Back home, then back to Vegas, then back home...

Well. So I survived Japan with a first time visitor, the Mrs. First time visitors present special challenges because:

• they want to see everything, esp. everything touristy,
• invest in tickets or packages that give you unlimited access for a limited time,
• which adds up to a hectic schedule with little sleep or relaxation.

After a day to recover, I was off to Vegas for work. So I tell people I'm going to Vegas. The usual responses:

• "I'm so jealous!"
• "Cool, Vegas!"
• "You poor thing, you get to go to Vegas."

Alas, Vegas is wasted on me. I don't gamble because the pain of losing (and I know the house has the edge) is greater than the thrill of winning or the suspense of seeing the outcome. I think the food is overpriced, so are the shows. You can be in a building and still have to walk 5 miles a day. While I think walking is a good thing, it should neither be something that feels like a commitment nor should it necessarily be climate-controlled (though it beats walking in a desert, I'm sure).

I'm back now. Finished uploading 12GB of Asian trip photos over the weekend. I'll probably blog about them sometime next year; it will take that long to tag them all. :)

Osaka instead of Kyoto

Screw Kyoto. Went to Osaka instead. And back in one day. Over 300 miles in 3 hours one way. Kicked my ass. Delicious ramen. Awesome castle. Cool aquarium. Back in Tokyo. Went to Tsukiji. Best sushi ever. Now sleep.

All action, no talk.

So far I have done a pretty good job of neglecting this blog.

Currently on a two week trip to Hong Kong and Japan (on the Japan leg now) and have hardly had a moment's rest. I just got back from a day trip from Tokyo to Kyoto. This is a 2.5 hour train ride covering about 325 miles each way (not including the time schlepping from the sites to the stations and back - thank good for bullet trains, or "shinkansen"). And I'm doing it again tomorrow.

Darn that JR Rail Pass! It demands to be used!

Hopefully, I'll catch things up later. :)

Visiting family overseas should never be misconstrued as vacation.

I think I've had more sleep burning the midnight oil meeting deadlines.

As awesome as it is to reconnect ties and share some moments together, family time and relaxation are seldom two things that can be said in the same breath.

Well, the venue will change soon enough. Bye bye Hong Kong. Hello Tokyo. Sleep deprivation leaving me with only stream of thought, I think, or is it "thought" again? With any luck, once in Japan, I'll once again be cognizant enough to able to recap the HK trip. :) Till then, wish me luck...

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