Arriving in narira airport with a sense of dread and fear standing alone.. Every littlebit ofme initially wished to be totally out of every comfort zone my cushy little life has ever provided... Scared. When suddenly after approximately 3 hours of exchanging emails in singapore... Finally there he was. The first friendly face in Tokyo... The good doctor 'doctor gary' finally emerged from the crowds. Admittedly looking like complete shite after spending 30 hours flying and a further 8 waiting at Narita for my flight... All smiles... A long time friend, me and the DR have spent many a happy and not so happy holiday together..2004- thailand,2010- Laos Cambodia and hong kong, always a hood time spent together always a very eventful time. This year however I have come prepared,
With an EXTREMELY expensive fully comprehensive insurance cover!!!
So arriving At Narita we trip together th shinjuku to our hotel, a small box in the sky- the hotel rose garden,.. Small but well equipped, and to bed the good doctor goes. I smoke 3 cigarettes at an italian (I know with all the sushi and ramen I'm still too scared of TOkyo to explore outside the hotel) and have a glass of bubbly wine! An early night us in order.
The following day we discover a small sandwich shop, pick up breakfast and lat the exploring begin.
It's 33 degrees in the shade and it's midday. We go to the imperial palace where emperor Akihito lives. immersive supposedly,given it's behind a wall and you can't see it... Hum Tokyo? Mistake? Well it made for a nice picture of a bridge... We then sat in a park under a tree fir 3 hours sweating and complaining about the weather! Typical Brits abroad. After our brief sit down we went to Tokyo tower and saw a protest about how the Russians have still got claim to a few Japanese islands in the north that Japan still want back after they wwere seared post Nagasaki in 1945 at 2 pm on the 19july!!! (facts provided by Gary of course)
We then went to roppongi to see a giant spider and a view out to Tokyo and dinner.
The next day we went to Tokyo Disneyland... Brilliant fun. If you like quoting in 34degrees, no shade and - massive amounts of people.
Gary threw his toys out of the pram at this point and at 1pm we left. Snow whites grumpy dwarf in in tow. After his bath and a nap grumpy emerged somewhere between sleepy and happy- so wee went to dinner.. Where sleepy became grumpy again. So we went to bed in our separate shoeboxes to emerge happier and rested.
At6am on the 3rd day we went to the fish market-amazing (pics to follow) words won't say slot... The DR said he was amazed there was anything left in the sea! We then had a massive sushi breakfast and made our way to the fastest Japanese land animals lair!
The Shinkansen- or bullet train travels at 7000 miles an hour (300 km/ ph) and covers the whole of Japan... So we went to Nagano hosts of 1998 winter Olympics in which the uk won 1 bronze medal (apparently) so we check into a massive room a Japanese room with tatami mats. Wonderful massive room where you sleep on the floor. Day 1 we go to see some of grays relatives, the snow monkeys who 'shit in the onsen's we then leave the alps where the monkeys live th visit one of buddahs many homes- the temple 'zenkoji'...now seen one temple seen them all??? Well not this one. Here you can touch buddahs knob in a dark alley way... Bit like my first sexual experience. Just without the eternal salvation and enlightenment bit! A good day had by all. Getting back to the hotel- wed been moved a hotel mistake to the biggest suite they have... No complaints from us and a great Trip Advisor.com review! The following day a long walk in the jaPamese alps, an early night and then back to Tokyo via the speeding bullet train.
Back inn Tokyo I spent a happy few hours at shibuya crossing. Crossing roads and visiting H&m and taking pics... Then today ... An 8am bullet to Kyoto, where temples and geisha await. Today we went to the manga museum and Gary read astronomer boy and I read peanuts (Charlie brown) for a happy few hours, then a few temples, one called sanjusangndo and keyyomitzudera... I think, now
Off to bed.... All facts and spelling care of Gary, and auto correct on the I poo. Will review add pics and links when home. Xxxxx
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