No, this has nothing to do with the active firing button on the mouse in game – shame on you geeky lot who immediately thought that! This is a brief reflection on the things I have observed and learned over the last five and a half weeks travelling 65km each way along the Pacific Motorway (M1) between home on the Gold Coast and work at south Brisbane.
*Just because you have half as many wheels doesn’t mean you can go twice as fast! The gall of some motorcycle riders completely overwhelms me at times. They hoon up behind you, zipping between lanes, near oblivious to the cars on the road. But when you indicate to change lanes and they’re just instantaneously near you (thanks to the 140km/h+ they’re obviously doing), they proceed to abuse you because you didn’t notice them. I’m sorry – ninja driving doesn’t give you God-like status to rule the road!
*Apparently you need to slow down on the approach to an exit ramp to inform drives behind you that you’re intending on leaving the M1; an indicator apparently does not do this.
*Never trust a car with pillows/crocheted blankets/hats/tissue boxes or dogs in the back window. Just, don’t.
*Everyone is numerically dyslexic. That 80 sign really says 110 in their eyes. I hope you lot get pinged for it. Twice. In one day. This really does irk me, especially when it’s through a region of road works, because after working on the roads for a few years, you learn that even 40mk/h is bloody fast for a 2 Tonne vehicle to be screaming past you. And whilst you may bitch that “there’s nobody working in the zone so why do we have to slow down?” it’s called infrastructure and unstable conditions – in case you never noticed, those orange and white barriers aren’t normal road features!
*And most importantly of all, my car is really comfortable, cruisy and just right for me! After taking delivery of my new Nissan XTrail back in November, I’ve had a chance to give her a really thorough run in. For a 4 cylinder, 2.5L CVT engine, she has speed with dynamic pick-up, grace, and efficiency all rolled in to one divine soccer-mum-SUV body! I’m currently pulling about 7.5L/100km, and for a 65L tank, that’s showing up to 870km potential per total fill.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Things I learned whilst in Japan
- You will learn to become engrossed in the advertising on trains
- For a flat city, you're always walking up stairs
- Bikes are not your friend... they are the true Ninjas of the city
- Where there's a shadow, it's freaking cold
- Hot means hot
- As polite as the culture may seem, the locals will still laugh at you when you say words in their complete and formal way
- Japanese love the French - they haven't realised why the rest of the world hates the French, obviously
- Taxi's will make you think you're in a 1960's timewarp
- You're never too young to wear false eyelashes
- For a country which makes things smaller and smaller for the rest of the world, they all still use large flip mobile phones
- This country is permanently buzzing on caffeine
- Push your way through
- Even old people get told to sit their arses down in Disneyland
- You shouldn't worry about a warm toilet seat
- You can congregate wherever you like, even if it's in the middle of the road
- Cigarettes are horrid - they smoke worse than a clapped out '79 Torana here, especially in restaurants, but not while walking down the street
- You will always feel like you're going against the crowd
- There's no such thing as the ground floor.. it all starts at 1
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Day 10 summary
Tuesday 10 November:
Quiet, easy day. Spent it in Ginza, not quite resisting the shopping! Caught up on some of the food delights in Matsuya that I've been eyeing off for days. Went back to the quaint chopstick shop from last night to treat myself to a specia pair just for myself - I realised I'd bought beautiful sets for everyone else but not myself! Discovered more of the back streets, lined with bars and restaurants and who-knows-whats hidden behind frosted glass and japanese character painted curtains.
I've packed everything away, ready for checkout tomorrow. My bag isn't overflowing, surprisingly, and once again will not be near the weight limit for luggage. Off to the pub for dinner soon, then contemplating a long night of sleep tonight because we have to check out of the hotel at 10am tomorrow, and bumble around until 3:30pm when we get the airport limousine bus back to Narita airport. It's a 90 minute journey. Our flight leaves at 8:25pm and I'm hoping I'll be able to get some sleep on the plane at least - I have a strip of nurofen plus at the ready to help me pass out! Land back on the Gold Coast at 7am Thursday.
Quiet, easy day. Spent it in Ginza, not quite resisting the shopping! Caught up on some of the food delights in Matsuya that I've been eyeing off for days. Went back to the quaint chopstick shop from last night to treat myself to a specia pair just for myself - I realised I'd bought beautiful sets for everyone else but not myself! Discovered more of the back streets, lined with bars and restaurants and who-knows-whats hidden behind frosted glass and japanese character painted curtains.
