Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

[jukebox333]

*snip*

And who would go for wasabi or sweet potato Kit Kats-

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*snip*

Turns out Bangkok is quite the place for "collectable" Kit Kats. Who knew?

Where To Get 15 Japanese-Flavoured KitKats At One Place (Hint: It's Not In Japan) | ladyironchef: Food & Travel

 

[drron]

Off to the gate and they were totally disorganised.Kept running around achieving little it seemed.A call made for business class and priority boarding to happen.Everyone lined up and waited another 10 minutes.Finally got to our seats and decided I needed 2 glasses of champagne.

CX502. HKG-KIX. ETD-1625. Push back-1729. Take off-1755. Seats 14A,C B777.
ETA-2110. Landed-2202. At gate 2219.

Once again greeted by CSM.Crew were really good and looked after well by FA who said he went to school with a Canadian with our surname.So to the menu-

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So a different champagne and French red for me.This time did remember the camera-

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We both had the beef and it was cooked pretty well-still moist and pink inside.
I watched The Big Short which I enjoyed but many probably wouldn't.Then the rest of Monty Python's best Bits.
After landing we did a circumnavigation of KIX.Not the furthest gate from Immigration but nearly.Caught the train shuttle there.No lines.A short wait for bags and ours fortunately out 1 and 2 so were able to just make the 2240 airport bus to Kyoto.We were initially going to get a JR West pass and catch the Express to Kyoto but we had already missed the last of those.Fortunately you don't pay upfront for this pass just reserve it at a discounted price.We would have had trouble buying the pass and catching the last train that would connect to Kyoto.besides there were 3 changes of train and arrival into Kyoto was 0055.The bus made it there at 0005.
However the bus was very unlike the NRT Airport Limousines.Mrsdrron got the last ordinary seat and I sat in a fold down seat in the aisle.Not the most comfortable trip and mrsdrron was not in a happy mood.I kept out of the way.A taxi to the Westin Miyako arriving ~ 0030.Told upgraded but really only a higher floor with lounge access.I had booked on points so a basic room-2 singles.I had requested a room with 1 bed but as probably all hotels here booked out that did not happen.

Next-off to the blossoms.

 

[drron]

A basic breakfast in the Westin lounge and off then to the Imperial Palace where according to the concierge the blossoms were further advanced than anywhere else in Kyoto-

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The kiddies were all out-

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As well as the odd magnolia-

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[drron]

A very busy time in Japan-

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There were other things to see-

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An amazing tree still flowering years after it was blown down.

 

[drron]

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[drron]

And we haven't finished yet-

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Family picnics are very popular at this time of year.

 

[drron]

So much detail in even the simplest Japanese garden-

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[drron]

And now for something different-

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As we say good bye to the palace and head for....where else.....the shops!

 

[Flying mermaid]

I like furry things, but those blossoms are pretty good too.

 

[irv]

What lens on the tight shots

 

[drron]

Irv I use a Sony Cybershot HX400V.It has a 50x zoom so either the zoom or macro setting for close shots.I use it as it has the best anti shake abilities of any I have tested and I do need that.

But back to the shopping.Where ever we are in Japan we try and visit the shopping streets-covered walkways with interesting small stores and restaurants.This one started close to the Kyoto Town Hall.An obvious poster for this time of year-

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Amazing array of single item shops-

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Mrsdrron thought we might need something from that shop.
Often little temples or shrines-

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Though a cemetery in the middle of Kyoto was a little unexpected.

