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| Fuji San after the snow |
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| Kitanomaru Park Entrance |
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| Seriously, if you don't have a lens then you are not in the Gang! |
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| Tokyo Colours |
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Just an ordinary Sunday in Tokyo
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Let me rant.....please?
The day started with no hint of what was to come. It was all looking so good. The overnight rain had stopped, the air was cool and fresh. I'll start at the very beginning (as Julie Andrews once famously sang)....
We decided to have one last visit to China before we leave Asia. Half term was looming and seemed the perfect space. We had to keep it short as the school has a visit from some Inspectors the day after the half term holiday so we didn't need to be seen to be staying away for too long! We long to see some of the beautiful places in Beijing just one more time: Summer Palace, 798 - the Art District and maybe a quick trip to the Forbidden City. We also wanted to spend some time with our very good friends from our time there so got in touch to see if they were available. So far so good.
Took a while to get hold of our travel agent and get the tickets - you can't apply for a visa til you have the tickets. Got the tickets? Book a hotel. You can't get a visa without an address to go to. Booked the hotel? Yes, the Fairmont - somewhere we have been promising ourselves to stay ever since we saw it being built for the Olympic games. Sadly it wasn't finished in time for that and we left the country the following year without seeing it completed. Another tick off the Bucket List for us then on this visit.
Got the forms for the visa application off the Chinese Embassy website. Done this before soooo many times. Sorted it all out, got copies of absolutely everything, added a photo and went off to the Chinese Embassy - this was on Monday 3rd October. Hmm, closed for National Day which is actually 5th October. So.... closed on the Monday before... hmmm. Checked with our friends and the whole of the Chinese population has a whole week off. So not open til 10th October then? Wrong. 10th October is a Japanese National Holiday. Not open til 11th October then? Right. And we fly when? Oh the 16th. Takes four working days for a visa unless you pay extra. I'm afraid my heart wouldn't take the strain so I decided to go for the mega express service and pay the Chinese whatever they want just to get it done and to be able to sleep at night.
So yesterday saw me queueing outside the Chinese Embassy in Roppongi by 8.50 am. First day after such a long holiday meant the queue grew quickly and snaked around the building. Not to worry I knew where I was going and what I had to do. In and out in 40 minutes I reckoned then off to Starbucks and a visit for coffee with my lovely husband in his office. Job done.
So I get through all the security, smile dazzlingly (I thought) at the security guards and run up three flights of stairs to beat the lift which is full anyway. I fling myself through the door, head to the check desk and the lovely unsmiling lady behind the window takes one look at my forms, beautifully completed in clear, rounded script with a blacker than black pen and states very calmly that I " have the old forms. We have new ones now". The clue had been the man in front of me who, when told the same thing, became incandescent with rage and I stood back in amazement - I have never seen such a display of anger in anyone over three and half years old! I did not wish to be anythng but British - stoic in the face of hardship and challenge, quiet and fair minded. So I muttered "I got them off your website" and smiled. She, of course, had the upper hand and merely handed me a new bunch of forms that quite honestly looked like a GCSE examination booklet. I retreated to what was, but not for long, a space and spread the papers out prepared to tackle this with no hysteria. To cut a long story short it required far more information than I could carry in my brain (How many countries had we visited in the last twleve months and exactly what were the dates of those visits?). I was quickly being surrounded by furious foreigners in the same predicament and for some reason I became a fount of all knowledge - Do I need to add this? Where can I get that information? Do I have to fill this bit in? I wanted to scream at them, "How do I know??" but I didn't. All this while I was trying desperately to complete my own form and David's too. He was busy, I knew that. The impending inspection involves so much preparation and he did not need disturbing; I was sure I could do it without him and then..... the bl.... signature block. Of coure, how could I forge his signature successfully when the passport had a beautiful copy of it in there? I'd never get away with it. Blast, damn and all that other stuff. I called him and threw myself on his mercy.
He was amazingly sanguine. But then, he was alone in a nice tranquil office with a window and sunlight and a cup of tea while I was on the third floor of the Chinese Embassy surrounded by Chinese and foreigners all shouting and pushing and invading my space. The solution was simple he couldn't come to the Embassy (why on earth would he want to? I asked myself later) but I could go to school, sit quietly in the cool, calm atmosphere of the staff room, complete the forms and simply present them for his signature. Oh God how I wish I had a PA .......
