Unfortunately, the trip was cancelled because the water was too rough and the boat was not going to go out that night.  So, we finally found some equipment to rent and tried to snorkel off of the beach.  This was also a bust because the water was much too murky to actually see anything more than two inches in front of you.  It was kind of crazy because I could not see my hand if I stretched my arm out in front of me.  We played around with the snorkel stuff for a while and then just swam around.  The best part was that Keith actually got to swim in the ocean (really a sea, but part of the ocean) for the first time - chalk another one up to new experiences.

We both got some sun while at the beach and got to play in the water so it was a somewhat successful beach adventure.  The fact that the island was dirty (trash on the side of the road), you get ripped off taking a cab/truck back to the ferry dock and that the island is more expensive than most places makes this my least favorite island that I went to.  I don't think I would go back to this island and I do not recommend it to anyone who is looking for a relaxing time on the beach.  If you are looking for jet skis and inner tubing and the banana float rides and all of the other motor sports you can think of then go ahead and jump on a boat to the island, but be ready to dish out some serious (for Thailand) dough to do all of these adventures (30 minutes of jet skiing will cost you about $50USD).  All in all I would skip it, but I guess that is because I am not into the types of things this island had to offer.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is a huge city with way too much to do in a couple of days, but we got to experience some of it. The sky train goes through part of the city, but the other parts are only accessible by walking, taxis or tuk tuks. Taxis are the more comfortable way to get around with air conditioning and doors and an enclosed space, but are much more expensive than the other modes of transportation. Walking is ok, but if you have far to go it takes a long time, gets hot, and isn't all that easy after dark. That leaves tuk tuks as a great way to get around.
Well a great way to get around if you don't mind lots of car exhaust, no doors, lots of noise and some crazy driving. All in all, I loved them. I would not want to ride in them all of the time, but every once in a while it is a great way to see the city. The one thing that is kind of annoying about the tuk tuks is that they try and get you to go to different stores so they can get gas. One of our tuk tuk drivers actually got us to agree to go to a fancy jewelry store for 10-15 minutes so he could get some free gas. The only reason we went is because he agreed to half our fare to where we were going so it seemed like a good deal. The tuk tuks aren't really that bad, but just beware that they will: a) try to over charge you and b) try to get you to go to an over priced place so they can get free stuff out of it.
Now, back to Bangkok. If you want a huge shopping area where you can get all of the souvenirs you would ever want or anything else you can think of you should go to the Chatuchak weekend market. Exploring that market would take hours upon hours which I did not spend there, but I did get a taste of it. Not only were there gifts aplenty, but there were all types of different clothes, shoes, food and animals. When I wondered across the animal section of the market I almost came home with a couple of friends for the evils. It was kind of sad because they had a bunch of aisles with birds, bunnies (some of them were tiny little things and were forced to wear little outfits and share a cage with a bunch of other dressed up rabbits), and puppies. I was ok until I saw a boxer puppy and then it was all I had to keep walking. The market was amazing, but be warned when you go there - you will see things that will tempt you (whether it be food, animals, clothing, or a little trinket), but just remember that self restraint is a good thing.
If shopping is not your thing then there is plenty of other things to do in Bangkok. If you are interested in museums and learning about history then you can check out the National Museum. Keith and I spent a couple of hours at the National Museum and learned a ton about the history of Thailand. It was amazing how much Thailand and Burma have fought throughout history and how many times the power has changed hands. We saw pictures of how they used to fight on elephants, saw dioramas of the battles that shaped the country. It was very interesting to see the history of Siam (now known as Thailand).
The museum had another part to it as well - the art history of the country as well. There were many different wings that held the art that has pleased throughout the centuries. From pottery to paintings to metal work to musical instruments you can see it all in the museum. Even though I am not that much of a museum person it was very cool to go and see some of the art and history of the country I was in. The one thing that really amazed me was the influence of China in much of the art in Thailand. I guess I was just naive in thinking that China did not have as much influence throughout much of Asia, but it was still surprising to see it in many of the countries I went to.
Ok, maybe museums are not your thing either. How about Wats? Pretty close to the National Museum are Wat Phra Kaeo and the Grand Palace as well as Wat Po. The Grand Palace is an amazing sight and you will know you are getting close when you see the mass of people trying to sell you anything and everything as well as an army of tuk tuk drivers ready to take you anywhere your heart may desire. Many people will try to tell you that you can not enter the Grand Palace unless you are wearing long pants (as a woman you should always wear below the knee pants or a skirt when going into any Wat to show your respect) but that is not the case. Do not fall for the lies and be tempted to pay an outrageous amount for a pair of pants you don't really need.
Wat Po is the temple that has the biggest lying down Buddha. I don't remember how long the golden statue is, but it was too big to fit into one picture. It is amazing to me how much people will spend on religious artifacts. In fact, much of Asia amazed me with the amount of money that was spent on religion while there was poverty prevalent in much of the area. Anyway, Wat Po was an amazing sight and I definitely recommend going there. It is an awe inspiring sight and the rest of the Wat around the Buddha was just as beautiful.
- One word of caution about going to all of the above mentioned places - tuk tuk drivers will try to tell you that the Grand Palace and other places are closed until a certain time or because it is a holiday, but they are just telling you a lie in order to get you to hire them for a tour around the city. In fact we had one tuk tuk driver try to tell us that Wat Po was closed when we were a block away from it. When we turned the corner it was interesting to see a bunch of people walking in and out of a closed Wat. Another tuk tuk driver tried to tell us that the Grand Palace was closed until 1:30 on the day we tried to go because of a holiday and wasn't too happy when I told him he was lying to us. One thing I would love to go back and do would tell the tuk tuk driver that if he was to take us to the Wat and it was closed then he would get paid, but if it wasn't then we would get the ride for free. Oh well, maybe next time.
After all of the Wats and museums and shopping sometimes it is just nice to chill out at a nice park. Lumpini Park is just this kind of place. It is a huge park in the city and is a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Think about Central Park, but in Bangkok. There are a couple of ponds in the park as well where you can go paddle boating or feed the ducks, but beware of the catfish (they are huge and really aggressive when you try to get the food to the ducks or turtles). Lumpini Park is where a lot of people go to run, have a picnic, or just chill out by the water. One word of warning, however, do not try the Durian fruit. If you do you will understand the warning.
There is a lot more to see in Bangkok, but there is only so much you can see in two days. I would have liked to spend more time there, but I wish I had more time in most of the places I went.