Hot and Sweaty in Nam
Friday, 16. June 2006, 13:23:16
So I didn't post for a long time, not because I didn't have the time, but because I am a lazy man. So after killing a couple of weeks in Japan lounging with Noriko and thoroughly enjoying spending a lot of time together, the time finally came when I had to leave.
Off to Vietnam for 15 days of sweating. As usual, the first day of travel is a numb haze, up at dawn and still digesting last nights World Cup fuelled drinking. Perhaps the strangest atmosphere I've ever seen a game; Japan vs Australia in a crowded Japanese bar with the whole room displaying a nieve exuberance. Every time the ball went anywhere near the Australian box the room exploded, even before the game I had to run the gauntlet of fans outside checking to see if I was Australian and was eventually given the honourary status of Japanese for the day.
Japan scored a lucky goal in the first half, well one of their striker's barged the goal keeper and a cross went in. The crowd cheered the roof off when it went in but there was a real lack of sportsmanship, even when the replays showed it was a clear foul noone stopped cheering or even seemed to acknowledge that it occurred.
Australia had the bulk of possession but couldn't break fast enough, looking for all the world like a team heading for defeat if it hadn't been for the introduction of Tim Cahill. He stabbed home a rebound and then curled in a peach from the edge of the penalty area.
The atmosphere was distinctly less jovial after that I can tell you. I thought most of the crowd was going to cry. It ended as a 3-1 drubbing, oh dear.
So in bed at 2am after the game, up at 5:40am. Not feeling good. No drinks for a day or two. Well, maybe tomorrow.
To be continued...
Off to Vietnam for 15 days of sweating. As usual, the first day of travel is a numb haze, up at dawn and still digesting last nights World Cup fuelled drinking. Perhaps the strangest atmosphere I've ever seen a game; Japan vs Australia in a crowded Japanese bar with the whole room displaying a nieve exuberance. Every time the ball went anywhere near the Australian box the room exploded, even before the game I had to run the gauntlet of fans outside checking to see if I was Australian and was eventually given the honourary status of Japanese for the day.
Japan scored a lucky goal in the first half, well one of their striker's barged the goal keeper and a cross went in. The crowd cheered the roof off when it went in but there was a real lack of sportsmanship, even when the replays showed it was a clear foul noone stopped cheering or even seemed to acknowledge that it occurred.
Australia had the bulk of possession but couldn't break fast enough, looking for all the world like a team heading for defeat if it hadn't been for the introduction of Tim Cahill. He stabbed home a rebound and then curled in a peach from the edge of the penalty area.
The atmosphere was distinctly less jovial after that I can tell you. I thought most of the crowd was going to cry. It ended as a 3-1 drubbing, oh dear.
So in bed at 2am after the game, up at 5:40am. Not feeling good. No drinks for a day or two. Well, maybe tomorrow.
To be continued...
