Tadaima (going home)

I'm somewhat cheating since I came home two days ago, but I haven't had the time to really settle down and wrap this blog up until now. The trip from Japan was smooth, nothing to complain about there, and apart from lack of sleep I was almost human when I landed at Arlanda airport to be greeted by Jonatan, Dad and Roger. Mind you, it felt pretty special to get in the car at 5 am in the morning, after Yuri and I both had about two hours sleep. Her father (still drunk after coming home from the izakaya (the pub) at 1.30 am) got into the front seat and promptly fell asleep, looking really funny. I was moved he wanted to come see me off that badly, and that Nammie, Yuris friend from work, got up to come with us too. Yuri's mother drove the car, as caring as always. I couldn't have gotten taken care of by nicer people.

It was hard leaving Tokyo. Mainly because I've had so much fun during my three-week stay in Japan, but also because it was actually the end. I had been travelling for three months, discovering new parts of the world with Jonatan and on my own, and now I was going back to what I already knew and my everyday life. As you all know, my urge to travel never quite settles down, but I do admit that once I came home and entered the house, I did feel relieved. I was home. We've had a great trip, in South East Asia, New Zealand and, for my part, Japan, and I'm so glad we actually got to do it. It's been our ambition for more than a year and we saw it through all the way! Thank you to everyone who's made it so special, we really can't thank you enough.

Now we're both looking forward to the summer and, after that university. To everyone we've met, I repeat that if you ever come to Sweden you can always contact us. Facebook really is great for that sort of thing! :) Do take care everyone and I hope to see you as soon as possible.

Sofia

Oops, long time

Hi everyone, sorry Ive been so lousy at keeping this updated. I tend to write more on facebook, its faster :).

Anyway, as you might have guessed Im having a great time here in Japan. Since I last wrote Ive been to another Miyavi gig, in a place I would absolutely never have gone to otherwise, Matsuzaka, visitedan onsen in Osaka, seen the temples of Kyoto, walked around the bustling centre of Nagoya and spent some more time with Yukako and her family, before returning to Tokyo and Yuris family. While in Tokyo Yuris parents took us for a daytrip to Mt Fuji, Ito and the Hakone area, complete with onsen and kaiten sushi for dinner. Kaiten sushi is when you pick what you want from a moving thing (sorry, cant find the word, you know what I mean) and pay according to the number and colour of the plates. Heaps of fun! Ive also spent a day with Maura and the other guys from the Miyavi gigs in Harajuku, spent a night at a manga kissa (fun but no shower!) and tonight is karaoke with Yuri and Nammie. Im sure Ive done more than that but I honestly cant remember everything... Lucky I still have my notebook, Ill remember with the help of it later on.

Ill soon be returning home. It feels weird, after having been out and about for so long, to think about actually going home and settling down for a year or more. I have already decided I want to come back here but in the same time Im looking forward to all the challenges ahead of me in Sweden. And I miss you guys!!!! Itll be great seeing you all again. For those who dont know yet, Ill arrive at Arlanda at 8 pm on Friday, if all goes well. Many hugs from Japan, see you soon!

Sofia

Osaka/Kyoto

Wow. Two gigs later Im tired but unmistakeably happy. Great people, incredible outfits that only Japanese people can get wear and look good in, and of course an awesome artist. I wish I could understand his MCs better, though, so Im working on the language thing ;).

So, as you can tell Im alive and well and thoroughly enjoying myself here in Osaka and Kyoto. The backpackers Im staying at is really cosy, very much Japanese style, and not very busy. In fact, today its a bit too calm, Im the only one here! I hope someone else will come over, theres not even a staff member to be seen so i cant even pay for one more night. Interesting, to say the least. Anyway, it gives me a lot of space to do my workout, which I havent for a while, so Im not complaining. Im going to make my way to Kyoto later on too to meet up with Yukako, eat a meal and just hang out. I still dont really have any plans on what to do next... Theres actually another gig in the vicinity in five days so I might just stick around and see that one too ;). Its a great way of meeting people and having heaps of fun.

Ill try to keep you all updated as to where I am and what Im up to. Hope youre all well! Big big hugs from Nippon,

Sofia

Tokyo!

After a lot of waiting and stressing out about the languae barrier,　I’m now safe and sound at Yuri’s place。Learning to read some Japanese definitely helped me get around the train stations and at　the airport but it was nice to finally meet up with someone who speaks really good English! :)

Anyway, I'm loving it so far and it's set to get better. Even though I was prepared for Tokyo being big, I didn't expect the train ride Tokyo from one part of the city to another to take over two hours. It wasn't even on the outskirts of town! So there's a lot to d outskirts of town! So there's a lot to do and see... :D Miss you back home though, hope everything's allright. I'll try to update the blog whenever something major happens. Hug Jonatan from me!

Big hugs from Japan

On our way...

So, after a wonderful weekend at Ross and Jean's we're now on our way to Japan and Sweden respectively. We're both really excited! It'll be a long trip for both of us, spending the night at Wellington airport and then travelling for about two days. We're in Welly at the moment, so we'll take the bus out to Miramar and the airport in a few hours.

As I said we spent the Easter with Ross and Jean in Foxton, taking it easy, fishing, daytripping to Wanganui and eating good food. We also got to spend a night at their house outside of Featherston and immediately tried out the spa pool! :) Beautiful views, really very nice.

For all of you back home, big hugs and, from Jonatan, see you soon! I'll be there in a few weeks :). For everyone else, xoxoxox.

Um... Woho? :)

If you're wondering about the title, that was me trying to translate "tjoho!" :). Anyway, we've made our way to Picton after two long bus trips, starting yesterday, from Queenstown to Christchurch and Christchurch to here. In a few hours we'll board the ferry to Wellington and then stay there for two hours before meeting up with Ross and Jean on the 2nd in Featherston. Ross is an old theatre friends of mine and we'll be celebrating Easter with them in Foxton!

Ok, I know that everyone already knows this, but I'll write it again: Skydiving is AWESOME. The views were just spectacular and although I was very, VERY nervous on the way up I would so do it again if I get the chance. Once all the adrenalin had gone away I crashed, completely exhausted, but it was amazing. The day after I went on a much more relaxed day trip to Milford Sounds, one of the most spectacular places in NZ. It was a full 12 hour journey, from 7 am to 7 pm, since it was a four hour drive from Q-town and then four hours back again and a cruise in between. Definitely a must-do for people coming here! Amazing scenery with huge mountains, rainforest, remnants of glaciers and a myriad of waterfalls. Definitely a good way to cap off our Q-town stay.

Hope you're all well, big hugs from us both!

Tjoho!

Nu ar vi tillbaka i Picton efter tva dagars resande. Vi stannade under natten i Christchurch. Trotta ar vi bada tva och mer resande ska det bli! Om nagra timmar aker vi tillbaka till Wellington dar vi ska spendera tva natter innan vi traffar Sofias van Ross. Vadret har ar underbart for tillfallet :) Hoppas ni har det bra! Kram!