Toko city

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Well our 2008 travels are underway, not, I have to point out, without a few stresses on the way!!!

Have you ever tried to pack for a year away from home into the 20kgs allowed on a flight? well let me tell you this is quite difficult especially when you have the world's biggest cases that if full hold about 35kgs, and steve totally adamant that no excess baggage charges will be paid!!

Anyway heavy cases was the least of our worries on Thursday morning when we woke up to winds of 50-60 mph. Not the most reassuring when you have a connecting flight in London....severe deja vu from last January (when our flight to London was cancelled so we missed our connection to Thailand) so we were understandably a little stressed at this point.

Luckily, being the obsessive that I am, we had planned on getting to the airport super early, which we did, only to find that BA had moved us onto an earlier flight down to London, obviously anticipating delays with flights. This was quite a relief, but also meant very quick goodbyes with my mum and sisters who had dragged themselves out of bed at 6am to have brekkie with us at the airport....sorry guys!!! And after rushing through security, we found that the flight was an hour late anyway!!! Was great to bump into Steve Carter though who was on the same flight to London.

Anyway, we arrived in London and our onward flight to Tokyo was on time (miracle). Flight was great, despite my Japanese stalker who insisted on staring every time he walked up and down the aisle, and really empty so, although not quite business class, Steve and I did have 3 seats between us so we could spread out a bit. The service was amazing and the staff great, which Steve had no hesitation smarming on the air hostess about, praising them and everything....only to later be (randomly - yeah right) asked to complete a feedback survey!!! mmm, think he was hand picked for that one!!!

We arrived at Narita airport and collected our bags, all really efficient, until Steve realised that the combination lock on his case wasnt the lock he started out in the UK with. So we had to get security to open the lock, which strangely had the same number he uses.....wierd or what???? It could only happen to Steve, but nothing missing so all okay.

We caught a shuttle bus to our hotel which is right in the centre of Ginza, a main shopping area, brill location. The city seems fairly easy to get around, with plenty of transport although everything is in Japanese - we just keep expecting to see an English translation next to signs, which doesnt happen.

After a walk round Ginza, and some sampling of local cuisine - Macdonalds for Steve and Starbucks for me- we returned to our hotel, adamant that we wouldnt sleep. When we woke up at 9 that evening we realised that we hadnt succeeded. Hence the reason that we are now wide awake at 5am.

On first impressions the city seems really cool, not at all what we expected, and people really friendly. It's really funny coz you see quite a few locals wearing masks - not sure if they are trying not to catch something or pass it on!!!


Anyway, off to plan what to do today - more later........pictures to follow

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Comments

[Kat and Rob]

And you are off......high five!!
Hi guys, Well off to a flying start without any major hiccups or shannanigans! Well done Jen for keeping Steve on time and in line TeeHee! Great to see you both before you left for your travels unbelievable that you will not be on British soil for a whole year! Loving he blog already think I may be gripped! I have got us scheduled on the Jeremy Kyle show for when you return I am positive that Steve will instigate something shocking and surprising amidst the duration he he!! Bring the blog and stories coming!!!Will defo keep you informed of Parker pea news scheduled for c section on Monday 18th Feb so while you are having fabulous time I am having major surgery. Think of me!!!Be good Love Kat and Rob (The crankies)xx

[Andy]

Toilets and Masks...
Can't believe I forgot to mention the toilets (heated, automatic bum washer etc) and the masks... Does make you wonder whether they think you've got something nasty or whether it's the other way around...