How was 2006?

Well, 2006 could have been better in a lot of ways…but I DID do a lot of travel this year! I resolved at the beginning of 2006 to “go places I’ve not been before” and for the most part, I think I achieved that.
March 2006:
First visit to Australia; Sydney and the Hunter Valley. My first experience at backwards weather and driving on the wrong side of the road…

Different view of the Sydney Opera House
August 2006:
First visit to Nikko (world heritage site), Matsumoto (old castle and world’s biggest wasabi farm) and to Koenji (for the Awa-odori). Just some of the sites you’ll see if you make the effort to GET OUT OF TOKYO! I’m going to try to make it to Koenji each summer, schedule permitting from now on.

Awa-odori!
First extended visit to Kuala Lumpur and various parts of Malaysia. Surprisingly compact central city, best siu-yuk I’ve had in my life and a bargain vacation spot. Yup, that’s KL.

Street snack in Klang
November 2006:
First visit to Taiwan and to Taipei. Definitely on my “return visit” list to sample more nightlife (Luxy anyone?), food and to explore the rest of the island via High Speed Rail. Taipei to Kaohsiung in 90 minutes? Waaaaaaah!
Of cors that didn’t mean that I didn’t revisit some of my favourite cities on earth and visit places there that i’ve not been to yet!
On my last visit to Hong Kong, I discovered new restaurants, new bars and lounges and the joys of staying up all night to save HK$300 cab fare! How about Singapore? Meeting new frens, staying in new places and eating, eating and drinking! Each time I go back there it’s like meeting an old fren for the first time all over again. Ah yes, and that philosophy applies in triplicate each time I return to Tokyo!
Some places that I’d like to check out in 2007.
Hawaii: Yes, i’ve never done Hawaii properly. Yes, I know it’s closer to SFO than New York is. Enough!
Taiwan: It’s not just Taipei, ya know!
Thailand: Maybe not right away, but eventually…
Eastern Europe: Cold weather but supposed to be affordable and fun
Scandinavia: Like Eastern Europe, except not that affordable…
Japan: north of the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. That means places like Akita, Takayama, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and the like.
Australia: How about the rest of the country outside of Sydney?
Aside from the usual resolutions (eat better, lose 20 lbs, destroy my enemies), these are the places that I’d like to see this year. Wonder how many i’ll be able to check off the list next year?