11/1/10
We are in the beautiful new terminal at DFW. Garrett has gone for a little walk around. We have too much baggage, as usual. Both of us had to break out a big carry-on because we had too much stuff.
You can change money here with no charge, so Garrett is getting yen and NT dollars. We had a hard time getting local currency in Taiwan last time because we had travelers' checks . This time we have mostly cash.
This airport has an artistic installation in one of the concession areas. It's made up of blue panels in a circle. When you walk around inside, you have music and lights to accompany you. We also saw something that looked like a sparkling city.
11/2/10
We are only about an hour out of Tokyo now. I can follow the progress of at my seat, as well as have music, movies, tv shows. I watched most of Despicable Me, but the sound was poor. The food, however, was good and plentiful. The flight attendants came by every little bit with something to eat or drink. We have an aisle seat and a window seat at the back of the plane; we don't have to hurry getting off since we are only going to our hotel. The only problem with the flight was intermitant turbulence, especially over Russia.
The Tokyo airport Narita is very modern and well organized. We got through customs and to a bus to take us to our hotel quickly and easily. The restroom had "exceptional facilities", according to the sign, and they were different. The first stall was a squatty potty; I passed that one up. The next had a modern Japanese toilet complete with washing and bidet functions, warm air to dry you, disinfecting seat, and flushing sound effects (I guess to muffle the sound of why you were there). I tried the warm water wash and dry. Okay, I guess.
Then we got to ride into the city--an hour and a half trip. It was interesting, but we have been up since 2 am yesterday, so we are tired. My fear of falling off of things was lively when the roadway was over some other roads with little barrier to protect us. This city seems to have a lot of canals and bridges. There is one we haven't seen yet called Rainbow Bridge.
The hotel is nice. Our space-saving room is only about 10 feet wide and has the bare essentials : bathroom with shower and "exceptional facilities", Internet, TV, phone, a narrow door I had trouble getting my suitforcase through, gown and slippers provided, mini fridge, tea-making accessories. There is really no place for bags because the room is so narrow. When we used to go to San Antonio for TLA there was a hotel made like this one: the rooms were completely outfitted, then lifted into place and bolted together, then the exterior done. A couple of things are ingenious: you can't go up in the elevator unless you scan your card key first for security, you can't turn on the lights in the room unless you put your key card in a slot by the door.
Garrett said when he was here in the middle 50's with the Navy, Tokyo was a totally different city. Most of the buidlings now are tall and modern; then there were only a few after the bombing. We saw one old one that must have survived. There are a huge number of apartments to accomodate the people who live and work here. We saw a huge number, mostly young men, but some older and some women, dressed in black suits and ties. There must be a lot of business here.
I'll write more later. Garrett has finished his shower, so it is my turn.
11/3/10
We must have slept at least 10 hours. The bed is comfortable, with a duvet. We did sleep with our heads at the bottom so Garrett's CPAP would plug in with enough room to reach an outlet. I can't read the clock here in this room; the time always looks the same.
We had breakfast at First Kitchen. The meal was very like McDonalds: an egg Mc, potato cake, drink. I asked for coffee, thinking it would be hot, but it was iced. Next time I'll know better. I have to specify HOT.
You get your food and climb up to a dining space, smoking or non. There were lots of young Japanese girls there, eating, talking, texting, putting on makeup. Most were dressed in black--tights, short skirts, sweaters, boots, coats. Some we saw on the street had on furry --I don't know what to call them--like the tops only of boots. A couple were sleeping. I don't know if these people were going to work or school.
I'm not used to this keyboard yet. It is small, and I keep hitting something that makes the cursor skip back. It if a little frustrating.
We are in the beautiful new terminal at DFW. Garrett has gone for a little walk around. We have too much baggage, as usual. Both of us had to break out a big carry-on because we had too much stuff.
You can change money here with no charge, so Garrett is getting yen and NT dollars. We had a hard time getting local currency in Taiwan last time because we had travelers' checks . This time we have mostly cash.
