Vaccination Fun

During summer holidays, Mel and I are going to Vietnam and Cambodia for a few weeks. As part of the preparation process, I needed to get my Hep A and tetanus booster.

In Brisbane, this would entail going to a travel medicine clinic. In Japan, it is a little different. The first step was finding out where I could actually get the vaccinations done – not an easy task. Luckily one of the teachers I work with helped me out, went online and tracked down a hospital in Nagoya where I could get it done.

The next step was to work out when I could go. The vaccination clinic (which services all vaccinations including childhood) was only open for 2 two-three hour sessions Monday to Friday and only during office hours and a short session Saturday morning.

I took advantage of a free afternoon and went on my adventure – braving the limitations of my Japanese, not knowing exactly where I was going and the long waits between each of the many steps of the process while I was at the hospital.

I survived and now have an appointment set up for the follow up Hep A shot. (^_^)

Osaka Jo

We went to Osaka via the Tokaido Line. Catching the shinkansen would have been faster but much more expensive. Mel was motivated to do some writing, so she used the travel time that way. I on the other hand used the time to doze.

On arrival we had a quick lunch, then on to Osaka-Jo. We had plans to visit a few different sights on Saturday but we ended up spending the whole afternoon there.

Osaka-Jo is situated on expansive grounds, that house a shrine and a multitude of plum and cherry trees. Originally built in the late 1500's, the castle has been destroyed and rebuilt a couple of times. Some of the slabs of stone that make up the outer walls of the castle are truly awesome.

We went along with the tourist feel of the area around the main donjon by having a caricature done (the artist was very good) and buying souvenirs. We then got around to entering the donjon. From the outside the castle is very impressive. The castle museum is quite good, with English signage on most of the exhibits, and the view from the observation level is also quite good.

On exiting we went to view the plum trees. They are just starting to blossom, so we wandered around and took some photos while the sky was starting to move toward dusk.

One Year Coming Up!

It's amazing. (^_^) Mel and I have been married for almost one year, and we have been in Japan for just a little less than that. The time has flown by.

So to celebrate, this weekend we are off to Osaka. We are so looking forward to it. We have decided to travel light, but I don't know how either of us will cope without our computers.

Hopefully I will have some good stories and photos for this blog when we get back.

Ultraman in Tokyo

On a visit to Tokyo, Mel took a photo of me standing next to a life-size model of Ultraman. This is the result after adding the nightlife of Shibuya.

She has this on her monitor at work, and she tells people that she is married to Ultraman . I'm not sure which one she is talking about???