Wednesday, 30 September 2015

LIFE AS A TOKYOITE

Shoping in Ginza, Tokyo's parallel to New York City's Fifth Avenue.  
Particularly pleasant when the street is closed to vehicles, allowing people to 
meander peacefully in the middle of the usually busy road.


Delightful Afternoon Tea at Shisedo, an upmarket cosmetic store.


Caught in an unexpected street procession, no clue as to it's purpose.


We join a queue of about 30 people and spend the longest time ever waiting for a table.  
Eventually we realise there is only room for about 9 people inside.
Once inside the chef prepares the food in front of us and it is served around a communal table


It is worth the wait!
Slurping Soba, buckwheat noodles and chicken in a hot broth.


We end the evening in Akihabara (Electric Town), a very odd area!  
Often referred to as Akiba by the manga and anime fans.  
This place is the centre of the (geek) universe.





Pachinko - extremely noisy pinball machines.

Life in Toyko moves at a well-oiled pace, with an energy that borders on mania.  
However, the Japanese people are friendly, polite and highly forgiving 
of foreign visitors' social gaffes.  We like it here!


Monday, 28 September 2015

TOKYO

Tokyo is so immense it's difficult to know where to start.
Temples, Shrines and Shopping!

View from our room overlooking Tokyo Bay


Shinjuku from Park Hyatt Hotel


Shibuya crossing - rumoured to be the world's busiest intersection with people coming
from all directions at once - sometimes over a thousand with every light change.


Senso-ji Pagoda and Shrine


Hand washing ceremony


Nakamise-dori, a busy market street set within the temple precinct.


A leiurely ride down the Sumida River on the suijo water bus


Tempura for lunch


Meiji-Jingu 
Shinto shrine leading into the temple grounds


Wedding proceedings of couple in kimono-clad regalia





Saturday, 26 September 2015

DAY TWO IN DUBAI


An early wake up call this morning by the call to prayer from the nearby Mosque.
Today is Eid-al-Adha when Muslims celebrate the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca)

 We visit the majestic Burj Al Arab


Madinat Jumeriah - 
 a self contained minature "Arabian" city with traditional souk 


In the evening there is a beautiful sunset and we grab the bargain of the day:



Crossing the Creek byAbra, an old-fashioned wooden boat.
Cost 1 dirham, about 18p!


Goodbye Dubai - moving on tomorrow.  

Thursday, 24 September 2015

DUBAI

First time for us on a Airbus 380 ...  they are huge!
Flying at Altitude 39,050 ft, mph 577


Early morning arrival in Dubai and after a quick cat nap and a dip in the pool, we head out.  
It's hot, very hot, 39 degrees



First stop, a vist to the top of the Burj Khalifa

Level 148

Another first ... a massage chair in the room!