Ginger DJ Rob

University on fire Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Got back to work after a good weekend to the result of this photo which I'll explain in a bit. We went to see some drama students do A Clockwork Orange at the University on Friday night. Lucky there were more than 9 of us as there must have been some late takers. Sets were limited to the budget as well as the costumes. The Moloko bar was simply some old stackable chairs with a 'rope' light curled into a sign. Saturday was a party at Emma and James who will be setting off to Hong Kong, OZ and NZ in 2 or 3 weeks. Set up my decks for some entertainment and glad to see/hear it went off well. Alot of people remembering me from Em's 21st party. Thanks to James (another one) for giving me some deck needles for letting him DJ. By about 2am people who starting to flag and get a bit over-friendly with the furniture playing 'people pile up'. Anyway, Monday morning I arrive at work with loads of tape sect

Jetlag now gone and back to normal hum-drum. Tuesday was a return visit to the dentist and came away £80 shorter and a jig for my front teeth whilst I'm asleep. Apparently this should solve my clicking jaw. Hmmm...over 10 years of clubbing might have something to with this. Caught up with a couple of new films. Wallace & Grommit was good. Never notcied the animators' finger prints before - must have been the big screen effect. The bendy figure theme continued as we watched Corpse Bride as well. Started off ok and the visual detail and style just as good as W&G. But the songs were slightly lame and the story one dimensional. Good voice cast including Mr Fast Show Paul Whitehouse - must have been Johnny Depp's influence there - Ohhh! Suits you sir! Tonight we're seeing A Clockwork Orange by some students at my university. Slightly put off by the ticket numbers as we have as 8 and 9 - they were bought yesterday. Somehow I think the stage crew will be maki

Finally got through them all and selected the best photos for the FlickR site.

Image via Wikipedia Spotted on a Nobby Crisps packet (Balti Chicken flavour): Lesson 7 ( Eyepatch Facts) Most pirates had two perfectly good eyes. By wearing an eyepatch at all times, the covered eye would become highly sensitive, making it ideal to navigate at night using the stars. Modern day soldiers are taught a similar night vision technique during basic training, to assist them when training under cover of darkness. So now you know! Going through 2 Gb's worth of photos and will FlickR them this week as well as update the blog on what we actually did.

Woke up at 4am to the noisiest b@stards singing and screaming from the hotel corridor outside our room. Wouldn’t have minded but we had to be up at 5:15am to get our flight home. Reception half useless and by the time things had quietened down we had to get up anyway. Took the subway to Shinjuku station and was amazed at the number of homeless sleeping in the station. Flight home was full of Japanese sniffers and snorters much to the disgust of Kerry who took great delight at blowing her nose defending herself that it was no-man’s land and had a right to behave British. Watched Batman Begins (v.good), Festival (good) and War of the Worlds (2nd time, still good).

Bathing Ape shop in Aoyama, Tokyo Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Today was our last chance to some souvenir and gift shopping so went straight to Harajuku for Oriental Bizarre (for gifts) and Kiddyland (big toy shop). Stopped for lunch at Pizza Express again and got served by same English waiter (sod it we were hungry!) then continued shopping picking up 2 new watches and some T-shirts for Kerry. There some roadworks happening under the main road through Harajuku and noticed that Japanese workmen are just a scruffy as the British but wear really baggy trousers instead of our builder-bum jean look. Back over to Roppongi Hills for TV Asahi shop and found Matthew’s Best TV merchandise which was featured in Lost in Translation. He’s a bit like Graham Norton but with louder suits and weirder TV graphics. Headed over to Ginza to see the latest Sony products at their flagship store. Played some new PS2 games that are not even out in Japan yet - Shadow of the Colossus (ICO2) and

Japanese Water Magic Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Not much sleep last night due our room being next to Tokyo ’s version of the South Circular at rush hours on steroids and very loud engines. Another annoying jazz soundtrack to a cup of cornflakes then we requested to change rooms. Subwayed all the Asakusa for the Nikko train, the same place we almost started our Tokyo tourist trail. Weather less grim but our train was the scummiest yet. Passed the station which would have got a quicker route to Nikko Edo-mura (Wonderland) so decided to push on to Nikko for the temple we wanted to see. Bought a round trip bus pass for 500 Yen and was told to use bus-stop 3 for 11:56am. Nothing turned up and realised too late that there another bus-stop 3 further up the road. Fu£kake! With the prospect of waiting upto an hour for the next bus and not wanting to risk missing the ninja show, we rushed back to the train station to get back to the Edo Mura. More language confusion with

