Japan - How It All Began

Friend: Hey buddy. What's up?
Johnson: Hey. Not much. You?
Friend: Check this out, I just got this email from my friend, he just booked a round trip to Japan for $555 tax included! And for flying with a stop over in Vancouver, you'll get about 13,000 Aeroplan points.
Johnson: Did someone say Aeroplan points? Where do I sign up?

So I naturally spread the word, first person I tell about the deal is Le Yen. Since she is usually around to answer my emails (see, replying quickly has it's benefits). She ponders a bit on the idea of leaving the Americanized continent and traveling to the far east to learn the secret meaning of life. Sadly she had to pass on this opportunity.

During my almost daily workout with Ly, I inform him of the deal, he also ponders it for a bit (he probably wants to become the next Drift King of Japan) but alas he agrees to go. I can tell from his anime lit eyes that he is very excited to go.

Ly informs his younger cousin Steve that he is going to Japan, and Steve is filled with envy, so much in fact that he decides to join him on the trip.

So I quickly book our flight tickets, and with a little over 2 weeks to go before the impromptu trip, there is lots to plan.

I spent countless hours researching what little information I knew about Japan on the internet. I wikied the country's history and the operation of Love Hotels in Japan. I read pages of information on their language, trying to understand and speak it. I googled their cultural aspects - way of life, bowing and peeing. I tried to gain an understanding of their noodle subway system, and last but not least, I bought Tourist related books on Japan.

Our flights were confirmed, our hotels were booked and our gaijin clothes were packed. After what seemed like an eternity of planning, it seemed like we were all set, all except for the fact that we didn't know what we were going to do once we got there.