Friends

First proper day of my holiday has been spent with friends. Sushi lunch with an old family friend in Osaka followed by soba noodle dinner with one of the most fascinating people I have met since arriving in Japan.

George has been in Kobe for over 30 years, married late in life to a lovely Japanese woman and on first meeting comes across as a rather eccentric academic. Once he relaxes, you discover his combined passion for political history and travel photography. He has the most amazing photographs and stories from travels across Africa by land rover (top to bottom over 3-4 months,) camping in the Afghan mountains to photograph tribal communities and several treks through the Middle East and the Indian sub continent. All done in the late 1950's and early to mid 1960's. Not interested in publishing travel writings, but if he did I am sure they would be a best seller.

(The noodle place is really lovely - we were just early - honest!!)

I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list.
Susan Sontag