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Thailand is back open for foreign tourists

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After two years, Thalailand is fully open for international travellers.

The country has seen most of its famous landmarks closed to tourists, but it now looks as though the country is ready to welcome tourists with open arms.

Before April 2022, the requirement for international tourists was that they needed to show a negative PCR test before arrival. However, this can be done and it is necessarily required to get ‘Thailand Pass’. All applicants using the ‘Test and Go Scheme’ must upload several documents to apply for Thailand Pass QR Code. (a copy of passport / insurance certification with a minimum coverage of USD 20,000 / vaccination certificate / the payment confirmation of SHA Extra+ hotels which also includes the receipt of a pre-paid COVID-19 RT-PCR test on day 1, ATK self-test on day 5-6 and airport transfer.) Plus, all tourists are required to upload their RT-PCR and ATK self-test results to the Thailand Travel Pass app (called ‘Morchana’). https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thaialert.app&hl=en_GB&gl=US

It’s great to be back!

(According to official information, tourists will get ATK self-test instead of RT-PCR after arrival from May 2022. The price for tests will be reduced).

The beautiful Royal Cliff Beach Resort

We spent one night in the government approved quarantine hotel, and after that we were free to travel to Pattaya. As you can see, the hotel was comfortable and didn’t present any hardship.

The comfortable bed where we spent a single night of quarantine before we were free to travel in Pattaya.

Airlines have seen increased booking to the country and flights are expected to increase for the summer season. https://www.thaiairways.com/

The resort we stayed in in Pattaya was doing a good trade and we are happy to announce that mask-wearing was not enforced, even in the busy nightclubs.

One of the many bars doing a roaring trade, in post-Covid Pattaya.

This time I visited was Songkran which is one of the most famous festivals in the world. The airlines and hotels have seen increased booking to the country and they are expected to increase for this season. I’ve expected many activities throughout Thailand (especially Sprinkling water!!) but it stopped because of pandemic. The festival usually involves some pretty wild water fights – with people getting crazy – but it was not allowed this year.

I Stayed at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya, and Cape Dara Beach Front Resort. There were few foreigners stayed, mostly local people celebrated Thai New Year.

We Stayed at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya, and Cape Dara Beach Front Resort. https://www.royalcliff.com/

I participated in a salsa club in Pattaya

I’ve visited here 4 years ago before the pandemic. The streets were so crowded; full of tourists and most shops were busy day and night, but I could see some stores were ruined because of the shutdown order that was issued due to COVID-19.

You can see how people have ignored the rules on mask-wearing.

The resorts we stayed in Pattaya were doing a good trade and I am happy to announce that mask-wearing was not enforced, even in the busy nightclubs. It looks like the care-free travel days of the pre-covid era are becoming a reality again.

Article idea by Puruna Jo. Photography by Puruna Jo.

For more information on planning a trip to Thailand, visit Fanclub Thailand. https://fanclubthailand.co.uk/

Travel

Chessington World Of Adventures: is it a good day out?

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Billed as Britain’s Wildest Adventure , Chessington is a theme park and zoo combined! It has millions of visitor each year and is one of the famous parks owned by Merlin There are many good things about the park so explaining why it’s so popular is not difficult. But first, a quick guide to the park for those who haven’t taken the trip yet.

Situated in a town in south west London, Chessington aims to provide a fun day out for the family, with several themed sections (or lands) of the park that combine rides with animal enclosures and even special performances throughout the year! The park was opened as a home for exotic animals in the 1930s, and was a zoo up until the first ride opened in 1991. Now it is home to some twenty rides, some quite fast whereas others are for smaller children and less exciting.

Over the years as the rides have increased but the animals have continued to provide interest for all visitors. The safari ride, Journey into Africa is still a big draw. There is now a four star hotel for guests who want to make a longer break in the park.

Arriving at the park, most visitors will come to the large carparks that bring them to the Adventure point. The park is divided into themed areas, all of which have their own distinctive look and feel. Although the park has a lot of branding, it feels slightly less co-ordinated than when it was a different place in the nineties. the arrival of the room in the broom tie-in experience shows that the park has been able to make a deal with the publishers for the characters of the story.

What used to be the Bubbleworks is now a Gruffalo Ride, which is very much aimed at younger children. The park’s famous Vampire ride still takes pride of place, although seems to have less in terms of fear than it used to as the ride has seen more scary rides eclipse it.

