La fin!

Et oui, nous voici rendu à Ottawa, juste attend pour la fête de Canada. Il est 12:00 pm, j'ai fini le lavage, Tina dors encore. C'est la routine qui se répête, MAIS, c'est pas grave. Nous avons eu tellement un beau voyage occupé qu'il est bon de se reposer un peu.

Merci à ceux et celles qui nous ont suivis dans notre petite aventure et à la prochaine!

Nic et Tina, Gino et Louise XOXO

Transit in Narita, Tokyo

Tina and I have 4 hours to `kill` so why not use Yahoo`s Complimentory Internet Cafe. OK, so the keyboard is japanese and I have to guess which buttons to press, I HAVE 4 HOURS! We`ve toured the duty freeshops... twice. Have travelled the shuttle to other terminals... twice, and I even bought some Rolaids, or at least I think they are.

That`s OK by me though because we have our 12 hour flight to look forward to...in 4 hours. We started off the day @ 5:00 this am, flew from Incheon Korea@ 8:55, and we got bumped to first class. Let me tell you that it`s simply amazing there. Seats are totally mechanized and adjustable, you can even totally lie down, the food was great (nothing beats Bulgogi for breakfast, even had my choice of beers, but I took coffee), simply put, we are spoiled now. On our arrival here, I had the guts to ask how much an upgrade would be, I`ll stick with economy, I just don`t the extra $3000. I`m still looking forward to our flight.

Thinking back on our last 3 weeks, I condider myself very lucky to have been on this excellent journey. We`ve had nothing but fun, no sleep, lot`s of visiting and travelling, only `some` rain, considering it`s monsoon season right now. We never would have done this without Gino and Louise, so once again, thank you both. I also wish to thanks the Academy, for recognizing our upcoming video montage of this trip, which shoukd soon be available on the silver screen for your viewing pleasure. I`m hoping to win a prize (for stupidest video) so that I can pay my bills, quit my job and bring the whole office with me on our next trip. So make sure to reserve your seat when it comes out. Oh, sis I mention that I have 4 HOURS here!

I wish I could put up some pics but Yahoo thinks otherwise. I tried to explain it to the 2 clerks, but my english simply clashes with their japanese. Anyways, I`m keeping them for the video :)

That`s it for now, I will be back just in time for Canada day and we are looking forward to seeing our buddies, neighbours, family and everyone else back home. We are also looking forward to a non hazy, blue sky with clean fresh air. Oh and Tom, I`m also REALLY looking forward to working, just don`t be surprised if I occasionally sleep and drool on my desk, I`ll have to put a plastic sheet on the keyboard.

Origato for the comments,

Nic and Tina.

PS. Pat et Cid, Tina vous donne des gros bisous. Hey just 2 hours left!!

Big in Japan

I don't know where the saying comes from but, everything is Not big in Japan. This doesn't mean that everything isn't nice though. Personally, I really liked Japan for it's a well built, interesting and very civilized nation. China offered more of a culture bath, and everything IS big in China, but the people is Japan are quite defferent.

It started out with Hiroshima, the birth of the first A Bomb detonation. Although eary, it was fulfilling, and a beautiful city at that. Next was Kyoto, another beautiful city that can take a week to visit it's many temples and sites, but that we did in a day. I particularly liked the Silver Temple (as opposed to the golden temple). We also strolled trough the well known Geisha district known as Gion Corner. This is where business men and alike, come to spens an evening with beautiful women, drinking in bars. Let's just say that we felt a little under dressed compared to all the beautiful people people wondering the streets that night. Tina even got to see an authentic Geisha in full uniform. See the movie 'memoirs of a Geisha' and you'll get the picture.

Next we went ti Osaka, Japan's 3rd biggest city. We got there at night and had a tough time finding the Hostel, but as usual we managed. It was located in the worker's district, we in essence means a rough part of town, but it was also where we had the best night life. If memory servces me well, It sent a litle blog that night. I also remember the headache the next morning.

