Backpacking

managed to sneak around and about undetected and unreprimanded. A couple of soldiers fell in battle, and it was Tak, August, and I left, getting into deep and meaningful talk of future dreams and the like, until Tak left too and August and I sat and whispered in the dark about God knows what until 5am. On collapsing back in the room we could hear a couple of wolfish dogs howling eerily, and then we heard a ghost - a creaking followed by a tapping noise. Tak investigated and found out it was caused by putting pressure on the kitchen floor. But no-one was near there... except for Dan, who was asleep... was he hell! - he had woken up and was winding us up. The swine!

Day 23: 22nd February Finding Nemo

Kyoto, Japan

We were ready by 10, but no-one was around to check us out, so we lurked in the communal area, trying out the various massage chairs and machines they had on offer, whilst the cleaners busied themselves around us. Eventually we checked out without reprimand, and took a lovely train ride winding through snowy mountains followed by travelling across the longest bridge in the world - well, so Tak describes the journey, as August and I spent it

kipping.

we arrived in Okayama back on the main island of Japan and transferred immediately to a bullet train to Osaka. Further sleeping ensued for all until we arrived with the intention of heading for the aquarium. We were starving on the way, and a popular revolt rallied a quick stop in McDonald's, my second since being in Japan (the first visit was purely for research purposes, OK?). I wasn't proud, but the special Teriyaki burger hit the spot in that initially satisfying then slightly uncomfortable McWay.

The aquarium was excellent. The entrance consisted of a tunnel in a fish tank through which you could see fish swimming around and above you - a strange sight. The star exhibit was a huge whale shark, sharing a tank with a surprisingly unconcerned population of smaller fish, including stingrays, dogfish, and other gilled things that taste great on a bed of rice. We were also amused by the sea otters, that were perpetually scrubbing themselves, a pair of dolphins swimming perfectly and effortlessly in sequence together, an ugly, huge, gormless sunfish, a tank full of sardines and anchovies swimming in unison, occasionally gurning their mouths wide open, jellyfish consisting of nothing (how do they live?), and finally a tank of spindly, other-worldly spider crabs. the aquarium was very relaxing, in fact probably too