Sorted, all within the hour. I could still, just, if I got a wriggle on, make the 12 o clock deadline to get the visa and collect it in the morning. I was elated as I returned to the Embassy. Surely to goodness the early morning rush would have died down; this was possibly the best time to go, I convinced myself. No one waiting outside....looking hopeful then. The security guard recognised me and spoke warmly when he greeted me - for the second time that day as he explained to his colleagues. I skipped up to the third floor and ....wham! I have never, ever seen so many people in a room. It was jam packed and the queues to be rechecked were humongous. I nearly turned and left but that good ole British determination came to the fore. Finally I got a number: 554. Window 1, I was told. Window 1 was currently serving 534. TWENTY people in front of me; I could have wept. I didn't weep though. I reached into my bag and retrieved the ipod. Set it up, put the earphones in my ears and propped myself against a wall. Then I relaxed to the every day tale of country folk - The Archers Omnibus! Surreal.
Almost two hours later I was seen and dealt with in about 5 minutes but during that waiting time I had made myself a solemn promise. In fact it became a mantra - I am NEVER going to a Chinese Embassy anywhere in the world EVER again and the corollary to that was "And I am NEVER, EVER, EVER going to go to China, EVER again!" So I had better make the most of my time there next week. This will be our last and final visit to the country we called home for two years.
Postscript - collected the passports complete with visas this morning - in and out in fifteen minutes. Maybe we will go back again after all......
We decided to have one last visit to China before we leave Asia. Half term was looming and seemed the perfect space. We had to keep it short as the school has a visit from some Inspectors the day after the half term holiday so we didn't need to be seen to be staying away for too long! We long to see some of the beautiful places in Beijing just one more time: Summer Palace, 798 - the Art District and maybe a quick trip to the Forbidden City. We also wanted to spend some time with our very good friends from our time there so got in touch to see if they were available. So far so good.
Took a while to get hold of our travel agent and get the tickets - you can't apply for a visa til you have the tickets. Got the tickets? Book a hotel. You can't get a visa without an address to go to. Booked the hotel? Yes, the Fairmont - somewhere we have been promising ourselves to stay ever since we saw it being built for the Olympic games. Sadly it wasn't finished in time for that and we left the country the following year without seeing it completed. Another tick off the Bucket List for us then on this visit.
Got the forms for the visa application off the Chinese Embassy website. Done this before soooo many times. Sorted it all out, got copies of absolutely everything, added a photo and went off to the Chinese Embassy - this was on Monday 3rd October. Hmm, closed for National Day which is actually 5th October. So.... closed on the Monday before... hmmm. Checked with our friends and the whole of the Chinese population has a whole week off. So not open til 10th October then? Wrong. 10th October is a Japanese National Holiday. Not open til 11th October then? Right. And we fly when? Oh the 16th. Takes four working days for a visa unless you pay extra. I'm afraid my heart wouldn't take the strain so I decided to go for the mega express service and pay the Chinese whatever they want just to get it done and to be able to sleep at night.
So yesterday saw me queueing outside the Chinese Embassy in Roppongi by 8.50 am. First day after such a long holiday meant the queue grew quickly and snaked around the building. Not to worry I knew where I was going and what I had to do. In and out in 40 minutes I reckoned then off to Starbucks and a visit for coffee with my lovely husband in his office. Job done.