Finally we were Tokyo Bound! Our little hostel called Khaosan Hostel was waiting for us. It was located in Akasuka, a older distrci of Tokyo, and according to the net was rated 3rd overall in Asia. Ya right! We paid for 2 nights, but left the 1st. We nerevr did manage to get a taste of Tokyo's famous nightlife BUT we tried. Tina and I got out of bed and took the taxi to Tokyo Station, only to find everything closed. 45$ later, we were back at out Tiny room, with nothng in hand. That's OK though, we ahd the best of times the day after! I can see myself spending more time there.

Hey, guess what, gotta go. We are off the the Korean War Museum in a few minutes and I'm getting the evil eye from Tina. How I wish some people would understand my lust for computers and everythng Internat, and my need to share these little things with you! Tomorrow, it's DMZ time where we get to brush arms with them little North Koreans, see if we can make them smile or something. Finally (sadly) it's time to come home on Friday. Too little time, too many places.

This could be my last entry but keep on checking.

Love all,

Nic and Tina. XOXO

Japan`s done

We have just come back from Japan today. It`s presently 23h45 and we are bushed, I just want to give you a small heads up on our trip, but will do a much better update tomorrow. Here are a few pics from our Japan trip, I`ll let you guess where they are from...

Let`s just say that in 5 days we were in: Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Back to Kyoto and Hakata. We travelled by boat, train, subway, high speed train (TGV), taxi and jetboat.

Nic & Tina...

Tempura in Osaka

Well here we are in Osaka, we check in to Raizin Hotel, a recommended hostel in the day worker's district. We ride the Osaka Loop Line along with 20 000 000 of our closest friends, packsack and all from a 35+ beautiful sunny day in Kyoto. We arrive @ the entrance and are greeted by 2 sumo wrestler types and are given the rules, a bill and the bath hours. Yes, the public bath, or common showers as we know them are time shared between women and men. We (men) get to go from 6h00 to 6h45, 16h00 to 21h00, on and so on, you get the drill. Right now it's 21h00 saturday evening and Tina and Louise are having a shower, Gino and I will go tomorrow morning. Oh and by the way, I had to poop today, but in one of those holes in the ground type of toilet, anyways my leg muscles are really strong now, it's really hard not the sit down WHILE poopｉng ＡＮＤ　ｎｏｔ　ｐｅｅｉｎｇ　ｏｎ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｐａｎｔｓ．　Ｈｅｙ　ｌｏｏｋ，　ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｎｔ　ｃｈａｎｇｅｄ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｗｈｙ．

Ａｎｙｈｏｗ，　ｏｎ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｙ　ｓｔｏｒｙ．　Ｗｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｃａｍｅ　ｂａｃｋ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａ　ｖｅｒｙ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ｏｕｔ，　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｏｖｅｒｗｈｅｌｍｅｄ　ａｔ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｂｕｔ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ　ｃｈｏｓｅ　ａ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｔｏ　ｅａｔ．　Ｗｅｌｌ　＄９３　ｌａｔｅｒ，　２　ｂｅｅｒｓ　ｅａｃｈ　ａｎｄ　ＬＯＴＳ　ｏｆ　ｆｏｏｄ，　ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　ｂａｃｋ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　Ｒａｉｚｉｎ，　ｂｅｅｒ　ｉｎ　ｈａｎｄ，　ｔｙｐｉｎｇ　ａｗａｙ．

Ｋｙｏｔｏ　ｗａｓ　ｎｉｃｅ，　ａ　ｓｕｐｅｒ　ｃｌｅａｎ　ａｎｄ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｌｙ　ｔｏｗｎ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｏｏ　ｍａｎｙ　ｔｅｍｐｌｅｓ，　ｂｕｔ　ａｌｌ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｎｉｃｅ．Ｗｅ　ｓａｗ　ａ　ｃｏｕｐｌｅ　ｏｆ　ｇｅｉｓｈａｓ　ｈｅｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｒｅ，　ｊｕｓｔｌｉｋｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｖｉｅｓ．　Ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｉｎｄｅｅｄ．　Ｔｈａｔ’ｓ　ａｌｌ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈａｔ．

