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Back to Burma - unpublished & unfinished report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

England Swings

Merv and Lorraine visited the UK in December 2007 to visit Jeff, Adele and the Wee Ones who were living near Warwick at the time. They also toured around and tracked down the towns Lorraine's ancestors had come from before moving to Canada. Although Merv didn't send out a travel report, here are some notes, thoughts and photos from this trip.

Castles and Family with Rosy Cheeked Children

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 5 - on to Tanzania

East African Safaris continue...
 
From the Mara we traveled to Nairobi where I was to say goodbye to the Dragoman group. Several were staying with the truck as it continued on its way towards Cape Town. Others were heading home, and still others, like me, were heading off to join different safaris.

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 4 - Balloon Ride in the Mara

East African Safaris continue... still in the Maasai Mara

The night before we were to leave the Maasai Mara I signed up for a balloon flight. I had been thinking about it, but it’s not cheap, about $500 for one hour. But then again, how many times am I going to be in Africa? Along with five others in my group I was picked up at 5:00AM to be taken to the launch site. When we arrived two of those huge bags, partially filled with hot air, were lying on the ground like brightly painted whales. Still in darkness, the morning quietness was shattered with the roar of the hot air being pumped in and soon the balloons were hanging in the breaking light. Just as the sun was about to peak over the horizon, we lifted off. Within moments the sun rose and the African savannah spread out below, a magical sight. Mara means ‘dappled’ in Maasai and it refers to the dappled appearance acacia trees give to the savannah, perfectly named as I could see from my perch in the basket below the balloon.