Laputa Guardian statue at Ghibli museum Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Started the day with breakfast in the ‘Finger’ bar. Cool white interior and swivel stools plus bonus for having cornflakes. However, hotel had no idea of what bowls to use as we resorted to cappuccino shaped cups. Background music grated us within 2 mouthfuls of food playing boring jazz music with ‘be-bop-do-wah’ lyrics. Took the subway across Tokyo heading for the Ghibli museum and got a little confused along the way with trains stopping and Japanese announcements about trains we should have changed. Managed to catch the community bus just in time by legging after it in the pouring rain. A quick queue and presentation of vouchers and we entered the museum. First impressions were of the many floors and windows then the detail of the artwork used to make it so unique. No photos were allowed so even more souvenirs had to be bought. There were 2 or 3 rooms which looked like organised junk rooms fu

Harajuku Costume Shop Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . All the problems that happened recently have started to grow small feelings of wanting to come home. Hasn’t helped choosing a remote hotel and not getting a hire car but trying to look at the positive side and returning to Tokyo. Kerry struggled to get ready, bless her. Got taxi to airport for nearly £50 but it was worth it. Taxi driver appreciated the business so much he gave some chewing gum – how about a discount next mate?! Used the 100 Yen for 10 minute internet PC to check email and finally worked out how to switch off the Kanji setting. Flight was delayed by almost 40 minutes. Arrived at Roppongi after a million uphill stairs with full loaded baggage through the subway stations. Lucky the hotel was in eye-shot. Nice place with great views of Tokyo Tower and of the flyover road. As it was Sunday, we went straight out to Harajuku where the local park hosts their weekly character/goth/weirdness/whatever dressing. Didn’t

Moonbeach Hotel with Typhoon Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . After the hospital trip our taxi ride back to the hotel gave a preview of the weather that was to continue all day. Thick grey clouds, a bit of rain, a lot of wind and a drop of temperature. Kerry stays in bed recovering and we wonder whether the typhoon will ground us longer than we expected. At lunch I watch some Japanese nutters swim in the sea whilst it rains. For Kerry, it’s a day of sleep and dire TV. One highlight was a Japanese daytime programme about glass blowing. It was a competition between the best 4 in the country with rounds of creativity. The winner was from the same place we visited in Gora Park the other day in Hakone we had seen being filmed! Not much else to report as Kerry still feeling awful with chest infection. Teatime involved 3 trips out at Kerry’s hunger whims. Tried McDonalds at first but it took a sandwich to work for her. More useless TV and laughable AFN adverts for stu

Whiter than sand Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Weather had cleared a bit and was roasting a good 30 degrees C! Down on the beach we regrettably paid the 3175 Yen for a couple of sun loungers and beach umbrella which is about £15 a day. Sea was nice and warm only the prickly beach of broken coral made it uncomfortable. Used our breakfast voucher for a late lunch, an all you can eat buffet with melon soda refills – Yay! Back to the beach for more rays but a little too much for me (and not enough cream application) burning my pasty white skin. Plan A was to get a hire car but language and given phone number didn’t work. Plan B was to go to the Airport by bus and organise the car from there only that an accident and a lot of traffic in Naha resorted to Plan C to stop in town and do souvenir shopping. Kerry’s health was deteriorating quickly with flu like symptoms and the lack of any good gifts brought our trip to almost a waste of time (over 2 hours by bus) and a lot

Pokemon Airplane Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Took our time packing and checked out of the hotel at 11am. We’ve been keeping an eye on the weather forecast as there’s a typhoon heading towards Okinawa! Just our luck. Some sort of warm front is keeping it at bay a few hundred miles away south but Kerry reckons it will gain strength. Short Shinkensen (Bullet train) to Shinagawa via Yokohama. Journey’s view was quite dull as we got used to the built-up suburbs of Tokyo with concrete buildings and overhead cables. Shinagawa station returned us to the rush of Tokyo atmosphere but at least we avoided Tokyo station, the Yamonote Line and the uncomfortable Mono-rail to Haneda airport . After more souvenir shopping we went through to wait for our flight. The added bonus to make us smile was the livery of our ANA plane. The 747 was kitted out in Pokemon colours and characters. Even inside, the crew were wearing similar aprons and the headrests were decorated. As usual

