Yupps,NYC,New England and Japan.

[drron]

And the views-

The view over the Westin.

 

[drron]

and a little spider-

As we were leaving the castle crossing the road were 4 young Japanese fellows with a TV camera crew.Maybe they were famous.We then hopped on The Nagoya Sight seeing bus.A day pass is Y500.Now when we were first researching Nagoya there were quite a few negative posters on Trip advisor.let me tell you they are way off the mark.We will be going back to nagoya as we came no where near doing all that we wanted to do.So our first stop was Noritake gardens-the original furnaces,with the original pattern-

The gardens were magnificent-

Now lest you think this was just a boring pottery museum let me tell you it is not.Ceramics are an integral part of a lot of new technologies.Our first stop was their interactive museum.We were given an english swipe card-meaning when you flashed it in front of an exhibit you got an English version describing the display-kids would love this.We then went to their shop,huge-

We had an ice cream there.We then went to their Prestigious museum and the Art Gallery-all were free.There was a Craft Museum that cost Y500.We missed that,not because of the cost but in the middle of the day the bus only went every hour and one was now due.

 

[drron]

A few more pictures of the Noritake gardens-

Back on the bus and the next stop was the Toyota Museum(not the car plant).However we were hungry so went on to Nagoya station.We went to the 13th floor of Takashimaya-many restaurants.We chose"World's best Pork Restaurant".We had a really good Shabu Shabu.With drinks Y4160($A48).

First we went down to the basement and bought a selection of mini cakes with different fillings-16 for Y550.Then we had a short walk around the area-

We then hopped back on the bus and did a full circuit.We were though feeling quite tired so didn't get off anywhere until we got back to the castle and then walked back to the Westin.Got back at 1700 so a quick freshen up and down to Happy hour.Lots of people were streaming in.A sign in the lobby stated-The Toyota Company 2011 Outing.Several grey haired Japanese gentlemen in their tails welcoming guests.
Next-Arimatsu,the tie dyeing village.

 

[drron]

After happy hour we went down stairs to check out the Westin's Chinese and Japanese restaurants-decided they were way to expensive.We shared the lift with a group of traditional dressed Japanese ladies.They were happy to have their photo taken-

Mrsdrron really enjoyed the Westin's decorations-

Saturday and the restaurant is really buzzing for breakfast with lots of kids.After brekkie it is off to Arimatsu.First the hotel shuttle to Nagoya station-the 0830,0930 services are for hotel guests only.After that the locals can use it too.We first catch a Meitetsu line express to Narimu and then switch to a local train to Arimatsu.As is typical for Japan it is waiting for us.Another example was on the opposite platform.A staff member was waiting with ramps.A fellow in wheelchair is then able to get off under his own power.A lift to the exit and another then down to street level.It was a fair distance out of Nagoya.It cost Y340($4) each way.
A short walk to the Old Tokkaido highway-several of the buildings date from the early 1600s.There are plenty of shops selling tie dyed goods.Prices are high-but I am about to get a lesson as to why.The highway-

with some new places-

Some old-

Little restaurants-

And shops-

It was then on to the museum.That next.

 

[TonyHancock]

Loving this. I have always been a little wary of Japan. I guess coverage in the Western Media is crowded concrete cities. I'm not a great lover of crowds so it has put me off. I'm likely to inherit Japan as a new market this year so your photos are giving me hope.

BTW love it when mrs.dr.ron comments too!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Loving this. I have always been a little wary of Japan. I guess coverage in the Western Media is crowded concrete cities. I'm not a great lover of crowds so it has put me off. I'm likely to inherit Japan as a new market this year so your photos are giving me hope.

BTW love it when mrs.dr.ron comments too!

We have been going to Japan for over 25 years. I love the place. It is so picturesque. Yes it can be crowded, but everyone is polite and orderly. There is no pushing or shoving ! And it is clean, and the food is great.

If you do get to Japan I hope you get a chance to get out and about, and I hope you know what to do when given a japanese business card !

 

[drron]

Thanks Tony.Even in the cities there are always oases.Usually a formal garden but also plenty of parks.Easy to get away from the crowds.We also find the Japanese very helpful,though many are timid and dont want to embarrass themselves.
So back to the TR.at the museum there is a shop downstairs with a wide range of tie dyed articles.mrsdrron gets a very nice handbag and assorted smaller items.Upstairs is the museum.Y300($A3.50) admission.You start with a video-it has an English narration.The intricacy of this process is amazing and the dexterity of the women truly remarkable.You immediately understand why the price is high.Then there is a personal demonstration of the preparation for dyeing.