Ｔｏｍｏｒｒｏｗ，　ｉｔ’ｓ　Ａｑｕａｒｉｕｍ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｌｄ’ｓ　ｂｉｇｇｅｓｔ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒｓ　ａｒｅ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｔｒｙ　ｏｕｔ　ａｎ　Ｏｓａｋａ　Ｓｐａ．　＄３０　ｇｅｔｓ　ｙｏｕ　ｉｎ　ａｌｌ　ｄａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｌｅｔ　ｍｅ　ｔｅｌｌ　ｙｏｕ，　ｉｔ’ｓ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　ｄａｍｎ　ｆａｎｃｙ．Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｐａ　ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　ｂｏｕｎｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　２　ｄａｙｓ　ａｎｄ　ｗｈｏ　ｋｎｏｗｓ　ｗｈａｔ，ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｈｅａｒ　ｉｔ’ｓ　ｐｒｅｔｔｙ　ｗｉｌｄ．Ｗｅ’ｌｌ　ｋｅｅｐ　ｙｏｕ　ｕｐｄａｔｅｄ．　

Ｔｈａｔ’ｓ　ｉｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｎｏｗ，　ｏｔｈｅｒｓ　ａｒｅ　ｗａｉｔｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ＰＣ．　Ｈｅｒｅ　ａｒｅ　ａ　ｆｅｗ　ｐｉｃｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｖｉｅｗｉｎｇ　ｐｌｅａｓｕｒｅ．　Ｈｏｐｅ　ｙｏｕ　ａｒｅ　ａｌｌ　ｄｏｉｎｇ　ｆｉｎｅ，　ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ａｒｅ　ｔｈｉｎｋｉｎｇ　ｏｆ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｙｏｕ．

Ｂｉｇ　ｋｉｓｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｊａｐａｎ，

Ｇｉｎｏ，　Ｌｏｕｌｏｕ，　Ｔｉｎａ　ａｎｄ　Ｎｉｃ．　ＸＯＸＯ

Ｓｉｏｎａｒａ．

ＰＳ．　Ｐｉｃｓ　ｉｎｃｌｕｄｅ．．．　Ｕｓ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏａｔ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｋｏｒｅａ　ｔｏ　Ｊａｐａｎ，　Ｇｉｎｏ　ａｎｄ　Ｌｏｕｉｓｅ　ｎｅａｒ　ａ　ＴＧＶ　ｔｒａｉｎ，Ｍｅ　ｉｎ　Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ，　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　Ｂｏｍｂ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｏｆｆ，　２０　ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔ　ＳＰＡ　ｆｌａｖｏｕｒｓ　ａｎｄ　Ｔｉｎａ　ｔｏｎｉｇｈｔ　ａｔ　ｏｕｒ　ｂｉｇ　Ｏｓａｋａ　ｏｕｔｉｎｇ．　

Japan Bound

Allo les ami(e)s,

　　　Pas de photos cette fois-ci puisque nous sommes dans un petit Hostel a Kyoto、et je suis sur un ordi public qui coute 100 yen /15 minutes (1 $/ 15 min). En tout cas, nous y voici.　La traverse de bateau de Busan (Coree) a Chomenesaki bateau de Busan (Coree) a Shomenesaki (Japon) c`est tres bien passee, durant ses 12 heures de nuit. Nous avoins une belle petite chambre a 4 avec douche et toilette, excellent.　

