Claire Brown

Tokyo!

Contrary to reports - Terminal 5, for us, worked like a dream. Left Glasgow on time and got to Heathrow on time. Terminal 5 has lots of good shops and eateries and is easy to navigate. Plane to Tokyo left on time and we got all our luggage at the other end.

On arriving in Japan we got the bus to Tokyo (Shinjuku). It took about an hour and a half and dropped us right at our hotel. The hotel is amazing! Lots of chandeliers and marble. The hotel bar is nice, but we had 2 drinks each and the bill came to £25.00. There were only 4 people in the bar, and far too many attentive staff. Someone to show us to our seats, 2 bartenders and 2 lackies to empty ashtrys and and fill snack dishes. There was far too much pressure!

This place is insane.

I’ve seen loads of people wearing white face masks (for allergies or pollution apparently,) and parking attendants measuring the space between parked push bikes and the road. This place is very efficient and very clean!

We’ve been here for about 36 hours and I’m totally loving it! No jet lag so far and the subway seems easy to navigate. Food had been our only problem. Most restaurants have non english menus, so pointing at things has been the only thing we can do. It can only get better.

Cx

15 hours to lift off!

Well, we’re all packed and ready to go. Our flight first leaves at 12.45pm tomorrow and then after a long, and i’m sure arduous journey, we’ll arrive in Tokyo at 11.10am the next morning. We go through terminal 5, so i’ll be amazed if all our luggage actually makes the trip with us, so change of clothes in our hand luggage just in case. Still really excited and probably won’t believe i’m actually going till i’m on the plane.

Had a trumatising bikini wax today - 5 hours later and it’s still stinging! I hate the holiday preparation that women have to go through. Drinking vodka to numb the pain!

One month of freedom!

Just finished work today for 4 weeks of holiday time. An amazing feeling as i’ve been working late for the past 2 weeks, trying to get all my work done. It’s very satisfying leaving long “to do” lists with my colleagues. Although knowing i’ve only got 3 days annual leave left from May to December, leaves me with some thoughts of despair.

I’m off to Japan, Australia and Indonesia. Will keep you updated of my adventures.