Off Topic Holidays

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Back from nigh on 3 weeks in Japan

Fantastic trip.

We do tend to prefer City breaks to beach holidays and it was a bit like a massive City break so was perhaps just up our street and maybe not for everyone, but fantastic nevertheless.

Pricey to get there, particularly for direct flights at a good time, but although we stayed in some nice hotels, because we weren’t sure whether we’d go back so splashed out a bit, there is a wide range of hotels at lots of different budgets. (Maybe not the ‘love hotels’…their prices look cheap but are by the hour…:bandit:)

Certainly good value for food and drink when you get there. Mostly cheaper than Hull and everywhere a lot cheaper than London.
We had some amazing meals and even the cheaper ones were immaculately presented and really tasty. Considering we were only eating vegan we had great choice and although not for us the fish particularly looked incredible, again even at cheaper cafe style places.

Did all the sights from Mount Fuji to the big theme parks (which are pricey and need fast passes really if you do go. We did but I can’t see how you could do it without them really)

Stayed in hotels in Tokyo, Disneyland, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka and did a day trip to Miyajima Island.

All the stereotypes are right. Trains bang on, society so polite (but really friendly and helpful too) Virtually no litter at all (despite there hardly being any bins. It’s just culturally normal that no one eats or drinks while walking so there’s no food rubbish anywhere and everyone carries there own small bag and any rubbish they do end up with they bag it themselves and take it home)

Had an amazing time and I’d thoroughly recommend it.
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Back from nigh on 3 weeks in Japan

Fantastic trip.

We do tend to prefer City breaks to beach holidays and it was a bit like a massive City break so was perhaps just up our street and maybe not for everyone, but fantastic nevertheless.

Pricey to get there, particularly for direct flights at a good time, but although we stayed in some nice hotels, because we weren’t sure whether we’d go back so splashed out a bit, there is a wide range of hotels at lots of different budgets. (Maybe not the ‘love hotels’…their prices look cheap but are by the hour…:bandit:)

Certainly good value for food and drink when you get there. Mostly cheaper than Hull and everywhere a lot cheaper than London.
We had some amazing meals and even the cheaper ones were immaculately presented and really tasty. Considering we were only eating vegan we had great choice and although not for us the fish particularly looked incredible, again even at cheaper cafe style places.

Did all the sights from Mount Fuji to the big theme parks (which are pricey and need fast passes really if you do go. We did but I can’t see how you could do it without them really)

Stayed in hotels in Tokyo, Disneyland, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka and did a day trip to Miyajima Island.

All the stereotypes are right. Trains bang on, society so polite (but really friendly and helpful too) Virtually no litter at all (despite there hardly being any bins. It’s just culturally normal that no one eats or drinks while walking so there’s no food rubbish anywhere and everyone carries there own small bag and any rubbish they do end up with they bag it themselves and take it home)

Had an amazing time and I’d thoroughly recommend it.
I went to Tokyo ten or so years ago. My sense was that it was quite like London in terms of layout and parks, but with all the ****s removed.

And yes, the trains are utterly incredible.
 
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Back from nigh on 3 weeks in Japan

Fantastic trip.

We do tend to prefer City breaks to beach holidays and it was a bit like a massive City break so was perhaps just up our street and maybe not for everyone, but fantastic nevertheless.

Pricey to get there, particularly for direct flights at a good time, but although we stayed in some nice hotels, because we weren’t sure whether we’d go back so splashed out a bit, there is a wide range of hotels at lots of different budgets. (Maybe not the ‘love hotels’…their prices look cheap but are by the hour…:bandit:)

Certainly good value for food and drink when you get there. Mostly cheaper than Hull and everywhere a lot cheaper than London.
We had some amazing meals and even the cheaper ones were immaculately presented and really tasty. Considering we were only eating vegan we had great choice and although not for us the fish particularly looked incredible, again even at cheaper cafe style places.

Did all the sights from Mount Fuji to the big theme parks (which are pricey and need fast passes really if you do go. We did but I can’t see how you could do it without them really)

Stayed in hotels in Tokyo, Disneyland, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka and did a day trip to Miyajima Island.

All the stereotypes are right. Trains bang on, society so polite (but really friendly and helpful too) Virtually no litter at all (despite there hardly being any bins. It’s just culturally normal that no one eats or drinks while walking so there’s no food rubbish anywhere and everyone carries there own small bag and any rubbish they do end up with they bag it themselves and take it home)

Had an amazing time and I’d thoroughly recommend it.

yea i've not been yet

but its the flights that are the really costly part, like you say, the actual itinerary in japan is way cheaper than you expect

i wish we had a society here where people had respect and didnt litter etc
where did we go wrong?
 
