The trip to Tokyo

Woo and I were flying out to Japan on Friday night. Drew was nice enough to give us a lift to the airport. As we drove from Como, along Great Eastern Highway, it occurred to Woo and I that Drew was, in all his genius, taking us to the domestic airport. So that was a good start.

After arriving at Perth's enormous international airport (we can certainly see where all the mining dollars are being spent), Woo and I did the standard waiting for a plane procedure. Ate, bought magazines and smoked a few last minute cigarettes before the flight.

On a visit to the bathroom I noticed there are now lcd screens on the hand dryers in the bathrooms. Holy Jesus in heaven! You cant avoid the advertising anywhere anymore.

When we finally went through the gate to board the plane there was another line. Woo and I waited til nearly the front of this line before we realised we needed to fill out our departure cards. There was a mad scramble as we searched or the cards and a pen with which to fill them out before reaching the front of the line. The customs lady was impressed with our speed as she informed us whe would have been more than happy to send us to the back of the line. "the walk of shame" she called it, if our forms had not been filled out.

This began a certain attraction towards Woo from all the security staff at Perth airport. He had to completely empty his bag, getting his moisturiser thrown out in the process, before getting frisked as prepared to go up the escalators. I avoided any such trouble. I guess I just look way less dodgy...

The flight was the same as any flight before it. I didn't feel like I got any sort of sleep, but woke up at 6am having not looked at my watch since 1am, so figured I must've done okay.

One thing I did notice about this particular flights was that there was a large proportion of flight attendants that seemed very old. One looked to be in his mid fifties, which prompted me to inform Woo that if I was ever that old and still in a customer service, customer facing role, he had permission to kill me.

I did wake up from my slumber just in time to see an amazing sunrise over the Pacific Ocean as we flew north towards Tokyo. It started with the faintest shimmer of red against a pitch black, starry sky. Gradually growing brighter and more orange as we flew on. It was truly beautiful, but I fear I didn't fully appreciate it as I was still barely lucid.

Upon landing at Narita airport, Woo had I momentarily freaked out about the fact that we were finally here. We were finally in Japan. It was all a bit different. There was a train at the airport to take your from the gates to the terminal. I had seen this before at KL, but it was new for Woo.

After disembarking the Train and walking towards the baggage claim, an Aussie genteman who was travelling with his son asked if we had gotten the second form from the Qantas staff. We hadn't, but we figured we'd get a copy as we went though customs. The standard small talk followed between ourselves and this dude. He was going snowbaording in Niseko, and didn't even know of the world cup qualifier that was to be played in Yokohama on Wednesday night.

Thats fine, the guy isn't here for the soccer. I undertand. But then he uttered some immeasureable stupidity when he asked if the Australian team was playing the Japanese team.
No, champ. They're playing Kazakstan. They're just here because of the weather. hehehe

After collecting our bags and getting our ticket to Shinigawa (where our hotel was) Woo decided he desperately needed a smoke. You cant just go outside and smoke at the Narita airport. You go outside, then you go into a specially designed glass smoking room. I like to call it the smoking bubble, and Woo was trapped inside.

As far as my early impressions of Japan at this point go, all I can say is that there must be some Toro's in the atmosphere because BURRR it's cold up here!! On more than one occasion Woo or I mentioned how nippy it was, until we decided that that particular adjective was probably not the best one to use in Japan, and we have since moved on to "crisp".

After woo had finished his cigarette we were running a little late for the Narita express to Shinigawa. We got to the bottom of the escalators in from of where carriage 4 would be stopping on the platform. A little Japanese man looked at my ticket and proclaimed with some urgency while pointing frantically to the left. "Not 4. Nine. NINE!!!" We ran to the desired section and boarded thetrain just in time. We sat down with a satisfied feeling, as I proclaimed to Woo that the hardest part of the trip was over. That it would be piss easy to find our hotel from the station.

Not exactly true. Once we arrived at Shinigawa station, I was expection giant signs telling us which way to the Prince Hotel. We walked around the station about 4 times before we finally asked someone who worked there, and he pointed us in the right direction.

We arrived at our hotel and were informed it would be another hour and a half til check in. So we left our bags with the baggage girls and went to find somewhere to get a beer and a feed. We found a little Japanese (who would have thunk it) place under the Shinigawa train station. This was after we decided against paying 3800 yen (roughly $90) for a steak from Austraria (their spelling, not mine). To Woo's delight, this little Japanese restaurant would serve beer, plus you could smoke at the table. Exactly what he was looking for, especially after his encounter with the Narita Airport smoking bubble.

Now, I need to warn you that you do not want to read the next paragraph. If you know whats best for you, you will skip it. Trust me.

After the meal, I needed to drop some kiddies off at the pool, but it was still not check-in time. So I used to loo at the hote lobby. Little did I know this would be close to a life changing experience. Firstly, the toilet seat was heated. I have not sat on a heated toilet seat before, and let me tell you, it warms more than just the cockles of your heart. Secondly, after laying all the necessary cable, I noticed that this toilet had a "shower" function. Could this be a bidet? Again, something I had not experienced before. I pressed the button and to my surprise a stream of water hit me bullseye in the anus. I still struggle to figure out how it's aim is so good. Is there some form of radar? Anus detecting technology? Either way, it was a whole new world of poo. But now we shall never speak of that again.

Now, at this point you should know that there are hundreds of smoking hotties walking around in Tokyo and surrounds. In fact I think that was part of the reason Woo and I had such trouble negotiating Shinigawa station, as we were stopping to stare at all the gorgeous girls.

We were discussing this on our way back into the hotel, after seeing another gorgeous girl walk past, when I exclaimed that there were just no fatties walking around. As is always the way, the very moment I mentioned this, and giant wad of lard walked around the corner of the lobby and proceeded directly past us. It's all in the timing, and Woo and I had more than a chuckle as we continued up to our room.

Our room is tiny. Really tiny. It has a safe, a mirror that doesn't fog up in a square over the sink, and an emergency torch. However it doesn't have a bar ridge. Disappointing.

Although, I did find a headband in one of the draws. Well, at least I think it's a headband. It is now my blogging headband which I will wear as I blog each morning/ night.

And with that, sayonara.