Where to next? This is a journal about Phil's progress as he backpacks his way west from his beloved Japan.

The Great Wall

CHINA | Monday, 20 Aug 2007 | Views [504]

The word Great doesn't seem to capture how awesome in so many ways the Wall actually is. I suppose I can congratulate myself on finding a good bit of wall though, worlds away from the tourist traps of Badaling and Mutianyu where the wall is drowned ... Read more >

Tags: Adventures

Beijing

CHINA | Saturday, 18 Aug 2007 | Views [819]

Talk about luxury! Soft sleepers are pricey but what a wonderful way to sleep through the night and arrive in Beijing the next day! It's a different world from Shanghai. So much more space, greenery and chilled-out-ness. Unlike Shanghai I no longer ... Read more >

Tags: General

Shanghai

CHINA | Saturday, 18 Aug 2007 | Views [865]

"Welcome to Shanghai!" said the flashy neon and enormous buildings doing their best to peer through the thick smog and drizzle covering the city. Thanks to the typhoon and a detour via North Korean seas we arrived 5 hours late, leaving Sai ... Read more >

Tags: General

Gallery: Iwaki

JAPAN | Saturday, 18 Aug 2007 | Photo Gallery

Nostalgic return up north
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The ferry

CHINA | Friday, 17 Aug 2007 | Views [712]

Finally, a computer which works! Having issues uploading photos though... Anyway... So the ferry trip was fun. Kind of. I guess I don't recommend going in typhoon season. We were hit by a pretty big one and let's just say some of the smells and ... Read more >

Tags: General

Gallery: Beijing

CHINA | Friday, 17 Aug 2007 | Photo Gallery

See all 60 photos >>

Gallery: Shanghai

CHINA | Thursday, 16 Aug 2007 | Photo Gallery

See all 45 photos >>

Cramped quarters

JAPAN | Thursday, 9 Aug 2007 | Views [584] | Comments [1]

Three weeks ago there I was expecting to feel a sudden rush to the head, a brutal awakening to the fact that the best part of five years in Japan was about to end. Three weeks on and here I am, still not getting my head round it. Having a clear mind ... Read more >

Tags: The Planning Phase

Ready?

JAPAN | Wednesday, 25 Jul 2007 | Views [591] | Comments [4]

Slowly but surely things are coming along. Feeling a lot better about things now that I'm armed with a new credit card (thanks mum!) travellers cheques, medicine, seishun 18 kippu... I've still got some stuff to buy but roll on Thursday by which time ... Read more >

Tags: The Planning Phase