Moving on down...

So- the trip to the Great Barrier Reef was amazing. Just snorkeled and didn't dive but saw a sting ray so that made my day!! Also i met this lovely girl from Canada- it was a shame to leave her we had a good crack. Have now moved down to Airlie Beach- was a bit of a hellish bus journey. it took 12 hours and the air conditioning broke and we broke down twice so yes....it was a little stressful. I ate toast and then i felt fine though. There is a Subway opposite my hostel so that has also cheered me up. Just spent proabbly too much money booking a boat trip to the Whitsundays but think its worth it. Leave on Saturday and get back on Monday. Should be good fun- am hoping its not some wild party boat as i could do with just chilling for a little while!

Yet to try a meat pie and get a tan. I think I have a bit of a phobia of the sun actually. I am constantly applying sun cream which is good really.

The weather is on and off has been abit overcast from time to time.

Anyways im going to get going. Wish me luck on my sailing trip and probably wont update this for a little while.

Miss everyone lots.

Josie xxxxx

So...

After abit of a nightmare flight (my luggage was only 6kgs over the limit!!! luckily they are tollerent of 5 so i just had to empty 1!) i arrived in to Cairns. Its ok here- have met some nice people in my dorm but the place itself is one of those strange tumbleweed places. Needs abit of sprucing... However, went to the cinema and saw Fred Claus which was funny and feel good. I was feeling a little home-sick so it cheered me up a treat. I am going diving on the great barrier reef tommorow. Got a trip for 50 quid and it includes fresh muffins and cheese and all other great bonuses...yay...cheese. I miss cheddar and stuff. Have a midnight bus ride to Airlie Beach tomoro- from there i will go to the whitsundays which should be incredible! Im v.v. excited! Whitehaven beach looks beautiful.



I had a mint-chocolate chip ice cream at the cinema and it was delish.

Oh and im hoping to try a meat pie very soon.

Bye Bye- Missing everybody lots.

xxx

Hello!!

Just got back from Harajuku which is an area of Tokyo where alot of strangely dressed teenagers and performers and stuff....it was pretty ace. The shops were amazing and it had a really nice vibe about it. Just about to head out to Kareoke which should be alot of fun!!



Yesterday I spent alot of time exploring the big skyscraper areas of Tokyo and well...to be honest i was lost whilst looking for an art gallery but it wasnt a bad move- it was just ace.

Anyway im going to get going now. Leave for Cairns tomoro at 9. Im quite sad to be leaving Japan but will definately be back within the year.

Smell you later

xxx

Hello! Sorry- I havent had internet access for a couple of days as i have been staying in a capsule hotel. I was expecting it to be really modern but it wasnt really. You slept in these cubicles which were the same colour as our lovely upstairs bathroom suite- for those of you who have had the pleasure if seeing it. It was so hot aswel- like being in an incubator, but it was an experience, especially the communal showers. The view from the top was amazing...you could see what is now known as the "golden turd" which i think- actually- is abit of an architectual masterpiece- its gold and pretty.



Unfortunately Japan decided to have a public holiday this weekend and so all of my plans to go to Kyoto were scuppered! There were no nught busses left. Although i love the place it really isnt an easy place to travel. Im going to have to come back i think as there are lots of places I want to see that just wouldnt be possible in a week.

I have just left my Aussy friend- she managed to get a ticket to Kyoto on the train as she had a Japan Rail pass that she brought at home- with it train fares are free withut it it would have cost be 100 quid to get to Kyoto.

Went up to see Mt Fuji yesterday. Went to a little town which has hot springs but only if ur prepared to go nuddy. It was a cute place but because of the bank holiday was pretty packed.

Am back in my cosey hostel now just going to indulge in a cookies and cream KitKat- i dont know why they dont have them in England.

Over the next couple of days will be checking out Harajuku and some of the Art galleries and museums round Tokyo.

Miss everyone and cant wait to get on the phone to people. Oh yes- my phone hasnt been working at all. I dont think it has quad band so i havent had any signal at all. Sorry if you have been trying to contact me...


Lots and Lots of Love!!

Jos xxxxxxxx

Last Couple of Days

Just an update on whats been going on. Spent the last couple of days exploring Tokyo. Been to palaces, shopping centres, parks and yesterday- which was the highlight so far- went up the tokyo tower. Could see mount fuji from the top and just about everything else in Tokyo and around. Trying to upload pictures but cant really use this computer here. It is crippling my budget- its pretty much london prices and getting out of tokyo on the train is so expensive that i dont ｋnow if i can afford it...Would like to to go to Kyoto and Fuji over the next couple of days but will have to see if the budget permits!! Still eating lots of fish and lots of rice and the occasional bowl of noodles...

see ya

Tokyo

Arrived in Tokyo yesterday and love it already. Its the cleanest city I have ever seen. Managed to navigate myself around the underground system to my hostel which is right in the centre of the city. Had dinner out at a kind of japanese fast food restaurant last night which was an experience! The menu is a vending machine outside of the shop.You put in your money and press the button with the picture of the food you like the look of and it gives you a ticket which you take in and give to the cook and its ready ion a couple of minutes. I had a prawn tempura and noodle soup with some rice and shrimp-eggs on the side. I hope to never have to eat shrimp eggs again in my lifetime... As we were walking to dinner there were alot of road-works- they have little screens with some weird cyber-man waving sticks to control the traffic around the road which I thought was pretty amazing. Today were hoping to go see some shrines and some of the buildings (and shops) around the city. I have met a lovely australian girl who was in my dorm room and were going to explore together.

Personally- I think the UK should take a leaf out of Japans book . Even the tube trains had sparkling floors- and no exageration- I am yet to see one piece of litter.