Kerry pointing out Mt. Fuji Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Health drama! Kerry had a strange spot on her shoulder yesterday we thought was caused by her backpack. A load more spots decided to surface across her arms and panic set in. I went down to reception and luckily one of the receptionists was American (though sounded Dutch). No experience of insect bites was known to have happened at the hotel so they advised to consult a doctor. About 30 minutes later we were in a surgery waiting for a dermatology doctor with the same receptionist, Paul Carey who was from Minnesota. Shoes had to be removed when entering the building and crappy slippers worn. The doctor was quick with the diagnosis and proved the hotel wrong that it was an insect bite. Cream was prescribed and the consultation fee cost 7800 Yen (about £35). The hotel promised to change our room and would move our bags when it was ready. Although Kerry was suffering with eternal itching and a developing col

PA112489F Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Woke in our B & B room to the sound of trickling water from the outside koi carp pond. Kerry not enjoying the hot spa water smell from the bathroom and has to hold her breath in case she gags. Breakfast was hideously expensive and the dining room was like what I imagined Glen Eagles would look like. Still no hunting trophies here either. At least they had cornflakes at about £4.50! Bought a 3 day travel pass then went up the mountain to the Hakone Open Air museum. Amazing sculptures against magnificent mountainous views. We stopped and soaked our tired tootsies in the hot spa for a great foot soak with views of the stained glass windowed tower. Foot towels supplied at 100 yen (50p). Picasso had a separate hall dedicated to his art though his pottery was a bit crap really. After the art we went further up on the train with only the cable car to go. Unfortunately, Kerry’s nerves gave in – poor lass so we headed down to

PA102460F Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . The Bullet train dropped us off at Odawara then we transferred to the Hakone train. It was bit like a mountain train in Switzerland. The map inside quoted about 300 metres up to the final destination with 3 switches of direction along the way. Journey was more like a ghost train ride – as people got off, the more deserted the train got. Saw glimpses of street lights and town life amongst the pitch darkness as the train twisted and the wind howled for added effect. Arrived at the station we needed and walked down the steep hill to the Fujiya Hotel. It looked very grand from the front but needed a fork of lightning, some banging shutters and twitching curtains to complete the look. A tiny red ornament bridge crossed the pond of more koi carp and we stepped into a time warp which reminded us of The Shining hotel. An absence of hunting trophies on the wall and an assortment of hunting knives and axes missing though. The recep

Heian Shrine, Kyoto Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Another early start so we could get in another few shrines to complete our Kyoto Top Trumps. Heian Jingu Shrine was seen in Lost in Translation and Kiyomizu Temple , another World Heritage Buddhist place. Heian had a great garden where you couldn’t ignore the shouts from a neighbouring kendo club. Further on, past the stepping stones (another scene from Lost in Translation) was a traditional wedding just wrapping up. Bride and groom were posing for the camera and had gained their own paparazzi of tourists including myself. Some bus rides later we came across our final Kyoto sight of Kiyomizu, the Pure-water temple. To get there though took about 15 minutes uphill past a stream of continuous gift shops. Saw a couple of monks along the way chanting or begging. Temple was amazing with Buddha and rabbit statues everywhere. As well as the standard pagoda and hall affair there was large balcony over looking a wooded ar

PA092226F Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Yay! This hotel has decent cereal for its breakfast so got fuelled up for a full-on day of temples and shrines. First stop was 5 minute train-ride away called Inari for the Fushimi shrine and temple. Lots and lots of red torii gates like tunnels plus mini shrines everywhere that lead weaving up the mountain and hills. Lots of freaky spiders just above head height to scare us as we walked up. They had distinctive black spiky legs with green highlights and huge fat tear shaped bodies living in webs everywhere. The fox was a common creature as a type of god. First shrine/temple had a live sermon by a priest. Behind his shrine displayed all the gifts (I presume) donated to the up and coming festival. Lots of fruits, beer, sake and rice – looked like a right p!ss-up. Back to the hike, we continued through the maze of torii gates passing many Japanese locals and seemed to be the only gaijin. Just off the trail we stopped next

Trainspotter Kerry Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Caught the Bullet train to Kyoto . Wow, it’s fast like scary fast – poor Kerry felt a bit ill. All train personnel would enter the carriage and bow to everyone then move through, bowing again as they left. We had to change trains at Osaka where we met a load of American tourists who travel around to really unusual places like Mongolia and Peru ( Jimmy Carter was mentioned for some reason). Got out of Kyoto station to more f*cking rain which was a bit stressful as the hotel map was useless. Had walked with all our bags in the wrong direction until I asked a local. Had to get the subway as it was so far. Hotel room was on the 13th floor and very comfortable. Getting used to the electronic toilets. Finally found a good photo developing shop which did digital photo to CD transfer. Whilst the photos were being sorted we found an amazing ‘character’ shop with every weird Japanese plastic model going if you didn’t get the

