Kansai Airport - Last Post from Overseas!

Hey Everyone!

Airport shopping in Japan leaves much to be desired (I am now without a japanese magent for Mum and sweets for David and Matthew) so I've decided to post instead!

Looking forward to just getting on the plane now and heading home - it will be nice to spend more than a few nights in one place again! Getting the train out of Osaka was easy enough this morning, but it was absolutely jam-packed at the station. It seems everyone opts to commute by train here! And there was loads of people wearing white masks over their noses and mouths, something I've noticed a lot in Japan. My phrasebook tells me this is a sign that the perpetrator has a cold or hayfever and does not wish to spread germs. I'd have thought it had something to do with the pollution here.

The train ride was ok, but the smog over Japan as we left the mainland over the bridge to the island airport was really horrible. You couldn't even see past the coast. I can't explain it cos I've never seen anything like it. It made me feel extremely concerned about the sort of air I've been breathing whilst being here.

Anyway, I must go and catch my flight as we'll be boarding soon. I'm not really looking forward to twelve and a half hours of sitting down - especially since I've just maxed out on beef noodles and strawberry pockys for breakfast!

I think I'll go and have a last hunt in the shops first, just to make sure! See you in Blighty soon!