Pureboy - I couldn't agree with you more. The "happenstances" of travel are often the memories that stick with you most. For example - in Osaka - we ran across a fellow who was doing a juggling act outside the aquarium (it's an excellent aquarium and I recommend it for people in Osaka). He didn't quite look Japanese :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1050556...57605103825380

So we started to chat with him after the show. Turns out he was an Australian married to a Japanese woman. We wound up at a Cafe du Monde around the corner - had chicory coffee and beignets (better than in New Orleans) - and talked for about an hour. He was interesting - and he gave us some good insights into Japan. Robyn