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Japan's winter

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First stop in south Japan, Koga ( 古賀市 ). Koga is a city near Fukuoka on the Kyushu island. Before enjoying my vacation, I need to help my mother clean the old family house. The place is full of stuff accumulated throughout the years by my aunt. It's a lot of work but it's also nostalgic to see old memories from my childhood summer vacations. It's still winter in south Japan with temperatures between 0 and 15 degrees Celsius. It was even snowing ! Since most of the houses and apartments in Japan have poor insulation it can be as cold inside as outside (sometimes even colder inside). To stay warm, we all gather in the living room where we have a heather. But spring is coming ! The first cherry blossoms are already blooming. First cherry blossom. Miyajidake shrine (宮地嶽神社 )

Start

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Rough idea of the path I want to take. I decided to quit my job. Before starting a new one I will travel for a few months. I will fly from Switzerland to New Zealand (with a stop in Japan to see my mother and visit the country with some friends). From the land of the kiwis I will try to go home without using the plane. Why ? Because I want to take my time and appreciate the places I am visiting. The slow pace of the terrestrial and maritime transport is perfect for this kind of trip. Plus I love to see the landscape change when you're on a train, bus or boat. The biggest challenges will be: Finding a boat to cross from New Zealand to Australia. Finding a boat to cross from Australia to Asia (Indonesia). Obtaining a Chinese visa. Obtaining a Russian visa.