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Losing time in Japan/England

Chavez Ravine

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I was just messing around uploading photos onto the photo album section of this blog, (check the Yamaguchi album,) and listening to the latest Ry Cooder album. And wow. What an album, I had to post a little something about it.

Entitled 'Chavez Ravine', its inspired by the true story of a Latin American community in LA illegally evicted from their homes, which were subsequently bulldozed to make way for a new baseball stadium. Ah, viva American equality! The fact that they built a baseball stadium makes the story even sadder. Click here for the full story.

But what a small price to pay for such an incredible album, breathtaking stuff. A lot of it is simply arranged, which gives the songs space to breathe resulting in a rich, relaxed vibe. Ry Cooder, what a legend, brings the Buena Vista Social Club out of obscurity just before they all descend into senility and now he drops a solo album of equal quality. Not all on his lonesome mind, he's drafted in some of his allstar mates to back him up but this really is Ry's show. Check out The Guardian's review, buy yourself a copy, or 'preview' it by using BitTorrent before all your mates tell you how good it is.

Couchsurfing

As for news about me, I've got a New Year holiday from the 27th of December to the 7th of January, when I plan to explore Tokyo or Osaka. Unfortunately no Christmas holiday again for me this year because my ill spirited employers are Japanese and have no concept of multiculturalism. Anyway, looks like I'm going to try out couchsurfing for the first time. For those of you who don't know that site you have to check it out. Really great idea for travelling, hook up on the website, make sure they're kosher by checking out what other people who've stayed with them have said and then crash at their place for free and enjoy having someone who's a local guide! Definitely using this for all my future travel, if not for somewhere to stay just to find someone who knows about the area I'm going to.

Over and out

1 year 2 months 2 weeksYatai - Eating, drinking and sleeping on the street

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