I've packed everything away, ready for checkout tomorrow. My bag isn't overflowing, surprisingly, and once again will not be near the weight limit for luggage. Off to the pub for dinner soon, then contemplating a long night of sleep tonight because we have to check out of the hotel at 10am tomorrow, and bumble around until 3:30pm when we get the airport limousine bus back to Narita airport. It's a 90 minute journey. Our flight leaves at 8:25pm and I'm hoping I'll be able to get some sleep on the plane at least - I have a strip of nurofen plus at the ready to help me pass out! Land back on the Gold Coast at 7am Thursday.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Day 9 summary
Monday 9th November:
Quick trip back up to Asakusa for last minute souvenir and gift purchases from the markets. I concluded that melted plastic style cheese slices on top of crumbed fried pork is a really bad thing, especially with rice and egg in the same bowl!
Train ride out to Odaiba - on the driverless train - with the promise of a magificent experience at Palette Town and the Venus Fort shopping centre, which is meant to resemble Venice with the interior walls all painted like stone buildings and a cloud painted roof and numerous statues lining the walkways, not to mention the large water fountain in the middle of the centre. Big disappointment - I don't think we passed more than 100 people walking around the whole area. The most thriving part was the big Toyota show/play room. Odaiba is where the onsen with the fish which eat the dead skin off your feet are - I had planned to visit, but it seemed a little financially unviable in the end, just to stand in a puddle of hot water! Had it been slightly later in the day too, we would have seen the bridge all illuminated too, but since there was little to do to pass another couple of hours away in the region, we just came back to Ginza.
Walk through Ginza at night again marvelling at the lights everywhere, discovered some of the little boutique shops on the back streets including the most quaint little hand made chopstick shop. Stopped in at Matsuya's food court and got more fresh foods for dinner - rice, buns, chicken sticks, salad, soba.
Quick trip back up to Asakusa for last minute souvenir and gift purchases from the markets. I concluded that melted plastic style cheese slices on top of crumbed fried pork is a really bad thing, especially with rice and egg in the same bowl!
Train ride out to Odaiba - on the driverless train - with the promise of a magificent experience at Palette Town and the Venus Fort shopping centre, which is meant to resemble Venice with the interior walls all painted like stone buildings and a cloud painted roof and numerous statues lining the walkways, not to mention the large water fountain in the middle of the centre. Big disappointment - I don't think we passed more than 100 people walking around the whole area. The most thriving part was the big Toyota show/play room. Odaiba is where the onsen with the fish which eat the dead skin off your feet are - I had planned to visit, but it seemed a little financially unviable in the end, just to stand in a puddle of hot water! Had it been slightly later in the day too, we would have seen the bridge all illuminated too, but since there was little to do to pass another couple of hours away in the region, we just came back to Ginza.
Walk through Ginza at night again marvelling at the lights everywhere, discovered some of the little boutique shops on the back streets including the most quaint little hand made chopstick shop. Stopped in at Matsuya's food court and got more fresh foods for dinner - rice, buns, chicken sticks, salad, soba.
Day 8 summary
Sunday 8th November:
Train ride out to Harajuku for a look around the shopping district/temple/freakshow bridge. Its like walking around a mass of cheap shit junky teeny clothing shops for the most part... that was until I discovered the main through road with a Dolce Gabbana store! I refrained from the red frame and swarovski crystal glasses and the leopard fur barrel bag!
The walk to the temple would have been more 'serene' and idyllic had their been no little kids kicking gravel everywhere... kinda ruined the atmosphere, but considering there must have been about three hundred people just in the eye's view around us walking towards the site it would have been difficult to eliminate people! A wedding procession passed through the temple just as we arrived. Lots of little girls and their mothers and grandmothers all in traditional dress around the place. Shame the temple didn't outline the name/wish card protocol in English though; I missed out on doing that.
No freak gathering on the bridge either. Have to admit the whole region didn't live up to expectations.
Walked through all the gardens, past the new Cirque du Soleil tent on the way to Shibuya. More tall buildings with flashing lights, screaming billboards, shops and alleyways. Then back to Ginza.
Another night time walk around Ginza looking at all the Christmas lights and masses of people. Nice long walk over to Daimaru shops again.