This airport has an artistic installation in one of the concession areas. It's made up of blue panels in a circle. When you walk around inside, you have music and lights to accompany you. We also saw something that looked like a sparkling city.
11/2/10
We are only about an hour out of Tokyo now. I can follow the progress of at my seat, as well as have music, movies, tv shows. I watched most of Despicable Me, but the sound was poor. The food, however, was good and plentiful. The flight attendants came by every little bit with something to eat or drink. We have an aisle seat and a window seat at the back of the plane; we don't have to hurry getting off since we are only going to our hotel. The only problem with the flight was intermitant turbulence, especially over Russia.
The Tokyo airport Narita is very modern and well organized. We got through customs and to a bus to take us to our hotel quickly and easily. The restroom had "exceptional facilities", according to the sign, and they were different. The first stall was a squatty potty; I passed that one up. The next had a modern Japanese toilet complete with washing and bidet functions, warm air to dry you, disinfecting seat, and flushing sound effects (I guess to muffle the sound of why you were there). I tried the warm water wash and dry. Okay, I guess.
Then we got to ride into the city--an hour and a half trip. It was interesting, but we have been up since 2 am yesterday, so we are tired. My fear of falling off of things was lively when the roadway was over some other roads with little barrier to protect us. This city seems to have a lot of canals and bridges. There is one we haven't seen yet called Rainbow Bridge.
The hotel is nice. Our space-saving room is only about 10 feet wide and has the bare essentials : bathroom with shower and "exceptional facilities", Internet, TV, phone, a narrow door I had trouble getting my suitforcase through, gown and slippers provided, mini fridge, tea-making accessories. There is really no place for bags because the room is so narrow. When we used to go to San Antonio for TLA there was a hotel made like this one: the rooms were completely outfitted, then lifted into place and bolted together, then the exterior done. A couple of things are ingenious: you can't go up in the elevator unless you scan your card key first for security, you can't turn on the lights in the room unless you put your key card in a slot by the door.
Garrett said when he was here in the middle 50's with the Navy, Tokyo was a totally different city. Most of the buidlings now are tall and modern; then there were only a few after the bombing. We saw one old one that must have survived. There are a huge number of apartments to accomodate the people who live and work here. We saw a huge number, mostly young men, but some older and some women, dressed in black suits and ties. There must be a lot of business here.
I'll write more later. Garrett has finished his shower, so it is my turn.
11/3/10
We must have slept at least 10 hours. The bed is comfortable, with a duvet. We did sleep with our heads at the bottom so Garrett's CPAP would plug in with enough room to reach an outlet. I can't read the clock here in this room; the time always looks the same.
We had breakfast at First Kitchen. The meal was very like McDonalds: an egg Mc, potato cake, drink. I asked for coffee, thinking it would be hot, but it was iced. Next time I'll know better. I have to specify HOT.
You get your food and climb up to a dining space, smoking or non. There were lots of young Japanese girls there, eating, talking, texting, putting on makeup. Most were dressed in black--tights, short skirts, sweaters, boots, coats. Some we saw on the street had on furry --I don't know what to call them--like the tops only of boots. A couple were sleeping. I don't know if these people were going to work or school.
I'm not used to this keyboard yet. It is small, and I keep hitting something that makes the cursor skip back. It if a little frustrating.
3 comments:
Tell me more about the food. And the language. Do you speak Japanese or do most of the folks speak English?
What sort of computer are you using, that you aren't used to the keyboard? Maybe a phone?
Have fun! E
I'm enjoying your blog. The Middle East has squatty potties too. Your feet fall asleep if you're there too long.
Earlene, I wrote some more about the food in Japan 2. We brought with us an Asus netbook, about 10" x 8". I got a mouse because the thumb pad and I do not get along. I have had some problems with the computer, but think it is the fault of being in Japan and Taiwan rather than the computer. I emailed my ISP for help tonight.
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