So I've got this big vacation coming up, but going with two questionable subjects (Eric S. & Phil), one has to wonder how much of a vacation it's really going to be. If we actually get past customs without getting imprisoned (by Phil's nervousness and twitchy hands) or tortured (due to Eric's stone-faced sarcasm) and we have decent internet access, I might be able to bring some updates.
Here's some things I'll miss:
- My own house and bed
- Building my massive Xbox 360 Gamerscore over Ed's
- NHL Playoffs (Should be back in time for Canucks in Cup Finals though!)
- May Sweeps and TV Show finales (thank god for VCRs, PVRs and Bittorrent!)
- Spider-Man 3 Midnight Show on opening day (Sam Raimi is god. Hopefully I can catch it over in HK or Japan)
But here's some things that should make up for it:
- Tiananmen Square in Beijing
- The Great Wall of China (No Eric, we won't be sprinting it)
- Qin Shi Huang's Tomb featuring a thousand-plus life-size terra cotta warriors in Xian
- Shanghai's Bund and Jade Buddha Temple
- Victoria Peak in Hong Kong
- Nara's Todaiji Temple and kasuga Shrine
- 2 back to back nights of NINE INCH NAILS in Osaka (!!!)
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
- Kyoto's Nijo Castle, Golden Pavillion and Old Imperial Palace
- Miyajima's Itsukushima Shinto Shrine
- Hiroshima's Atomic Bomb Museum
- Tokyo's Mt. Fuji & Hakone National Park, Lake Ashi via Boat Cruise, Mt. Komagatake via Rope-way ride and Asakua Kannon Temple
- Kegon Waterfall and Lake Chuzenji in Nikko
- Meeting Eric So's imaginary girlfriend
In between preventing Phil from buying useless souvenirs and stopping Eric from general mayhem such as littering and peeing on the streets, hopefully I'll be able to enjoy myself. And seriously Phil, do you really need a separate piece of luggage just for shoes? He's such a girl.
Unfortunately, the trip's length has been tripled due to costcutting features as requested by Phil. We will be arriving and leaving via Cargo Boat, or "The Scenic Route" as Phil likes to call it. "It'll only take a few extra weeks, and we save a few cents!" he says. "Can't we take the Japan-Canada Cross-Pacific Bridge by car?" responds Eric. So even though the the trip ends in Early June, we won't be back until July. Oh well, at least we'll still have cell phone access when we travel across the Pacific Ocean!
Oh god, what have I gotten myself into??