By now, my joints are all aching from constantly walking and moving. At least the weather is still pleasant.
Train ride out to Harajuku for a look around the shopping district/temple/freakshow bridge. Its like walking around a mass of cheap shit junky teeny clothing shops for the most part... that was until I discovered the main through road with a Dolce Gabbana store! I refrained from the red frame and swarovski crystal glasses and the leopard fur barrel bag!
The walk to the temple would have been more 'serene' and idyllic had their been no little kids kicking gravel everywhere... kinda ruined the atmosphere, but considering there must have been about three hundred people just in the eye's view around us walking towards the site it would have been difficult to eliminate people! A wedding procession passed through the temple just as we arrived. Lots of little girls and their mothers and grandmothers all in traditional dress around the place. Shame the temple didn't outline the name/wish card protocol in English though; I missed out on doing that.
No freak gathering on the bridge either. Have to admit the whole region didn't live up to expectations.
Walked through all the gardens, past the new Cirque du Soleil tent on the way to Shibuya. More tall buildings with flashing lights, screaming billboards, shops and alleyways. Then back to Ginza.
Another night time walk around Ginza looking at all the Christmas lights and masses of people. Nice long walk over to Daimaru shops again.
By now, my joints are all aching from constantly walking and moving. At least the weather is still pleasant.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Day 7 summary
Saturday 7th November:
Went out to Akiba (the electronics city) for a walk around and then on to Ueno again. Akiba is like neon-signboard heaven. There are masses of big and little shops selling everything electronic. Although I say everything but I couldn't get a decal for the top of my eeepc. I found much of the computer and audio visual stuff to be pretty comparable in price to back home, if not more expensive in some cases.
In walking between Akiba and Ueno we stopped at a cheap food place once again for more gyoza and whisky. Shame it's not a sustainable diet on its own!!
The walk around Ueno markets again was just to do a general shop, and so I could pick up my cheap Chanel skincare. Once again though, only selected items proved to be cheap. Many other things are cheaper back home.
Finally got my greens fix today. Went over to Matsuya Ginza (big department store like David Jones) and to their food court in the basement. It's full of everything glorious in food - fresh fruit and veg, biscuits, cakes, pasta, salads, pre-made gourmet meals, tempura'd everything and so much more including a grog shop. I did get a giggle from the twin pack of Yalumba wines for 10,000 Yen ($125) and the single rockmelon and bunch of (massively mutant) grapes for 5250 Yen ($65).
Anyway we stocked up with dinner to bring back to the room - yakatori (chicken skewers), sushi, sashimi, sticky rice with beans and sweet potato, green salad with lettuce, broccoli, beans and cucumber, a seafood salad with prawns, octopus, broccoli, beans, tomato, capsicum, a bowl of fresh fruit (orange, grapefruit, apple, grapes, honeydew melon and pineapple) for dessert.
Went out to Akiba (the electronics city) for a walk around and then on to Ueno again. Akiba is like neon-signboard heaven. There are masses of big and little shops selling everything electronic. Although I say everything but I couldn't get a decal for the top of my eeepc. I found much of the computer and audio visual stuff to be pretty comparable in price to back home, if not more expensive in some cases.
In walking between Akiba and Ueno we stopped at a cheap food place once again for more gyoza and whisky. Shame it's not a sustainable diet on its own!!
The walk around Ueno markets again was just to do a general shop, and so I could pick up my cheap Chanel skincare. Once again though, only selected items proved to be cheap. Many other things are cheaper back home.
Finally got my greens fix today. Went over to Matsuya Ginza (big department store like David Jones) and to their food court in the basement. It's full of everything glorious in food - fresh fruit and veg, biscuits, cakes, pasta, salads, pre-made gourmet meals, tempura'd everything and so much more including a grog shop. I did get a giggle from the twin pack of Yalumba wines for 10,000 Yen ($125) and the single rockmelon and bunch of (massively mutant) grapes for 5250 Yen ($65).
Anyway we stocked up with dinner to bring back to the room - yakatori (chicken skewers), sushi, sashimi, sticky rice with beans and sweet potato, green salad with lettuce, broccoli, beans and cucumber, a seafood salad with prawns, octopus, broccoli, beans, tomato, capsicum, a bowl of fresh fruit (orange, grapefruit, apple, grapes, honeydew melon and pineapple) for dessert.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Day 6 summary
Friday 6th November:
Split day - had been feeling somewhat unwell overnight so I stayed in Ginza while Beau went off up the mountains to Nikko whilst I stayed in Ginza and had a walk around the district.
