Sterling Slumps: Travellers' Travails

With the British pound plummeting to the point where:

£1 = 1Euro = $1US = Y100

where can British travellers go without bankrupting themselves? Well, the British tourist board and trying to get people to stay at home, to boost the economy but for those who want to leave Blighty, I have a few suggestions.

For countries whose currency hasn't shot up against the pound, try ones which have had a civil war - Kenya, had its hotels shot up - India, had a bigger financial meltdown - Iceland, or have inflation of 230M % - Zimbabwe.

Awesome Onsen

I have just been to the onsen (hot spring) at Nishi Otsu, 10 minutes from Kyoto by train.

The indoor spring area was 7m x 2.5m.

The outdoor spring area was about two-thirds of the size of the inner spring. Both had a lakeside view. I found both areas pleasantly warm but the inner area was very humid and it was difficult to breathe after more than 15 minutes. So, I retreated to the outer edges of the outer spring.




Afterwards, I had a fantastic meal experience during dinner. The dining room was warm and pleasant. It had wood-panelled walls and was complemented by the muted western classical CD soundtrack.

Being the only guests, my companion and I had excellent service and the 6 course menu comprised:

• Fish - raw
• Fish and a Prawn - raw
• Fish & a Prawn - battered
• Corn - in a soup
• Beef - Teppanyaki (this was cooked to perfection as I had to cook it myself on the table-top frying pan)
• Double Chocolate Mousse - dark chocolate as the base and light and fluffy milk chocolate above it

Each course was modest in size but was immaculately presented and had distinct flavours.


The onsen building itself was decorated with thick carpets and wood - panelled walls as well as an indoor, illuminated water feature. It conveyed a very relaxed atmosphere. Interestingly, the men wore western suits but the women wore eastern kimonos.

Terrific Tea

I was treated to a tea ceremony in H's home, in her tea room. She then instructed her daughter to perform the ceremony.

Finally,Ⅰ had a go skipping tricky parts.

H also teaches people how to wear kimonos.

I think it is great she keeps the traditions of the tea ceremony and kimono-wearing going in the 21st century and passes on her knowledge to others.

Outrageous Osaka

I've just been to Osaka Castle - the only one with a lift in the middle. Alas, only the outer shell remains, as the inner decor has been modernised to accommodate a museum. It features the story of the castle and also that of its creator Toyotomi Hideyoshi who ordered work be started on it in 1583.

There are some fine models and a detailed 2-part folding screen showing the battle for the Castle between one of Hideyoshi's sons and the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The latter was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan which ruled from 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

The "steroscopic" pictures just gave me a headache.

In the evening, I went to the West of Osaka, to the Bayside to go up the WTC Tower, which has 52 floors and is a quarter of a kilometre high. There were spectacular views of the city, the sea and traffic crossing bridges as well as the nearby, illuminated, Ferris wheel.

I was due to meet H at my Kyoto hotel at 8pm but due to train problems which meant no trains circulated on the Osaka loop for over half an hour, forcing me to take a detour using 2 metro lines, I did not arrive until 9:30pm. OK, so I was running half an hour late due to my tower ascent but 1 hour of my tardiness was not down to me. I did try to ring H but left a message, which she did not get. However, I did manage to speak to her a 9pm.

We went to a karaoke bar, where a Singaporean friend of hers works. She sang Chinese, Japanese and Carpenters' songs beautifully whilst I stunned the audience with my butchering of Robbie Williams' "Feel" and the Chilli's "Californication".

As I had told H I spoke French, she asked me to sing French songs. The only ones I could find were Vanessa Paradis' "Joe le Taxi" and a couple from the Yves Montand oeuvre. I swear my singing French was more melodious than my English.

Japanese journey

I'm typing this from the FREE net kiosk near gates 56-63 (T1 international terminal) and waiting for my Osaka plane. I plan to check out the castle but I'll be staying in Kyoto and hope to go to an onsen with my karaoke - bar - owning friend.





Kansai Airport is unusual in being sited on an island. It is connected by the mainland by a bridge and a tunnel.

It has replaced Osaka Airport for most international flights.

Brisbane: Kangaroos & Koalas

I've chilled out for a few days in Brisbane but did cuddle a koala (ahhhhh) and feed kangaroos who were well-spoilt as they had been fed so much food they could afford to turn down further offers.

