And though landmarks such as the central market clock tower may help you orientate yourself somewhat, chances are a map of your exact wanderings after a day out at Chatuchak would resemble most closely a plate of pad thai noodles.

BBC: Saturday at Bangkok��s Chatuchak market

Revellers in the city centre greeted the new year by eating 12 grapes in time with the chimes at Madrid's central Puerta del Sol clock in a national tradition, while hundreds of thousands partied in Berlin to live music in the landmark Brandenburg Gate.

BBC: New Year's Eve 2012: Celebrations around the world

But Nagoya's new airport will be allowed to operate round the clock, and has modern transport facilities that businessmen across central Honshu are already scheming to exploit.

ECONOMIST: What will this year's world expo do for Nagoya?

This morning, the alarm woke me at 5:30, Central time, or 3:30 by my own West Coast internal clock.

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