Nihon - Day Two

Day Two - the meeting

Today I started the say on the internet and I had a message from The Melbournite. He and The other Melbournite would meet me at the hotel after they checked out at 11pm

Excellent!

I went for a short walk around the neighbourhood, not really very far just down the street and around the corner. I walked past the police station, 2 post offices at least 4 convienence stores and goodness knows how many vending machines. (FYI smokes are cheap here)
You may get lost in Tokyo but you will never go thirsty!

11.30 I was waiting in the reception area from The Melbournites when it struck me that this was rather an odd way of meeting people who are friends of a friend (in a different country).

Around 11.45am they walked through the reception door, they were not hard to spot and I seriouskly doubt i was either (look for the westerners!). They seem pretty cool. We ditched their bags in my room and headed out.

We walked around the area and ended up walking through the Zojoji Temple, behind my hotel and saw the thousands of Jizo statues (Children of the temple statues).

We walked for a long time and talked and it was good to have some people around. They showed me how to work the subway and all about the adjustment machine (new best friend). Where you can buy the lowest ticket and just put it in the adjustment machine at the other end to pay the correct money. This is PRICELESS knowledge!

We then grabbed something to eat at the Family Mart and headed back to Shiba Park, opposite the Zojoji Temple, to eat and chat some more.

We then headed back to the coffee shop at my hotel for a quick drink. i got to use some of my basic japanese and ordered a "nihon-cha" Japanese tea or green tea.

We then went back to my room where they got changed and sorted their bags and then had to go to the airport.

I spent the rest of the night in my room watching japanese TV, very interesting, and had a fairly early night.

The weather channel warns of a Typhoon in Okinowa so it should rain the better part of the week.
I had planned to check out the Tokyo Tower tomorrow but maybe instead i will head to harajuku on the subway.

Nihon - Day One

Day One: Getting There

Headed to the airport around 10.45am, for 2 hour check in.
After checking in and getting my boarding pass we sat at the cafe and ate a bit of early lunch.
I had a ham and cheese crossoint.
After a quick goodbye I went through the door and headed to customs.

After finally bording we waited close to an hour before we could take off as the airconditioning had to be repaired. The in-flight movie was Iron Man 2, which i found funny as we had just watched the first one a few days earlier on free-to-air TV.
3.20pm = EXTREMELY BORED, and getting a little nauseas.
7.5 hours on a plane is obviously too much for me to fly, starting to feel every move the plane makes.

At Narita Airport we board a shuttle to get to the main building, squeezing in to get on the first shuttle.
Then we all line up at immigration with our passports and boarding passes. I am then directed by a man at the front of the line, which desk to approach. I hand over my passport, press my fingers to the pads and look at the camera. I am then allowed to go through to the next lot of desks. The man askes me a few questions, (yes ok, I get it I pack light!) then directs me through the glass doors. From here you have to find the esculators and head down to the arrivals. Thank goodness my airport transfer is standing right at the front and is easily found (best $300 i ever spent).

From here he leads me to the parking lot and I wait in a loading zone while he collects the car then brings it round to pick me up. Its a 60-70 minute drive he tells me. He was really nice, evem offered me his mobile to call my friends here to let them know I'm here.

At the hotel I check in at the desk and head to my room in the annex building. I get a call to my room a few minutes later saying that he forgot to get my credit card at sign in. I go down to give it to him. there is some sort of problem and he askes me if there is another card, I say there is not and start to panic ( i am already so home sick and want to go home at this stage). A realtivly long phone call later and the problem seems to be fixed.

i head back to my room and wonder what to do at 10.30pm local time. I still haven't eaten but am not feeling hungry either. I decide to try to sleep.

After some very disrupted sleep I wake for day 2!

Shopping Post!

So happy today!

Qunitessential gothic item arrived today!

Beautiful black lace parasol

So happy with it!

New Years!

Soooo, this year we thought we might get away from it all for new years. I booked a cabin at PK's in Cape Tribulation far away from the city and the taxi cues and the upperty attitudes of the drunkards that hang out there.

A few hiccups at first, we left far later than we had intended then on arrival we discovered that they had us down as arriving tomorrow!! Without anything further from us the girl on reception changed it all and handed over the key to our room.

It was very basic lodgings with a double bed and an ensuite, no fridge, no cupboards but at least it had an airconditioner.

We dropped our belongings in one corner and headed for the pool.

For dinner we went to the attached "resturant" and both got the chicken parmasians.

It rained most of the night and well into the morning.

The next day we hired a bike after brunch and headed to the beach, it rained a little the whole time but by the time we got to the end of the beach the wind had really picked up and it was bucketing down. So in the pouring rain we rode back to our cabin. When the rain stopped we headed off again on the bikes, this time along the roads to the creek.