I discovered the Bridgestone Art Museum, another shopping centre all underneath Daimaru (I remember this store from when it used to be on the Gold Coast), I made some enquiries about places for dinner in the area and also about the airport limousine bus to get us back to Narita on Wednesday. I went window shopping in all the designer stores and had to refrain from such purchases. Back for another look around the Nissan Gallery and Sony Store down the other end of town. Found Wako's chocolate shop, with single chocolates often starting at $5 and display packets of 12 choccies for about 6000 Yen ($75). This certainly is the rich part of the city.
Nothing particularly new and exciting to report from Friday. Just lots of walking and looking.
Split day - had been feeling somewhat unwell overnight so I stayed in Ginza while Beau went off up the mountains to Nikko whilst I stayed in Ginza and had a walk around the district.
I discovered the Bridgestone Art Museum, another shopping centre all underneath Daimaru (I remember this store from when it used to be on the Gold Coast), I made some enquiries about places for dinner in the area and also about the airport limousine bus to get us back to Narita on Wednesday. I went window shopping in all the designer stores and had to refrain from such purchases. Back for another look around the Nissan Gallery and Sony Store down the other end of town. Found Wako's chocolate shop, with single chocolates often starting at $5 and display packets of 12 choccies for about 6000 Yen ($75). This certainly is the rich part of the city.
Nothing particularly new and exciting to report from Friday. Just lots of walking and looking.
Day 5 summary
Thursday 5th November:
Disneyland...what more really needs to be said?!!!
Some of the train stations (those on the Keiyo line) here have their own identifiable tune which plays as a train pulls in to the stop so that you can tell where you are - fittingly so, the Maihama station plays "It's a Small World" since this is the gateway to Tokyo Disneyland.
There appears to be an endless stream of people walking to the park, but once you get to the ticket gate and the entry, there aren't massive queues or waiting points. And then you see the characters standing around just inside the gates, having photos taken with little (and big) kids and generally being mobbed. Don't get me wrong, I was a very willing participant in such activities! The only pictures I had taken were with Eeyore, Thumper and Donald. But seriously if you don't push your way in, keeping an eye on the ground below you for very miniature babies stumbling around, you will always miss your turn.
There is this thing called FastPass where you use your entry ticket (passport) in a machine to try and score a pass to give you quick ride access between certain times of the day. But once you get a pass, even if its 10am and the pass doesn't work for that particular ride until 7pm, you have to wait an hour before you can try for a pass at a different ride. The scheme works though - it spreads the crowds across the park quite effectively. There was toontown and tomorrowland and adventureland and westernland and fantasyland and critter country.
It seemed that within mintes the park had filled with ear-wearing patrons. I couldn't resist - it started with a red bow hairtie to look like Minnie, then became the ears with a leopard print bow, and by the end of the night it had become the fur hat with obligatory ears and dangly fur baubles on the chin tie!
The star wars sim was great...and it was here I initially noticed this themepark was more than adequately set up to cater for numerous people. Unlike the parks in Aus where there'd be one carriage on a ride, or one capsual for the experience, there must have been 8 sim capsuals here, each with a capacity for about 60 people at any one time. That being said, some rides still managed to have a standby waiting time (for those without fast passes) of up to 70 minutes. But the rides last for quite some time... must have been at least a three minute ride on the Big Thunder Mountain train and the Space Mountain coaster. And whilst none of the rides go upside down, they sure do have some speed to them and the effects make everything seem much more intense. And they're continual - riders off, riders on, even to the point that some rides don't stop and wait for you to board (like the Haunted Mansion from Nightmare Before Christmas) where you jump on a conveyer belt and be seated as the thing is still moving!
Photos galore... especially when the street parade started. And then the night time illuminations parade, and then the closing fireworks right at the end of the night. Food galore - popcorn carts everywhere with buttercorn, salted corn, curry corn, caramel corn, chocolate corn, soy sauce and butter corn!! Yes, that's what I said. Smoked turkey leg carts, churro carts, pastries and icecream cakes...... never ending. Oh and don't worry if you drop something, someone will clean it up within seconds.
