Finally some life!

Seems like someone was listening last week when I was moaning about my work/life balance issues - this past week has been awesome. First of all, I managed to get out of work most days only having done a 10-hour day, but more importantly I met some great new friends from Spain/Netherlands.

I have always been one to love showing people around Japan, but just haven't had many opportunities lately (most of you have either already been here, or have been too slack to actually make the trip!!). So I was definitely up for the chance to show some new people around the city that I have come to call my home.

Starting 2 Fridays ago we went out in Roppongi and Shinjuku... yakiniku (Toraji) for dinner followed by a night of drinking and all sorts of fun. Sunday we went to Kourakuen to ride the huge city-center roller coaster (Thunder Dolphin) with one of the most terrifying drops in Japan, followed by an evening wandering through Ginza and a dinner of Shabushabu at Shabusen.

Tuesday was the night for Okonomiyaki and Karaoke... got out of work just on 7 (nice change) and headed on over to the guys' hotel, to meet and take them to Okonomiyaki Kiji in the Tokia Building near Tokyo Station. Yakisoba (fried noodles) and Okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza pancake with pork, squid, octopus and a variety of veggies) were enjoyed by all. Then it was on to Karaoke... they asked me to take them there but both also seemed a little hesitant. Once they realised that Japanese karaoke is done in the privacy of your own personal singing booth things settled down and the fun got under way (pics for this to follow soon).

Thursday and Friday were both spent heading out to bars and having a decent dinner at the new Tokyo Midtown complex. The guys partied well into the early hours of Saturday morning before heading off to Narita to catch their plane home. All in all an awesome week!!

Remember... I only plan to be here until early next year... so hurry up and make your plans to come and visit for two reasons... first, to have a great time, and secondly, to give me some sanity and motivation to spend less time in the office!!

Photos to follow...