- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, July 18, 2011
Teasers!
Here are a few unedited quick shots to give you a sense of the trip. These are all iPhone photos so they are not the best but give you an idea what we have been up to! Much more later!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Headed Home
I'm sitting in the Delta Sky Club getting ready to board my redeye flight home to Seattle after 5 wonderful days in Tokyo! I did not want to pay $20 a day for wifi access so I lost the ability to post for the last few days.
We have been on the go and I'll write several posts on the plane home and post pictures when I get home. There was a 5.4 earthquake on Friday which we definitely felt! We were on the 34th floor of the hotel and it lasted about 7 seconds. The building swayed for several more seconds!
Poor Kent is coming down with a cold and has to remain for a few more days. There is a typhoon headed this way so the weather is going to rapidly deteriorate. I hope Kent gets out on time to be home for the weekend!
It was blazing hot but beautiful while here. Everyday but today was clear and sunny.
More later -
Jim
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
We have been on the go and I'll write several posts on the plane home and post pictures when I get home. There was a 5.4 earthquake on Friday which we definitely felt! We were on the 34th floor of the hotel and it lasted about 7 seconds. The building swayed for several more seconds!
Poor Kent is coming down with a cold and has to remain for a few more days. There is a typhoon headed this way so the weather is going to rapidly deteriorate. I hope Kent gets out on time to be home for the weekend!
It was blazing hot but beautiful while here. Everyday but today was clear and sunny.
More later -
Jim
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tsukiji Fish Market
I made my way over to the fish market as planned this morning and what an experience it was! It was a hustling and bustling place that was actually a bit nerve wracking to maneuver.
I made my way to the tuna auction which was closed to the public but I was able look through a window to see the auction taking place. I guess I was not supposed to do that because the police came along and at first I thought they were talking me to a better viewing spot but I quickly realized I was being escorted out! Such an adventure!
I also took in the produce market while there.
Not as many tourists as I would have expected. It was 5am - so I guess that could explain it!
Later - Jim
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I made my way to the tuna auction which was closed to the public but I was able look through a window to see the auction taking place. I guess I was not supposed to do that because the police came along and at first I thought they were talking me to a better viewing spot but I quickly realized I was being escorted out! Such an adventure!
I also took in the produce market while there.
Not as many tourists as I would have expected. It was 5am - so I guess that could explain it!
Later - Jim
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Pictures from Day One
It's currently 3:15 in the morning and of course I can't sleep. Yesterday was was an exhausting day. Just when I get adjusted to he time change it will be time to head home.
The hotel is very nice - I am glad we are here on Business for Kent so the company is picking up the tab for the room. The daily rate is $465 a night! There are a lot of people here on business so to walk abound the hotel in flip flops, shorts and tee shirts you kind of stand out. I learned the hard way not to have a drink in the hotel bar.
This is a picture of my $16.54 Japanese beer! No more visits to the hotel bar!
The Hama-rikyu Gardens across the street from the hotel made for a nice afternoon adventure. I had afternoon tea at Nakajima-no-ochya teahouse. Very traditional remove your shoes, sit on the floor kind of places.
These are pictures from inside the teahouse - it was very relaxing!
The picture above is the teahouse pictured with our hotel in the background.
This is outside the teahouse.
The following are a few other pictures taken in the gardens.
Once Kent was done with work we jumped on the subway and went to dinner at a Chinese Restaurant of all places which was pretty good. Then we went to the Tokyo tower which was all lite up fir the evening. It was very beautiful.
Nice views!
This morning I'm headed to the Tsukiji Fish Market. Should be crowded and busy!
More later -
Jim
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The hotel is very nice - I am glad we are here on Business for Kent so the company is picking up the tab for the room. The daily rate is $465 a night! There are a lot of people here on business so to walk abound the hotel in flip flops, shorts and tee shirts you kind of stand out. I learned the hard way not to have a drink in the hotel bar.
This is a picture of my $16.54 Japanese beer! No more visits to the hotel bar!
The Hama-rikyu Gardens across the street from the hotel made for a nice afternoon adventure. I had afternoon tea at Nakajima-no-ochya teahouse. Very traditional remove your shoes, sit on the floor kind of places.
These are pictures from inside the teahouse - it was very relaxing!
The picture above is the teahouse pictured with our hotel in the background.
This is outside the teahouse.
The following are a few other pictures taken in the gardens.
Once Kent was done with work we jumped on the subway and went to dinner at a Chinese Restaurant of all places which was pretty good. Then we went to the Tokyo tower which was all lite up fir the evening. It was very beautiful.
Nice views!
This morning I'm headed to the Tsukiji Fish Market. Should be crowded and busy!