The Top End of Australia

I went in a 4WD through the Daintree Rainforest, flooded creekbeds and mountains and ended up at Cooktown which has a few frontier-style buildings left (250 km North of Cairns).

Diving the Great Barrier Reef

I'm now a certified PADI diver whilst living on a boat for 3 days at the Great Barrier Reef. I saw a turtle and a shark.

Australian dilemma 2 - Daintree Rainforest or Atherton Tableland mountains?

• Daintree Rainforest or Atherton Tableland Hills?
• Are the Scenic Train / Skyrail between Cairns & Kuranda for over AUS$35 each worth it?
• Any thoughts about the Tjabukai Cultural Park?
  

If you've got any opinions about any of the above, please comment.

Sullen in Sydney

I also went to Sydney but got hit by various minor hassles that dampened by enthusiasm for the city - rain, noise at night, stolen food, and car trouble.

At least I got to see Bondi Beach and a cemetery with a sea view.


I also saw some flamenco at the Opera House and climbed a tower of the Harbour Bridge.

Dilemma Avoided

I went on a boat trip to see penguins camped out on a breakwater near Melbourne's coolest beach, St. Kilda.

Afterwards, I heard a band and had a beer with the captain & first mate at The Esplanade, the city's most historic pub, which has 4 bars.

Dilemma Resolved

I went on a bus tour to the Great Ocean Road and saw what's left of the 12 Apostles. They are limestone pillars but only 8 of them are left as the 9th collapsed on 3/7/2005 (that's July as I don't approve of the American way of writing dates).

Australian Open 2

I've seen Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, & Svetlana Kuznetsova play and win today.

Australian Open 1

I went to the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne and I saw Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal & Kim Clijsters play and win today in sweltering 40 deg C heat. Fortunately, the Rod Laver Arena & another Arena have roofs that can be shut and the RLA was comfortable with AC.

The Sharapova match was great and she had to fight to win 8-6 in the third set against Camille Pin.

Rafael Nadal had a straightforward win against Robert Kendrick, who took him to 5 sets at Wimbledon 2006.

Kim Clijsters had a walkover against Vasilisa Bardina leaving her with 2 ducks.

Australian Dilemma - Great Ocean Road vs Phillip 'Penguin' Island?

For my last day in Melbourne, I have a dilemma between 2 equally exciting options to end my visit on a high.

I have to choose between:

O) Great Ocean Road
P) Philip 'Penguin' Island Parade

Here's why:

O) Great Ocean Road (up to London Bridge only)

• 12 Apostles Limestones stacks
• Loch & Gorge sea cave
• Limestone cliffs
• Kennett River: wild Koalas
• Great Otway National Park: rainforest & waterfall
• Bells Beach

or

P) Philip 'Penguin' Island Parade

• Watch penguins waddle ashore at sunset
• Handle kangaroos & wombats
• See emus, seals and koalas
• View island, bay & rocky outcrops

The cost of both bus tours is AUS$100.

Yes, I know I should hire a car for 3 days and drive around but I don't have the time, energy or willpower :-(

I also expect that with bus tours, they will be long shuttles, briefly interrrupted by 5 min photo shoots & 10 min to rampantly consume the gift shops.

So, which should I pick, O or P and why, please?

It would help me a lot if you would post a comment on my dilemma. I'll you know what I choose and how it turns out.

Melbourne: Wonderful Wildlife

I've been in Melbourne for the last few days with friends and their kids. We've been to the Aquarium & the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary.

The highlight of the former was the underwater feeding session by divers.














The divers were molested by the turtles in their need for feed.
















I'm sure this ray is checking out all the people gawping at him. Apparently,



"Rays have a high ratio of brain weight to body weight; they are probably very intelligent, even smarter than sharks. They are known to be very curious animals, often approaching a diver and simply observing the intruder."









Tomorrow & Wednesday, we are off to the tennis , so I look forward to that.

Going Down Under

I'm off to Australia today - for a month - the maximum my travel insurers will allow.

The plan is to be in Melbourne for the first week to catch the Australian Open (1 of the 4 Tennis Grand Slams), Sydney for the second week, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef to learn to dive for the third week & Brisbane for 1/2 week.

Finally, I'm flying back via Japan to spend a couple days in Kyoto and Osaka, again.

I passed through Osaka and spent a couple of days in Kyoto in 2005.