Oh my god, I've bought a Kimono!!!! (Steve)

23/3/05 - Today featured a trip out of town to James's tailors and Kimono suppliers. Took a while as most things are not in english once away from the touristy parts. Made it interesting though. Eventually we arrive at the place with a hard to remember name, and found ourselves in traditional Japanese clothing world. Sian and me got dressed up and had another mock wedding the result being me buying the kimono, but I needed a dressing gown for, er....sometime in the future.

James went for many items including a cool wig, and an 'under Kimono', amazing what you can buy here.

It was our last night in Kyoto so we decided that a nice dinner (in the spirit of saving money!!!) was in order. What we found was a buffet, the best feature being unlimited Sake!! Thats rice wine by the way. Its best served warm, so muggins here keeps downing his little glasses, only to get a bit too drunk considering our 5.45am start to get the Shinkansen (bullet) train to Tokyo......

5.45am 24/3/05. We've felt better, I seem to have come of worst but at least I can sleep on the train. Well, not to start with, these trains go bloody fast, making the 661km journey take just under 2.5 hours, thats with 6 stops!!!!

On arrival in Tokyo, we play a lovely game of find the Kaoru, with only 1 mobile phone in Kaoru's possesion this was a task in itself, Tokyo Station is huge. Its so nice to meet up her after 5 months, we've been so lucky to have so many friends come out to see us at various places.Eventually we head for the Emporers castle for a bit sight seeing. Sadly I have come down with the cold James brought with him from London, feeling worse than at any point on the trip so far we go to Kaoru's house in eastern Tokyo, our home for the next 2 weeks or so, and somewhere for me to have a bit of a kip. Her family were so exited to meet us and are looking after us fabulously, and the house is so cute too, a proper Japanese house with straw mats everywhere, and little sliding glass doors, need to mind your head though, height is a hazardous thing here, bad luck James.

We love Japan!!!!!!! Sayonara for now.