I took this photo of the amazing roof at Charles de Gaulle Airport whilst waiting for my transfer to the plane to Japan.

Despite it being cloudy, the views from the Japan office still give a greate impression of what the city is like!

A second view from the office. You can see the Olympic Tower to the right of the river. (I took this picture from the Arco tower, which I misheard as Olympic tower. That chimney is a plastic bottle recycling centre :*) )

Sheltering from the rain under the 'Chouchin' at Sensouji temple. It rained hard all day, but it was still busy here because the Japanese know to come prepared with umbrellas!

Yoshko and Martin, my hosts, in front of a typical shop near the temple. The shops sold everything from shoes to bags to fans and chopstics - great for picking up a souvenir or two!

We stopped for delicous noodles. Everything is prepared and cooked freshly in the small crowded tent!

A five-teir pagoda near the temple.

This statue of Buda looks like it's crying. Martin, who is a photographer, noted that when it rains you see things differently. He said that coulours become saturated.. And then pardoned the pun!

Martin quickly adjusts his camera

I experimented with a slow shutter speed selection on my camera and obtained a nice effect of movemente

These fish are a little koi...

I think these koi look superimposed on the picture.

The side of Sensouji temple. The backwards schwastika is a common symbol in Eastern Asia!

Before entering the temple you can cleanse yourself with the wafting smoke from burning paper.

This statue stood out becuse of the bright clothes. At least it is protected from the rain!

A statue of an old woman.

Although this is a busy shopping mall, it doesn't feel crowded when you are there - a little hard to explain, but you'll have to trust me on thatI

The building on the left is meant to represent a glass of lager. On the right was meant to be a drop of beer, but due to an engineering miscalculation it had to be laid on its side. People call it "The Golden Turd" (Sorry mum!)

In the fog you can just see the Rainbow Bridge.

The top of the Tokyo Tower is shrouded in cloud. Here, you pay about 8 pounds to reach the half way level at 100 meters. If you want to reach the top level, 200 meters, you have to pay another 8 pounds. Worth it if it isn't foggy! We went up, but I took no good pictures from there.

Tokyo at dusk from the middle of Tokyo Tower.

Martin and Yoshiko.

We had a superb meal at a restaurant called Hokkaido. Cheesy grin!

The Hokkaido logo projected on the floor outside the restaurant.