So I get through all the security, smile dazzlingly (I thought) at the security guards and run up three flights of stairs to beat the lift which is full anyway. I fling myself through the door, head to the check desk and the lovely unsmiling lady behind the window takes one look at my forms, beautifully completed in clear, rounded script with a blacker than black pen and states very calmly that I " have the old forms. We have new ones now". The clue had been the man in front of me who, when told the same thing, became incandescent with rage and I stood back in amazement - I have never seen such a display of anger in anyone over three and half years old! I did not wish to be anythng but British - stoic in the face of hardship and challenge, quiet and fair minded. So I muttered "I got them off your website" and smiled. She, of course, had the upper hand and merely handed me a new bunch of forms that quite honestly looked like a GCSE examination booklet. I retreated to what was, but not for long, a space and spread the papers out prepared to tackle this with no hysteria. To cut a long story short it required far more information than I could carry in my brain (How many countries had we visited in the last twleve months and exactly what were the dates of those visits?). I was quickly being surrounded by furious foreigners in the same predicament and for some reason I became a fount of all knowledge - Do I need to add this? Where can I get that information? Do I have to fill this bit in? I wanted to scream at them, "How do I know??" but I didn't. All this while I was trying desperately to complete my own form and David's too. He was busy, I knew that. The impending inspection involves so much preparation and he did not need disturbing; I was sure I could do it without him and then..... the bl.... signature block. Of coure, how could I forge his signature successfully when the passport had a beautiful copy of it in there? I'd never get away with it. Blast, damn and all that other stuff. I called him and threw myself on his mercy.
He was amazingly sanguine. But then, he was alone in a nice tranquil office with a window and sunlight and a cup of tea while I was on the third floor of the Chinese Embassy surrounded by Chinese and foreigners all shouting and pushing and invading my space. The solution was simple he couldn't come to the Embassy (why on earth would he want to? I asked myself later) but I could go to school, sit quietly in the cool, calm atmosphere of the staff room, complete the forms and simply present them for his signature. Oh God how I wish I had a PA .......
Sorted, all within the hour. I could still, just, if I got a wriggle on, make the 12 o clock deadline to get the visa and collect it in the morning. I was elated as I returned to the Embassy. Surely to goodness the early morning rush would have died down; this was possibly the best time to go, I convinced myself. No one waiting outside....looking hopeful then. The security guard recognised me and spoke warmly when he greeted me - for the second time that day as he explained to his colleagues. I skipped up to the third floor and ....wham! I have never, ever seen so many people in a room. It was jam packed and the queues to be rechecked were humongous. I nearly turned and left but that good ole British determination came to the fore. Finally I got a number: 554. Window 1, I was told. Window 1 was currently serving 534. TWENTY people in front of me; I could have wept. I didn't weep though. I reached into my bag and retrieved the ipod. Set it up, put the earphones in my ears and propped myself against a wall. Then I relaxed to the every day tale of country folk - The Archers Omnibus! Surreal.
Almost two hours later I was seen and dealt with in about 5 minutes but during that waiting time I had made myself a solemn promise. In fact it became a mantra - I am NEVER going to a Chinese Embassy anywhere in the world EVER again and the corollary to that was "And I am NEVER, EVER, EVER going to go to China, EVER again!" So I had better make the most of my time there next week. This will be our last and final visit to the country we called home for two years.
Postscript - collected the passports complete with visas this morning - in and out in fifteen minutes. Maybe we will go back again after all......
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Kamakura with Kenka
Another amazing day out from Tokyo with Kenka. Short train ride to Kamakura and here we are again. Managed to paddle in the Pacific too - sooooooooooo warm at this time of year.
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| Tsunami warnings everywhere.. what to look for |
Then off to Hase - Dera - a beautiful temple which is devoted to the souls of babies born before they could live - Water Babies. There are literally thousands of little statues to these children. How lovely to be able to publicly share the untimely birth of these babies.
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| Stone lantern in Bamboo |
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| Pond at Hase-dera |
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| Praying at the Temple |
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| Inside a Japanese wax umbrella |
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| Cool Kenka! Under the spray at Hase-dera |
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Beautiful Bali
I really believe this is my most favourite place on the planet so far. If I ever disappear, I'll be found sipping Strawberry Daiquiries on a beach here, under a palm tree, soaking up the sun and admiring the view. We 'discovered' Bali last year and chose to visit again - totally against the Williams philosophy of see it, enjoy it, move on. This year's choice of destination was based on advice from a friend or two. So it was then, that at 5pm one evening, we landed in the Big Bird which had brought us from Tokyo to Denpasar.
Our villa was stunning - even in the dark - which it was when we arrived due to a delay at Narita. There were two huge bedrooms either side of a large lounge area (outdoors, but covered) and the private pool for our sole use. Oh gosh, this was certainly the life and we quickly settled into it! The bed was a bit of a shock to both Dave and me - it had a bit sticking out the bottom which got both of us on the shin so for the rest of our holiday we had a big purple bruise developing on our legs. Togetherness..?!
