Japan Survival Guide Part 3: Getting around Japan by Rail!

Whether you’re here to live, or here backpacking you are going to have to get from point A to point B somehow. I was considering doing a post all about transport in Japan and including driving, because for many people coming here to live and teach driving is an essential part of the day and …

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The Classic Overnight Bus Journey

I have been on many overnight bus journeys in my travels, and last night was another. I have crossed the Baluchistan Desert from Pakistan to Iran overnight, which is perhaps my most memorable for good and bad reasons. Bad - Hot beyond belief and very little sleep, the Good, nay AMAZING - waking up at …

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Living in Japan Survival Guide Point One – Second Hand Stores

Hello! Today I am starting a series of points that will form a sort of informal 'Survival Guide' for those thinking of living in Japan. My time in Ichinoseki is almost up as I type - tomorrow I say goodbye to my apartment, Friday night I am off to Yokohama via night bus, so things …

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Five awesome places I’ve seen

Every blog needs a hook right? Okay so I thought I would sit down and think of five awesome places I have been, chuck in some photos and blab on a little about them.   5. The Pyramids, Egypt.   When I first headed overseas to backpack about, I knew there were a couple of …

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Anniversary Dinner, in the middle of nowhere, happy surprise!

So, for those who don't know me, on Friday my wife and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary. We headed out in the car to a small restaurant run by a friend of my wife, not quite sure what to expect. But I have to say we were more than happily surprised by the quality …

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Top Five Backpacker Sleeps – Europe

Today I start a series of tips on backpacking accommodation across the world. I will look at different regions of the world and talk a little about the best places I have stayed - mind you they will all be budget options! They certainly won't be four or five star hotels, but instead hostels and …

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Introducing Short Journeys: Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

Central Asia. It's bloody brilliant. Seriously. In 2011 I visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, all brilliant places. My only regret is that I didn't work in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Oh and I should have spent longer in all three countries. For travelling, they were simply brilliant. As a backpacker, kind of perfect. The transport is …

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