New Job Opportunities

It's been an awakening of the senses living in Shanghai the past week and a bit. From the hit in the face of unbearable humidity at 830 in the morning, to the streams of people navigating the subway, at times it's difficult to switch off and just relax. One thing I've learnt is to throw away any thoughts of personal space, but getting in the swing of things almost resulted in me 'hip and shouldering' an old lady while exiting the train. Yes, there's no notion of: everyone out before everyone in when trains are involved.

Currently I've managed to spend a measly 45 yuan on train fares for about an hour's journey each day - roughly $7AUD - which is the equivalent of a day's travel back home. Yes, I understand the differentials of the costs of living and wages, but somewhere along the lines Melbourne missed the memo about spending on basic infrastructure. I'd be happy to be paying more if I'd seen improvement... enough of a rant. One curious procedure remaining since Expo 2010 is the placement of xray machines at every station prior to swiping your card (which, by the way works a charm). I've seen many monitor operators dozing off, while a polite attendant gives the 'here is your seat madam/sir' gesture to those with large bags. On the first day being naive and stupid, I popped my bag through the machine, as the operator with 'homer simpson' glasses (eyeballs painted on the outside while he/she sleeps) gave no more than a cursory glance at the screen. More often than not, unless the attendant stands in your way, you can ignore them, or alternatively follow closely behind a larger man to obscure their view. The train system is easy to navigate, with the common design of colours and numbers (which I've seen in almost all the Asian countries I've travelled to) to let you know where to go. Seats are at a premium, and if a few are on offer, there's a race for it, (no kidding!) not unlike Kramer in an early episode of Seinfeld.

Looking at this photo now, I think the security lady is looking directly at me. I'm surprised I wasn't taken down! While the guy on the left politely says: 'You shall not pass!' - ok maybe not that, but his left hand gestures you to put you bag through the machine

One has to keep their wits about them on the streets, as the traffic lights are more 'traffic light suggestions' and more than once I've almost had my ugly mug plastered across the front of a bus. Fortunately my apartment is close to a supermarket, and the thought of being an importer/exporter has crossed my mind. Heck, I think it's cheaper for me to bathe in Asahi at just over $1AUD for 640ml.

Just to prove I wasn't bluffing
What's a price comparison without the obligitory banana? (Note: ~6.5:$1AUD)

Anyway, I'm off to bed, like this guy on Taikang Rd. Ahh nothing like a Sunday afternoon nap while the world passes you by.

Korea - Part 1

Not having travelled extensively over my life, I've found the past 3 overseas trips have given me a different perspective on life, and an appreciation of the world we live in. Additionally it's been an eye opener to the pathetic amount I know about world history.

I've just returned from a 2 week holiday in Seoul and I thought it best to revive this blog to share some random thoughts on my trip. Unfortunately due to laziness, I haven't shared any experiences of Kyoto and Osaka which will hopefully be written before they become a faded memory.

Strangely and completely out of character, whilst waiting for my departure, I wrote some random observations about my impending trip. In hindsight I'm happy I wrote something down, and the following covers the experience just before boarding to the point of arriving at Incheon airport:

As I walk through customs with the unsavory vision of being felt up by airport staff due to meeting the criteria of a potential drug suspect; Single male, shaved head, dodgy looking and solo traveller, I once again begin to realise the enormity of the next 13 days. I've decided to embark to a country of which I have no idea of, without a plan, but willing to do a fair amount of exploration. Yes, Burke and Wills may have been trailblazers of their time, trekking into the unknown outback of Australia, but with towering skyscrapers, a foreign language and a propensity to getting lost, it feels just as daunting, although I hope my journey ends on a better note. One thing is for sure, 5th grade classrooms won't be discussing the misadventures of this stupid traveller.

Travel is unfortunately too easy for a novice such as myself. With the invention of the internet, no longer is there the need for a travel agent to plan tours, places to see or stay. Departing the country with a detailed itinerary of connections and plans is no longer necessary as confirmations are now merely a click away. Anyone with a basic grasp of a web browser and able to locate the cvv number on a credit card are able to book an unplanned adventure. This is somewhat risky for the likes of myself who have 'f*ck it' moments and find themselves booked on flights that ultimately result in some shocking planning.

