A Longer Trip to Hokkaido

[drron]

The lst of the gardens. This bird certainly wasn't afraid of me.










Was feeling quite tired and my back had had enough so back to the hotel and another nanny nap.

 

[Matt_01]

Coming into SYD it was one of the few times we have gone onto final approach and landed without a delay. Just as well as several on the flight were going to have very tight connections. We came in under the clouds.
And then the rain got heavier.
View attachment 392235
......

I would like to say I have a similar photo but the times I looked out the window and saw this I would think to myself "for cough sake, why do I have to come to Sydney when it is like this. Even from this photo I know which is our building and know which floor I need to go to. I am looking forward to reading more about this trip.

 

[drron]

That night we had dinner at a Greek restaurant we remembered from years ago. Probably new owners as we certainly didn't recognise the name - Yots Greek Taverna. Nice views.











Local families supplied a fish feeding show with their children throwing bread to the fish.

 

[drron]

Now to the food. We weren't disappointed.


Mrsdrron started with the calamari. perfectly cooked and tender.


Whilst I had the spicy whitebait. And they were spicy!


Mrsdrron then had the quail. Beautiful but I had to help her finish them.


And I had the Papoutsakia which I really liked. I don't know why they put cabbage salad on the plate neither of us touched it as we were full.
Once again great service. A Vietnamese and a French backpacker who were great.

So 4 different restaurants all very good. We might drive up one winter and try a few more places.

 

[drron]

So Thursday comes around. We originally were booked for lunch back at Moorish as a late afternoon flight and only had to get the car back to DRW at 1300. Unfortunately Mrsdrron wokw up feeling unwell and nauseated so we cancelled the Mooris lunch. Maybe next July/August we will take a road trip to Darwin. The restaurants we tried were all very good and the weather perfect. Probably get a unit for 2-3 weeks.

So we found ourselves at DRW with a little over an hour to kill before SQ checkin opened.There was a sign saying business class service desk. We went there to be told no you can only check in at the kiosks but I will do the bag drop for you. Naturally all the kiosks had lines of Y pax. So no priority check in for J. They did send me a survey so with this plus no lounge access I was not enthusiastic in my reply. Now they do givre you a $30 voucher for the restaurants. Naturally we had fed ourselves at the cafe before check in opened.

So now it was through the domestic security. Our bags both got shunted to the secondary check again because of wiring. Just delayed you.. Got to the International gate entrance to find you can't go through until 1.5 hours before departure. so sit in the domestic gates with a couple of screamers and several unsupervised youngsters running around yelling. We will not do another International departure from DRW,

When you have to go through to the International gates your bags g through the Xray again. This time with no secondary search. There is a scanner but Mrsdrron and I were just waved through and didn't have to be scanned. When we went through we looked at our BPs and noted the $30 credit we each had.
There is a branch of the same cafe we ate at in the International area but has a pathetic range of options. They did have minature bottles of wine but only red. So I had red wine,mrsdrron iced tea and 2 bags of crisps came to $30. So if you get such a voucher use it before security, We each could have had a small pizza and a mini bottle of wine.

At least priority boarding worked.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yots Greek Taverna. Nice views.

I agree Darwin does some very nice food - pleasant, in the dry season!

I'm not a fan of Cullen Bay - an artificial harbour/marina for those who haven't been there. When I lived in Darwin, had a mate who had a place on what was then Kahlin Beach (the east side of the current marina). Lovely little beach - we used to go to his place on Sunday morning, get the nets out, and drag them along the beach at waist depth (in pantyhose, against the stingers!). A couple of sweeps got us about a kg or so of prawns, which went straight on the coals of the fire we had going, or in the pot, to be scoffed with butter and fresh crusty bread.

The marina of course destroyed the beach, and the neighbourhood in general, and he moved away.

 

[drron]

At least the J seat on the AQ Max8 is much better than the VA one which we flrw BNE-DPS on.








And the view.


Then after a fair taxi we had to wait for these fellows.

 

[drron]

I agree Darwin does some very nice food - pleasant, in the dry season!

I'm not a fan of Cullen Bay - an artificial harbour/marina for those who haven't been there. When I lived in Darwin, had a mate who had a place on what was then Kahlin Beach (the east side of the current marina). Lovely little beach - we used to go to his place on Sunday morning, get the nets out, and drag them along the beach at waist depth (in pantyhose, against the stingers!). A couple of sweeps got us about a kg or so of prawns, which went straight on the coals of the fire we had going, or in the pot, to be scoffed with butter and fresh crusty bread.

