Japan - Photos & Notes

Dad visited Japan in April 2008 and did not put together a trip report. He sent this email to close family. I didn't correct the typos as they were evidence of the trouble he had with strange Japanese keyboards! 

Dear Family,

This will be a very short not.  Internet is very hard
to find here and when you do, one has to cope with
Japanese characters and strange keyboards.  This one
only types uppercase unless the shift key is held
down.

Anyway, I am here in Kyoto but will probably have to
leave tomorrow and go to Osaka as all hotels are full
with people here to view the cherry blossoms.  All is
well but I am looking forward to getting home on the
10th.  Much love to all.

Dad/Merv/Poppy.

Here then are some photos he selected from his visit to Tokyo. And some of his notes from his travel journal, no doubt intended for a travel report that just never got finished and sent out. 

...Kara 

The details of my life are quite inconsequential

Back to Burma - unpublished & unfinished report

“Hey! You faaat!” 

In the early morning light, the small man at the Hlaing Thar Yar Bus Terminal in Yangon (Rangoon) looked at me with obvious envy and couldn’t resist treating me with what is considered a great compliment in Myanmar (Burma). In this country, few people are fat and those that are, are almost always either the military or the police. Fat police and a skinny populace is never a good sign.

(Yeah, sure. Okay I'm fat. Thanks Pal. Now bugger off with your compliments.)

Hotel Atlanta, Haven in Bangkok

Dear Family and Friends,

When my multi-millionaire friend Nathan Maltz goes to Bangkok he stays at the Grand Millennium Suhkumvit, one of Bangkok's newest luxury hotels.  The Grand Millennium defines opulence, billing itself as 'Bangkok's newest and hippest five star hotel'.  It has four restaurants featuring Thai and International cuisine and two lounges.  Room rates range from $150 to $600 per night.

Often when I am in Bangkok I stay at the Hotel Atlanta.  The Atlanta has only one restaurant, room rates start at just over $16, and the 'suites' top out at just over $50. 

Hotel Atlanta Foyer - from hotel's website