Konichiwa y’all!
>> December 16, 2009
Oh. My. WE ARE HERE! We have landed and the international part of our journey has begun!! Yesterday afternoon (2am EST) we landed in Tokyo, Japan at Narita Airport.
Oh, and by the way, I HEART JAL. Our seventeen hour flight was honestly the most relaxing day that I have had in months. I was warm under a downy blanket, my seat turned into a bed, I had a personal 14: television screen on which I could watch movies, play games, learn languages (keko is “cat” in Japanese), and listen to music. I drank gallons of water (while Nathan indulged in good scotch and sake), and we both really enjoyed the fantastic western/Japanese food menu from which we could (and did) order at any time. Let me note that although we purchased standard economy class tickets, we finagled an upgrade to business class with smiles and charm and telling them that we were on our honeymoon (also, they ran out of economy seats while we were at the ticket counter). The price of this one fantastic, business-class JAL flight was nearly comparable to our entire round-the-world ticket.
Both leading up to, and during the flight, N and I strategized about our jet-lag plan. I followed the lead of the airline: after take off, they served a big meal, then closed all of the windows, passed out ear plugs and eye masks, and everyone passed out….including me. I woke up 2 hours later, groggy and discombobulated, and proceeded to watch three movies consecutively (we both loved Julie & Julia). N stayed up THE WHOLE TIME. We were going for the time change….cold turkey.
After the simple customs process at the airport, we were swept into the Japanese public transportation system. Of course, there were one or two hiccups and few heated moments, but what can you expect after a 17 hour flight, a time change of 14 hours, and arrival to a country where we don't know the language? Amazingly enough, it only took us about 1.5 hours (the airport is about 30 miles outside of Tokyo) to reach our hotel: the fabulous Hotel ParkLane, in the Nishikasai neighborhood. We dumped our bags, had a quick glass of sake, and went exploring.
We wandered for over an hour, ogling the variety of drinks, vices, and objects that are sold from street vending machines, noting the popular karoke bars that we plan to return to, watching the bustle and flow of the neighborhood, and admiring the compact spacial living here in Tokyo. About the time that the ground started feeling bouncy and I was convincing myself that I was fluent in Japanese, we accepted our exhaustion and went back to the hotel for a hot shower, ambien, and blissfully cozy sleep.
Our hotel room is intensely compact; we are quickly assimilating to lavish livin’ in 150 square feet. I am already obsessed with the planning and design of these small and completely functional living spaces. So many take-aways for our compact hotel in Taganga, and for future projects!
The task list for today includes starting the China visa process, contacting a MPS alum in Tokyo, exploring, eating, and finding internet to upload this blog. Oh, and wishing my darling sister Piper a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
oxox
brittany
Oh, and by the way, I HEART JAL. Our seventeen hour flight was honestly the most relaxing day that I have had in months. I was warm under a downy blanket, my seat turned into a bed, I had a personal 14: television screen on which I could watch movies, play games, learn languages (keko is “cat” in Japanese), and listen to music. I drank gallons of water (while Nathan indulged in good scotch and sake), and we both really enjoyed the fantastic western/Japanese food menu from which we could (and did) order at any time. Let me note that although we purchased standard economy class tickets, we finagled an upgrade to business class with smiles and charm and telling them that we were on our honeymoon (also, they ran out of economy seats while we were at the ticket counter). The price of this one fantastic, business-class JAL flight was nearly comparable to our entire round-the-world ticket.
Both leading up to, and during the flight, N and I strategized about our jet-lag plan. I followed the lead of the airline: after take off, they served a big meal, then closed all of the windows, passed out ear plugs and eye masks, and everyone passed out….including me. I woke up 2 hours later, groggy and discombobulated, and proceeded to watch three movies consecutively (we both loved Julie & Julia). N stayed up THE WHOLE TIME. We were going for the time change….cold turkey.
After the simple customs process at the airport, we were swept into the Japanese public transportation system. Of course, there were one or two hiccups and few heated moments, but what can you expect after a 17 hour flight, a time change of 14 hours, and arrival to a country where we don't know the language? Amazingly enough, it only took us about 1.5 hours (the airport is about 30 miles outside of Tokyo) to reach our hotel: the fabulous Hotel ParkLane, in the Nishikasai neighborhood. We dumped our bags, had a quick glass of sake, and went exploring.We wandered for over an hour, ogling the variety of drinks, vices, and objects that are sold from street vending machines, noting the popular karoke bars that we plan to return to, watching the bustle and flow of the neighborhood, and admiring the compact spacial living here in Tokyo. About the time that the ground started feeling bouncy and I was convincing myself that I was fluent in Japanese, we accepted our exhaustion and went back to the hotel for a hot shower, ambien, and blissfully cozy sleep.
Our hotel room is intensely compact; we are quickly assimilating to lavish livin’ in 150 square feet. I am already obsessed with the planning and design of these small and completely functional living spaces. So many take-aways for our compact hotel in Taganga, and for future projects!
The task list for today includes starting the China visa process, contacting a MPS alum in Tokyo, exploring, eating, and finding internet to upload this blog. Oh, and wishing my darling sister Piper a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
oxox
brittany
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1 comments:
How ironic that you watched" Julie & Julia" when you are writing this massively cool blog. Also I LOVED that movie
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