Japan

Denise and I went to Tokyo for Christmas. Japan has always appealed to me and been somewhere I've wanted to visit. Four days off at Christmas and a good deal on a flight allowed us to get away from Seoul.

The time went by so fast, and we were exhausted each night and when we got back to Korea. We did everything we could: the Emperor's birthday appearance at the Palace, Harajuku, shopping (finally some shoes!), walking, the fish market, people watching, eating, Mount Fuji and some hot springs. The weather was amazing the whole time we were there. It did not feel like Christmas unless we were in a mall. And Christmas Day was just another day for the Japanese, but some new Christmas traditions for us. But we loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back.

We also took part in some of the least Japanese things that could be done. We ate at Denny's twice. Christmas Day was spent at Mount Fuji, but we ate Indian food for the main meal. We went shopping at Lululemon of all places. We had Italian food and scoped out all the luxury European cars parked driving past a hotel. Christmas Eve dinner was sushi and sake. Then we tried to have a microwave cheese fondue later in the evening, but it was disgusting and went right to the garbage.

The people were warm and kind. The city was clean and the buildings were beautiful. Most trees still had leaves on them and the weather reminded me of a clear fall day in Vancouver. Denise and I got along superbly and are looking forward to traveling together lots more in the future. We still upheld some of our own Christmas traditions, like champagne and orange juice Christmas morning at our hostel.

We were sad to leave, and two weeks later are still reminiscing fondly about the whole trip. On the plane on the way home, I hadn't even gotten to my seat yet, and a woman shoved me aside to get to her seat. I knew I was going back to Korea.