I'm envious of the travellers that plan trips in meticulous detail; 2 days here, 4 days there all the while booking hotels and activities along the way. Apart from the pain of lugging bags from place to place, finding where to go and getting lost would ultimately increase my travel time by 2 fold. Which brings me back to where I am now. Sitting in the departures lounge wondering what the next 13 days have in store.

South Korea is the final destination, and, apart from a visit to the DMZ (which isn't booked) there aren't any plans of places to see or things to do. Ironically despite learning Japanese for the last 10 months after visiting the country, I'm venturing to another where I don't know the language. Yes, I have been asked if I'll be learning Korean upon my return!

Choosing seats is a minor, yet important choice when embarking on that long journey. The man in the green polo with collar up and sunglasses on his head isn't an inviting prospect given it's 23:50, freezing in planes and, well lets face it, collars up are a general statement that the wearer values 'LV' on his shirt more so than if it fits. Avoiding the middle seat is an obvious choice, however isle vs window is a slightly more difficult one. A destination with sweeping city views or cascading mountain ranges is worth the inconveniencing of fellow passengers, while the freedom to move to/from the lavatory is something that many people value most. However, if in-flight entertainment is non-existent, prepare for an endless gaze into the back of the seat, as any attempts to sleep will surely be disrupted by the passenger with the loose bladder.

I must thank Michaela and Jessica for chirping away for the majority of the flight. I've now found another group to avoid sitting near: Groups of high school excursion students. Loud talking during an overnight flight is inexcusable, particularly when those you're speaking to are sitting in different rows. Inane banter involving 'like whatever' and 'shuddup' pepper the air, drowning out the engine. Thankfully I'm able to take away the fact that I'm not actually travelling with these lunatics and quietly spare a thought for the teachers on board (briefly...)

I've never quite understood the ritual of rushing out of the plane as soon as the seatbelt sign disappears, particularly when there's luggage to collect. Invariably passengers wait at the turnstiles, with their trolleys pressed firmly edge of the conveyor belt preventing other passengers from accessing their bags. (Why do people do this???). Ironically these tend to be the same people who stand on the moving walkways - little wonder why DVT occurs.

Looking back on what was written, it's more a endless stream of words loosely resembling some thoughts, so hopefully the next post will contain some experiences from Korea!

Tokyo Travels - Part 3

Odaiba
This man-made island (I have no idea how it would be created!) can be accessed via a driverless train which is an experience in itself. Spending 1 day on this island, there isn't a great deal to see in terms of people, but there are a number of museums to visit and interesting buildings to see, so I had no trouble filling the whole day.

View from the driverless train

Toyota Showcase/Ferris Wheel
There are driverless cars that can take you on a tour of the Toyota showcase, however these were running but not open to the public on this particular day. Various activities such as a driver simulator and F1 reaction check would provide some entertainment for the kids, while being a pretty blatant ad for the car manufacturer. I tried the F1 reaction simulator which I failed miserably at, while at the computerized, hazardous weather driving simulator, the application of other games really didn't help me as I rammed into oncoming traffic. The ferris wheel provides a great view of the island, although the island is sparse of notable sights.

Tokyo Big Sight
An upside-down triangular structure houses Tokyo's exhibition halls used for conferences and large corporate gatherings. Other than a moderate view from the higher levels of the building there is merely open space within it. It wouldn't be out of place as a stronghold for an evil mastermind, but is something unique that wouldn't have a chance of being constructed at home.

Imagine trying to clean the corners inside!

Muscle Park
I regret spending so much time at this theme park which takes a floor of a department complex, however some of the attractions were fun to try and watch, and I have a new respect for baseball pitchers (Although it won't encourage me to watch the sport). Activities included soccer, baseball challenges, numeric and reaction activities. The main attraction consisted of multiple strength based challenges, not unlike something off a game show, complete with enthusiastic commentary from staff.

Museum of Martime Science
Showing models of ships throughout history, there are some excellent displays. Interactive, they explained some of the more simple points for land lubbers and the English audio guide was a must due to the signage being in Japanese. During the audio tour, it mentioned that some of the exhibits were first created before the actual museum exterior due to their size. The museum exterior is in the shape of a ship, complete with an upper deck and an small pool to drive remote controlled boats.

The Maritime Museum... A ship built around the museum

Massive model ships. Japan has great models in their museums

View from the top deck of the museum

National Museum of Emerging Technologies

Unfortunately due to the time spent at Muscle Park and the Maritime museum, I wasn't able to explore this museum thoroughly. Although a with space capsule, deep sea diving ship replicas alongside robotic and proton exhibits, an entire day could be spent here. Staff are more than willing to explain and field questions which were required due to the year 10 level of science of this visitor.