Twelve hours very easily spent at the park, and still not all rides done. My only real gripe was that the shops all seemed to carry different lines of things, and you often had to scour the entire park just to find one particular item which only appeared in a particular shop.
Disneyland...what more really needs to be said?!!!
Some of the train stations (those on the Keiyo line) here have their own identifiable tune which plays as a train pulls in to the stop so that you can tell where you are - fittingly so, the Maihama station plays "It's a Small World" since this is the gateway to Tokyo Disneyland.
There appears to be an endless stream of people walking to the park, but once you get to the ticket gate and the entry, there aren't massive queues or waiting points. And then you see the characters standing around just inside the gates, having photos taken with little (and big) kids and generally being mobbed. Don't get me wrong, I was a very willing participant in such activities! The only pictures I had taken were with Eeyore, Thumper and Donald. But seriously if you don't push your way in, keeping an eye on the ground below you for very miniature babies stumbling around, you will always miss your turn.
There is this thing called FastPass where you use your entry ticket (passport) in a machine to try and score a pass to give you quick ride access between certain times of the day. But once you get a pass, even if its 10am and the pass doesn't work for that particular ride until 7pm, you have to wait an hour before you can try for a pass at a different ride. The scheme works though - it spreads the crowds across the park quite effectively. There was toontown and tomorrowland and adventureland and westernland and fantasyland and critter country.
It seemed that within mintes the park had filled with ear-wearing patrons. I couldn't resist - it started with a red bow hairtie to look like Minnie, then became the ears with a leopard print bow, and by the end of the night it had become the fur hat with obligatory ears and dangly fur baubles on the chin tie!
The star wars sim was great...and it was here I initially noticed this themepark was more than adequately set up to cater for numerous people. Unlike the parks in Aus where there'd be one carriage on a ride, or one capsual for the experience, there must have been 8 sim capsuals here, each with a capacity for about 60 people at any one time. That being said, some rides still managed to have a standby waiting time (for those without fast passes) of up to 70 minutes. But the rides last for quite some time... must have been at least a three minute ride on the Big Thunder Mountain train and the Space Mountain coaster. And whilst none of the rides go upside down, they sure do have some speed to them and the effects make everything seem much more intense. And they're continual - riders off, riders on, even to the point that some rides don't stop and wait for you to board (like the Haunted Mansion from Nightmare Before Christmas) where you jump on a conveyer belt and be seated as the thing is still moving!
Photos galore... especially when the street parade started. And then the night time illuminations parade, and then the closing fireworks right at the end of the night. Food galore - popcorn carts everywhere with buttercorn, salted corn, curry corn, caramel corn, chocolate corn, soy sauce and butter corn!! Yes, that's what I said. Smoked turkey leg carts, churro carts, pastries and icecream cakes...... never ending. Oh and don't worry if you drop something, someone will clean it up within seconds.
Twelve hours very easily spent at the park, and still not all rides done. My only real gripe was that the shops all seemed to carry different lines of things, and you often had to scour the entire park just to find one particular item which only appeared in a particular shop.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Day 4 summary
Wednesday 4th November:
Moved our luggage from Asakusa to Ginza. Discovered once again the labyrinth of subway underpasses and exit gates dependent upon the train service you used - here, there is the JR line, subway and metro. There may be one "station" name but the exits will at either end of the town and use different lines.
Walking down Chou St (main street) of Ginza was like walking through shopping brand heaven - my favourite intersection for instance, which is right behind the hotel, has Bvlgari, Vuitton, Cartier and Dior on it! We had noticed people with "Hakuhinkan Toy Store" bags earlier in the week and discovered it was in Ginza so went to check it out - 6 floors of toy store, but not excessively large floors. Not as impressive as we'd hoped for and my god, the noise of squeaking/singing/chirping/laughing toys did my head in!!
Ikebukuro was the night destination. Probably the first real exposure to bustling crowds. Walking up roads illuminated by advertising signs only, with everything flashing and changing, kinda makes it feel like a sideshow alley. Found Sunshine City, in the Sunshine Building, and went up to the 60th floor for the observation deck. Yes, the city glitters and sparkles below, with clusters of highrises and the occasional sports field or tennis court in sight. But since you're that high up and everything is rather distal, it's just lights, below, on small structures!
