My travels are over, at least, the main bulk of them. I don`t envision myself taking off abroad again before I return to England in July, but who knows, there`s still three months of events yet to occur and that has the potential to change…

My lack of updates has, as usual, been down to the lack of unlimited free Internet access, among other things. I can`t deny however, that a swift wave of bad luck washed in last week, much more profound than I usually experience. In fact, I feel guilty even saying that I was struck by bad luck, when in fact those around me were far worse off – I just received the ripple effect. Luck doesn`t even give the right air to the situation, it was just; unfortunate. I don`t feel happy writing about the specifics as this is a public entry, but hopefully I can just say that my travels with Heather and her family were cut short and they had to fly home early.

Perhaps I should just start from the Internet cafe, B@gus, and try to recount my travelling from the beginning… Things may have to be spread over two or more posts, as there`s a lot to write about, being over three weeks ago since I last posted.

3rd March

Having got only an hour or so`s sleep that night, awaking to my alarm sound to see Dementors descending on Mr. Potter, I felt groggy the next day. Not that I regretted it – all that melon milk! At 5.30am, there was still an unnerving amount of life in Shibuya. Although the insane hatched zebra crossing outside the station, seemingly spreading in all directions, was relatively barren, drunken youths stumbled down the sidestreets singing (still alight with neon signs) and early-risers in business suits and heavy coats marched to work. I had my large rucksack with me and so felt like a proper backpacker amongst the crowd (well, the crowd present the night before). It was chilly, as it seems normal for this time of year in Japan, as I made my laden way to Shinjuku station. I intended to drop my pack of at Yoyogi youth hostel (the same place the Japanese group stayed the previous Summer) before travelling that day.

I didn’t display a promising ability to read maps, however basic, that morning, and mis-interpreted the spot marking the hostel. Actually, it was an arrow, not a marker, so I got off far too far from my destination and ended up trudging begrudgingly through Yoyogi after receiving directions from the local Koban (police box). I certainly hadn`t anticipated Duke of Edinburgh`s expedition practice on this trip! Still, I arrived comparatively early (8.30am) and even had to wait until the left-luggage area opened before I could start my day. Off to Ebisu and the Metropolitan Museum of Photography!

I`ll have to leave you in Monty Python stylee, partway across the bridge on the quest for the grail, as I`m out of time. Hold on until I can next update ^^;.