Very impressive.
They're a really good band TC, been on the go for 13 years and are finally being noticed. They play all the major halls in Japan, toured US twice and toured over here in England. They're playing in bigger and bigger venues now, which for the hard work they've put in is all that they deserve.
First time I heard them I thought straight away that rock was not dead or dying anymore, they really are talented musicians.
Try these if you're interested.
Domination
Hate
Play
Shambles
Honkai.
Choose the official LIVE videos everytime because they are a bloody good live band.
Hope you check 'em out. :emoticon-0148-yes:
 
They're a really good band TC, been on the go for 13 years and are finally being noticed. They play all the major halls in Japan, toured US twice and toured over here in England. They're playing in bigger and bigger venues now, which for the hard work they've put in is all that they deserve.
First time I heard them I thought straight away that rock was not dead or dying anymore, they really are talented musicians.
Try these if you're interested.
Domination
Hate
Play
Shambles
Honkai.
Choose the official LIVE videos everytime because they are a bloody good live band.
Hope you check 'em out. :emoticon-0148-yes:
Thanks, will do. :emoticon-0148-yes:
 
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<laugh>
Sadly they're young enough to be my granddaughters. I'm just took up with their talent, as I said in my other post, rock isn't dying, these ladies are carrying it on.
<laugh>
Sadly they're young enough to be my granddaughters. I'm just took up with their talent, as I said in my other post, rock isn't dying, these ladies are carrying it on.
You-Tubed a couple of the other tracks you listed. Great sounds, exceptional musicians. The drummer could give Neal Peart (RIP) a run for his money in the energy and stamina stakes. Hope they get a gig in Toronto sometime soon.
Cheers for the heads up. <cheers>
 
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You-Tubed a couple of the other tracks you listed. Great sounds, exceptional musicians. The drummer could give Neal Peart (RIP) a run for his money in the energy and stamina stakes. Hope they get a gig in Toronto sometime soon.
Cheers for the heads up. <cheers>
Glad you're enjoying 'em, the drummer is Akane, she never has that smile off her face. During a song the other members group round her drums pulling faces at her to try and put her off.
The Bass player is Misa, she is phenominal, she plays a five string bass like a frigging lead guitar, Misa and Kanami the lead guitarist often have play offs, Kanami writes all the music.
They've released around 140 tracks so far so you've plenty to choose from.
Enjoy. <cheers>
 
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You-Tubed a couple of the other tracks you listed. Great sounds, exceptional musicians. The drummer could give Neal Peart (RIP) a run for his money in the energy and stamina stakes. Hope they get a gig in Toronto sometime soon.
Cheers for the heads up. <cheers>
Forgot to tell you TC, Jimmy Page went to one of their USA concerts and went backstage after the show to get his photo taken with Akane because she's the closest drummer he's seen to John Bonham.
What a frigging compliment that is.
 
Forgot to tell you TC, Jimmy Page went to one of their USA concerts and went backstage after the show to get his photo taken with Akane because she's the closest drummer he's seen to John Bonham.
What a frigging compliment that is.
Discerning taste that Jimmy Page:emoticon-0148-yes:! I may need to increase my all time favourite "Top Three Drummers " to "Four..." if I get to see this lass live sometime ?
She'd be joining Bonham, Peart and Moon...:emoticon-0100-smile
 
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Discerning taste that Jimmy Page:emoticon-0148-yes:! I may need to increase my all time favourite "Top Three Drummers " to "Four..." if I get to see this lass live sometime ?
She'd be joining Bonham, Peart and Moon...:emoticon-0100-smile
That's mighty company TC but she does deserve it. Listen out for her double, triple and quad bass hits, she's got the fastest feet i've seen for quite awhile.
If you haven't seen a solo by her yet, i'd recommend watching Freedom, really, really good solo.
Enjoy. :emoticon-0148-yes:
 
That's mighty company TC but she does deserve it. Listen out for her double, triple and quad bass hits, she's got the fastest feet i've seen for quite awhile.
If you haven't seen a solo by her yet, i'd recommend watching Freedom, really, really good solo.
Enjoy. :emoticon-0148-yes:
Cheers. I'll have to make it Top 5 as I overlooked Ginger Baker. Sad to think all four of them have passed away now.
 
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For my shame I forgot about Ginger as well.
Another who I loved but wasn't rock was Buddy Rich, saw him at Cecil and managed to get his autograph and shook the great man's hand.
Yes, my old man was a Jazz fanatic so I heard him through my dad's collection of 78" discs.
Myself, I was a big Buddy Holly fan and loved his drummer's stuff - Jerry Allison. The latter certainly influenced many pop drummers of the 60's and later.
 
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Yes, my old man was a Jazz fanatic so I heard him through my dad's collection of 78" discs.
Myself, I was a big Buddy Holly fan and loved his drummer's stuff - Jerry Allison. The latter certainly influenced many pop drummers of the 60's and later.
I always thought Jim Capaldi was often overlooked in the 'great drummer' stakes. Not one for big solos but the cement that held songs together, always seemed to know what a song needed.