Moved our luggage from Asakusa to Ginza. Discovered once again the labyrinth of subway underpasses and exit gates dependent upon the train service you used - here, there is the JR line, subway and metro. There may be one "station" name but the exits will at either end of the town and use different lines.
Walking down Chou St (main street) of Ginza was like walking through shopping brand heaven - my favourite intersection for instance, which is right behind the hotel, has Bvlgari, Vuitton, Cartier and Dior on it! We had noticed people with "Hakuhinkan Toy Store" bags earlier in the week and discovered it was in Ginza so went to check it out - 6 floors of toy store, but not excessively large floors. Not as impressive as we'd hoped for and my god, the noise of squeaking/singing/chirping/laughing toys did my head in!!
Ikebukuro was the night destination. Probably the first real exposure to bustling crowds. Walking up roads illuminated by advertising signs only, with everything flashing and changing, kinda makes it feel like a sideshow alley. Found Sunshine City, in the Sunshine Building, and went up to the 60th floor for the observation deck. Yes, the city glitters and sparkles below, with clusters of highrises and the occasional sports field or tennis court in sight. But since you're that high up and everything is rather distal, it's just lights, below, on small structures!
Day 3 summary
Tuesday 3rd November:
Trained out from Asakusa to Tokyo to walk around the Imperial Palace gardens. It is strange that in such a busy city, there's a massive block of nature and heritage. And a block where the city sounds do not seem to permeate. Also it was nice to not have to pay an entrance fee either!
We wandered past the musical water features, however, the music was lacking, but the water was impressive. Jumped from Tokyo to Ginza briefly to find the Mercure hotel, where we'd be checking in to the next day.
Back to Asakusa for the festivities of Cultural Day. Big parade around the town which concluded at the Senso-ji temple. The alleys leading up to and around the temple are lined with market stalls. Some beautiful hand made and traditional gifts available, along with the mass produced trinket crap too. Also the street stalls for food were demonstrating some interesting concepts for food, but, that being said, nothing really stood out as majorly weird to me. And thus far (i'm composing this post on Friday 6 Nov) nothing has been overly cliche or bizarre.
Discovered the joys of 290 Yen gyoza and Kirin whisky. Also discovered that just because something says beef, it doesn't automatically make it from a slappable part of the animal!
Trained out from Asakusa to Tokyo to walk around the Imperial Palace gardens. It is strange that in such a busy city, there's a massive block of nature and heritage. And a block where the city sounds do not seem to permeate. Also it was nice to not have to pay an entrance fee either!
We wandered past the musical water features, however, the music was lacking, but the water was impressive. Jumped from Tokyo to Ginza briefly to find the Mercure hotel, where we'd be checking in to the next day.
Back to Asakusa for the festivities of Cultural Day. Big parade around the town which concluded at the Senso-ji temple. The alleys leading up to and around the temple are lined with market stalls. Some beautiful hand made and traditional gifts available, along with the mass produced trinket crap too. Also the street stalls for food were demonstrating some interesting concepts for food, but, that being said, nothing really stood out as majorly weird to me. And thus far (i'm composing this post on Friday 6 Nov) nothing has been overly cliche or bizarre.
Discovered the joys of 290 Yen gyoza and Kirin whisky. Also discovered that just because something says beef, it doesn't automatically make it from a slappable part of the animal!
Day 2 summary
My first encounter of the train systems in Japan. Caught the Keisei line from right behind the hotel to Tawaramachi station (Asakusa). Checked in to the Ryokan and left our bags there, the headed off to the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. Now, I was thinking that the show would be massive, and I guess compared to the Sydney Motor Show it still was, especially cconsidering it was only about $15 entry fee. Anyone with a camera really seemed more interested in taking pics of the demonstration girls than the cars. So I don't know what they would have thought about the white chick frantically taking pics of rims and lights and badges!
The concept cars were interesting, but not groundbreaking. There was an overwhelming push for diesel cars too. Playstation had a massive stall promoting Gran Turismo 5, due for release in March 2010, with various screens and sim type setups for people to try a lap. The waiting line at one point was 40 minutes that I saw. Whilst walking out the back of the pavillions, a mass of food stalls lined the lot, but my biggest surprise came from the single KFC stall - I certainly didn't expect to see that.
I'll put some pics up from the show soon... I can't do any photo resizing on this eeepc, so keep an eye out for the link to my flickr account or a facebook album.
