I’ve been travelling around the last few weeks. It’s been pretty exhausting but a lot of fun. I went to Hong Kong first. That trip nearly didn’t happen because it was on the weekend of the World Congress Meeting. The travel agents got back to us to say that the accommodation had been cancelled but we could still get a flight. Luckily my friend I was travelling with has Hong Kong roots. So we phoned his mother and she got in touch with her sister in Hong Kong and they sorted us out with a pretty sweet hotel for next to nothing. Hong Kong was impressive and very beautiful especially near the coast. The buildings were all very tall and looked damaged. It created an interesting visual. We hit up all the tourist spots and also places tourists don’t see. One of our friends lives in Hong Kong so he showed us what life was really like in some parts of the islands. There’s still so many people living off the skin of the land and without proper homes or support. It’s sad to see but these people are happy and love fishing for a living. It was a nice experience.

Next up was Japan. We stayed in a friend’s Auntie’s house. She was very welcoming and made us feel very comfortable. Everyday she baked us something different. Highlights were the flower bread, cheese cake and blueberry cake. I also got to use my Japanese since she didn’t speak English and got by okay. Japan was certainly different to Hong Kong. Tokyo seems to have no bounds as the landscape is made up of buildings as far as the eye can see. It’s also very busy and the cost of getting around is similar to Wales, so a little expensive for a tourist. I guess in Tokyo we did what other tourists did, visited some temples, the youth areas, a little shopping etc. We did however, go to a onsen. I had worries about getting naked and all that but it’s fine once you are there. Before you go into the baths you put on a Yukata (is that right?) and there is a little indoors village to walk around. You can eat, buy traditional things, play traditional games etc. The outside hot bath was lovely. It was difficult to breath but I soon got used to it and just sat in the water feeling very relaxed. In the evenings we went out to different bars to eat and drink. Other friends from Seoul happened to be there in the same week so we met that at a bar/restaurant and compared stories. They also went outside of Tokyo which I would have loved to do if I had time. Definitely next time.

Then I headed back to Wales. I wanted to stay in Korea to save an airfare but my ticket would expire before the end of next term so I had to use it. It was nice to go back spend Christmas with my family and I met up with a lot of school/uni friends. I spent Christmas day at my sisters house. She cooked a huge meal that we all struggled to finish but it was very tasty. My niece were them happy selves so it was all good. Oh we uploaded a lot of new photos that include shots of my travels.

I returned to Korea earlier today. I’ll live here for at least another 3 months and continue my study of languages. This week I have to study for an oral exam and work on various web design projects starting with finishing a bunch of stuff I started for Keikaku.