Mexicana

Now we come to one of the best areas of the park. Taking a cue from the Wild West, the area has some cool stylings in the buildings that look like colourful storehouses and cantinas. There are two good rides here. The Rattlesnakes (a cart style ride that has a rickety looking track) and a runaway Train ride ‘Scorpion Express’. The area of the park manages to incorporate food offerings in a more subtle way; Tortilla restuarant sits in the centre of the area, giving you a view of the rides whether you sit in or out. There are even some jars of animal skeletons, and some animatronic figures by rattlesnakes that add to the carnivalesque atmosphere.

The Forbidden Kingdom

Just as you leave Mexicana, you will see the new Croc Ride. The jaws of the crocodile open to allow the vertical ride to drop the riders down to the depths. This was previously Rameses Revenge. Some would say that the new ride is not in the same league. True, it doesn’t have the same fear factor, it simply drops from the same position. however, the ride gives a great 360 view of the entire park, and uses some Egyptian curse ideas to give it some stylistic grounding in the area. Another ride that some love is Tomb Blaster! It’s a more immersive ride that takes place entirely indoors. Riders are given laser style GUNS and must ‘blast’ various targets. As a dark ride it could have been more scary but it’s a little too family friendly for that. Overall, the forbidden kingdom has some nice touches but it’s not the most enjoyable section of the park.

Wild Asia/land of the tigers.

Here we come to my favourite section of the park! The area was once known as ‘Beanoland’ but it has been completely revamped to look like jungle India and Thailand. It looks particularly fitting when you visit on a hot day – the grey concrete buildings reflect the sunlight – helping to create a sense of the exotic. The three big rides are all worth visiting. First, head to Monkey Swingers, the carousel style swing seat ride has some vertigo inducing moments as the seats ride into the air – and you can feel the wind blow towards you when you kick out your seat. Kobra is a nice ride that is very smooth – taking you back and forth on a rotating disc in the shape of a giant snakes head. But nothing can beat the Land of the tigers and Tiger Rock. The most spacious area is home to the superb log ride which goes through the tiger’s enclosure, hence the name! you can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet here as you walk past the streams and Chinese style bridge. My only complaint is that the area doesn’t offer any Chinese food. Some noodles, dumplings or fried rice would tie in nicely with the oriental theme, and offer something far more varied than the current food offerings.

Is it worth a visit?

Yes, we feel that, given the amount of activities in the park, it is worth going to at least once. Chessington is not a cheap day out, and it’s very commercial. It can seem as though every part of the park is designed to take money out of your pocket. You can save money by doing the following: arrive by public transport, saving petrol and car park fees. Bring your own food and drink. There is nothing to stop you from taking a packed lunch, and Chessington has a picnic area near the car parks. If you do visit a restaurant, Tortilla would be my pick. The food is good quality, and you get a good serving, as well as a nice seating area.

Caution

Some of the downmarket clientele at the park.

We love Chessington. but we have noticed that it tends to attract a somewhat downmarket clientele. Some may think that you need to wear a tracksuit and have tattoos covering your face and neck to fit in. That’s true for many, but not everyone here is like that. If you feel that it’s going to be a problem by all means you can avoid the park. But you will be missing a lot of the innocent fun of the theme park. https://www.chessington.com/

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How to kiss a girl in a way that she has never been kissed before

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The first kiss doesn’t need to be perfect; however, its shouldn’t be bad. An impeccable timing, a great environment, perfect movements, and subtle gestures create an ideal kiss. How to kiss a girl? Before I provide you with the ways to make a perfect kiss, you must ensure the timing. It would be best if you weren’t too quick to kiss a girl into a relationship but be sure not to do it too soon. Ensure the timing is right and that your girl does not stop the kiss. When you’re certain, this is the case, apply the best way to do it and make her want more.

Get Ready

If you’re hoping to get kissed, make sure that your mouth is suitable for kissing. Before leaving home, make sure you stop at the bathroom and get your mouth ready. Make sure to clean your teeth in order to eliminate any leftovers from your lunch and freshen up your breath. A bit of mouthwash is never a bad thing either. Women love men with beards, but they don’t want their mouths full of beards when they get the kiss.