First night in the Ryokan was a shock to the system in a way - floor sleeping, fine; small enclosed room, fine; wheat pillow, unexpected; lumpy futon mat, not fine.
The concept cars were interesting, but not groundbreaking. There was an overwhelming push for diesel cars too. Playstation had a massive stall promoting Gran Turismo 5, due for release in March 2010, with various screens and sim type setups for people to try a lap. The waiting line at one point was 40 minutes that I saw. Whilst walking out the back of the pavillions, a mass of food stalls lined the lot, but my biggest surprise came from the single KFC stall - I certainly didn't expect to see that.
I'll put some pics up from the show soon... I can't do any photo resizing on this eeepc, so keep an eye out for the link to my flickr account or a facebook album.
First night in the Ryokan was a shock to the system in a way - floor sleeping, fine; small enclosed room, fine; wheat pillow, unexpected; lumpy futon mat, not fine.
Day 1 Summary (travel day)
Now that I have some intarwebz access, I'll type up some day by day accounts of what's been doing on this trip.
Sunday 1 November:
Flight day.
I broke the plane - twice. First the headrest on my seat: tried to lift it up and pull the wing things in towards my head but the whole thing just lifted off and in to my hands. Then I went to the toilet and the soap dispenser just slipped right off the wall. Admittedly it didn't "break" as such, but it did come away from its fitting. So that still counts. I wonder if that kind of fragility extends to the plane's actual engineering? :s bit of a worry really.
Oh the irony of the meals on the flight... lunch was Japanese curry or chicken terryaki, a taste of things to come at your destination. Dinner on the other hand - now that you're 7 hours away from home, here, have a meat pie or quiche, and ice cream for dessert.
Passed through customs and collected luggage within half hour total. Rather impressed by that. Had to hang around Narita airport for 90 minutes before the shuttle bus to the hotel arrived. Room in the Mercure hotel at Narita was only tiny, but more than comfy considering the long time on the plane. Sleep was glorious, hot shower was devine.
Sunday 1 November:
Flight day.
I broke the plane - twice. First the headrest on my seat: tried to lift it up and pull the wing things in towards my head but the whole thing just lifted off and in to my hands. Then I went to the toilet and the soap dispenser just slipped right off the wall. Admittedly it didn't "break" as such, but it did come away from its fitting. So that still counts. I wonder if that kind of fragility extends to the plane's actual engineering? :s bit of a worry really.
Oh the irony of the meals on the flight... lunch was Japanese curry or chicken terryaki, a taste of things to come at your destination. Dinner on the other hand - now that you're 7 hours away from home, here, have a meat pie or quiche, and ice cream for dessert.
Passed through customs and collected luggage within half hour total. Rather impressed by that. Had to hang around Narita airport for 90 minutes before the shuttle bus to the hotel arrived. Room in the Mercure hotel at Narita was only tiny, but more than comfy considering the long time on the plane. Sleep was glorious, hot shower was devine.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
From the plane
Below is what I wrote on the flight over to Japan... I'll type up a "what I'm doing while I'm here" post soon:
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Some points to note that I should get down before I forget:
My luggage on check in was indeed 11kg - 11.6kg to be precise. Also to note, it was lighter than Beau’s luggage!! How about that…a chick with less packing!
I have it on great authority from my friend Kieran that should things on this holiday become overwhelming, I should set myself on fire because ninja’s can’t catch you when you’re on fire!
This flight is 7246km (distance on the ground) long.
There really is no atmosphere within the Coolangatta airport, especially in the “INTERNATIONAL” lounge. It’s more like a makeshift site office found on the side of a highway construction project.
After spending $233 at duty free for collection upon returning, I immediately calculated how much more I can spend of my tax exempt allowance. The alcohol capacity has already been exhausted by the 1L mango Absolut, 1L red ruby Absolut and 200ml Chivas. The obligatory Chanel No 5 was also purchased.
I have no idea really what kind of shopping experience I can get from this holiday and I’m certainly not going to go overboard with stocking up on junky trinkety things. I’ll definitely find a gift of indulgence for my parents and something extra special for my beautiful man.
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I just raised the window cover on the plane - it’s 3pm Qld time (and we’re somewhere in a time zone within the hour). The only thing to be seen is blue and white. The sky is a never ending mono-tone blue with the occasional dot of cloud cluster, suspended rather eerily and yet very intriguingly. There is no perspective or depth - no sign of end to the blue on the way down to indicate the sea below, and no specific curve to the horizon.
