My arrival to Japan

It was a great first day, i was greeted at the airport by the Accomdation officer from the language school .here name was GoKotwa and she was a nice lady.
We spoke about Dubai, she said that she was intended to visit Dubai 10 years ago but her husband could not take a Vacation so they had to cancel then visit ... People eyes light up here when I mention the word Dubai i met my host mother (okasan, mother in Japanese) who picked me up from the train Station. I met very briefly my father who is a very busy university professor. it turned out that my home is more like a very big hostel which is home with more than 12 members; other than the father and he mother and the grand mother they have a Student from Malaysia another from Sweden and another Japanese university teacher ... in addition thy have a friend and her retried husband who also lives with them. Now after I found out that thy here wireless Internet (which the school failed to tell me) I have really regretted my decision not to bring my laptop! I have now borrowed a laptop from the mother and they will install a wireless Internet card tomorrow.

How do you Know that your getting Closer to Japan?

How do you Know that your getting Closer to Japan? I think when you see 300+ of them in one room!

This is Wisam Safi reporting from gate No. 12 in Colombo.-
After a nice Short (but definitely eventful Stop in Sri Lanka ) I am boarding again for the big one: The 8+ hours flight to Natrai Airport, my gateway To the Land Of the of Ruisirg sun
Only 12 hours away from fulfilling my hand made destiny , a childhood dream ...
I just had time to take a little nap after my little big adventure in the jungles of Sri Lanka. I said goodbye to my great guide and my new friend Wasantha and to Boma the nice elephant was nice enough to give me a ride (Tarazan Style!) across the far river without getting me wet in the process. I saw baby elephants getting their morning bath.. got to feed them fresh fruit..and take photographs and videos (check them out here!)
To Summarize; what did like about Colombo and what i did not like?

I Liked:
1) the friendly faces : everyone is happy with their life poor or rich 2) the Cheap country : if you're street smart, you can get things really cheap. 3) tasty fruits

What I didn't like? Well, the fact that everyone is looking to find a way to get money from you... many people are there to help you, but they are there for the money... The good news is that the amount of money they are targeting is very small.. just keep a handfull of of 50 SriLankan Rubies (around 50 cents) or even 25s and pass it around...

I think I will be coming back soon to this country

The Jungle Book!

So, I decided to checkout SriLanka... without spending a lot of money!

So, of course, since I was white skinned, the the guys at the airport have generously offer me a round tip to a elephant area as well as to a temple area for a humble price of a
100US$...

Not bad, right?

WRONG!

The one thing that those guys didn't count upon was that I was from Syria... land of the traders!! where we practice bargaining as a sport!

So, there how I did it , Syrian Style!

I took a 3 more business cards from other tourist guys... they all had stated their price as 100$... they where standing strong... (or at least they thought they were!)

:-D

So, I reached the airport, took a shower and I started calling...

I used the good old `Bluff-em-up-against each other` method! it always works!

I randomly called one of them... told him to send his driver in 3 hours(to show him I was serious)... then I called the next one and told him that I already got a price of 80$ ... he first stated... "if you got such an offer, then go for it, as it is good.." to call me bluff, naturally... so I played it cool and told him... "ok.. byebye!"... "hey, ok... I get you the price down to 80$ with a good car!"

I hang up and called the first guy... "cancel the driver, I already got an offer for 75$!! you cheater!"

"no no no sir. please... I will get it for you for a better price!"

After 15 mins..., the price became 65$ with NO tips expected... (however, I ended up 10$ tip to the driver for being so god and helpful I really recommend him, you can check him out at the photo gallery)


Enjoy the photos and video (another video is underway!, watch this spot!)

The Jungle Book Part 1

28.11.08 - SriLanka - The Jungle Book Part 1

Video of the Elephants at the Orphanage


The Jungle Book Part 2

28.11.08 - SriLanka - The Jungle Book Part 2

Temple Photos

The Buddhist Temple in Kandy

SriLanka - General Photos

28.11.08 - SriLanka - General Photos

A Leap of Faith

It was a real hectic day. my feet hart! I look toward my comfy chair in the flight No more packing! Enough is enough! Whatever i might have forgotten to bring, I am sure they have it in Japan !