Remove your beard of any stray hairs, and make sure that you don’t have any hanging on your lips. Manage the tangle using beard oil and observe as your hands float up for an experience. Make sure that your lips feel soft and moisturized by applying balm to your lips. Nothing can hinder a kiss more than chapped, dry lips. It is the best way to make kissing much more pleasurable for both of you.

Make Your Lips Nice, Soft, And Kissable

Lips with cracks are not just unpleasant, and they also cause irritation or discomfort to your kissee’s lips. If your lips appear dry or chapped, take a moment to moisturize them. It’s not necessary to overdo it, but be sure to do a quick examination before your date. This will help you significantly how to lead up to it.

It’s probably a good idea to avoid using perfumed lip balms as a girl typically doesn’t expect her man’s lips to smell vanilla, strawberry, or peach. But, it’s certainly not the most unpleasant thing that could happen and may cause some conversations after the kiss.

Make Sure She Wants To Kiss You

The process of obtaining permission to kiss someone isn’t an option lightly, and it is what a girl likes, considering kissing someone else’s body can be very uncomfortable (which is why it’s thrilling). If it’s done correctly, everybody has a wonderful time. So, how do you obtain permission? There are two methods to get permission: that is to ask her in your own words to kiss them. Another is to determine from their body language if they are interested in being kissed before “offering” one to them.

Use Your Hands

If you are bending your head to hug your girl and you get the kisses returned gracefully, the hands should be involved in making the experience more enjoyable. Keep her close to let her know that you are the person you want to be with and remain in the proper posture, and gently rub her shoulders as well as her face and body or perhaps hold her in your arms when you are both standing in a seated position. This can elevate the experience to the next stage. This is how she wants to be kissed by a man.

Do not be the guy who kisses too hard and intimately. Body intimacy is essential in a kiss, particularly when you feel that you want to be intimate and not just a normal kiss but rather be soft when you do it. The neck, below her jawbone, beneath the earlobe, around the nose tip, collarbone, as well as forehead and shoulder are other important areas to kiss a girl. Or gently kiss with your soft palms while placing your lips on hers.

Conclusion

Now you are able to kiss with confidence and how to begin your kissing journey and attract a girl’s attention as you go about it. But knowing how you can kiss someone is only half the challenge. It is essential to practice and practice it. Therefore, go ahead and approach someone you love, have a try at flirty with her, and begin to make your way into the kissing scene!

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Madison Beer Life Support Tour

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After waiting seven years, Madison released her album Life Support in 2021.. .Although the album has had mixed responses from critics, it’s clear from watching the 23 year old live that there Is more to her than just a social media personality. The star gave a personal, yet melodramatic performance full of heartbreak and some sexuality, that was truly adored by her largely teenage fanbase.

The singer’s set design included an LED frame to allow the singer to be transported across the stage. For the first song BABY, Madison leaned forward in the frame and was backed by two dancers who were wearing similar tight bustier style lace outfits.

The lighting was neon blues and pinks that sometimes made it hard to see the singer. And there was plenty of drama from the projected imagery, some of it using video footage form her songs, and printed lyrics that were shown as diary entries.  Most of the songs came from her major album release, Life Support. The opening number was BABY, which had the crowd belting out the sexually confident lyrics. Stained glass was so powerful, and the singer came into her own on that track, really exuding a rock -star stage presence. Another major track was the moving ‘Reckless’. How could you be so Reckless with my heart? The singer cried , yet as the song reached its finale she was more vengeful, inviting the audience to sing the line ‘I hope you both go to hell.’

What else? There was the futuristic sounding ‘Follow the White Rabbit’; the singer performed it with a rabbit ear gesture. The song ‘Boyshit’, surely one of her best, was near the end. There were so many perfect moments: the songs from the album that mean so much to her fans were all breathlessly belted out by the crowd. They are mostly three minutes or less – here the signer used a background track instead of her band; there was no doubting the signer’s power and vocal range. The concert finished with a beautiful eruption of white confetti. And then the signer was gone, but she lighted the audience by coming out on stage to dance along to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now.

We are witnessing a genuine new talent.

Travel

QUEENS SKATE DINE BOWL – why I love it

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A short video I made showining ice-skating rink at Queensway

Get your Skates on!

The Skating rink at Queens is a funky and cool place, partly because it brings out everyone from dating couples, young people, kids, and elders. Although there is an image of skating and bowling as being a bit downmarket, it’s not really the case in the Queens skate dine bowl.