And by now my eyes are stinging and my ass is numb. I’ve watched about five hours of shows, considered nothing of the next ten days of sightseeing and written this blog post in my notebook and now typed it up on the Geeesmo so it is ready to cut and paste as soon as I find myself accessible to my comfort zone within the intarwebz.
------------------
Some points to note that I should get down before I forget:
My luggage on check in was indeed 11kg - 11.6kg to be precise. Also to note, it was lighter than Beau’s luggage!! How about that…a chick with less packing!
I have it on great authority from my friend Kieran that should things on this holiday become overwhelming, I should set myself on fire because ninja’s can’t catch you when you’re on fire!
This flight is 7246km (distance on the ground) long.
There really is no atmosphere within the Coolangatta airport, especially in the “INTERNATIONAL” lounge. It’s more like a makeshift site office found on the side of a highway construction project.
After spending $233 at duty free for collection upon returning, I immediately calculated how much more I can spend of my tax exempt allowance. The alcohol capacity has already been exhausted by the 1L mango Absolut, 1L red ruby Absolut and 200ml Chivas. The obligatory Chanel No 5 was also purchased.
I have no idea really what kind of shopping experience I can get from this holiday and I’m certainly not going to go overboard with stocking up on junky trinkety things. I’ll definitely find a gift of indulgence for my parents and something extra special for my beautiful man.
------
I just raised the window cover on the plane - it’s 3pm Qld time (and we’re somewhere in a time zone within the hour). The only thing to be seen is blue and white. The sky is a never ending mono-tone blue with the occasional dot of cloud cluster, suspended rather eerily and yet very intriguingly. There is no perspective or depth - no sign of end to the blue on the way down to indicate the sea below, and no specific curve to the horizon.
And by now my eyes are stinging and my ass is numb. I’ve watched about five hours of shows, considered nothing of the next ten days of sightseeing and written this blog post in my notebook and now typed it up on the Geeesmo so it is ready to cut and paste as soon as I find myself accessible to my comfort zone within the intarwebz.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Now... before I go...
Tis my last half sleep before I jet out in the morning. I say half because my mind has been running rampant with lists and plans and things to do and what ifs. I can't help it that I'm a worrier and organisation freak!
Anyway, all is packed (and somehow only at 11kg of luggage!) and ready to go; Eeepc and entertainment at the ready in the hand luggage, note pad and camera easily accessible for recording all of those 'must be put in to image/word' memories which will crop up, Japanese phrasebook has post-it-notes inside the cover available for strategic placement at key quotes and all liquids are miniaturised just in case I felt the need to substitute my cleanser and toner with an explosive cocktail.
I shall endeavour to keep my eyes peeled for suitable presents, ironic notifications and the down-right 'disturbed in translation' signs.
On another couple of notes:
Got a henna tattoo done on my ankle the other day - some lunch time thing was happening on campus and one of the activity stalls was free henna. I have a photo on my phone of it, so I'll hopefully upload when I get back (and remember).
Also my new baby arrives on Monday. She'll be polished and left in the garage for me awaiting my return to christen her with a nice run up the Pacific Motorway.
So, until my next entry, hopefully from somewhere in and around Tokyo, farewell m'dears!
xx Manda xx
Anyway, all is packed (and somehow only at 11kg of luggage!) and ready to go; Eeepc and entertainment at the ready in the hand luggage, note pad and camera easily accessible for recording all of those 'must be put in to image/word' memories which will crop up, Japanese phrasebook has post-it-notes inside the cover available for strategic placement at key quotes and all liquids are miniaturised just in case I felt the need to substitute my cleanser and toner with an explosive cocktail.
I shall endeavour to keep my eyes peeled for suitable presents, ironic notifications and the down-right 'disturbed in translation' signs.
On another couple of notes:
Got a henna tattoo done on my ankle the other day - some lunch time thing was happening on campus and one of the activity stalls was free henna. I have a photo on my phone of it, so I'll hopefully upload when I get back (and remember).
Also my new baby arrives on Monday. She'll be polished and left in the garage for me awaiting my return to christen her with a nice run up the Pacific Motorway.
So, until my next entry, hopefully from somewhere in and around Tokyo, farewell m'dears!
xx Manda xx
