StS Posted March 11, 2015 Share #61 Posted March 11, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) (...) This is most likely to be my last challenge so I am keen to make it. Great to have you in. I think I can speak for all "usual suspects" when I say we hope you reconsider this. On the other hand, this will take one very strong competitor out.... (). (...) I will combine the trip with Vietnam, another of my 'want' destinations. (...) ...which has my full recommendation. Apart from the obvious points like Hanoi, Ha-Long and Saigon, I would recommend Hoi An, where traders from all over the world have created a quite unique mix of architecture. I can't share any pictures here, since I was travelling with an X20 and an XA... I'd also recommend a sleeper car ride to finish all those unread books and the experience itself. I'd go for the "soft lying class", which includes free tea. Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Hi StS, Take a look here Asia One Challenge 2015. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
DigitalHeMan Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share #62 Posted March 13, 2015 Great to see more people signing up! We will try and identify some suggested hotels/districts in the next days.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 14, 2015 Share #63 Posted March 14, 2015 That would be great Simon. Currently I am wrestling with dates, flights, locations etc. How to spread time in Japan, balanced with my desire to continue on to Vietnam afterwards. "So much to do, so little time." (apologies to Peter Sellers) Currently I look like arr. Tokyo May 18, 8:00am. Still debating dates, times etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share #64 Posted March 15, 2015 Just had a chat with Dan to discuss some of the logistics. We're conscious that we all have different travel budgets and different luxury expectations from a hotel, so rather than make a recommendation for a hotel at this point, we thought we should instead suggest a district. For Tokyo, our thought is Shinjuku - this is a fairly central district, well situated for public transport as pretty much all metro lines pass through Shinjuku station, well situated for the Narita Express train from the airport, and close to many of the good camera stores There are hotels of various comfort levels in the neighbourhood, ranging from something like the Ibis at 65 Euros per night, or Keio Plaza at 160 Euros per night, or the Hilton at around 225 Euros per night. There may also be some even cheaper hostels/capsule hotels at the lower end. Personally I always use hotels.com for my hotel bookings - they have a good selection, price guarantee, and are easy to cancel/refund hotel nights if plans change. Also they have a loyalty scheme giving you one free night for every ten you book. Happy to take other suggestions though if people think there is a better district to be situated in. Kyoto is not as large as Tokyo. Last time I was there I stayed around the main station area, and that worked well from an accessibility point of view. If people want to let me know their per night budget, either here or by PM, I am happy to look for and make a suggestion for a hotel we could all try and book at based upon the average budget, if people think that is helpful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share #65 Posted March 15, 2015 Learning from Andy B, it's probably a good idea to start a list of members who may be joining us. Looking back through the thread, I have the following: Confirmed, with arrival dates: DigitalHeMan - May 14th DanBachmann - May 17th StS - May 17th erl - May 18th christoph_d - May 23rd, joining in Kyoto Torgian - Japan based, joining in Kyoto Interest shown: farnz lanetomlane Sandokan Coriana6jp spylaw4 larsv jjohan philipus frankwaller torontoamateur Nick De Marco octo If I've missed anyone off, or if you've moved between 'interest shown' and 'confirmed', please let me know! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StS Posted March 16, 2015 Share #66 Posted March 16, 2015 (...) For Tokyo, our thought is Shinjuku (...) Sounds good to me and will make a change compared to Shinagawa, if you excuse a private joke... There are hotels of various comfort levels in the neighbourhood (...) In my impression, luxury means space, especially in Tokyo. There are also economic business hotels, which allow to reach TV and light-switches without leaving the bed and can be a challenge for european sized suitcases. Then there are traditional Ryokans, which allow for those with a adventurous spirit a glimpse into the japanese way of life. Also traditional, but more simple are Minshukus. My tip on the side is to bring one's own slippers, when bringing large feet. Japanese hotels have the same laudable tradition as British hotels to provide a kettle and tea. Voltage (110) and sockets use the same system as in the US. If people want to let me know their per night budget, either here or by PM, I am happy to look for and make a suggestion for a hotel we could all try and book at based upon the average budget, if people think that is helpful. I would be flexible here, if the group decides to go in this direction. I can live with breakfast discussions, whether Nocticron is a good name . I like to mix different levels of accomodations during a trip; since I'm staying one week longer, I can catch up later, if I have the feeling, that I have missed something. Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 17, 2015 Share #67 Posted March 17, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have provisionally booked a hotel as follows: E Hotel Higashi Shinjuku (イーホテル東新宿) Address: Shinjuku-ku, Kabukicho 2-3-15, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, 160-0021, Japan 新宿区歌舞伎町2-3-15, 新宿区, 東京都 Phone: +81352873588 GPS coordinates: N 035° 41.871, E 139° 42.431 At present, I have acted on Simon's info to source this hotel, but can change without penalty if a better arrangement materializes, either between our members or I just find a more suitable option. Work in progress. Still don't have flights booked as Melanie wants to try to make a connection from Vietnam (post Japan) to London, rather than straight home to Melbourne. I will be going straight home, my dog will be needing me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted March 17, 2015 Share #68 Posted March 17, 2015 … I will be going straight home, my dog will be needing me. My money's on it being the other way round. