Japan
Luxury? Don't talk to me about bloody luxury...

I used to work abroad a lot, but gave it up after a nasty experience in Africa which you might have heard about. But when they sent me to Japan, that was a completey different experience.

I was based on Okinawa, the accomodation was eight US dollars a night, and I lived like a pauper, having to eke out my own existence from whatever vending machines I could operate. But, once I was done, the office flew me out via Tokyo.

"Problem with the hotel," they said, "We had to put you in the last room we could find."

It was the Westin Tokyo and the bill for one night exceeded my expenses for the whole rest of the trip.

Staff that bowed at you, monstrously-expensive a la carte dinner, room service breakfast, a suite so big you could get lost and a TV the size of an elephant. It made no difference, for that night I was just as asleep as the $8-a-night place.

In the morning, I nicked the dressing gown, a pair of carpet slippers and a copy of "The Teachings of Buddha" and fled for Blighty.
( Scaryduck LIKES EGG, Thu 28 Jul 2011, 13:31, Reply)