More later -
Jim
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Arrived in Tokyo
Well after a very long flight and three planes later I arrived in Tokyo as planned and on time. Leaving LA at 1am turned out to be a pretty good idea in terms if getting some sleep. Basically you are already tired and then you travel entirely in the dark until you arrive in Tokyo some 12 hours later. The cabin in the plane is dark and there is not a lot of activity going on. I slept a good 8 hours. I arrived at 5am on Thursday so I lost a full day in there someplace. I'll pretty much have the day to myself and will try to stay awake all day and hopefully quickly get adjusted to the time change.
I am such a lucky guy to have such a great husband. Although Kent has to work today since my flight arrived so early he got up early and met me at the airport to help me maneuver the train system to the hotel! He had also written them out in great detail in the event that I he was unable to met me.
It's a good thing he met me - it seemed very complicated! Here are a few pictures I've taken so far.
This is a picture of our room at the Conrad Hotel. It's very nice!
This is a view of Hama Rikyu Garden from the hotel lobby which is on the 28th floor of the building.
This is the Nijubashi Bridge on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Beautiful grounds.
East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.
Tokyo International Forum.
Flower Market.
More later-
Jim
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I am such a lucky guy to have such a great husband. Although Kent has to work today since my flight arrived so early he got up early and met me at the airport to help me maneuver the train system to the hotel! He had also written them out in great detail in the event that I he was unable to met me.
It's a good thing he met me - it seemed very complicated! Here are a few pictures I've taken so far.
This is a picture of our room at the Conrad Hotel. It's very nice!
This is a view of Hama Rikyu Garden from the hotel lobby which is on the 28th floor of the building.
This is the Nijubashi Bridge on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Beautiful grounds.
East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.
Tokyo International Forum.
Flower Market.
More later-
Jim
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tokyo Bound
There is an ongoing debate between Kent and I if you can count having been someplace if you have been to the airport. If you go by my definition I am returning to Tokyo. If you go by Kent's definition - I'm going for the first time. Truth be told I can see his point - I was only in the Tokyo airport a few years ago in route and returning from Hong Kong several years ago. So I am really looking forward to an actual visit of 5 days!
Leaving from Seattle on a Tuesday afternoon to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday morning and then leaving on a Tuesday morning from Tokyo only to return to Seattle on the previous Monday night messes with the mind! I am pretty much prepared to be messed up by the time I return to Seattle. To make matters worse I return to Seattle late Monday night and have to fly out the next day to Spokane for an overnight business trip.
Kent is in Tokyo now for business - he left on Sunday and will be there for nearly two weeks before heading home. He has two separate meeting to attend to while in Tokyo and most often when he travels there his meeting are back to back but this time he has a nice break of 4 days between meetings so I am going to join him for the weekend.
I am not sure what we will end up doing but I have an entire list of activities that I hope we can fit in including:
Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi by Bullet Train
Kamakura tour
Tokyo Morning walking tour
Tokyo Fish Market
Not sure want we will actually fit in but looking forward to whatever we do.
Just getting ready to land in Salt Lake City and from there to LA and then finally on to Henada Airport in Tokyo. There is a 14 hour time difference between Seattle and Tokyo. Just lost an hour between Seattle and Salt Lake that I will gain back between here and LA only to lose again in route to Tokyo. I'm all messed up!
Here are a few pictures on the flight down and of the Great Salt Lake as we landed. Passing over the weather front heading south.
Pictures of the great Salt Lake.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Later - Jim
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Leaving from Seattle on a Tuesday afternoon to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday morning and then leaving on a Tuesday morning from Tokyo only to return to Seattle on the previous Monday night messes with the mind! I am pretty much prepared to be messed up by the time I return to Seattle. To make matters worse I return to Seattle late Monday night and have to fly out the next day to Spokane for an overnight business trip.
Kent is in Tokyo now for business - he left on Sunday and will be there for nearly two weeks before heading home. He has two separate meeting to attend to while in Tokyo and most often when he travels there his meeting are back to back but this time he has a nice break of 4 days between meetings so I am going to join him for the weekend.
I am not sure what we will end up doing but I have an entire list of activities that I hope we can fit in including:
Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi by Bullet Train
Kamakura tour
Tokyo Morning walking tour
Tokyo Fish Market
Not sure want we will actually fit in but looking forward to whatever we do.
Just getting ready to land in Salt Lake City and from there to LA and then finally on to Henada Airport in Tokyo. There is a 14 hour time difference between Seattle and Tokyo. Just lost an hour between Seattle and Salt Lake that I will gain back between here and LA only to lose again in route to Tokyo. I'm all messed up!
Here are a few pictures on the flight down and of the Great Salt Lake as we landed. Passing over the weather front heading south.
Pictures of the great Salt Lake.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Later - Jim
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)