Torii Gate and Wild Deer of Miyajima Island Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Took the tram to the ferry port which took nearly an hour (should have took the train). A 5 minute ferry ride later we were greeted by wild deer (as warned by the weird Jap) which were really friendly as much as you could stroke them. Walked towards the shrine which is a series of floating walkways overlooking the famous Torii gate. Behind the Onimusha style shrine was a 5 tier pagoda plus a huge open hall with medieval paintings. Other small shrines were around with deer hanging around for food. A handy mini-bus helped avoid a 20 minute hike upto the cable car station for the top of the island. Very scary for Kerry as we hung over the prim-evil forests. Once up the top of the mountain there were amazing panoramic views of the smaller islands around and the coast. Spotted a submarine sailing into harbour. The other reason to be up there was the red-arsed monkeys lounging, pruning themselves

A-Bomb site, Hiroshima Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Early start at 6am to be sure we caught our flight to Hiroshima . At Haneda , the airport for domestic flights, it was the first time we really felt conscious of being ‘gaijin’ as a lot of natives couldn’t help themselves either staring or not sitting next to us. Boarded flight which was almost all salary men. Taking off an experience as all the passengers could watch the live broadcast on the screens from the camera attached to the landing-gear. Managed to see Mount Fuji through the clouds though no snow cap. Bussed our way over to Hiroshima which took about an hour then used the tram. The hotel room wasn’t ready for us so went straight to the Peace Memorial and Garden. The A-Bomb Dome building was very eerie held up with steel supports and littered with rubble inside. Museum was busy with about 3 different schools off-loading their kids. There’s so many artefacts in the museum from that fateful moment in h

Himiko Water Bus docking Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Missed breakfast at the hotel though Japanese breakfasts are pretty gross to my cereal munching palette. Found a local café and ordered coffee and a croissant though for some unknown reason I couldn’t have it through language confusion which was the start of many similar incidents. Plan for the day was to take the boat trip to view the skyscrapers along the way reaching the futuristic island of Odaiba . Again we had to tackle the Subway to reach Ueno then Asakusa. Quickly learnt that you can use the Fare Adjustment machines if you bought a lower priced ticket and pay the difference. Quite a good system and proves how honest Japs can be. Before our boat was due to set off we had time to look around the market. Stalls were full of fans, waving white cats statues, yakatas and fake samurai swords. The Himiko was our futuristic ferry and was designed by the manga artist who did the Daft Punk videos for the second

PA041656F Originally uploaded by Ginger DJ . Finding the connecting train from the airport to Shinjuku, our first Tokyo destination was easy. Arriving and dealing with the hundreds of direction signs at the world’s busiest station, Shinjuku was another matter. Our backpacks were like carrying the house, shed and garage around with us plus the fact we’ve been awake for around 21 hours had hampered our efforts. We finally found the hotel and gave up trying to speak Japanese at the reception to check in. Some lessons learnt today, after being asked in English a question never answer Hai (yes), otherwise they’ll blurt out a rapid five other questions in Japanese. The Narita Express journey teased us with Japanese countryside and architecture with a lot of concrete blandness with some nice tiled roofs. As Tokyo suburbs came into view we were allowed preview to Shibuya ’s smaller district counterparts. Hotel room was basic but functional. The loo had a sprinkle and bidet

Image by Phil Gyford via Flickr I'm feeling a bit of a holiday bore at the moment and the thought of what will I do after 3 weeks has crossed my mind. Organising photos will be the obvious one, otherwise I'm at a loss. Saturday evening was a trip to Harbourlights for Howl's Moving Castle , Ghibli Studio's latest. As usual, the artwork and animation was amazing plus some very cute characters especially the scarecrow and dog - Bit of a money spinner for Ebay if I can find some merchandising for it out there! Sunday, Kerry treated me to a visit to the Nirvana spa. Always thought this was a girly pamper experience and would be the only bloke there but after a few bubbling pools in the right place and can highly recommend it. A couple of unpleasant moments blighted an otherwise perfect score. The first steam room felt like my lungs, eyes and sinuses were constantly filling up with Obas Oil like I'd landed on an alien planet with no oxygen to breath. Not even a m