The older woman here just loved my Japanese.kept asking questions and when i answered would laugh her head off.We got on very well.now pictures of the dioramas they had to show the historical process-

The material next.

 

[drron]

So a few examples of the cloth produced-

Even the toilet signs are tie dyed-

Now these are mrsdrrons photos(you can notice the increase in quality)so a couple of her flowers are in order-

And the local shrine and memorial-

 

[drron]

Easy to find your way around Arimatsu with maps-

And plenty of signs in english explaining things-

And a few last pictures of the village-

After leaving the Museum we walked around the village then back to the station.We stopped at a store selling seconds.The woman took pains to show you what made the particular piece a second.Mrsdrron picked up a few metres of material for ~$70.
On the other side of the station was an Aeon mall so naturally we had to go there-a very large 100 Yen shop.The restaurants didn't look particularly good so we got the train back to Nagoya station.We found a cheap sushi place-UOKI,in the NW corner of the station.The sushi and sashimi were really good.We then picked up some Mochi Cream balls-flavoured creams inside a rice flour envelope-very moorish.
Then back to the Westin for a nanny nap.When we got back the Kuwait soccer team were checking in.
A wedding party is making it's way from the chapel to the reception.
Call in at the lounge and nab 1A,2A for our trip back to SYD on QF.Nice to get F seats for a J price.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I really loved staying in Nagoya. It is a place we will definitely go back to. I LOVED the old Arimatsu village, and I want to go back there. I took hundreds of photos that day - the old buildings are very photogenic. Now just what to do with all that material I bought. :idea:

 

[drron]

So there you have it.I am not gilding the lily.Already looking at an AY flight HEL-NGO or vice versa.
So back to the last couple of days of this trip.when we got back to the Westin from arimatsu the sun was shining,then the night was clear-

And in the morning some life upon the moat-

sunday and we had a relaxed long breakfast.Then mrsdrron checks out the wedding chapel-a pseudo wedding taking place selling to a full house of prospective couples.We catch the 1130 shuttle to the station.we were going to have another sushi lunch at Uoki but decide we are still too full from brekkie.So we buy some more mochi cream balls to eat on the train.we go to the platform to wait as much cooler there.a group of Sumos is on the opposite platform waiting to go south-

Might be squeezy.And across from the station was a place to check your emails-

our Hikari departs as usual right on time at 1323.I try out my new toy from the train.no time to frame shots and we are going reasonably fast.Unfortunately overcast and hazy so no Mt.Fuji shots.

 

[TonyHancock]

I really loved staying in Nagoya. It is a place we will definitely go back to. I LOVED the old Arimatsu village, and I want to go back there. I took hundreds of photos that day - the old buildings are very photogenic. Now just what to do with all that material I bought. :idea:

New shorts for drron?

Sorry I couldn't resist!

 

[drron]

New shorts for drron?

Sorry I couldn't resist!

Sorry.Not colourful enough.

 

[drron]

OK so a few more shots from the train-

And a self portrait as we went through a tunnel-

 

[drron]

We arrive into Tokyo right on 1510 as scheduled.Then a bit of a hike to get to the NEX leaving at 1533 for NRT.Not surprisingly it pulls into terminal 2 right on schedule at 1624.Just a couple of pics getting close to NRT-

Our first stop is the JAL baggage storage.Then to checkin.We are there at 1640 but sign up says checkin will open at 1700.However it opens at 1650.Only 1 in front of us at Immigration so we are through quickly and into the JAL Flounge at 1700.We go for a shower and mrsdrron snags the last massage appointment of the day at 1830.
A nice french White.Now I know quite a few like the food here-I think it is a disapointment.The beef curry they have had since this Flounge opened is bland and unexciting.They also had a Spiced meatball dish-once again bland.So after mrsdrron has had her massage we head to the QP at the Satellite terminal.It is much lighter and to me has a better feel about it.Food though is sparse and of course it is full of aussies meaning that as soon as a plate of food is put down the first 1 or 2 polish it off.Not to worry we are soon boarding.