I have made a last min. executive decision! Ready to hear it ? Brace yourselves: "no laptop!". Yes ... Wisam Safi) i the computer geek going to Japan: "commando STYLE ! "

See, this is the I look at it ：
1) Why do i need the computer on a vacation? Is it to Work on a excel or powerpoint? Maybe... But how do I wanna Spend the best times or my life yet? In front of an LCD screen? So I switched my laptop with my video camera. New I look less like an engineer and more like a Tourist!

2) Ever heard of "internet Cafés? 1japan they haVe "Manga Coffees " the downside? 5 US$ per 1/2Sores hours. The Plus side :you own playstation!

Had to ensure my credit card are fully functional and ready for my grand trip !
I did some last minute shopping finished packing my clothes. Checked the weather in Colombo (it is supposed to be 29'c and rainy ? I will be having a long transit in Colombo. We are supposed to reach there by 4 .45 am and then my next flight to to T0Kyo will be at 11.45pm

I intend to visit the zoo in Colombo I get this recommendation from a guy who works with the airlines It is supposed to be fantastic As it might rain, I got me an Umbrella and as a very dear friend or mine suggested got a Japanese phrase book (thanks, Manj!)

The Srilankan Airlines

I have to say that I am impressed. And I don't get impressed easily ... those guys are good! the way they greeted us.. their check-in, and what have they just gave us? A menu?.. And not any menu...it is almost as good as a business class menu! (see photo). Another note I have found is in regards of the passengers ..(predominantly Srilankan).. they are .... quiet .. And well believed.. A nice touch.. The stewardess are very polite and soft-spoken .. And their traditional dress is very nice as well. I didn't think that it would be practical.. But it works..(ok, some of them could use less love handles ;-) maybe their men created this type of clothing so that the ladies would take their fitness more seriously?

Well.. As Arab men we have surrendered long time ago to our ladies' fatty cooking . we choose to fully cover our ladies and pray for the best.

I didn't yet try the.food and I guess it would spicy (just the way I like it :-D
I hope I would not get a special meal just because some smart employee decided to suddenly be "proactive"!

Well, guess its the time to relax a.bit over some Srilanken TV program.. :-)

Update: The have the same programs you would find on the Emirates... I watched WALL-E during the flight... 1st Class meals! 1st Class Service!

28.11.08 - SriLanka - Getting there

So, why do you wanna go to Japan?

3 things:

1) An Up-Close-and-Personal view of the Japanese People. We hear, (sometimes even too good and unbelievable) stories about the "Japan Miracle" and the teamwork, the family-business mix of the Japanese people, being able to raise to the top of the techonlogical world after being bombarded with 2x A-Bombs! then occupied by the USA till this very day! (they still have US forces over there, right?)

As an Arab, never had had 2x A-Bombs on our land... and yet we cry everyday about the "western conspiracy" against us!

2) So Why 35 days? Why not a week or two?

Surely, it is cheaper, but I am sure in a week or two the "Waw" factor will still prevail... I will never be able to spot any flaws with these people...

Sometimes, when you see the flaw of People and Cultures you Idolize, you can appreciate your own more...

I want to appreciate Dubai and Syria (especially, since we have a lot of flaws! :-P)

This is by comparing my hometown and Dubai (where I currently live)... with Japan.. and Japanese people...

See, when you see such a video as below... you start to think... what the hell?? I wanna see those people!!




3) to relax and have a vacation... (dah!) ;-)

Packing and Getting ready!

So, here I am, after more than 3 months of preparation.. 2 weeks of intensity and +25 years of dreams... I am finally a "day-after-tomorrow" close to my flight to Japan!

I am still in a state of disbelief... it is incredable how much power your thoughts can have on your time, your body and your future... I could have been spending this holiday in my home town Damascus, trying to get married ( note the word "trying"!)

But instead, I have set my destiny to travel more than half way around the globe into the Land of the Raising Sun!