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Post by Luke on Oct 20, 2014 15:55:49 GMT 10
So I just read that Japan is building a brand new model of the Shinkansen. The major differences being that it runs at 300mph and levitates above the track! It levitates using some kind of magnetic technology and has the greatest precision and speed of any train on earth. Check it out guys: www.businessinsider.com.au/japan-approves-tokai-train-2014-10I'd love a ride on this baby!
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Post by Franky on Oct 20, 2014 19:27:26 GMT 10
Australia needs to follow suit with stuff like this. We need to have a public transport system as well-organized and worthwhile the the Japanese system. Good on them for bringing this world closer to the future.
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Post by Luke on Oct 20, 2014 19:59:33 GMT 10
Yeah right, Australia will probably catch up somewhere in 2689! In Japan the future is definitely now.
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Post by Franky on Oct 27, 2014 6:35:59 GMT 10
100% legit; Australia doesn't have a super terrible public transport system but it doesn't even hold a candle to Japan's. What makes it worse is that we're a bigger country with a wider spread of people. It makes sense to have a rail system that could take us from one end of Australia to the other but I feel as though it'll never happen. I was told months ago that there was something like the bullet train planned for OZ but I doubt that was more than a rumour.
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Post by Frankie on Oct 27, 2014 19:39:54 GMT 10
Haha they have enough trouble with normal trains, I don't see a bullet train happening here any time soon! (As awesome as that would be) Have to add, the train travelling I did in Tokyo and Osaka was amazing. The services were great, we never even had to look at a timetable (beyond checking which line) and never waited more than 5-10 minutes for a train (except when we went to a small, more rural place and waited to catch an express train back to Kyoto, and even then it wouldn't have been more than 15 mins). Also, the Japanese are great with their train etiquette. I didn't get the complete bullet train experience there as it was the middle of a snow storm (which was more exciting for us anyway) so there were delays, but there's always next time!
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Post by Franky on Oct 28, 2014 16:27:46 GMT 10
A great deal of what I've heard about Japan sounds a lot like what you've just described. The people are super respectful, the transport is super punctual.
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Post by Frankie on Oct 29, 2014 18:44:48 GMT 10
Yeah, and their customer service is AMAZING. I want to go back so bad, Tokyo is the best place I've ever been ^^
(And I'm off-topic in an off-topic section haha. Sorry, but I just had to mention the above - I was blown away by how helpful and friendly everyone was, even when we hardly understood each other)
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Post by Franky on Nov 4, 2014 20:58:40 GMT 10
How many times have you been to Japan, Frankie? I can't wait to go there some day.
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Post by Frankie on Nov 5, 2014 21:45:34 GMT 10
Just once, back in February. You definitely need to go check it out
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Post by Franky on Nov 6, 2014 8:43:33 GMT 10
It sounds awesome, dood. I've always wanted to go.
I'm in the middle of saving up for a trip now so hopefully we'll get there within the next year or so.
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Post by Frankie on Nov 10, 2014 5:54:45 GMT 10
Nice! That's hopefully my plan too.
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Post by Franky on Nov 11, 2014 15:32:26 GMT 10
I'll go a cause some havoc. List of things to do while in Japan:
- Join the Yakuza - Meet a Tengu - Meet a Kappa - See a Tanuki - Become a Bancho - FIGHT a Bancho - Eventually recover from being beaten by a Bancho - Eat Onigiri - Meet Onigiri from the Anime/Manga "Air Gear"
There's much more...
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Post by Frankie on Nov 13, 2014 6:51:42 GMT 10
Haha that's quite a list! You know, there's a place in Kyoto you can get samurai lessons - Erin and I were thinking of doing that but we didn't get it organised in time. Maybe on the next trip!
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Post by Franky on Nov 14, 2014 5:32:08 GMT 10
OH! OHOOHOHOHOHOH! That's awesome!
You know, I just found out that Luke and his girlfriend, the lovely Suz, have booked their trip to Japan for next year. Congrats, you two.
Any suggestions for them, Frankie? Apart from the samurai training because, let's be honest, I'M the only one here capable of being a samurai. I mean, I'm the only one with a ponytail here.
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Post by Frankie on Nov 15, 2014 7:33:42 GMT 10
Oh wow, I'm so jealous Luke! What time of year are you going? I don't really have suggestions, a lot of our time in Tokyo was hunting down the indie music stores we love and just general things. I guess the only thing I would mention - which you probably already know but just in case you don't - is if you're looking for anime stuff, make sure you check out Nakano Broadway. Great prices (I got my Ririchiyo (Inu x Boku SS) figure for about $15 there ) and a lot quieter than Akiba. Oh, and if you do a day trip to Kyoto, don't make it a Monday. I bet you would ace those samurai lessons Frank!
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