Big in Japan

2 weeks of vacation should be restful right? Well, not when you are lugging way too much luggage all over the land of the rising sun. I used to pride myself on my ability to "pack light." However, packing for this trip at 6 am (after working at the office until 1:30 am), when super shuttle was supposed to be at my apartment at 7 am was not the best idea. I packed way too many t-shirts (forgetting that weather.com had predicted only mildly warmer temps in Japan), a sufficient amount of underwear, somehow brought along a copy of the Metro newspaper, forgot my first aid kit (this is important) and forgot to bring the charger for my ipod. After 14 hours on the most cramped and crowded United flight ever, we landed in Tokyo, Narita intl. airport.

Brief synopsis:

5 days in Tokyo -- crazy, clean, packed with people
3 days in Kyoto -- serene, clean, packed with temples and shrines
3 days in Osaka -- not too crazy, but still saw some pimps and prostitutes
1 day in Nara -- pampered in a ryokan (a traditional japanese inn)
1 day in Miyanoshita/Hakone -- failed attempt to see Mt. Fuji

+ side trips to Kobe and Himeji

Total: one fantastic (yet exhausting) vacation

One of the best parts about Japan. . . I was taller than almost all of the women and even some of the men.

More details on my international excursion to follow...