QF22. NRT-SYD.Boarding 1955.ETD-2030.ETA-0700.
Actual boarding-1955.Pushback-2026.Take off-2050. Landed-0650.At gate-0705.

So we are on a 4 class 747.J ticket.F seats.Mrsdrron in 1A,me in 2A.And I didn't stand in 2E's space to use the overhead!
Turns out only 10 in J.5 in the f cabin,1 other downstairs who the crew bring up into row 4.Leaves just 4 upstairs.CSM comes and has a chat with mrsdrron and mr 2E.Dinner was a slow cooked duck salad then a mushroom and veal lasagne with a thick pepper sauce.Was OK.
only a fitful sleep so watched the only 3 episodes of Come fly with Me that I will watch.

Once again you have to order your brekkie the night before and it is only a cr*ppy continental brekkie.Both AA and Alaska domestic could come up with a cooked breakfast.And why is the toast always cold?
We turn out to be very lucky.Later that afternoon SYD is closed due to the Ash Cloud.
Final instalment next.

 

[jandj]

Not looking forward to the final instalment drron and Mrsdrron, coz that means the journey finishes.
I so much enjoy reading your adventures. Love the pictures, Japan is such a photo friendly country !

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Not looking forward to the final instalment drron and Mrsdrron, coz that means the journey finishes.

Ahhhh ... but the next trip is on the horizon. October is the next trip. And it is a BIG one, not in time away ... but time WE have spent together .... it is our 40th wedding anniversary trip !

So stay tuned..................................

 

[drron]

Yes truly amazing that mrsdrron has put up with me for that long-but there you go.

So the final instalment-
Immigration excelled themselves.At gate at 0705 and we were in our Avis car at 0738-with luggage!
Once again we stayed at the 4 Points Darling Harbour.Yes I am a loyalty junkie but on this occasion we got well looked after with a suite upgrade and 3 $6 coupons for use at the bar.Certainly have been staying too frequently as the doorman recognises us and by the time i get over to him he has the labels written out for the luggage with name spelt correctly.Though consistency is still a little off.We came back down the next weekend as our son has bought a new home-on that occasion only an upgrade to harbour room-no worries.But no coupons,no welcoming letter and got our booking all wrong-tried to charge an extra night when we had done a Z4R rate meaning 4th night free.And no welcoming letter as we always have had.
Still I do like the view-

And of course as there was great disruption of flights due to the ash Cloud and we were due to fly home thursday it was pleasing to see this on Wednesday morning-

The days were spent babysitting,going to swimming and ballet classes and we were both well and truly worn out.3 very active kids the oldest not yet 4.We did have one night out and had dinner at Medusa,just around the corner from the 4 Points.A good Greek restaurant and you cant go past their traditional lamb.Then the final sector.When we got to the airport we were expecting an absolute shambles-hardly anyone there.The service desk was roped off and as mrsdrron went to move the rope the agent said-"this is only for our Platinum members".That's me says mrsdrron.then she was very pleasant.

23/6.QF528.SYD-BNE.1305.
Left at exactly 1305.In fact all times were spot on.The only problem was on arrival on time at BNE and there was again no one to operate the Air bridge.So nearly a 10 minute wait.Are we just unlucky?Seems to happen a lot to us.But it meant when we got downstairs our bags were out and straight out for our limo drive back to the Sunny coast.

Next up is a simple(for us) Circle Pacific-BNE-SYD-BKK-HKG-HND/NRT-DFW-MCO-DFW-LAS-LAX-BNE.
Our 40th Anniversary will be spent at the SGS,BKK.

 

[steptoe]

Have thoroughly enjoyed another of your TRs, and picked up a few more hints and things to see/do. I have been trying to get started on my first TR for a trip with my daughter which ended just before Xmas 2010. That TR is supposed to hone my skills/identify my TR weaknesses prior to the next trip (9 weeks RTW) with Mrs Steptoe to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We leave in six weeks, so if I don't get to writing it, it may be my 40th anniversary report I will be writing.

 

[jandj]

Ahhhh ... but the next trip is on the horizon. October is the next trip. And it is a BIG one, not in time away ... but time WE have spent together .... it is our 40th wedding anniversary trip !

So stay tuned..................................

A grand number...looking forward to your reports.