Tokyo Tower! 360 degrees endless building lights. 35 million people.

Incheon Tianjin Ferry

You can get from Korea to China by ferry. If you want to go from Seoul to Beijing, you can leave Korea from Incheon (20 km from Seoul) and arrive in Tianjin (100 km from Beijing). These are the closest sea ports to the capital cities.

The Jinchon Ferry travels between Incheon and Tianjin. You can phone them on this phone number: +82-32-777-8260. A man spoke English well enough for me to ask and answer questions. The phone number in China is: +86-22-2311-2842.

The ferries leave Incheon on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Tuesday ferry leaves at 13:00 (Korea time) and it takes 24 hours to make the trip. I wanted an economy ticket which costs 128200 KRW (about 100 USD). The man said I don't need to make a reservation since there were plenty of spaces available (but I don't know if it's like that all the time). The ferry leaves from Incheon International Ferry Terminal number 2. You can buy tickets from the terminal on the day of departure. Access to the terminal here: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_1_5_2.jsp

Since you are going to China on this ferry, you will need to get a Chinese visa from a Chinese embassy. For Australians, many countries (like Japan, Korea, Singapore etc) will allow you to enter without a visa for tourist purposes (this is not legal adivce), but with China, you must get a visa, even to visit for a few days.

More Korea China Ferry info:
http://www.chinahotel.co.kr/ct/ferry3_english.html
http://www.besttourkorea.com/outgoing_china/ferry_eng.htm

Hundi's gone!

Well, my flatmate's just left not to come back. After living, working and hanging out together for a year, we've said good bye. Just 3 minutes ago, he left for the airport. He's a real bro. Forever friends. We'll meet up again. God will keep us and we'll meet in eternity too. Peace.

Rice Planting

I recently contributed to the production of rice in Japan (otherwise known as "rice planting").

Back to Australia

After nearly 2 years teaching English and Bible in SDA Schools in Hiroshima, Japan, it's time to come back home! I finish on Thursday night 13 August. Sometime in the next few weeks after that I'll be back in Australia. After that? Watch this space :-)

Sick

Well, dragged myself off to the doctor last Monday. First time I went to the doctor because I was sick since primary school! Anyway, with all this swine flu stuff going around, and I had a cold, (and other's suggested it), I went to the local doctor and he said it's just a cold, not a flu! Phew!

Going to the doctor wasn't much different in Japan than Australia, at least for me this time, anyway. He spoke good English so that was very nice for me. Getting over my cold still but on the way to normal happy me.

Mt Aso

Greetings from the volcano! On Friday, Mum, Dad and I got a rental car and drove from Beppu to Mt Aso. We drove up the mountain and saw, heard and smelt the sulphur! It was a real volcano!

The area is so nice and green. Driving is very scenic and relaxing. So pretty! Takachiho Gorge and Shirakawa Waterhead are places we went to yesterday. Today we'll see Nagasaki and Tomorrow we'll go to Sasebo and Fukuoka before returning to Hiroshima on Tuesday.

We've seen very beautiful places ane had many interesting experiences! Tired but the onsens have helped :-)