So because Japan has decided to throw all natural tragedies into a big pot and stir them, we have decided to leave Nihon til next time. The Earthquakes weren’t worrying us, the volcanos didn’t concern us, the tsunami was getting a little worrying, however, although I would have paid good money to be turned into a superhero, I just couldn’t be sure that the gamma radiation would do to me as it did Bruce Banner.

Such a shame as Kam and I were really looking forward to the following:

• Onsens – chilling in Hot Springs
• Sushi
• Matsuya – Pork and Ginger bowl
• Seeing a Nova free Tokyo
• Chilling out in our hood
• Drinking station beers at Ebisu station!
• And of course all of the awesome Japanese people, with thier crazy gadgets, Engrish and wacky dress sense.

So, as if we hadn’t had enough of natural disasters, we have opted to travel to New Zealand instead of Japan. No we aren’t replacing Fukushima with Christchurch, we are heading up north to Auckland, and just driving around to the Bay of Islands, Rotorua and getting a brief taste of New Zealand.

This detour means that we simply replace Japan with NZ and we re-join our trip in Hanoi. It’s getting close!