Backpacking

deepest darkest Bedminster or something. It's not as if I walked in and started speaking loudly and slowly at them in English - I used only Japanese (the little I knew) and was polite and grateful - I guess you will find close-minded idiots anywhere, even in Japan.

Keen not to make the same mistake again, I asked an Aussie girl I saw at a crossing and she directed me to the Pig & Whistle, a gaijin bar where I could also pick up a map of foreigner-friendly places. I met an American geezer there called Erik, and we went on to a club a few blocks away. The rest is a little hazy, but I met a guy called Tak and a girl called Niso (sp?), and a fair few others. I ended up staying up all night til the trains started again, and on the way back to Osaka station I fell asleep on the Osaka loop line. Whoops! No idea how many times I went round, but I reckon I was on there for about an hour and a half, and only got woken up by someone shouting at me to get off, as the train was being taken out of service!

Day 14: 13th February Sony Boy

Tokyo, Japan

I decided to go back to Tokyo to recharge. Historic cities such as Nara and Himeji would

have to wait for another trip. I chilled out in an internet cafe not far from Tokyo station called Cafe Maranouchi, and then went to Ginza, the upmarket shopping district - allegedly the most expensive property on earth. I was literally open-mouthed by the beautiful sight of wide streets with tall, elegant buildings adorned with tasteful neon, and became distinctly aware two Japanese girls waiting at a crossing next to me