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 17, 2015 Share #69 Posted March 17, 2015 Pete, you know too much! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 18, 2015 Share #70 Posted March 18, 2015 Travel has never been so difficult! I have just spent 3+ Hrs with my travel agent, trying to book what I want in the way of connections. Finally got it, but airlines are b......s. Tomorrow I am taking a bottle of bubbly to my agent for persistence. She wore them (and me) down to something reasonable. I can now confirm I am actually going to arrive in Japan for the Asian One Challenge. Tomorrow I start practicing loading film. I hope the 'usual suspects' will make the effort to be there. I would like to meet with you all one more time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 18, 2015 Share #71 Posted March 18, 2015 I would love to join the party for this, but work commitments and financial constraints mean that I will not be able to do so. Which is a real shame. I'm sure you will all have a lot of fun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted March 19, 2015 Share #72 Posted March 19, 2015 I definitely will not be there! Currently am in Java for long overdue revisit to Borobodur (after 14 years)! May you all have a wonderful time! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StS Posted March 21, 2015 Share #73 Posted March 21, 2015 Sorry to hear you can't join, Andy and Brian. Thank you for the good wishes. Edit - I was hesitating to use the "thank you" button; I have the feeling, it can be ambiguous in some conditions, although the context would clarify it here... Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share #74 Posted March 22, 2015 I have provisionally booked a hotel as follows:E Hotel Higashi Shinjuku (イーホテル東新宿) Address: Shinjuku-ku, Kabukicho 2-3-15, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, 160-0021, Japan 新宿区歌舞伎町2-3-15, 新宿区, 東京都 Phone: +81352873588 GPS coordinates: N 035° 41.871, E 139° 42.431 At present, I have acted on Simon's info to source this hotel, but can change without penalty if a better arrangement materializes, either between our members or I just find a more suitable option. Work in progress. Still don't have flights booked as Melanie wants to try to make a connection from Vietnam (post Japan) to London, rather than straight home to Melbourne. I will be going straight home, my dog will be needing me. E Hotel didn't have any availability (at least not on hotels.com) so I have booked a room at Shinjuku Granbell Hotel, which is a couple of hundred meters down the road from the E hotel. Just a note - Kabukicho is the red light area of Tokyo, but the red light area in Tokyo is a lot safer than other cities, and good for street photography. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larsv Posted March 24, 2015 Share #75 Posted March 24, 2015 Dan and Simon, Thank you very much for the initiative taken and all efforts made. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it this time around, due to work obligations. I need to pay for Leica GAS related purchases and all that I wish you all save travels, an exciting and good time and look forward to lots of pics and stories here in the forum! Best regards, Lars Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted March 24, 2015 Share #76 Posted March 24, 2015 Dan and Simon, Thank you very much for the initiative taken and all efforts made. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it this time around, due to work obligations. I need to pay for Leica GAS related purchases and all that I wish you all save travels, an exciting and good time and look forward to lots of pics and stories here in the forum! Best regards, Lars Booo! Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 24, 2015 Share #77 Posted March 24, 2015 Lars, I'm really really sorry not to be having you on this trip. It will potentially be my last and I am looking forward to meeting as many of my old buddies as possible. If last minute changes allow you to change your mind, you know there will be a few free beers on the table. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larsv Posted March 25, 2015 Share #78 Posted March 25, 2015 John, much appreciated and I would like to make it. Let's see how it plays out. My wife has not been to Australia yet, so there may be another opportunity in the future..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StS Posted March 25, 2015 Share #79 Posted March 25, 2015 Sorry you can't make it, Lars, you are missing an unique experience. Thanks for the good wishes. I can fully recommend Asahi and Sapporo beer, there are certainly more good brands. Some years ago, I said it would be impossible to die of dehydration in Japan, if one has at least a 100 JPY coin (probably more now), there are drink vending machines everywhere*, in the most unlikely places. Talking about practicalities, in my experience, Japan is a country, where cash is used for most transactions. ATMs can be found, for example at post-offices, which have the (Katakana?) sign 〒. My advice would be to make sure one knows the PIN and not just the typing pattern, since the keypads have a different layout (sometimes all digits in one line). Stefan *Apologies for my strange humour, in the post-apocalyptic film I will never make, the actors will find a working drink-vending machine somewhere in a desert and conclude they are in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 25, 2015 Share #80 Posted March 25, 2015 Lars, you and your wife can be assured that Australia will welcome you both, I will see to it! Meanwhile, don't give up on Japan just yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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