　 Arrive au Japon c`est un peu le culture shock parce que personnes ne parle anglais mais pas grave, les japonnais sont tres gentils. Nous avons une passe the train rapide illimite et le systeme est TRES efficace. En plus d`etre RAPIDE il est toujors a temps! WOW.　Aujourd`hui c`etait la visite de Hiroshima. Jamais j`aurais pense visiter le site de la premiere bombe atomique mais m`y voici! Un feeling pas mal bizarre mais a la fois bon. Bizarre parce que la ville ne montre aucun effet de l`attaque, ou meme de la bombe, mais la site dedie a l`evenement evoque beaucoup de sentiments. Je dirais que cette visite est juste apres le mur de Chine comme satisfaction.　En plus, le TGV estpas mal amusant. Il en faudrait A Ottawa.

Demain nous visitons les temples de Kyoto pour ensuite aller coucher a Osaka. Des journees pas mal charges mais tres satisfaisantes.　

Mon 100 yen tire a sa fin, sur cette note, une joyeuse Saint-Jean a mes ami(e)s quebecois(es). Allo a Pops et Boomba etaux prochaines nouvelles!

Nic etTina XOXO.

Back from China

Hey la gang,

un mot... WOW! La Chine fut un excellent voyage. The first thing I thought was, hey... I'm surrounded by Kai's (my office co-worker). Anyhow, not sure what to expect, Beijing definitely did not let us down. Weather was great (and hot), the city is simply huge with unbelievable buildings and I'll get to the shopping later on.

Our 3 day schedule included a visit to the Forbidden City, Tian An Men Square, the Summer Palace, lot's of shopping and of course, the highlight of our trip, the Great Wall. Pour commencer, il faut dire que la Chine c'est vraiment pas cher. Les taxis moyennent $2.50, la bouffe environ $10 à $15 pour 4 personnes, et les shopping en générale très cheap. On peut avoir de n'importe quoi la bas, faut pas oublier que tout est fait en chine après tout. Par exemple, Gino s'est acheté un set de golf Callaway au complet, avec sac, sac de voyage et sac accessoires pour un gros $250. Hey, ça en vaut $3000 ici! Tina et Loulou ont eu leur souvenirs et décorations et moi... des t-shirts et beaucoup de photos!

Les bâtisses ici sont tous énormes, presqu'impossibles. On ne se croirait jamais dans un pays communiste. Nous nous sommes bien débrouillé même si la majorité du monde ne parle que Chinois. Les mains peuvent dirent beaucoup de choses.

For Gino and I, the main reason for this visit was the Great Wall. Let me tell you, it's a grand site, and we were not let down. It's simply amazing, set in a beautiful mountanous backdrop. You can't even imagine the work it took to build this massive structure. We spent the morning on the wall, before the tourists started pouring in. At times we were the only ones on it and the feeling was great. AT noon, the sun was like a hot torch so we made our way back. Our `chauffeur` was waiting for us, took us out to a local lunch place. Did I say that the food is great here, well it is. All in all, a perfect day in the mountains. Thanks to Louise and Gino's generosity, we lived a unique experience!!!

Anyhow, I can go on forever but I won't. I strongly recommend a visit to China if you can. Louise is now breifing us on our upcoming 7 day trip to Japan which includes a 14 hour cruise, TGV train to Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Tokyo and a 2 hour high speed hydrofoil boat back to Korea. How's that for transportation. Merci Steeve pour le tip du Japon, je vais checker ça out pour la planche.

That's it for now. Merci pour la maison Stéphanie et Martin, Bonne fête des pères Maurice et Alcide, Kwesi ont va essayer de visiter ta famille si ont touve le temps. ET/CT folks, go for that beer if the oilers win, they are playing as I type (let's go Oilers). Blog you all soon,

Nic and Tina.

Beijing Bound

It`s 6h00 and we are leaving for Beijing, China fo the next 4 days or so. Probably won't be able to update this little blog of mine but rest assured, we will be just fine. So please, don't backup my code, sell our house, use the car, or anything drastic like that. However feel free to send us comments and requests of anyting you need.

Bye for now,

Us.