Saturday 11th July 2009
On Thursday we left Mt Fuji without seeing the Mt.
We traveled on the Shinkansen train for about 2 and a half hours.
The train was very fast but quiet.
I slept for some of the way.
Mr K took lots of photos and Felicia read and knitted.
When we got to Kyoto we found our accomodation which was just across the road from the main train station.
We are staying in a Ryokan which is a Traditional Japanese Guest House.
It is OK but very small.
The beds are very thin matresses on the floor.
We have actually put 4 together.
The pillows are very smalland very hard.
The bathroom is super tiny.
Mr K has managed to bump his head many times because the ceilings are low.
We went on a walking tour.
We went through what they call Kyotos pantry which was like a market place.
There were some very interesting foods to see and smell.
Yesterday we went on a bus tour around Kyoto.
We visited many temples.
There were a lot of steps to go up and down to the temples.
The weather is very humid.
It rained for some of the day yesterday.
Today we are catching a train to Nara for the day.
We will probably just do a walking tour around.
Mrs K. XX
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Where is Mt Fuji?
Thursday 9th July 2009
Yesterday we left Tokyo.
We had to catch 2 different trains in the city before getting on the Shinkansen train to Fuji.
The city is overlooked by Mt Fuji.
But there were too many clouds and we only got small glimpses of the Mt.
The Sinkansen is a fast train and travels at about 200km/hour.
We were on the train for about an hour.
When we got to Fuji we were met by 4 Japanese girls. One of them Rie has been to our house twice. Her friend Haruna came with her last year. Her older sister Katsue and another friend Ayana both had cars to drive us around.
We went to a restaurant where you sit on the floor with your legs down in a small pit under the table. We had to leave our shoes in a locker near the front door. We cooked our Okonnomikayi (savoury pancakes with lots of cabbage) on a hot plate on the table.
They then took us to a shopping centre and then to our Motel.
Mt Fuji was right out of our window - if we could see it.
Mr K and I went for a walk around to see what was around.
We just went to the convenience store and got sandwiches and yogurt for dinner.
Today we catch another train and go to Kyoto but more about that once we get there.
Mrs K. xx
Interesting Things - Part 3
Thursday 9th July 2009
*Workplace, Health and Safety would have a fit here - noone wears gloves when handling food.
*Even though the city is busy it is quiet.
*Our ears perk up when we hear someone speaking English. So far we have met a guy from Sydney, 2 Americans and a guy who teaches English in China.
*There are many different kinds of locks in the toilets.
*One set of toilets even had a light panel to show which toilet was free to use.
* There was one set of toilets that were tip toilets - you put your loose change in when you exit.
*Taxis have lace seat covers.
*Pillows have some sort of "beans" in them.
*When crossing the road there is a little white man on a blue blackground light.
*Trees along the streets are supported and anchored down - to hold them up when covered in snow.
*There are many different small cars but most are very box like.
*There are shopping centres at most train stations.
*There are seats outside of cafes for you to sit and wait to be invited in.
* Haircuts cost a lot - about $70
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Out and about in Tokyo
Tuesday 7th July 2009
On Sunday we met up with Ayana. She stayed with us last year for 3 weeks.
We had some trouble finding her as we planned on meeting her at the train station but the problem was that the train station has so many exits. But we eventually found her after phoning Sharnelle to get mobile numbers.
Late in the afternoon we went to Akihibara which is known as Electric Town. Mr K wanted to go there. There were supposed to be lots of lights and shops selling electric things. It was a bit dissapointing really.We had Japanese Maccas for dinner.
On Monday we went to an Art Gallery. We saw lots of lovely ink paintings. It was a very raining day. We went into Tokyo city to 2 different shopping areas. It was interesting to see and to watch people but we didn't buy anything. Things are very expensive here. I did have an Ice Coffee that had small rice balls in the bottom. We went to an Italian Restaurant for dinner.
Today we wet to the zoo. There were a lot of interesting birds there. Then we went to Tokyo central and went on a tour of The Imperial Palace Gardens. That is where the Emperor lives. It was intersting but today was a very hot day and so walking around was not all that nice. The Emperor grows a small patch of his own rice and the Empress has silk worms. Mr K and Felicia then went to a Science Museum but I came back to our Guest House as I was so tired. I was proud of myself, I managed to find my way back on the trains! I had a sleep while I waited for Mr K and Felicia to come back. Mr K also went back to Electric Town and Felicia spent some time in the park drawing. We went out to Denny's for dinner. It is an American Family Restaurant. The food was yummy!
Tomorrow we leave Tokyo and go to Mt Fuji. We catch a train there. It will take about 2 hours. We will meet another one of our Japanese girls there.
Mrs K xx
On Sunday we met up with Ayana. She stayed with us last year for 3 weeks.
We had some trouble finding her as we planned on meeting her at the train station but the problem was that the train station has so many exits. But we eventually found her after phoning Sharnelle to get mobile numbers.
Late in the afternoon we went to Akihibara which is known as Electric Town. Mr K wanted to go there. There were supposed to be lots of lights and shops selling electric things. It was a bit dissapointing really.We had Japanese Maccas for dinner.
On Monday we went to an Art Gallery. We saw lots of lovely ink paintings. It was a very raining day. We went into Tokyo city to 2 different shopping areas. It was interesting to see and to watch people but we didn't buy anything. Things are very expensive here. I did have an Ice Coffee that had small rice balls in the bottom. We went to an Italian Restaurant for dinner.
