May 21, 2013 - A Very Full Day in Tokyo

We have done so much today! The day started at about 7:30a.m. because I wanted to see for myself the crazy Tokyo rush hour, so we rolled out of bed… or in this case, futon… grabbed out camera and headed to the Ikebukuro station. It is the second biggest station in Tokyo and we were expecting super packed crowds but even though it was busy, it was really not crazy at all. So we decided to take the train to Shinjuku, the number one busiest station in Tokyo, just to see. Once again, it was busy but not the sardine situation I was anticipating....

May 20, 2013 - A day of seeing old friends

The sky opened up this morning but it did not slow us down… much. Dan's karate friend, Yamaguchi, came to pick us up and his student, Masa, was our chauffer for the day. They took us to Sensou-ji (temple) in Asakusa and of course the first thing we had to do at such an iconic Tokyo location was to take a photo with our Sounders FC scarves in front of the giant lantern! We then went to the market place in Ueno, Akihabura which is the electronic district and Jinbocho, the used books district. They drove us back to the hotel where I finally...

May 19, 2013 - Back to Tokyo - Ikebukuro, Shibuya & Harajuku

We flew back to Tokyo this morning and took the airport shuttle to Ikebukuro where our hotel is located. We are staying at Kimi Ryokan which was where Dan stayed at when he came to Japan for the first time in 1989. He befriended the owner, Kibo, who ended up taking Dan under his wing. Kibo was not at the hotel when we checked in, but the clerk told us that he has called 3 times today checking to see if we have arrived. Even as we were filling out the check-in form, he got Kibo on the phone so that Dan can chat with him and make plans to...

Apr 13, 2013 - Prologue

Now home I feel I cannot do justice to the photo part of my journal with the photos I have at present. I only have Eloise's camera shots at this stage. She took many photos on her iPhone and I will get those from her in the next couple of days. As for my camera well, I left it in a taxi from our hotel to the station on our way to Kyoto as we were leaving. The Royal Oak hotel where we stayed were called and no my camera wasn't left on the seat while we waited for the taxi. Obviously it was in the taxi although Vanessa always checks when we...

Apr 11, 2013 - Last hours in Tokyo

DAY 10 Well at least this day’s journal will be short! After a late night at Tokyo Disney heading to bed after midnight, all three woke simultaneously this morning with a few expletives!!!! We woke at 11.15am. Obviously the sleep was needed, dark room, comfy beds etc. Having blown our chances of a couple of last minute things we had planned, it was left up to me to make an executive decision whether I wanted to really do the craft store in Shinjuku. Feeling a little cottonheaded with the amount of Endone ingested over the last couple of...

Apr 10, 2013 - Tokyo at a Trot

DAY 9 Bit slower off the blocks today. After our muesli and fruit brekkie in room our plan of attack was to make our way by train to Ikebukuro and the Tobu Deparment store to buy ourselves our Pandora charms. Have not seen any silver charms anywhere else in Japan like I normally buy so a Pandora sakura blossom it is. Cannot believe how hard it is to find ATM machines in Japan which will accept Visa credit cards. About the only one which will is Citibank and finding them is like finding a needle in a haystack as well. Fortunately, after...

Apr 5, 2013 - 6rOnward to Hiroshima

This morning I was able to walk without extreme pain or in fact too much pain at all!!! Onward with the search for the remnants of the cherry blossom in Tokyo before it is all blown away with the winds. Today it seemed to be sunny again and similar weather to yesterday. Plan of action to hit Shinjuku Gyoen (Shinjuku Park) as this reportedly has the later blossoming cherries. Bus to Shinagawa station then on to Shinjuku where we eeny meeny miney moed which entrance and fortunately whether by sheer chance or good management we found our way...

Apr 4, 2013 - I'm Grounded :(

DAY 3 Woke this morning with terrible referred pain in my foot so decided the girls should go off and do some exploring without me. Beautiful sunny day outside so hopefully they can tick off a few more things to see. Sixteen more days till surgery and I hope it improves my ability to travel. THIS SUCKS BIG TIME!!!!! but I knew it would most likely happen so have to make the most of this opportunity to see some of Japan. Have spent the morning on the computer to pass the time and now about to bring out my travel cross stitching. Okay,bored...

Apr 3, 2013 - Exploring Tokyo

DAY 2 Very disappointing this morning on waking to look out the window to torrential rain and a gusty wind blowing. Quick change of plans from the morning intention of visiting the three top cherry blossom parks around the city for the last days of the blossom. We brought forward a planned visit to Takashimaya Department store, the Tokyo equivalent of Harrods in London. From the moment we walked into the front door and had to place our dripping umbrellas into the designated plastic bags, we knew we were in for a treat. The little...

Apr 2, 2013 - Tokyo and Beyond

DAY 1 Boarded our on time flight to Sydney where we would join our 10.20 pm flight to Tokyo. Had some reservations (given that it was Easter Monday and many people would be returning home after the Easter break) that we would have problems connecting with the international leg as we had to transfer from domestic to the international terminal and get through immigration. However, Sydney was almost deserted as well and within minutes of arriving we were on the bus transferring to international and equally as fast we were through immigration...

Mar 31, 2013 - Kyoto mark2

haven't been up to doing the blogs - as we have been moving round a lot, so I thought simply to load some of the pictures would be better than nothing. Observations and impressions have, necessarily been very superficial, and I rally don't feel inclined to talk about this fabulous temple versus that one, A pox on all temples as far as I'm concerned. but for what its worth - general observations on the japs and their country - Things to love about the place. 1. The place works with incredible efficiency and is spotlessly clean. If you...

Mar 29, 2013 - TOKYO DAY 1

Arrived safely, and after all the bullshit Hannah was going on about having to be in this city for these exact 2 days and that city for the other exact two days to see the cherry blossoms, within half an hour of leaving the airport it was as obvious as dog's balls that the poxy plants are as common as dog shit. There must have been a thousand of them lining the expressway into the city from the airport. I mean they are pretty, but hardly worth building an itinerary around. But she who must be obeyed has a thing about them, so I ooh and ahh...