SAYONARA Japan <2009.3.22>

Time flies and so the day has come were I have to say goodbye to Japan.
It is exactly 6 years now after I set my foot here in Japan – it just seems like view moments past.

So I packed my remaining stuff and prepared my last items for the journey.

The past days I used intense to for my last impressions of Japan which I love most:
Enjoying the view or strolling through my neighborhood of Roppongi – the extremes …

Enjoying the start of Hanami (Cherry Blossom) – my 7th time …

And looking out for the entertaining English signs & messages - my favorite ;-)

Thanks to all who joined the many farewell parties – I won`t forget them:

So it is now time for me to say:

GOODBYE JAPAN & SEE YOU SOON MY FRIENDS!

It can easily happen that we meet during my trip through Asia – so watch out for the Austro-Chinese Noodle Hawker

SAYONALA

The Long Journey <25.2.2009>

Dear Friends,

Time goes by so quickly and now already 6 years past since I arrived here in Japan!

This was somehow my personal maximum target; even I started initially with 2 years only ;-)

I loved every second of it and I already know I gonna miss the country and all friends I need to leave back! But the world is small so I am sure it is not a "Good bye" - just a "See you later"!

Over the past years I always thought about, to make once a long journey to see more of the world and in a more intense way. So I was working on this idea, to make it come true for sure and the time has come now...

I use the end of my Japanese assignment and the new start of my next career at my company to realize this dream of mine. So I plan a trip of 9 months starting in Japan going mainly to South East Asia & Australia. You might think this is not much, but I already feel the time is too short, as those countries are so large and versatile, which would be a pity to rush trough.

Here you can find my detail stops: (Click to enlarge)

End of MarchI start moving to Bangkok which I will use as Hub for my trips, where I stay 2 weeks to get organized obtaining necessary visa. Then the Australia trip starts which will follow from west (Perth) to north (Darwin) and north through the center (Alice Springs) to south (Adelaide)

After a brief stop at home to celebrate my grandma`s 90th birthday it goes on from south Australia (Melbourne) to East (Sydney) and up the coast to north (Cairns) to the barrier reef. Everything by camper van which means more than 12.000km, which would be same far as going by car from Tokyo to Graz;-)

The 2nd half of the trip is as backpacker through South East Asia starting again in Bangkok. Heading north to Chiang Mai to the boarder of Laos, then on the Mekong to the 2 Main cities Luang Prabang & Vientiane.

Flying next to north Vietnam (Hanoi) and following the highlights along the east coast down to Ho Chi Min city (Saigon).
Further by bus/air to Cambodia to finally visit- long time dream – the large temple area Angkor Wat and the hidden beaches of Cambodia south of Phnom Phen.
Finally crossing the border back to Thailand, fading out the trip on one of the tropical island, before flying back to Japan.

After a 3 week final autumn celebration trough out the country on Japans fastest trains, the journey will end at beginning of December for my final attempt going back home…

Sounds much? Tough? Impossible? … sounds to me like a real adventure!

I learned a lot here in Japan and one for sure:

CONGRATULATIONS - You have made it reading to this point, so you already proofed yourself to be ready to follow me on this longer travel ;-)

So be my guest and follow this adventure on my footprints…

Yours truly Marco Polo

The Largest Lagoon in the World <2009.2.7>

Welcome to my first report in 2009.
And to give you a warm welcome, I travelled far to reach for the warm weather during this winter days. But not everywhere in the world is winter … NO - on the other side of this planet the summer is at its peak or smoothly fading out.

So I took the chance and started the diving season with a one week trip to the biggest lagoon on this planet – do you know it … New Caledonia!

Do you have the same first thoughts as me? Ah nice … but where is New Caledonia?
To help you out here you can find a picture – it is in between Australia & New Zealand:

Further here come some facts (out of Wiki):
New Caledonia (French: Nouvelle-Caledonie) is a dependent overseas territory of France lying in the western Pacific Ocean, in the Coral Sea, to the east of Australia and west of Vanuatu. The territory consists of the main island of Grand Terre, the archipelago of the Loyalty Islands (Iles Loyaute), and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls.

New Caledonia offers stunning beaches, mountaintop fondue in chalets, camping, amazing snorkeling and diving, and fabulous French food.

N.C. is not a typical tourist place so don`t expect the typical infrastructure of plenty souvenir shops and never-ending opening hours. This place seems to live for its own and the people enjoy their lives in very pacific-french way of live: short opening hours; closed in afternoons; bus systems stop at 7 p.m. & the live is happening in and around the beaches.

The weather is all-year round stable around 25 – 35 deg. That`s why it is called the endless spring islands. Only the months from Jan – March are a bit wet but the rain never last long.

One of the highlights is to visit one of the islands around. Like the one I visit – Ouvea – which is called the island which is closest to heaven … see yourself:

Here I want to share my great impression of these lovely islands:

ABOVE THE WATER:

Around the hotel - Anse Vata

Culture Center

Noumea Centre ville

The lagoon around Noumea

Loyality Islands - Ouvea

French Cousine
AND BELOW THE WATER:

Let me send you some of this sunny days to all of you so that the spring will soon arrive at our other half of this world.

SUNNY GREETINGS

Xmas Time in North Japan – Hokkaido <6.12.2008>

What would be the weeks before Christmas (we called it “Advent”) without Xmas markets selling typical sweets and most important “Gluehwein” (Hot red wine with spices)!!!

Unfortunately they yearly Xmas market at Roppongi Hills was canceled this year so I had to find an other spot for it. And I found it – in the upper north of Japan in Sapporo!



Sapporo ("important river flowing through a plain" in Ainu language) the capital of Hokkaido is Japan's fifth largest city and also one of the nation's youngest major cities. Can you imagine that in 1857, the city's population stood at just seven people ;-) Now it is about 1.8 mio.

And exactly at this weekend the yearly German Xmas–Market was held with many goodies from Munich and on top a heart warming Xmas Light-up in the Odori park.

Sapporo became world famous in 1972 when the Olympic Winter Games were held there. Still you can enjoy a breathtaking view over Sapporo city which is today well known for its ramen, beer, and the annual snow festival which is held in February.

The other days were dedicated to the closer highlights around Sapporo, which you can reach within few hours drive:

Otaru is a harbor city, half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train. Its beautiful canal area and famous for its beautiful glas handcrafts!

Close to Otaru you can find the NIKKA WHISKY which was rewarded recently as world best single malt whiskey - first time not from UK!

You can visit the destillery and get a tasting for free - worth a stop on the way for all whisky lovers.

Lake Toya (Toyako) belongs to the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. In addition to the lake itself, the Toyako area features hot springs and an active volcano, Mount Usu, which last erupted in the year 2000. The beautiful lake was chosen as the location of the G8 summit which Japan hosted from July 7 to 9, 2008.

Mount Usu (Usuzan) is an still active volcano which has erupted four times in the past 100 years. It's most recent eruption occurred just in the year 2000.

The Usuzan Ropeway brings you up to the volcano's summit. The upper station's observation deck offers panoramic views of Lake Toya and neighboring mountain Showa Shinzan. From a second observation deck and a short walk away, there are views of the ocean and Mount Usu's largest crater, which was formed in an eruption in 1977.

Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya are the two most prominent geographical highlights of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Both lakes are caldera lakes, which were formed from collapses in the earth after volcanic activity.

From here you can visit one of the lake side Onsen were you can enjoy a great sunset view during you are soaking in the hot water:

Wish you “Frohen Advent”