We didn't 'do' an awful lot. We did not want to spend time in a hot stuffy car or wander about in hot, dusty towns.
We had massages and pedicures almost daily - they were so cheap and so accessible. We discovered the best places to eat, we met with friends who had also chosen Seminyak as their holiday destination, we found a fabulous beach, enjyoyed the ocean which on occasion could accommodate novice surfers too and loved our leisurely swims in the villa pool. We drank champage, enjoyed the local beer - Bintang, ate beef rendang and sate as well as amazing foie gras and lamb. We listened to music and yes... I even listened to the Archers and skyped family, courtesy of wifi in the place. We relaxed and chilled and recovered from what we both decided had been quite a year. The earthquake had taken its toll on both of us in different ways and it was a real joy to finally put that behind us and add it to our life experience list!
Our villa was stunning - even in the dark - which it was when we arrived due to a delay at Narita. There were two huge bedrooms either side of a large lounge area (outdoors, but covered) and the private pool for our sole use. Oh gosh, this was certainly the life and we quickly settled into it! The bed was a bit of a shock to both Dave and me - it had a bit sticking out the bottom which got both of us on the shin so for the rest of our holiday we had a big purple bruise developing on our legs. Togetherness..?!
We didn't 'do' an awful lot. We did not want to spend time in a hot stuffy car or wander about in hot, dusty towns.
We had massages and pedicures almost daily - they were so cheap and so accessible. We discovered the best places to eat, we met with friends who had also chosen Seminyak as their holiday destination, we found a fabulous beach, enjyoyed the ocean which on occasion could accommodate novice surfers too and loved our leisurely swims in the villa pool. We drank champage, enjoyed the local beer - Bintang, ate beef rendang and sate as well as amazing foie gras and lamb. We listened to music and yes... I even listened to the Archers and skyped family, courtesy of wifi in the place. We relaxed and chilled and recovered from what we both decided had been quite a year. The earthquake had taken its toll on both of us in different ways and it was a real joy to finally put that behind us and add it to our life experience list!
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| By our pool |
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| On the beach at Legian |
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| View from the front door |
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| Frangipani blossoms |
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| On the street in Seminyak |
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| Street view |
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Oh to be in England
Hmm, yes, I thought it would be lovely too. The weeks leading up to our return were warm and sunny - even the odd suggestion of a hosepipe ban - always a sign of real, summer weather. July 9th 2011 we arrived at Heathrow. It was raining and, to be honest, it stayed that way rpetty much all the way through.
There was an unusual glitch with the hire car which saw us leaving LHR a little later than we would have wished but we still arrived in Cheltenham by 7pm which was something of a miracle. We were met by our lovely host, Lindy, who had prepared the 'garden' apartment in her amazing, Georgian home by filling the fridge and putting the heating on! Lovely. Had a quick look round - absolutely delightful and the bath? Well, Romanesque and a jacuzzi to boot. It was a little chilly in there though and I did manage to put bubble bath in it which I discovered was not such a good idea - the Magic Porridge Pot sprang to mind as I leapt about trying to stop the bubbles from flowing onto the floor.
We soon settled in, learnt how to light the fire and work the oven - all the important things in life. Our time in Cheltenham was delightful. We thought we knew it quite well but we found some fabulous places to eat and really enjoyed our stay with the close proximity to the M5 it was a perfect place to base ourselves. I did suggest we might like to live there when we get back from our travels but it isn't near enough to the sea.
