Back From Japan...
Well what an experience. I suppose that I had a certain notion of Asia before I left Canada. I figured Asia would be made up of countries that were more or less the same in the same way that U.S. States or Canadian provinces are the same. Sure there would be some differences but a similar feel.
Well I have only been to three Asian countries now and all three are wildly different. The Philippines is generally poor but the people are friendly and everyone speaks English quite well. The Spanish and American influence is very strong. Korea, as I have mentioned before, seems to be built on a 1950's American conservatism. The people here work hard - too hard in my opinion. The boss is the boss in Korea and your job is seemingly kept on his or her whim. People here work well beyond the 8 hour day. I would say 12-14 hours is common.
Living in Ilsan, a suburb of Seoul, the environment was more relaxed. Downtown Seoul is busy. On the subway it is not uncommon to be sardined into the cars and pushed from behind into people in front of you. The train jerks to a stop and you need not worry about keeping your balance because you are so tightly packed that the sway of people are as one. Seoul is a massive metropolis and generally dirtier than Ilsan. Drunken Koreans stream the subways as early as 7pm and a word to the wise - make sure you look down a lot to avoid stepping in some one's ex-main course.
Japan - Fukuoka. A work visa in Korea lasts one year so my school was forced to send me to a nearby country to get a new one year work visa. So they send me Wednesday night (8pm) by KTX train to Busan. A 3 hour train ride. This train travels at average speeds of 200kph. After a night in Busan I left on the Beetle hydrofoil to Fukuoka. This ferry is very fast with a jet engine on board and travels at 80kph (3 hour ride). If you have a weak stomach that would be a very very long three hours as it is dips and dives. Well seeing the seat belts made me groan before we even left.
Arriving in Japan and going through customs was the usual treat. I of course am picked out to be searched and padded down. I had piles of stuff in my coats so I suppose I don't blame them. Anyway, being forewarned that taxis cost about 10 times what they do in Korea I had to look up the buses(Taxis start at about $6.00 and for a $2.00 ride in Korea it would run $20.00+ in Japan). And what do you know, buses are very simple to use, all are in English and there is actually a map of their route -- this is something Korea must do something about. The buses and subways in Korea run $2.00 - $3.00 depending on distance - a lot less than I was expecting and typical of Vancouver fares).
Anyway, on to the Korean Consulate. The usual government bureaucracy of filling out the same information on several forms as if anyone really cared or even looks at them. But give over the passport and $60.00 bucks on Thursday and pick up the passport on Friday with the visa stamped. Sometimes I think it's a big scam to make a buck and keep the economy going.
But thank heaven for the scam because Japan is something else. Korea is a clean city compared to Manila but a veritable dive compared to Fukuoka. This city is absolutely spotless. The air is far cleaner and the grounds - well it is the cleanest city I have ever been to or lived in. Interesting to note that they drive on the other side of the road. If Korea is emulating North America then Japan - or at least Fukuoka - is emulating Europe. In Korea it seems as though they got a discount on building design. Whether you are in Ilsan, Seoul, or Busan you would never know where you were by looking at buildings because they are all the same. In Fukuoka this is entirely different. It is far easier to get your bearings because the city looks unique. Streets, buildings, shopping areas are separate entities. In Korea you will have 20 restaurants all right beside each other selling virtually the exact same menu. In Fukuoka it is far more like Vancouver with competition selling different menus to entice you.
Cars are different - not just the wheel being on the other side but a lot more electric cars and hybrids and different colours. You see all the colours of the rainbow -- light purple cars don;t look as bad as you would think. The other big difference is "no motorcycles on the sidewalks!" Yes the crazy motorcycles everywhere in Korea were completely absent in Fukuoka. Maybe there is a noise pollution ordinance or something but was I thankful. I suppose I just got used to the noise in Korea.
Now for the single men reading and or the single women who could be converted - never in my life have I seen such beautiful women. I am NOT kidding. I met a nice guy from Australia and hung out with him over the weekend and walking through the Tenjin subway/underground shopping mall we both decided that one could see the sites of Korea and never leave the underground. The eye candy, as it were, was about to make me a diabetic so we had to retreat above ground. Unfortunately, this offered us no solace as waves of dressed to the nines women on bicycles rode by us endlessly. Something curiously cute about women in high heels with the latest fashions riding 1960's bicycles everywhere. Yes you could say that falling for Fukuoka was inevitable for us single guys.
Generally, prices are about what they are in Vancouver. Some things of course are expensive but the $5.00 Coca Cola myth is just that. You pay about $1.00 but the can is smaller. I can say that if I do another year in Asia I will do everything in my power to make Japan my destination. You are not hounded in stores. In Korea you feel like you are in Future Shop all the time - only worse. The Japanese are very friendly but you need to ask for help - if you are looking at your map they will not offer you the help but will be very happy to help if you ask them - even though they don;t speak English - you would be surprised at how far hand gestures go.
My hotel room was small - and no English channels - but the room runs $50.00 a night and included a $10.00 all you can eat breakfast each day of your stay. That is also a lot cheaper than I would have expected out of Japan. Also - no one pushed or shoved on the trains - there was generally less people, more room, more open spaces, fresher air, more western niceties, more modern conveniences - Vancouver is behind in this regard. Anyway, Victor and I had a great time in Fukuoka. Oh and how about a night out -- $20.00 from 10pm-3am buys you your cover and all you can drink at the club downtown.
Anyway I am posting pictures below
My Australian friend Victor. We went to the Marine center and saw some spectacular sea creatures, a dolphin show and a tour of the countryside.
Yours truly in the tower.
A view facing towards Canada. The pictures really don't do it justice.
Well that's all folks - until we meet again.
