fuchsia fragments

Take 2 days annual leave and get 10 days in a row off? Um... no brainer, I am so in!

And so begins the (almost) 60+ tour with my mum, dad and aunty. And it was fun - at times frustrating as we missed a lot of trains and buses by seconds and the trip was always opinionated but still great to have visitors. It didn't mean I was a jolly tour guide the whole time but I managed and I think the trip and itinerary was great! Lots of walking...

First stop: Kanazawa! It's kid of a semi-sleepy city. Not much to see if you don't like fresh food and seafood markets. There's a castle and a garden. Mid-range department stores. The highlight was taking a day trip by bus to Shirakawago... amazing farmhouses in the valley of two mountains. Cold weather as expected but so well preserved and got to try famous Hida milk and beef. Yum!

Then it was down to Osaka, our base for the next 5 days. Some new, some visited before. The shopping street was absolutely packed out and then some so it was just a short walk through. Tried these amazing Portugese tarts from Andy's Dontonburi. Got some local takoyaki and subway hopped a few places like the castle, Namba and Shin-Osaka. Day trips to Kyoto (so tourist these days), Himeji and Kobe. Hotel was a huge let down... never again!

Then was Hakone and Kawaguchiko. Awesome luck that we saw Mt Fuji and the cable car was operating. Totes bad luck it rained the evening we got to Kawaguchiko and had to walk to the hotel. Gotemba outlets were so-so (expensive) but the views there were amazing. The pink moss festival can be missed. The onsen hotel in Gora was a-m-a-z-i-n-g but expensive.

And by the time we got back to Tokyo, I was glad I had an extra day to rest cause it was tiring!

Arriving at 5 AM has its advantages such as no traffic in the morning and being able to rest for a few hours and freshen up before the new day. I certainly think red-eye flights are the better ways to go as it saves a potentially a day and if you are travelling, that's potentially one night's accommodation you save. The jetlag is another story but I've been getting use to working to my bones up to the time that I travel that it's not overly difficult to catch a few z's when flying. It doesn't mean I don't have jetlag though but it beats being bored for hours on end. This is the third flight in a row where I have not watched any of the entertainment on-board and declined meals/drinks - maybe I could do the whole budget traveller thing?

So I've gotten through week 1 - settled into my apartment. Got some essentials and realised as I was unpacking that I didn't actually pack as much as I had thought. Excellent news, means I can shop more! Here's the part where I hope the Aussie dollar starts making up its lost ground and fast.

This week has been about meeting the team again and I can already sense a firmer barrier between us that last time. I know that they are shutting me out. However, everyone is telling me to let it go for now and that I should plan lunches instead. So I have been!

I've already managed to secure two harder-to-find bottles of whiskey (Yamazaki 12 & Hibiki 17) so that is a major item off my list. Can't wait to try it. No good wine in Japan means I am learning to drink whiskey. It's not so bad as I am starting off with like 1 part whiskey to 10 parts ginger ale. I happen to like ginger ale. But bad whiskey is well... really bad. My sister is planning to visit in March and I'm wondering if we will have time / want to go and visit the Nikka distillery in Yoishi.

I visited Yokohama on the weekend. It rained out so was a bit boring. Also, the Chinatown isn't as cool as the ones in San Fran or New York. It probably doesn't even stack up to Sydney. It was all about the buns and Shanghai dumplings it seemed and very tourist orientated. I walked into one of the Asian grocery stores and it was really only selling snacks and drinks and a few dry goods. A little bit disappointing. One thing I really wish I'd brought with me is a jar of mum's chilli!!!


I'm not liking the current season's clothes at Zara or H&M or Uniqlo so haven't stuck into the shopping yet. May go and venture out on the weekend. My colleagues tell me it is outlet sale time... I kind of need to get paid first...! Can't bankroll myself forever.

Have already tried a few interesting things in the supermarket. I bought what I thought was fish cake which turned out to be this rice or tofu cake thing. Wasn't particularly pleasant. And then this is my bad as I should have known when it said 700g but still stupidly thought it was milk when it was drinking yoghurt. At least with the yoghurt, I can pour that over my granola!

Generally and especially with the exchange rate, I am finding most things expensive. Except alcohol as you'd expect as they don't have additional taxes etc. But fresh fruit, veg and meat will cost you $$$. Their strawberries are AMAZING though. Got a couple of familiar faces in the office with me this week so should be an interesting week. We have a team dinner tomorrow and then I'm off to Japanese Language school on Thursday evening!

One month away from home really isn't such a long time. It's the equivalent of a longer holiday and it many respects, a lot of the things can kind of just be 'put on hold' for a few days longer until you are home.

And during this time away I haven't felt bored yet. I still have so much of Tokyo that I can see and easily get to and spend time around. One thing is for sure: I haven't really experienced much of the Tokyo nightlife (since I'm really not that kind of person... on my own anyway) and after walking around shopping centres or tourist attractions for 7 or 8 hours straight, you're kind of tired by the time the evening rolls around.

It's hard to believe that I've already spent 3 weeks here. I've tried to do some things that the locals do  - still hard considering most of my colleagues do not live within Tokyo - and I've also done a number of touristy things. It's kind of obvious when you're at a tourist attraction. You don't hear much Japanese. In fact, its lots of mainland Chinese thrown in with the odd English phrase or two. I hear more American accents than Australian. I've managed to be at a couple of locations where there was some festival: Tokyo Dog Festival day yesterday for example. Pampered pooches everywhere but no matter how dolled up they look, I firmly believe that Nessie & Maxxie have a much happier life with a garden, real walks (not being pushed around in a stroller), real friends and real parks to see.

I've done a lot of shopping. And even more window shopping but I should probably assess the space in my suitcase before I go out this last weekend for last minute purchases. I think I have also done more shopping for others than for myself.

I've even managed to find a better supermarket and places where I will probably stock up on necessities when I come back. Toyko is not a cheap city and when you think about it, the subway for that matter is not cheap. 200 Yen or so for a 10 minute ride a few stations and if you are hopping on and off it a few times a day, that is easily over 1,000 Yen in transport fees. Of course, a taxi is even more expensive...

I've felt very safe here. I think I felt a slight tremor on Saturday evening in my building (wasn't sure if it was the washing machine though) as there was an earthquake off the south coast of Japan - very far from Tokyo. It kind of just highlights the need to be aware I guess. You can't very well live in fear.

I am definitely looking forward to some warmer weather although it has been very mild albeit wet. And Christmas BBQs and new year drinks. And I also am dreaming about Hawaii... I wonder when will be the next time we meet oh beautiful island(s).