The location helps give it some class. Next to Queensway tube, West London, the area is next to some of the biggest consulates, as well as nearby Kensington Palace. The venue does get some idiots, mainly rough kids from some of the housing estates. On the other hand, you will see many young Chinese women, and Asians of other countries (something to do with ice-skating being seen as an acceptable past time). Have a look at the video, and you’ll see what I mean.

Booking a session

The website tells you that you need to pre-book, so that you can guarantee a slot. It’s not something that was a problem for me, and I did it using the website. Over 12’s pay 11.50 per hour, plus skate hire. I noticed many of the more experienced skaters had come with their own skates.

What’s on the menu?

It’s burgers, wings, and other comfort food. The company has partnered up with Meat Liquor to serve burgers, wings and Mac & cheese. It must be said that this is miles away from the kind of cardboard junk food that we can all remember eating on visits to the leisure centre after a swim in the community pool.

Can I have a drink?

Yes, most definitely. The bar serves some impressive-sounding cocktails, such as ‘Fallen Angelita’ and ‘New Cross Negroni’, you will find milkshakes and craft beer as well. Everything has been done with the utmost care and attention to detail. You could quite happily come here just for a drink, not using the ice-rink or bowling alleys.

Final Verdict

Queens Skate is a fantastic venue. The design, particularly the neon-lit ice-rink, is something I haven’t seen anywhere else. Staff are trained to help nervous skaters, you can book lessons and there are DJs playing some nights. I can’t think of a better activity to do in London during the holidays, so take my advice and book a session.

Japan, Travel, Uncategorized

Rob in Japan’s Guide to Kumamoto

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On the Southern island of Kyushu,Kumamoto is a city in Japan. It’s mostly rural and there are many beautiful sights to visit. Most people who have heard about the city know about the Kumamoto Bear, a mascot created to draw tourists to the region when the Shinkansen opened in 2010.

‘Kumamon’ bear, the mascot for the Island of Kyushu.

This loveable character has been seen countless times, thanks to free licensing rights that mean the image can be used as long as it promotes the area, and in fact the bear is the most popular mascot in Japan.

Some souvenirs from Kumamoto Prefecture.

You can buy all kinds of snacks for souvenirs in the shops. As it is for other cities, everything is impressively packaged and the service is first class, as you would expect.

Mount Kinbo

The mountain in Kumamoto is an extinct caldera volcano; it still smokes but does not erupt. It’s perfect for a day of sightseeing!

Kumamoto Castle

Considered to be one of three most important castles in Japan. In truth, it looks the same as any castle you will find all over Japan.

Food

Kumamoto is famous for ramen. It’s not as greasy as Hokkaido ramen, and includes sliced garlic and sesame oil.

Kumamoto Ramen

Getting there

Fly to Fukuoka, the largest city in the region, and travel by bus or train to Kumamoto.

Films, Japan

Drive my Car Review

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How the film diverges from the book, whilst keeping some things the same.

Published as part of a short story collection, Drive My Car is one of Murakami’s finest short stories. But it’s not particularly dramatic, strange, or interesting. Nothing would suggest that it would make a particularly cinematic film. But here we are, with  the most critically acclaimed  Imternational film of the year, and now the winner of Best Foreign Film.

The short story

Taking the title of the short story form a Beatles story, the main character is another Murakami proxy. He’s introduced as a widower, and his wife is mentioned as being someone he was in love with but perhaps thtere were things about him that he never understood. Then there is an actor who had an affair with the wife right up until she died. Finally, the third main character is the driver. These characters appear in the same form in the film, more or less. But the film adds several characters who don’t exist in the book. Instead of the book’s limited dramatis personae environment, the film goes for a more expanisive cast that is closer to the previous works of the firector rather than the Murakami story.

The wife is wonderfully played in the film; a mixture of eroticism, sadness and strength by Reika Kirishima. We see that she loves her husband very much. And we know this before the scene where the main character accidentally finds her making love with another man. Yet the film  makes this revelation somehow boring and not as surprising as it should have been; leaving us to wonder if the man had always believed that his partner was unfaithful.