The marina of course destroyed the beach, and the neighbourhood in general, and he moved away.

Yes reminded us of an even tackier Sanctuary Cove.

 

[drron]

Then waited for a little one to land.


Before we could roll.

 

[drron]

And off we go.








And then it was time for dinner. The menu and wine list.

 

[drron]

Mrsdrron went with the Sav Blanc and I the Rioja red which was very nice.


The entree was a chicken caesar salad,


And I also had the garlic bread as usual.


Mrsdrron had the chicken breast.


I had the soya duck nice and spicy with the extra chilli sauce.


sweets was a blueberry cake.


I was also offered the cheese plate which I couldn't refuse.

 

[drron]

Approaching Singapore.

 

[drron]

The sun is setting.

 

[drron]

We arrived about 15 minutes early. It appears most in business class were transiting as we were first to the Immigration hall. For once we had come in at a gate closest to Immgration. Through Immigration. First to baggage carousel. The bags started coming out within 2 minutes of us getting there. our bag was one of the first out so we were at Customs before anyone else of the plane reached the carousel.
then where we did Immigration was the closest to the CP so we arrived at their lounge at 1915 with still 15 minutes for evening drinks. We checked in their which was good as there was a very long line in the lobby for check in.

The lounge Manager checked us in and said go and have something to eat and drink whilst I do the paper work. He also insisted on us having a second glass of wine. When we got to our room a nice fruit bowl was there for desserts. We slept like logs. We had an early flight on the friday morning so checked out in the lounge just after it opened at 0630..


Not a long walk to check in. No hold up at Immigration so soon in the SKL. Had a couple of dumplings for breakfast plus a coffee. The display of orchids was really nice.






Our gate wasn't far from the lounge. I don't like Changis security at the gate. The agent are a bit too officious for me. I always tell them I have a knee replacement and on all but one occasion they tell me to take my watch, belt and shoes off. Why when they are still going to wand me after I set the machine off.
Boarding started soon after we arrived and was very atypical for SQ. Once pre boarding was over and they called group 1 there was a bun rush. When we boarded there was only 1 other couple in J and no one seated in F.
So SQ12 next.

 

[drron]

SQ 12 from SIN - NRT - LAX. A B777.
So to the menu and wine list for our flight.

 

[drron]

Now the food. Always nice to start with their satays.


Mrsdrron had the yuzu chicken starter and the salmon main. She enjoyed both.






And I as usual went with the Japanese menu.




Very nice but I do prefer it on JAL. But SQ certainly won on the dessert this time with a white peach cheese cake.


Mrsdrron had the NZ sav blanc again whilst I had the Rioja again but then switched to the Barossa shiraz. Nice but I preferred the Rioja.


The rest of the flight went quickly. I did watch 2 movies - One Life and Napoleon. Liked the first not so much the second. i also used the wifi a bit. Arrived into NRT on time. Most who got off before us were obviously carrying on to LAX so at Immigration only had 3 in line in front of us so quickly through Immigration and bags coming out as we reached the carousel. Ours was again amongst the first.
Down stairs to the JR ticket office as we had decided on the NEX to take us to Shinagawa. The times were a bit better than the Keikyu line and the Limousine bus doesn't go to the IC Three Strings any more.
NRT is a long way out and over an hour to Shinagawa.


But once at Shinagawa only about 5 minutes from the train to the hotel and all under cover which was good as it was raining.

 

[drron]

Check in was quick and easy. Already had been allocated a king premium with luxury bath i think 3 above my booked classic king room. As I was checking in beside me was another Ambassador member getting upset as there was no upgrade for him. This time took the drink vouchers as amenity as we had missed the evening club drinks.
Nice room.






The amenity. Fuji mineral water and a chestnut sweet.


And the views next morning.




And the pool.

 

[drron]

A good sleep and breakfast a bit after 0900. First the views from the lounge.












And the breakfast menu.

 

[drron]

On the first morning I picked the Japanese set. It came with rice and miso soup.





I liked it. You could still select from the buffet. A bit limited but good quality.






For those wanting to work a bench with electrical outlets.

 

[drron]

My aim today was to walk some of the Kyu Tokaido road which is the old Kyoto to Edo highway. First I had to get there from the hotel. Passed some older buildings. This one from 1930.




And a mini supermarket with a nice selection of sushi and sahimi.






Then I turned into the old highway travelled by Emperors, shoguns and feudal lords. Towards Kyoto.


And to Edo.
.

lots of different businesses.