Today we wet to the zoo. There were a lot of interesting birds there. Then we went to Tokyo central and went on a tour of The Imperial Palace Gardens. That is where the Emperor lives. It was intersting but today was a very hot day and so walking around was not all that nice. The Emperor grows a small patch of his own rice and the Empress has silk worms. Mr K and Felicia then went to a Science Museum but I came back to our Guest House as I was so tired. I was proud of myself, I managed to find my way back on the trains! I had a sleep while I waited for Mr K and Felicia to come back. Mr K also went back to Electric Town and Felicia spent some time in the park drawing. We went out to Denny's for dinner. It is an American Family Restaurant. The food was yummy!
Tomorrow we leave Tokyo and go to Mt Fuji. We catch a train there. It will take about 2 hours. We will meet another one of our Japanese girls there.
Mrs K xx
More Interesting Things that I have noticed
Tuesday 7th July 2009
*A lot of ladies wear stockings.
*Its always a challenge to get the right button to flush the toilet.
*Its always a relief when I open the toilet door and its a western toilet and not a Japanese one!
*There are not many bins around but there is no rubbish lying around.
*And when you do find a bin you have to know which one to put it into as they are big on recycling.
* There seems to be many more Japanese men than women.
*A lot of ladies wear stockings.
*Its always a challenge to get the right button to flush the toilet.
*Its always a relief when I open the toilet door and its a western toilet and not a Japanese one!
*There are not many bins around but there is no rubbish lying around.
*And when you do find a bin you have to know which one to put it into as they are big on recycling.
* There seems to be many more Japanese men than women.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Interesting Things that I have seen in Tokyo
Monday 6th July 2009
*People ride bikes and hold an umbrella up at the same time.
*Some bikes have umbrella holders.
*There are a lot of very interesting socks!
*Dogs are treated like children - they are dressed and pushed around in prams
*We saw a cavalier today - we miss Simba!
*Tokyo train line map represents a bowl of spaghetti - there are so many lines.
*Small TV screens show ads on the trains and the details of the next station including the number of minutes to the next station.
*Mobile phones are not allowed to ring on the trains.
*People read, sleep or text while traveling on the train.
*People smoke not on the streets but in cafes etc
*I don't like the smell!!!
*You can get French food in an Itailian restaurant in Tokyo.
*The food is always presented beautifully especially the cakes and it tastes even better.
*The baths are very hot in the Onsen - Japanese Bath.
*You sit down on a low stool to take a shower.
*There are a million steps everywhere.
*My knees don't like all the steps!!!
*The people are very friendly and helpful.
*People ride bikes and hold an umbrella up at the same time.
*Some bikes have umbrella holders.
*There are a lot of very interesting socks!
*Dogs are treated like children - they are dressed and pushed around in prams
*We saw a cavalier today - we miss Simba!
*Tokyo train line map represents a bowl of spaghetti - there are so many lines.
*Small TV screens show ads on the trains and the details of the next station including the number of minutes to the next station.
*Mobile phones are not allowed to ring on the trains.
*People read, sleep or text while traveling on the train.
*People smoke not on the streets but in cafes etc
*I don't like the smell!!!
*You can get French food in an Itailian restaurant in Tokyo.
*The food is always presented beautifully especially the cakes and it tastes even better.
*The baths are very hot in the Onsen - Japanese Bath.
*You sit down on a low stool to take a shower.
*There are a million steps everywhere.
*My knees don't like all the steps!!!
*The people are very friendly and helpful.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
In Japan
Saturday 4th July 2009
We arrived in Japan yesterday.
It was a very long flight.
The people on the flight were very good to us.
They gave us a snack soon after we took off, lunch and then sandwiches as well as lots of drinks.
I watched movies on the flight.
When we got to Tokyo, the airport was so big that we had to catch a bus from the plane to the terminal.
Then we got a train to the Traditional Japanese Guesthouse where we were sleeping.
When we were on the train we saw lots rice fields and small houses.
It looked like a model town.
There are no gardens.
Simba would not like to live here.
But I did see 4 dogs walking.
We left home at 5am and arrived at the guesthouse at 9pm.
We were all very tired!!!
Our bed at the guesthouse was a mattress on the floor but I was so tired I slept anyway!!!
Today we went to Central Tokyo on the trains.
There are so many trains.
Felicia and Mr K are good at organising the trains.
We met a Japanese girl - Haruka (who stayed at our house 2 years ago) and her family.
They took us to many places to see interesting things and eat lots of Japanese food.
We even saw a shop that had clothes for dogs.
We didn't buy any for Simba because they cost lots of money but we saw some jeans that would fit him!!!
Now I need to sleep and rest because tomorrow we are meeting another Japanese girl that we know.
The people here seem very kind and helpful.
Love Mrs K xx
We arrived in Japan yesterday.
It was a very long flight.
The people on the flight were very good to us.
They gave us a snack soon after we took off, lunch and then sandwiches as well as lots of drinks.
I watched movies on the flight.
When we got to Tokyo, the airport was so big that we had to catch a bus from the plane to the terminal.
Then we got a train to the Traditional Japanese Guesthouse where we were sleeping.
When we were on the train we saw lots rice fields and small houses.
It looked like a model town.
There are no gardens.
Simba would not like to live here.
But I did see 4 dogs walking.
We left home at 5am and arrived at the guesthouse at 9pm.
We were all very tired!!!
Our bed at the guesthouse was a mattress on the floor but I was so tired I slept anyway!!!
Today we went to Central Tokyo on the trains.
There are so many trains.
Felicia and Mr K are good at organising the trains.
We met a Japanese girl - Haruka (who stayed at our house 2 years ago) and her family.
They took us to many places to see interesting things and eat lots of Japanese food.
We even saw a shop that had clothes for dogs.
We didn't buy any for Simba because they cost lots of money but we saw some jeans that would fit him!!!
Now I need to sleep and rest because tomorrow we are meeting another Japanese girl that we know.
The people here seem very kind and helpful.
Love Mrs K xx
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