 

[drron]

It intriques me where Japanese retailers get their names.This one has many imitators-

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But what the heck is Claup.Then some more-

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That last is a restaurant.But today I saw the best brand name on a handbag.Unfortunately the woman did not want me to photograph it but the name said it all-Plumpynuts!
Now there are some places where you don't need to read Japanese-

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Their menu is much commented on-

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Always some nice things to see-

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But a store selling only bamboo shoots.
Back to the temples-

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[drron]

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And a typical Japanese garden with a modern touch-

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And that is the Kyoto Town Hall.Underneath it at the subway station we found a sushi place open for a very late lunch-

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It was very good particularly the sea urchin.At the end the fellow brings across a hand held recorder,runs it over the plates and up comes the bill-each drink came with it's own plate.
So back to the hotel and a rest.Mrsdrron didn't feel up to going to the lounge.Very limited snacks but they had a Tassie SB-unfortunately the only day it made an appearance so mrsdrron missed out.

 

[drron]

Wednesday and we were off to Nara.Had brekkie in the restaurant.SPG plats + those with coupons get put in the banquet hall with not much more than the lounge breakfast.Also things kept running out and were slow to be replaced.Only those who are paying are seated in the restaurant proper.We decided it will be breakfast in the lounge for the rest of the stay.
A late start and we took the slow train to Nara.We were here 32 years ago and boy has it changed.In those days we were driven through the Nandaimon gate to the Todaigi Temple.There were very few tourists but today absolute hordes.Many busloads of Chinese tourists who typically have no manners.Was standing next to another Aussie when a busload walked straight in front of us as we lined up a photo.I muttered-"typical Chinese".To which he told me off for presuming they were Chinese.Well they certainly look Chinese rather than Japanese and they are speaking Chinese so not much of a presumption.A young Japanese guy then backed me up.

So a few shots of our walk to Nara Park-

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BFFs-

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[drron]

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Some furry creatures-

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But back to the temples and blossoms-

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And this fellow had had enough-

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[JohnK]

Very nice trip report drron with excellent photos.

And it was great to catch up with you both in Bangkok.

 

[drron]

Looking forward to when we next catch up John.
Now just to prove I still have some flexibility (and to show off the new manbag!)-

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But we are here for the blossoms-

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[drron]

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Those 2 Chinese girls with deer ears were causing a bit of consternation as they spent at least 10 minutes taking selfies from every possible direction under the tree.But there were plenty more blossoms-

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So that is the path to the Todaiji temple.When we were here in 1984 there were hardly any tourists and we were driven down this road through the Nandaimon gate to the temple.So this time we didn't bother.However it is one of the lessons of travel-go when you can and don't put it off.It doesn't usually get better.
Now cherries weren't the only blossom here as well-

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But I'll end with another cherry-

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[drron]

Now this group were having a hard time getting the deer interested in eating-

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[drron]

We were now walking back to Nara station.Note the cycad-

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It's a registered tangible cultural property.And quite old too!

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We went to the supermarket to get something to eat as we didn't want the crows aiming at our food in Nara Park.Now $50 for a mango-

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No that was a bit much so we bought some sushi plus sashimi salmon and tuna sitting at the bus stop to eat it.Delicious.
Coming to Nara brought back many memories of our visit to Japan in 1984-our first trip here.In Nara park whilst I was off taking some photos mrsdrron was approached by a 7 year old girl and her grandmother to practice English.Now on our first visit this happened a fair bit but usually young men or women.As the years have gone by those wanting to practice English have got younger.
One thing that has not changed is how helpful the Japanese are even if you don't speak a word of Japanese.Kyoto was where we were feted one night by a large group of Japanese businessmen wanting to know about us and shouting us a bottle of wine.I was so impressed by this that I went back to University and did 2 years of Japanese so that I could help Japanese tourists here-mrsdrron used to wince as I kidnapped young Japanese on the Gold Coast-but I am sure I did a lot to promote Australia to the Japanese.
I did Japanese at Newcastle Uni.I was the father figure of the class-even for the lecturer!A young Newcastle Herald journalist usually sat next to me.He has done well-Scott Bevan.
Unfortunately I am not a linguist so conversation was not my forte.However I could write reasonably well which impressed the locals a lot.Not much left now but it comes back so I can still offer to take a photo of a family group for example.
I really do think Japan is a great place to visit-so start dusting off those plans.