Both book and film make it clear that the main character was waiting for his wife to explain her infidelity, but she dies the same evening. I thought that the film hinted that her death was a suicide, but  later we’re told that she had a cerebral heamorrhage. This could have been caused by a blunt object to the head – yet the film never looks at the possibility of her being murdered, or that it could have been a suicide. The absence of the wife is a massive part of the book. Yet the character in the film shows less regret than we would believe possible for one who has lost their partner of twenty years.

The book largely uses conversations between the driver and director to reveal what happened when he struck up a  friendship with the actor his wife had an affair with. These are some of the best parts of the story – tense, exciting, and we don’t know where the story will turn next. Yet these conversations aren’t even used in the film. It’s an example of why Murakami has always presented such a challenge to directors adapting his works for the screen. The character’s internal monologues in the first person are what gives the writing its power – but this is difficult to translate to a visual medium.

The actor is presented as a rather timid man who is attractive to the women without having any strong characteristics. He’s more of a threat in the book and his outbreaks of violence are easier to accept, especially as they are grounded in alcoholism.

I can’t say that this film has done a bad job of adapting the story. In some ways it’s very original – it borrows some details from other stories in the same collection and it works. A lot of the stories that the wife tells him come from Scheherazade in the same collection – and Hamaguchi manages to interpolate these within the story of Drive my Car without losing the cohesion of the narrative.

Yet it doesn’t have the mysterious Murakami quality you get from reading the book. What the film does have that the book doesn’t – is a powerful scene where the actor/director is comforted by a Korean-signing actress who tells him to carry on living, it could and should have been the ending. Yet the film ends with the driver now living on Korea but driving Yusuke’s red Saab. It’s an oddly flat ending that really lacks an emotional catharsis that the film had led us to expect. The film has found favour with critics who found something more in the film than I did. It’s said to show another side of Japan, and is even being touted as a tourist advertisement. Yet the film shows very few famous landmarks that we would expect to see. Perhaps this is inevitable from a film that wants to focus on the banal reality at the expanse of any wonder. Yet it’s an oddly cold, uninvolving film, and it’s not been a success in Japan, with people largely ignoring it for bigger homegrown films such as Demonslayer.

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Planning the Perfect trip to Japan

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The Most Beautiful Things to Do in Japan While You Are on Your Holiday!

Years of travel and study would be required to fully comprehend the Japanese people’s culture.

In this article, I’d like to assist you in deciding what should not be missed on a trip to Japan in order to fully immerse yourself in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Here are some of the things to do in Japan, in no particular order:

1. Attend A Matsuri

Matsuri, or Japanese festivals (generally Shinto), can be found in all cities of Japan and are very common as they mark the various changes in the climate, or pay homage to a historical, cultural anniversary, or may indicate a rite of passage (like the age of majority), or they can still represent a popular or Shintoist belief.

These are always colorful and cheerful parties that take over the city and involve a large number of people. During Matsuri, you can often find stalls of traditional food and sweets in the city, filling the festive streets with their delectable aroma.

 2. Sleep In A Ryokan

The Ryokan are traditional Japanese hotels where the rooms with tatami floors have a table in the center where you can eat sitting on a pillow and where the futon, the Japanese bed that is placed on the tatami at night, is stored in the closet (by the maid )

https://www.booking.com/region/jp/mount-fuji.html?

3. See Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is not just any mountain; it is the highest peak in Japan (3776 m) and is considered sacred by the Japanese.

Those who want to admire the view and take some nice photos can hike up to the fifth Kawaguchiko station, which is 2305 meters above sea level, and then take the bus back.

According to a Japanese proverb, “Whoever climbs Mount Fuji once in a lifetime is wise; who climbs it twice is a fool.”

https://www.titantravel.co.uk/holidays/essence-of-japan-tour?infinity=ict2~net~gaw~ar~590134498449~kw~mount%20fuji%20tours~mt~e~cmp~Non-Brand%20-%20Asia~ag~Generic&gclid=CjwKCAjw682TBhATEiwA9crl3-enWvabnWTpRs5RPvQQmgf5pFakiNTcFyr-cR-3jAIb2NLtSHW9ZxoCLwIQAvD_BwE

4. Go To A Maid Cafe 

Entering one of these coffee shops is an all-Japanese experience to try.