We started our night out the front of our cabin with jaggerbombs. The couple in the room next to ours had the same idea and were quietly talking while drinking. Paul took them over a jaggerbomb each they in turn offered us some banana cocktail they were making.

Ten minutes to 12.00 we all headed over to the bar for the count down. We wished each other a happy new year, paul gave me my new years kiss then we headed to the bar to get a drink.

We mingled with the other patrons and had a few laughs.

This chick come and sat next to us and was talking to one of the other guys who was already sitting with us and she told him she would let him cut her hair, so he did! Using the smallest scissors he hacked away at her ponytail and eventually got through.

At around 3am the bar would close, we headed back to our cabin just before. Although we were invited to the beach party by several people, it had started to rain rather heavily again and we thought better of it.

The next day we relaxed in our cabin getting over our hangovers.

ARGH crazy October

So its been awhile since I last posted!

And whats been going on?........

Well actually not much, but I did just return from a trip to Brissy and just had to tell someone.

I flew up on friday with no great dramas, except that I totally got off at the wrong trian station and had to walk a LONG way to get to my hotel..... just lucky my bags were light!

I spent MAYBE ten minutes in my room before I decided I just had to get out. I sent my txts out that I was here and went fishing for people who were out, then right when I was almost going to give up on the stupid hotel elevator that was taking FOREVER to get to my floor,

I GOT A BITE

Scotty was out!

It was kinda a long night, first in the valley then headed to Davids house for dinner and more drinks, brilliant night catching up with friends!

Headed back to my hotel after 1pm and went straight to sleep.

Saturday I get up 'fairly' early (remebering that I was on holidays) and headed to southbank for the craft fair. I didn't really spend long there but I did buy heaps of supplies. Also the swarovski crystal beading entries were on display (obviously not all of them, just the best).

The winner was this phoenix design, gorgeous yes?

On the way back I saw a poster for an exhibition on costume design and couldn't resist a look (I love design). After having a look around I noticed a flyer for a gothic musical THAT NIGHT! I had to see it and immediatly bought my ticket!

Then I went shopping! You may be thinking clothes, and I did get a few but most of my day was spent at the comic book store!

Comics Etc... Love that store on Elizabeth Street.

I headed back to the hotel after my fruit purchases at Coles.

I dranks wine and ate strawberries! Watched a bit of TV and got ready for a cultured night of gothness!

"Up Jumped the Devil" was excellent!!!! And I must say I do love Nick Cave songs. Its playing at Cremorne Theatre, QPAC till october 31st. Truely a treat for only $35 (with BF)

Sunday was apon me and I had to return home.

I love my old home Brisbane and can't wait till the day I can return!

I'll leave you with this!

Smiggle Addict!!!!

I am now addicted to Smiggle stationary products!


I bought this water bottle for 50% off today, how bloody cool is that!? AU$5

Bloody Cool Weekend!

Met BRad last weekend.

Went to watch Dj Sun Control Species at Fabric had a totally awesome night. Ran a muck in the club met a bunch of new people on the night.

Belinda was out of control but as gorgeous as ever, and full of life.

Left the club after 3am. Attempted to sneak into the house afterward and failed misrably! God knows how I knocked all those bloody bottles off the kitchen table.

In the bedroom I attempted to get ready for bed while actually in the bed itself.

HAHAHA

The next day Paul and I went for a lovely bike ride to the esplanade for lunch. I had a steak at Rattle and Hum. Then we rode back via the botanicle gardens, a very nice ride.

Sunday I actually felt quite tired.

Monday night I was the only one at japanese class again! Then the other receptionist fell ill on tuesday. I had to make a cake as it was my bosses birthday on wesnesday and the other receptionist usually makes them. Too bad noone thought I was going to do it. Even the other receptionist txt our boss wednesday night to see if he had gotten a cake. No faith!

It was infact a bloody yummy cake, cherry chocolate mud cake based on a recipe I found at gourmettraveller.com. Thursday was fairly quiet and the other receptionist came in though she wasn't there very often and certainly didn't help too much with the phone, but at least it was a long weekend and I got friday off. YAY!

Thursday night was another Vodka Thursday! Went to Bels and Brad came too. Though we left once a bunch of other people turned up.

When I got home the boys had been drinking and were keen to go out. So I quickly got changed and we headed to Mad Cow.

They wouldn't let Eamon in Mad Cow with his 'work boots' on so we went to RhinoBar. Bel was out as well so we went and met her and her english friends at sapphire bar. We then headed to Lounge. We later headed to Woolshed (upstairs from Lounge) although Bel and I left to go home soon after getting there.

That was my week. Blah yeah?!

Oh well, I enjoyed myself most of the time. Loved last friday though.