Happy New Year!

Firstly, I would just like to wish everyone who logs on here to read about me (coz I is so important), a very succesful, joy filled and prosperous new year. It is hard to believe that I am now entering my second calendar year in Japan, time has flown by so quickly it is quite unbelievable. What do I expect from 2006? Probably the same old ding dong as last year, working hard and trying to see more of this part of the world. Hopefully, some more milestones in my life shall bear fruit, my first journalistic article (out in February folks) and the publication of the Cork Bird Report 1996-2005 which is still a concerted effort, mainly by Ciaran, Colin and Harry and myself of course. Four diligent young men giving their free time to put this book together. It is going to be superb and I am very excited about it. With some luck, other milestones shall be reached, not just for me, but for everybody. I could list off my resolutions for the year but they're all a load of b****cks in my opinion so I'm not going to do it. For example, if i said I was giving up the ciggies, many pairs of pants would be wetted from the sheer hilarity of that statement...so why bother.

Secondly, I shall tell you all what I've been up to for the last few days. Thursday night and Friday night was spent out on the town with the lads. Into Shinsaibashi on Thursday night (after finishing work at 3.30pm, it was like Christmas for us, leaving work during daylight hours), had a couple of beers over dinner and then off to a club until 5am. A bowl of Ramen to warm the bones after walking out in the freezing conditions. Slept until sometime and then out again on Friday night in Umeda to a club called Saze. A predominantly Japanese hangout (7 gaijins in amongst 700 locals!), the music was banging techno. Can you imagine me there lads? Picture it, Carmo standing on the edge of the dance floor, beer clutched in one hand, ciggie in the other and wondering when they are going to play the guitar music! It was a good night, loads of friendly locals looking at us like we were the new wildmen of Borneo brought in for their entertainment. However, the craic was mighty and the dancin was danced. At the end, a few transvestites and cross-dressers got up on stage and the place went mad. They were pretty cool. I had to run away from a mad Russian chick..not quite what I would have liked, more Matron Helga than svelte hottie. Ah well...

Didn't do a whole lot on New Years eve due to old age not allowing me to do 3 all nighters in a row so stayed in and watched a dvd, "Kingdom of Heaven". I really liked the movie and Orlando cast away his poncy performance in Troy to at least give a bit of decent acting in this one. If anyone hasn't seen it, read this article by Mr. Robert Fisk and then rent it out...interesting slant on it

Fisk's article

Anyway, I was never one for the New Years Eve pubbing/clubbing thing so it didn't bother me. Traditionally, the Japanese will go to a shrine and wait for midnight when the priests come out and ring the bell 108 times to signal the new year. Most people stay there for dawn and go home. Those who don't make it at midnight will descend on the temples/shrines on new years day.

So in true Japanese tradition, i went to Kyoto today to walk around one of the temples there, it was PACKED! MADNESS!!! It was a temple I hadn't visited before and it was amazing. Called Kiyomizu-dera, it is a World heritage site. Set in beautiful surroundings with Kyoto as a backdrop. A few girls dressed as Maiko (the Kansai version of the Tokyo Geisha) were strolling around, being photographed by everyone, not just gaijins like me. Also, we walked down the last Maiko street in Kyoto where there are a few still working. In the 1970s it would have cost a party of 4 $2500 an hour so how much would it cost now?? Mindboggling. One other thing, if you are ever in Kyoto, check out a small cafe called Organic Restaurant...fabulous!

Anyway, back home now and anticipating a day out birding to Biwa-ko tomorrow. A 5am start so hopefully we'll connect with THE eagle. Snow is forecast for the area so it will be a tad cold. The scenery should be fabulous with plenty of snow on the mountains. Hopefully I'll get some nice photos to put up for you all to see. I will also put up a new photopage on the photopage from Kyoto today.

On that note, I bid you all adieu. I hope the hangovers are not too potent today...

Carmo's diet: This week I've mostly been having time off