Odaiba Food
With quite an appetite after a full day of walking, a dinner overlooking the Rainbow Bridge capped off a great day. I've blogged about this already here, while brunch is detailed here.

A landmark out of place?

To be continued...

Tokyo Travels - Part 2

The City
I didn't see Tokyo as having a single CBD, but rather multiple CBDs consisting of multiple wards all with their own nuances and towering skyscrapers. I decided against going on any tours, but relied entirely on the Lonely Planet guide. The benefit of this I thought would be that could explore the city at my own pace, while walking around I was able to stumble across museums or galleries tucked away in backstreets and out of the way areas. The beauty of the transportation system is that once you're familiar with it, you're less apprehensive about getting lost in the city. For example, take a wrong turn down the street, eventually you'll come across another subway station where you'll be able to travel back to familiar areas. The first ward I'll blog is Shibuya.

A quiet time on the street
Ground level

Shibuya
Apparently the main train station averages 2.4 million people through their turnstiles on a weekday and on more than one occasion I'd popped out of an exit only to find I'd have to walk 15 minutes to navigate the streets back to my desired area (believe me, although the street is busy, getting out of the subway is a good idea). Most people head towards exit to Shibuya crossing, which was featured in Lost in Translation and epitomizes the neon and pedestrian onslaught that hits many parts of Tokyo. At times overwhelming, but spectacular to experience.

I counted 8 different crossings where waves of pedestrians make their way across the street. On one particular day, rain provided a spectacular scene with umbrellas filling the intersection as sides converged on each other not unlike a scene from Braveheart. Navigating through the throng of people is a skill the vast population has mastered, despite having unbearable high heels, large shopping bags or being engrossed in the latest mobile phone game or text.

Ready?
Here's why transparent umbrellas are great!

The bright lights engulf the senses as soon as you emerge from the subway, and I was quite happy on a number of nights to walk through the maze of streets taking in the sights and sounds of the vibrant night. The most popular spot to meet is outside the main subway entrance where a statue of Hanchiko stands - a dog who's owner died but continued to visit for 10 years in the 1920's. (Remind you of a Futurama episode?)

Tepco Electric Energy Museum
Tepco is an electric company in Japan, so some exhibits and videos are a little bias towards the services they provide, however a 1/3 replica of a nuclear reactor was a highlight as were some of the other hands on experiments. A futurist kitchen and various sources of electricity are also displayed and there is an English handout on each floor. As it was with most of Tokyo, the staff are friendly and courteous and even went to the extent of a mini tour, complete with a competitive mind game which two people pressed their heads against a sensor which controlled the movement of a ball (apparently depending on how relaxed you were). Despite being on holidays I still lost the challenge. There weren't too many other museums or cultural places to see in Shibuya, but there are plenty of other destinations that will fill this need.

Other sights included the Tobacco & Salt Museum (strange combination!), Love Hotels, Tokyu Hands (A one-stop shop for anything, including a plastic shaped banana case. But they're all different shapes and sizes I cried to myself!) and countless other retail stores and restaurants.

Love Hotel...

A good spot to end the day for some food, drinks or some shopping, Shibuya fit the pre-trip view I had of Tokyo...

To be continued...

Tokyo Travels - Part 1

I think its natural to feel a little depressed after a holiday. Particularly if you're overseas, the last thing that you want to do is come back to the day-to-day grind of work. For 2 weeks I experienced the bright neon lights, fantastic food and people of Tokyo, and at Gold Coast airport, the reality hit home that my holiday was over. This trip was hastily planned, as the time off was planned well before any travel. The choice of Tokyo was a difficult one, with the option of the US considered also with a strong Australian dollar and cheap fares. Despite being in Tokyo for the duration, there was more than enough to see and do for the the trip. (Update: Tokyo was Oct/Nov and I have since been to Kyoto and Osaka Dec/Jan which I will eventually blog also)

Arrival
The trip from the airport to my hotel provided the first challenge for me. Not knowing the language and travelling solo for the first time, my heart pounded through my chest as I made my way down through the airport. Despite reading extensively in the week leading up to the trip and having my trusty Lonely Planet guide as my companion, the enormity of situation finally dawned upon me as I stepped out of the plane.

