ONE UP ON MY BROTHER

My brother and I have an unofficial competition for who has been to the most countries. I think it's pretty neck and neck at the moment, but my brother will get a 'new one' next week when he arrives in Thailand for the first time.
Singapore last week wasn't technically a new one for me as I had stopped there before on a flight back from Malaysia (although I didn't get off the plane that time). At least my six hours there last week makes it official.
However, it's looking promising that I will get a new one in the next couple of weeks. As you know if you read this blog I am having email discussions with a publisher in New York. The time has come for a face-to-face meeting and the date for this looks likely to be Thursday, October 12. In terms of flights it's going to be a nightmare which ever way I go. Thai Airways International offers a 17-hour direct flight from Bangkok, but it looks like me and my colleagues will be flying on All Nippon Airways via Tokyo, Japan. (I think the choice of airline has a lot to do with the fact that the two colleagues travelling with me are Japanese).
So Japan will be a new country for me - even though I'll see little more than the inside of Narita Airport.
The picture here is the final one that I took on Sunday.