Well Mari & I had an amazing 2 weeks in the UK as part of our Jet Set UK radio program/podcast “From UK Special” series & now it is time to jet back to Tokyo. We are both from the UK but both realized that every time we go back to the UK we discover new things & meet new people. It’s the never ending discoveries & amazing array of people that make the UK so interesting & continually exciting. Another thing I really noticed this time was the sense of freedom people have. London is such a diverse city where you have the freedom to be who you want to be & explore whatever lifestyle you want to live. This point was especially highlighted by my new Japanese friends I met in London who were really enjoying their new lives & making the most of the sense of freedom they have in the UK. Japanese people tend to feel very comfortable & welcome in the UK & this creates that sense of freedom & easy lifestyle. If you’re in Japan & have never been to the UK but are interested in travel & discovering new things I highly recommend a trip to the UK. From the traditional “afternoon tea” image of England to the amazing nature of Scotland & the diverse creativity of London you’ll find something that you’ll love. And finally you’ll meet some new people who’ll surprise you & make some new friends who you’ll never forget.. truly what traveling to another culture is all about!! Scroll down these pages & discover 20 “From UK Special” blog reports – I hope you enjoy as much as I did!!

Virgin Atlantic Airways ticket & boarding pass in hand – it’s time to jet!!

Guy & Mari “cheers to UK” at London Heathrow airport.

At LHR watching all the jetsetters & the lovely Virgin jets.

Jet trails in the skies over London.

On board Virgin Atlantic Airways you’ll discover some great in-flight entertainment & every seat has it’s own entertainment system & screen. On this flight I watched the latest James Bond film & the best part was one scene in the film where 007 was on board a Virgin Atlantic flight enjoying a quiet vodka while jetting to a glamorous location – it was a glamorous moment to watch & I was feeling very glamorous too on board my Virgin Atlantic flight!!

On board Virgin Atlantic you’ll also discover some luxurious amenities including the lovely Cow Shed spa products.

Dawn in the sky.

Winging our way & almost back in Tokyo.

Happy trip, happy flight & happy landings – we’re back at Narita & I’m ready to create some more Jet Set UK programs & share some happy moments from the UK with you!!

Coming to the end of our 2 fantastic weeks in the UK – Mari & I spend some amazing time in East London & meet some amazing people. I realize once again that the most interesting thing about traveling & experiencing new places is not the place itself but the people you meet. And when you don’t live in a city sometimes just being a transient passenger means you have the openness & freedom to talk with & meet more people at random. Click on the play button below & listen to us chat with a few people we met at random in East London. With all the amazing things London & the UK has to offer Mari & I both agree that the most special times we’ll always remember were the unplanned moments with the people we met & shared the experience with..

Tube, bus, cab or walk – East London is easy to get to & get around – off we go!!

Guy & Mari hit Spitalfields Markets, Brick Lane, Cafe 1001 & just hang out with loads of cool people on a Sunday afternoon. There’s tons to see – market stalls from flea markets to cutting edge new designers, shop if you want or just chill out & have a beer in the outdoor beer gardens, cafes, bars & pubs – listen to music from DJ’s or street musicians & watch all the amazing people having a good time..

At 23 Pitfield Street we find a little bit of Japan in the UK – CA4LA hat shop.

Furry beast, Guy & CA4LA store manager Hikaru Sagara – have a listen to why he (Hikaru not the furry beast) loves London – click on the play button below..

Japanese musician Geki – who loves living in East London – have a listen to him explain why & hear these amazing steel drums – click on the play button below..

I meet these lovely people in East London & they invite me to go paddling in their dinghy up Regents Canal on a Sunday afternoon.. err OK!!

And off we go – paddle!!

Mari on board & paddling!!

Dusk & the still waters of Regents Canal. I can’t believe we’re doing this!! Actually other people can’t believe we’re doing this either – people walking by & staring do cheer us on – it’s not everyday you get to paddle in a dinghy up a canal in the middle of London.. is this legal?

Regents Canal & bridge. We take a break from paddling, float for a while in the middle of the canal, share a bottle of wine & a giggle & paddle back to our starting point. A very fun, very random moment in East London – you just never know who you’ll meet & what adventures you’ll have.

There is now so much cool stuff going on in East London & so many people having a good time there Time Out magazine is publishing special East London guides.
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Getting ready to go out on a Saturday night in London & listening to the radio. Here’s some random radio dial hopping with the pirate stations (& a few others in-between) from Saturday night & the Sunday morning after. Click on the play button below to listen..

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Click on the play button below & have a listen to an interview with Paul Tunkin the man behind Blow Up club & record label in London. Blow Up is a weekly event of orgasmic, mod, soul, pop, new wave action (!!) at Bar Rumba, 36 Shaftesbury Ave, Soho every Saturday night.
For details about Blow Up club please check
http://www.blowup.co.uk/club/
For details about Blow Up record label please check
http://www.blowup.co.uk/

Blow Up compilation album Exclusive Blend Volume 1.

Blow Up compilation album Exclusive Blend Volume 2.

Paul Tunkin.
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