Through customs, the officer smiled, making a shaving gesture over his head as my passport photo only remotely resembled my current appearance sans hair. Strangely devoid of people, I made my way to the train station which is conveniently located beneath the airport. Like much of Tokyo, there are people willing to give you a hand, and through some well spoken English, an attendant directed me to the correct ticket to purchase for the journey to my hotel. In the initial planning, I had hoped to take the lazy way out of catching a taxi to my destination, however after finding out that costs would be in the range of $350AUD I decided to take my chances with the train. Despite it's reputation of being complicated, after a few days I couldn't live without the reliability of the subway and I was soon confident using it to traverse through the city. English signage at stations and trains is excellent, and, even without this, a grasp of the alphabet and numbers will be enough to guide you through the initially daunting subway.

A 40 minute travel into Central Tokyo station into a sprawl of people and an electric atmosphere and I knew (even in the train station): "I'd arrived in Tokyo". Again, following signs through the station, I was directed to the taxi rank, and my first real experience of the city (I hadn't previously set foot outside until that point). Tokyo taxis are immaculate, with shiny, polished exteriors, mini tvs and well presented drivers. (I'm not sure where else you'd see the drivers donning full suits). Magically, there's no need to open or close doors, as they spring open as you approach. Obviously controlled by the driver, it's a neat little add-on to the taxi experience, but perhaps explains the price of the average ride.
Having printed out a number of maps guiding me to my hotel in the event of getting lost, unfortunately I couldn't convey the exact location of the hotel and the taxi driver drove me close directing me as best he could down a street to where I expected to find my hotel. At 10pm at night and in a quiet business district, I wandered around for about an hour and a half walking aimlessly, knowing I was in the proximity of my destination, but clueless to the direction to go. After purchasing toothpaste (after it was confiscated by Australian customs for being over 100g) the friendly attendant directed me down the street to the location of my hotel. Walking up and down the street I still couldn't locate my hotel, so flagging the help of a passer-by I was helped to find the exact location (which happened to be just a block away).
Later in the journey I realised my mistake, whereby maps on the street are a literal picture where north is anywhere on the map rather than upwards.

Transport
Taxis are abundant throughout the city, however with the price starting at around $8 without leaving the curb it's an option not often taken. For the 2 weeks, I entered a taxi twice, with the second time being after a long night of drinking. Trains will cease operation at a certain time (around midnight), and will stop at the closest station rather then at the end of the line. On the second occasion I made the bold decision to walk home well after the train service had ceased, but unfortunately veering off slightly and getting lost (perhaps from a drunk walk), I had to resort to a taxi. The driver, perhaps sensing that I'd had a few to drink, offered me a mint to finish the night. It's not something I'd experienced in Australia, and after speaking to some locals, it's not often something that happens in Tokyo either!

The train network is daunting, and looking at the railway picture above, it can be hard to decipher to say the least. The train lines are owned by different companies, but are integrated well. I recommend purchasing one of the pre-paid cards which allow you have a large balance which is automatically deducted at the point of exit. There are "Fare Adjustment" terminals which allow you to start your trip, paying the balance at the destination prior to the gate. A great example of this was my final trip to the airport, where I only had 300 yen left on my card. I wasn't prevented from boarding the train to start my journey, however I was able to add the balance at the airport and finish off the card so I didn't have any residue yen on the card.

On my first entry into a train during a workday I noticed that the entire carriage was made up of women. Not bad for a single man travelling, but, realising that I was in one of the "women only" carriages I quickly stepped out prior to the train departing. Until 9.30am, some trains adopt women only first and last carriages due to the increase in assaults. Having experienced a packed train, (Meaning you cannot turn in any direction in the train) I can understand the benefit for women having carriages devoted to them. All the passengers are quiet, and like a well trained army, inch around to allow another few passengers on board. There are no complaints or yelling, everyone knows this happens and cannot be prevented.
Having had experiences at 9am and 10pm where I'd narrowly missed trains, I soon realised that timetables were not required. Trains arrive every 4 minutes during peak hours and throughout the day, which makes it a convenient, efficient way to travel.

By far the best way to experience the city was on foot. A plethora of sights await the patient traveller, whether it's a hidden temple, museum, or as simple as seeing people go about their daily lives, a wealth of priceless moments can be missed by sticking to the train and main tourist sights.
To be continued...