These establishments are mostly found in Akihabara, and the waitresses, dressed in Victorian attire, are there to serve the customer in all aspects, thus impersonating the role of the devoted “maid” who will not fail to surprise you with a few touches of “magic,” thanks to the almost enchanted atmosphere of the internal environment.

https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/maidreamin-maid-cafe-in-akihabara/21398

5. Attend A Sumo Meeting

Sumo is Japan’s national sport, and I am confident that witnessing a match of this hand-to-hand combat dating back to the 6th century will be an adventure to remember.

The Sumo Tournaments, also known as hon-basho, are held only in the odd months, six times a year, and last 15 days. A meeting can be held in Tokyo in January, May, and September, as well as in Osaka in March, Nagoya in July, and Fukuoka in November.https://trulytokyo.com/how-to-buy-tickets-for-a-tokyo-sumo-match/

6. Going To An Onsen

Onsen is Japanese for “thermal spring,” and the country has over 3000 of them. The Japanese bathing tradition dates back to ancient times and has almost sacred significance.

After a long day at work, the Japanese prefer to relax in a hot tub, especially if it is a thermal spring, which has even more beneficial effects on body and mind.

https://dogo.jp/en/

7. Attend A Geisha / Maiko Show

The geisha (or geiko, in the Kyoto dialect) is one of many images that come to mind when we think of Japan, as it embodies Japanese beauty and art, with precious kimonos, elegant and precise gestures, musicality, traditional ceremonies and dances.

The geisha is an artist with various skills (singing, music, conversation, etc.) whose job it is to entertain clients in tearooms called ochaya in the evenings.https://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-geisha

8. Visit The Most Beautiful Hotels 

Japan is a very beautiful country and there are a lot of places to stay while you are on vacation.

Please see below some of the most comfortable hotels to stay: 

  1. Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
  2. The Okura,https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/japan/park-hyatt-tokyo/tyoph?src=corp_lclb_gmb_seo_tyoph Tokyo
  3. Park Hyatt Tokyo
  4. Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo
  5. Conrad Tokyo
  6. Tokyo Station Hotel
  7. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
  8. Aman Tokyo
  9. Hoshinoya Tokyo

9. Going To A Neko Cafe 

If you miss your pets that have been left at home, or if you simply adore cats and want to spoil someone, you can visit a Neko Cafe (or in Japanese neko kissa), where a feline colony awaits you in one of the many cafes scattered throughout Japan.https://www.kanpai-japan.com/travel-guide/neko-cafe-cat-experience

10. Go To A Love Hotel

Confidentiality is well known in Japan, but contrary to popular belief, the Japanese are not cold, despite the fact that it is impolite to show effusions in public. In fact, the Japanese are just as passionate as the Westerners in private, but they prefer to show it away from prying eyes.

Love hotels, which can be simple or themed, are popular in Japan. Sometimes, they can be booked for as short a period as 1 hour. But to make the most of it, you should spend a night in one of the adult love hotels. Baths, sex toys and pornographic films come as standard. Not to mention condoms, of course.https://www.agoda.com/hotel-fine-garden-matsuyama-free-parking-adult-only/hotel/matsuyama-jp.html?cid=1844104

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How Battle Royale became the ultimate Japanese teen film

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Films about teenagers make up the bulk of Japanese cinema in the nineties, The period between puberty and adulthood is even more romanticised than in America. Yet at the end of the century one film came out that was to change the face of Japanese cinema and bring about new Asian influence in American cinema.

Battle Royale managed to subvert the typical high school film by giving the youngsters a panoply of weapons. The idea of children turning feral goes back to `lord of the Flies’ in literature, but ‘Battle Royale’ was more shocking in showing the teenagers still wearing their school uniforms while massacring each other.

Directed by Fukasu, battle Royale turned out to be the last film of a director best known in the west for directing ‘Battles Without Honor and Humanity’. HE managed to achieve a film that was far more successful than he could ever have imagined. Certainly, it was helped by having a great starring role from Takeshi Kitano, and a very charismatic cast of actors.

The violence was incredibly well-choreographed, stylish and sometimes beautiful, and it was set to the backdrop of the standards of classical music. By the time it came to be released in the US, fears of the film inciting another school shooting were enough for it to be delayed indefinitely, and when it was finally released, people were watching the Hunger Games, sometimes not aware of how much that film had borrowed from Battle Royale.

Yet it’s Battle Royale that has had a much stronger cultural legacy, with the film as highly regarded now as it was on its first release in the year 2000.

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