Corbic
05-20-2011, 10:08 AM
Chapter 1: Burning Man – I was originally planning on going to Burning Man this year with one of my friends. However, is idiotic dream world planning and inability to comprehend that Burning Man is not Rave nor the Nevada version of UltraFest has been wearing on my nerves. I’d rather not spend my vacation driving out to BM only to then have to re-enact scenes from Casino with me bludgeon said friend to death half way there and burring him a corn field.
So – Screw that – JAPAN!
Chapter 2: Asia
Since I’m such an awesome friend, I’m about to tell him to pound sand, I’m going to Tokyo – his dream land, so much so he has been studying Asian studies at school now for 10 years. (10 year bachelors of business program… at a community college, sigh). It would be hella sweat, disappear with my GF for a week and get back to a “what the hell, why you not answering your phone” – “pfff was in Tokyo”.
However this is where I hit a wall in my plans – while the Grass is always greener in Japan, and I’ll admit, I care more about car content then actual historical sites, I do have concerns. The first being, as a first time traveler how do I go about planning this with cars being the motive, or am I even looking at this upside down? I’d love to fill a duffle bag full of magazines and garbage to bring back. Also, getting around – unlike my European travels when you go “uh..ick… er hun-san-frosh-en burkien?” and the guy looks at you and says “yeah pal, its down on the right past the third light”, my understanding is as many Japanese speak English as us Americans speak Japanese. This is further complicated by the fact that I don’t read characters and I’m fearful that is how everything is presented, so no trying to sound it out or even recognize something. Lastly, my kid sister is sitting this one out, the loss being she is fluent in Japanese and Chinese (lived in China for a year even).
Fuck Japan – Hong Kong,
My father is pushing for HK, having spent 3 months out of the year overseas each year now for a decade, he has seen it all. Hong Kong is a high point of many of his travels, and Japan has always been a low point (then again he lived there for 6 years back in the 70’s). He reports Hong Kong as being as beautiful and Modern as any “dumpy Japanese city”, people are friendly (unlike Japan) and most things are in English and maybe 30-40% of the people there will know enough English. On top of that, it’s extremely affordable unlike Japan. (Airline Tickets are actually less despite being farther away, way to go Airport Tax).
Another thing he always enjoyed was the Hotels always give you a card in Chinese stating pretty much “I’m a lost idiot foreigner, bring me back to X hotel and get $20”; which when your lost (or drunk off your ass) you give to any cabby and they’ll get you back to your hotel, the doorman pays the cab and you’ll get it tacked on your hotel bill latter.
Finally, your imputs – I know many on this site have either personally spent time in both HK or Japan or at the least have family and friends with such experience. Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated; I haven’t had a vacation in 3 years and I need out of this town so bad my eye is twitching.
So – Screw that – JAPAN!
Chapter 2: Asia
Since I’m such an awesome friend, I’m about to tell him to pound sand, I’m going to Tokyo – his dream land, so much so he has been studying Asian studies at school now for 10 years. (10 year bachelors of business program… at a community college, sigh). It would be hella sweat, disappear with my GF for a week and get back to a “what the hell, why you not answering your phone” – “pfff was in Tokyo”.
However this is where I hit a wall in my plans – while the Grass is always greener in Japan, and I’ll admit, I care more about car content then actual historical sites, I do have concerns. The first being, as a first time traveler how do I go about planning this with cars being the motive, or am I even looking at this upside down? I’d love to fill a duffle bag full of magazines and garbage to bring back. Also, getting around – unlike my European travels when you go “uh..ick… er hun-san-frosh-en burkien?” and the guy looks at you and says “yeah pal, its down on the right past the third light”, my understanding is as many Japanese speak English as us Americans speak Japanese. This is further complicated by the fact that I don’t read characters and I’m fearful that is how everything is presented, so no trying to sound it out or even recognize something. Lastly, my kid sister is sitting this one out, the loss being she is fluent in Japanese and Chinese (lived in China for a year even).
Fuck Japan – Hong Kong,
My father is pushing for HK, having spent 3 months out of the year overseas each year now for a decade, he has seen it all. Hong Kong is a high point of many of his travels, and Japan has always been a low point (then again he lived there for 6 years back in the 70’s). He reports Hong Kong as being as beautiful and Modern as any “dumpy Japanese city”, people are friendly (unlike Japan) and most things are in English and maybe 30-40% of the people there will know enough English. On top of that, it’s extremely affordable unlike Japan. (Airline Tickets are actually less despite being farther away, way to go Airport Tax).
Another thing he always enjoyed was the Hotels always give you a card in Chinese stating pretty much “I’m a lost idiot foreigner, bring me back to X hotel and get $20”; which when your lost (or drunk off your ass) you give to any cabby and they’ll get you back to your hotel, the doorman pays the cab and you’ll get it tacked on your hotel bill latter.
Finally, your imputs – I know many on this site have either personally spent time in both HK or Japan or at the least have family and friends with such experience. Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated; I haven’t had a vacation in 3 years and I need out of this town so bad my eye is twitching.