Well I have only been to three Asian countries now and all three are wildly different. The Philippines is generally poor but the people are friendly and everyone speaks English quite well. The Spanish and American influence is very strong. Korea, as I have mentioned before, seems to be built on a 1950's American conservatism. The people here work hard - too hard in my opinion. The boss is the boss in Korea and your job is seemingly kept on his or her whim. People here work well beyond the 8 hour day. I would say 12-14 hours is common.
Living in Ilsan, a suburb of Seoul, the environment was more relaxed. Downtown Seoul is busy. On the subway it is not uncommon to be sardined into the cars and pushed from behind into people in front of you. The train jerks to a stop and you need not worry about keeping your balance because you are so tightly packed that the sway of people are as one. Seoul is a massive metropolis and generally dirtier than Ilsan. Drunken Koreans stream the subways as early as 7pm and a word to the wise - make sure you look down a lot to avoid stepping in some one's ex-main course.
Japan - Fukuoka. A work visa in Korea lasts one year so my school was forced to send me to a nearby country to get a new one year work visa. So they send me Wednesday night (8pm) by KTX train to Busan. A 3 hour train ride. This train travels at average speeds of 200kph. After a night in Busan I left on the Beetle hydrofoil to Fukuoka. This ferry is very fast with a jet engine on board and travels at 80kph (3 hour ride). If you have a weak stomach that would be a very very long three hours as it is dips and dives. Well seeing the seat belts made me groan before we even left.
Arriving in Japan and going through customs was the usual treat. I of course am picked out to be searched and padded down. I had piles of stuff in my coats so I suppose I don't blame them. Anyway, being forewarned that taxis cost about 10 times what they do in Korea I had to look up the buses(Taxis start at about $6.00 and for a $2.00 ride in Korea it would run $20.00+ in Japan). And what do you know, buses are very simple to use, all are in English and there is actually a map of their route -- this is something Korea must do something about. The buses and subways in Korea run $2.00 - $3.00 depending on distance - a lot less than I was expecting and typical of Vancouver fares).
Anyway, on to the Korean Consulate. The usual government bureaucracy of filling out the same information on several forms as if anyone really cared or even looks at them. But give over the passport and $60.00 bucks on Thursday and pick up the passport on Friday with the visa stamped. Sometimes I think it's a big scam to make a buck and keep the economy going.
But thank heaven for the scam because Japan is something else. Korea is a clean city compared to Manila but a veritable dive compared to Fukuoka. This city is absolutely spotless. The air is far cleaner and the grounds - well it is the cleanest city I have ever been to or lived in. Interesting to note that they drive on the other side of the road. If Korea is emulating North America then Japan - or at least Fukuoka - is emulating Europe. In Korea it seems as though they got a discount on building design. Whether you are in Ilsan, Seoul, or Busan you would never know where you were by looking at buildings because they are all the same. In Fukuoka this is entirely different. It is far easier to get your bearings because the city looks unique. Streets, buildings, shopping areas are separate entities. In Korea you will have 20 restaurants all right beside each other selling virtually the exact same menu. In Fukuoka it is far more like Vancouver with competition selling different menus to entice you.
Cars are different - not just the wheel being on the other side but a lot more electric cars and hybrids and different colours. You see all the colours of the rainbow -- light purple cars don;t look as bad as you would think. The other big difference is "no motorcycles on the sidewalks!" Yes the crazy motorcycles everywhere in Korea were completely absent in Fukuoka. Maybe there is a noise pollution ordinance or something but was I thankful. I suppose I just got used to the noise in Korea.
Now for the single men reading and or the single women who could be converted - never in my life have I seen such beautiful women. I am NOT kidding. I met a nice guy from Australia and hung out with him over the weekend and walking through the Tenjin subway/underground shopping mall we both decided that one could see the sites of Korea and never leave the underground. The eye candy, as it were, was about to make me a diabetic so we had to retreat above ground. Unfortunately, this offered us no solace as waves of dressed to the nines women on bicycles rode by us endlessly. Something curiously cute about women in high heels with the latest fashions riding 1960's bicycles everywhere. Yes you could say that falling for Fukuoka was inevitable for us single guys.
Generally, prices are about what they are in Vancouver. Some things of course are expensive but the $5.00 Coca Cola myth is just that. You pay about $1.00 but the can is smaller. I can say that if I do another year in Asia I will do everything in my power to make Japan my destination. You are not hounded in stores. In Korea you feel like you are in Future Shop all the time - only worse. The Japanese are very friendly but you need to ask for help - if you are looking at your map they will not offer you the help but will be very happy to help if you ask them - even though they don;t speak English - you would be surprised at how far hand gestures go.
My hotel room was small - and no English channels - but the room runs $50.00 a night and included a $10.00 all you can eat breakfast each day of your stay. That is also a lot cheaper than I would have expected out of Japan. Also - no one pushed or shoved on the trains - there was generally less people, more room, more open spaces, fresher air, more western niceties, more modern conveniences - Vancouver is behind in this regard. Anyway, Victor and I had a great time in Fukuoka. Oh and how about a night out -- $20.00 from 10pm-3am buys you your cover and all you can drink at the club downtown.
Anyway I am posting pictures below
My Australian friend Victor. We went to the Marine center and saw some spectacular sea creatures, a dolphin show and a tour of the countryside.
Fukuoka tower in the middle, main library on the left and City Museum on the right.
Another shot of the tower. This is the second largest tower in Japan and offered a wonderful view of the city and ocean.
Yours truly in the tower.
A view facing towards Canada. The pictures really don't do it justice.
Well that's all folks - until we meet again.
posted by Richard Austen | 9:52 p.m.
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