A Japanese Christmas and a Thai New year.

[drron]

That evening our son and his family arrived on QF from SYD. The Haneda airport website had a glitch. They were saying that the QF flight was going to be 3 hours late when in fact it was 20 minutes late only. So a bit of a surprise when they rang from the lobby ready to go out to dinner. We last saw them 11 weeks ago when I was just taller than the 2 eldest grandchildren. Now I am 2 inches shorter.

We walked a short distance to a soba/udon noodle restaurant.




You ordered and paid at a machine and gave the piece of paper with your order to the cook.






Google translalator didn't work perfectly. Our son ordered what google said was mystery Udon. Turned out to be curry.

I ordered what was said to be soba with fried oysters. it turned up as fried chicken. Maybe though they had run out of oysters.

Pretty cheap meal `$34 for 7 of us. Pretty tasty as well.
The night scenery over the road.


We went to a couple of convenience stores where snacks were bought. Mine were the wierdest.

 

[drron]

The next day and some shots of the breakfast buffet.

 

[drron]

My first plate.

 

[drron]

Our family went to Asakusa which we have visited several times before. We went for a little walk to see if we could get some Christmas cards. Failed in that but a pleasant time. The night before I noticed that the building where the trees were lit up had a sign showing several restaurants. It did but they made up an English word to describe their collection.


A couple of food trucks outside.


They had both a Lawsons and a large 7/11 convenience stores there. Don't forget those for a quick cheap meal. The 7/11 was a bit upmarket and on the desks where people were eating power points for charging phones or using computers.


And microwaves for reheating the packaged meals.


Christmas trees everywhere.


The 7/11 was on the 6th floor along with a large area for Softbank. You could get your questions answered by a robot in the season's clothing.


Across the road an athletics track.

 

[drron]

The food court looked interesting.








We then walked back to the hotel. The streets are all lined by trees/shrubs around this part of Tokyo.








A flowing rock stream.

 

[drron]

I hadn't done enough steps so I went for another walk in the afternoon. I hadn't done enough steps for the day. After this second walk I was up to 17000. After about 15 minutes from the hotel this landmark came into view.






Not everything at this restaurant would I like to eat.


And definitely no Explosive soup.

 

[Seat0B]

I’m not a fan of offal either @drron - and sashimi liver sounds nasty.

 

[drron]

Through the gate is Zoji-ji temple. Amazingly still a lot of autumn colour.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

I now left the temple. The Tokyo Tower is so close but no point going as the cloud cover was low and a lot of haze. Wouldn't see much.. Continued walking along Shiba Park.














So I am coming in the eastern entrance through So mon gate to Prince Shiba park. A lot of steps up.


But then good views of the Tower.

 

[drron]

Walked around the garden at the top.




A rose garden well past prime flowering.


There was a central grassy area. Unfortunately over run with the Instagrammers so I left. An interesting tree with tiny flowers and otherwise bare.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

I now set off to find a 100 yen shop. It was quite a detour but Google maps behaved itself. Mainly went via little laneways with restaurants scattered around. This was one that took sandwiches seriously.


One of the little lanes.


Then Google maps said I had arrived but there was only a supermarket. some nice persimmons.


But then I looked up.


Wasn't a great store so back to the hotel as the light was fading.





Just after this I found the canal I had walked along the day before so didn't need Mr. Google any more.

 

[Seat0B]

I’m surprised to see so much autumn colour still on the trees. I’ve never been to Japan in December, so I am wondering if that is normal for this time of year or if it’s related to the unusually warm autumn Japan has experienced this year?

 

[drron]

I’m surprised to see so much autumn colour still on the trees. I’ve never been to Japan in December, so I am wondering if that is normal for this time of year or if it’s related to the unusually warm autumn Japan has experienced this year?

Probably the warmth as today I got a photo of early blossom ?plum. However I had a little accident today. A little stumble put out my right arm to steady myself on a brick wall. It saved me but the camera got knocked out of my hand and hit the ashphalt. Now not working so I can't access today's photos. A pity because I also walked on the Rainbow Bridge.

 

[Seat0B]

Probably the warmth as today I got a photo of early blossom ?plum. However I had a little accident today. A little stumble put out my right arm to steady myself on a brick wall. It saved me but the camera got knocked out of my hand and hit the ashphalt. Now not working so I can't access today's photos. A pity because I also walked on the Rainbow Bridge.

Take care of yourself @drron.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Probably the warmth as today I got a photo of early blossom ?plum. However I had a little accident today. A little stumble put out my right arm to steady myself on a brick wall. It saved me but the camera got knocked out of my hand and hit the ashphalt. Now not working so I can't access today's photos. A pity because I also walked on the Rainbow Bridge.

Hope you are ok @drron

 

[drron]

I'm fine but the camera is terminal. Will try and get a card reader tomorrow. The Japanese also have some very good used camera places so might try and find a cheap replacement.

Now on with the story. Our son is a Tiki bar tragic so one night was always going to be a dinner at Trader Vics in the Hotel New Otani. We neede 2 taxis to get there. 4 women in one and the 3 blokes in the other. On the way I saw something I didn't really expect in Tokyo.


Although we were in the second taxi we were the first there. So some of the Christmas decorations.






And the old fella was in.


But did a runner.


Naturally Trader Vics was at the other end of the hotel. Passed by their everyday restaurant.




Finally we were there.