Japan Live '05

Hey Everybody, I have now been in Japan now for about 26 hours and am ready to come home.....NOT! Had a grueling 10 hour flight yesterday and arrived in Narita about 4.30pm local time. Then it was a long hot wait to get through customs and stuff and was eventually on the train to Yokohama, where I enjoyed my 1st Japanese beer...not a bad drop. Spent today looking around Yokohama on a rented bike, which is definately the way to go as far as checking the place out. Well, what can I say...there are heaps of Japanese people everywhere (surprise, surprise), I cant read anything (still managed to buy subway for lunch and octupus for afternoon tea!), but had a lot of fun just looking around. Hardly saw any other gaijin today, so all the stares were saved for me and Anthony, quite a funny feeling being on that side of the fence! Its definately going to be a mission to understand everything but i'm sure i'll pick it up soon enough. This week is all about getting established with a bank account, gaijin card and cellphone then the jobhunt will be on.
***Late edition*** 11.30pm Sunday Night, Anthony needed to get some balloons and plastic fruit for a lesson in the morning....where the hell do you find that stuff at that hour? Well im glad I went to find out....cant remember the name of the store, but its like a budget warehouse with everything and anything and ts open 24/7! So we are there near midnight, and the place is packed with people buying all sorts...just to make it more funny, they had gangsta rap playing on one radio and hard techno on another! And yes, we found the balloons and plastic veges (close enough to fruit)!
Pictures from top to bottom, left to right: Our massive bathroom in our mansion; Street scene in Chinatown, Yokohama; Funny as performer; Marine training boat with theme park in the background; Liam and Anthony on a rented bike.

Going-Away Party

Saturday night was certainly a night to remember and full credit goes out to everybody that made it such an awesome party! Big thanks goes out to Shelz, James, Daz & Tristian for use of the pad, Ian on the BBQ, Mark & Nicky on the food prep (& keeping the punch bowl filled up!) & Lil' James on photography (few blurry pics, but not bad for a 12-year old). Also much appreciation to those who came from afar (Auckland, Tauranga & Pukete!) Much Luv.
Alas, it was a night with some carnage, but who would've guessed that Mum (Connie), would be the 1st (and fortunately the only) person to be carted off to the hospital for the night (my money was on Hutchy!). Some photographers are willing to go to the edge to get that once in a lifetime shot, unfortunately for Mum she fell off the edge and now has her leg in cast with two breaks in her leg. Now thats what I call commitment! Get well soon Mum :)
Well i'm off early Saturday morning so if you need me for anything, be quick!
Haere ra, Brendan