We met up with family and friends and had a wonderful time. Dave's birthday was celebrated with his son and daughter in law and we went to Blancs Brasserie. There's a story in here - you might have guessed. Nic is allergic to many things and has the good sense to bring a list with her when she eats out. We gave the list which included things like nuts and plums and cherries, to the waiter at Blancs and they did very well to start with. Then we got to dessert. Nic chose an apple crumble. The meu described it and there was no mention of nuts of any kind. Fortunately, Dave rather liked the look of it and tried a mouthful. "Er... are those almonds?" He asked Nic. Well, the panic that then set in. Nic had to take her medication quickly to prevent a bad reaction, Lee was very concerned about his wife, Dave was furious with the restaurant and told them so very quietly and politely but with that look on his face - yes, THAT one! Trysh, forever the first aider was watching Nic carefully to see if she might go into shock and was fully prepared to do the 999 thing.. All very scarey. Fortunately there were no really bad effects - Nic did have a reaction but it was containable - thank goodness. The upside, and there had to be one, was that we had a free lunch for four people with drinks on Blancs. They were very concerned about it all and very apologetic. I must say however that that really isn't good enough for any restaurant, let alone one of Blancs calibre, and the nuts should have been highlighted on the menu. Note to self - I must check to see if they have made changes to the menu.
There was an unusual glitch with the hire car which saw us leaving LHR a little later than we would have wished but we still arrived in Cheltenham by 7pm which was something of a miracle. We were met by our lovely host, Lindy, who had prepared the 'garden' apartment in her amazing, Georgian home by filling the fridge and putting the heating on! Lovely. Had a quick look round - absolutely delightful and the bath? Well, Romanesque and a jacuzzi to boot. It was a little chilly in there though and I did manage to put bubble bath in it which I discovered was not such a good idea - the Magic Porridge Pot sprang to mind as I leapt about trying to stop the bubbles from flowing onto the floor.
We soon settled in, learnt how to light the fire and work the oven - all the important things in life. Our time in Cheltenham was delightful. We thought we knew it quite well but we found some fabulous places to eat and really enjoyed our stay with the close proximity to the M5 it was a perfect place to base ourselves. I did suggest we might like to live there when we get back from our travels but it isn't near enough to the sea.
We met up with family and friends and had a wonderful time. Dave's birthday was celebrated with his son and daughter in law and we went to Blancs Brasserie. There's a story in here - you might have guessed. Nic is allergic to many things and has the good sense to bring a list with her when she eats out. We gave the list which included things like nuts and plums and cherries, to the waiter at Blancs and they did very well to start with. Then we got to dessert. Nic chose an apple crumble. The meu described it and there was no mention of nuts of any kind. Fortunately, Dave rather liked the look of it and tried a mouthful. "Er... are those almonds?" He asked Nic. Well, the panic that then set in. Nic had to take her medication quickly to prevent a bad reaction, Lee was very concerned about his wife, Dave was furious with the restaurant and told them so very quietly and politely but with that look on his face - yes, THAT one! Trysh, forever the first aider was watching Nic carefully to see if she might go into shock and was fully prepared to do the 999 thing.. All very scarey. Fortunately there were no really bad effects - Nic did have a reaction but it was containable - thank goodness. The upside, and there had to be one, was that we had a free lunch for four people with drinks on Blancs. They were very concerned about it all and very apologetic. I must say however that that really isn't good enough for any restaurant, let alone one of Blancs calibre, and the nuts should have been highlighted on the menu. Note to self - I must check to see if they have made changes to the menu.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
A Day at the Rugby 2 July 2011 Japan v Samoa
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| A great day out at the Rugby - what fun we had! Ooops, we forgot to tell Dave that Wales weren't playing! |
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| Japan's Coach - John Kirwan |
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| Japan |
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| Chips at half time and Trysh's beer drops 20 feet, carefully nudged by Dave :( |
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| A little of what we saw! |
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Ueno Park
I took myself off to Ueno Park the other day, not knowing what might be in store. It was hot and humid and the kind of day that makes you want to take things at a slow and easy pace. I strolled out of the station and there, right in front of me, in the middle of this huge city, was an area of green and tranquillity I found hard to believe. Ueno Park - fabulous. |
| Hydrangea season |
To make my day even better I was approached by a Japanese man in his early 30's (I know this because he told me!) who said "You're not American, are you?" He then took me around the park pointing out things of interest and there was plenty. It will need a return visit to take in all the galleries and museums in the place. He told me his life story - a terrible brain tumor had affected his life and now he was unable to work. He did however speak fluent English and wanted so much to practise. I was more than happy to oblige.
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| A Temple - view from the steps |
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| Lovely Japanese lanterns |
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| The Peace Memorial for those who died in Hiroshima |
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| Prayers |
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| The tofu seller |
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