We touched down at Haneda (Tokyo's second airport) at 5am, disembarking about half an hour later. Ky was asleep, so we let him nap a little longer, and were nearly the last off the plane. Even so, the queues were pretty short, and we were through immigration and quarantine well before 6am. The taxi driver that Em (JD's sister) had organised was waiting for us, with a sign with JD's name, and he scurried ahead of us back towards the parking garage.
Once in the taxi (a spacious BMW Hybrid of some sort), the (English-speaking) driver introduced himself, and asked where we were going. JD said that Em should have given the taxi company directions, so he scrolled through his screen. Indeed, there were the instructions: "bring them to my place". "My place" was written in English, so we could see that was literally what it said. Fortunately, I had Em's phone number in my phone, so JD rang her for directions, waking her up. She wasn't awake enough to appreciate the humour of it immediately, but 20mins later when we arrived, was alternately chuckling at it, and cussing the taxi company who screwed up the instructions (she had ordered the cab by 'net, and had entered the address as required). We were just incredibly grateful to have been met at the airport and delivered to her place at the crack o'dawn, not having to negotiate "real" Japan for another few hours.
Bubbins, Em's younger son (3.5 years old, actual name Jake), was awake but clearly overwhelmed by these big almost-strangers showing up at his house. It didn't take long for him to warm up to us, especially the boys once they started playing with him. And not much longer still for him to be calling us "poo-poo head" and other choice three-year-old insults. Hiro (Em's husband), Luke (6 yrs) and eventually Lily (9 yrs) were also soon up - the older two needed to be at school (a minute's walk away) by 8am. Hiro starts work at 10am (so leaves home around 9am), but works very late.
After a few cups of (mega-strong) tea, and some toast, we discussed what sorts of things we wanted to do while we were here. My proposal was to do a sampler - a range of archetypal Japanese things, plus some family time for the cousins to get re-acquainted, and so on.
We each variously napped (I got no sleep on the plane - my restless legs played up), until our serviced apartment room was ready. For the first two nights, we're in a small, one bedroom suite (?33sq.m.). Although we have bedding for the boys (fold out single bed plus single futon), it really is designed for two people only. I'm not quite sure where the futon is supposed to fit on the floor. Em graciously offered to have the boys stay with her while we're in this smaller room, an offer we eagerly accepted. For most of our stay, we'll be in a 71 sq.m 2 bedroom suite, which will fit us much better. (There's too many of us for us all to stay at Em's, unlike most her visiting guests; that, and she's got stuff to do, and us introverts need our downtime.)
After dropping our bags, we then walked the couple of blocks to the main shopping strip at Hiro-o for some lunch. This area has many of the embassies, and has lots of expats of various degrees of integration. Some, like Em, are practically fluent and are learning more; others figure they're only here for a few years, why bother (what a bizarre mentality!). However, all stores have English speakers in this area, so it's much easier.
For lunch, Em directed us to a Japanese restaurant, which operates on a ticket system. That is, you choose what you're having, put your money into what looks like a vending machine and press the button corresponding to the food you'd like. A ticket is then printed out, which you hand to your waiter as they take you to your table. We ordered what seemed like a huge amount of food, but finished most of it.
We returned to our apartment, for naps, showers and the like, and Em headed home to do some of her regular day-to-day stuff. She came and picked us up at 6pm, later feeding us roast lamb and vegetables (yummo!). We got a load of washing done, chatted a bit, enjoyed a glass of one of the wines we brought over; while Em nipped out to fetch Lily from her evening class, we were entertained by Em's boys as they ate their dinner (slowly for Luke, double helping for Bubbins), and then ushered the (not really) baby to bed.
The four older children then made up some weird confection that Lily and Em picked up from the 100yen store (PoundLand, $2 store, Dollar store equivalent). A tablespoon of water, plus the stuff from sachet 1 made a thick soda-flavoured paste. To that, the contents of sachet 2 made it purple or blue, and glossy and thicker still. Into the other bowl, the pop rocks or other lumpy bits were added, into which the glossy thick gloop is dolloped. Perfect dessert/entertainment for the pre-teen set!
JD and I then walked the ten minutes back to our apartment and enjoyed a few (regular-strength) cuppas, blogged, and headed to bed at a reasonable hour. (It took me a bit to get to sleep, what with the naps during the day, but we both slept well.)
Tomorrow we're off to Akihabara by train, to investigate local SIM cards/pocket wifi, pocket camera (for me), and a sampling of toys. The weather is still shit - cold and rainy, and will be so for at least another day - but it's a blissful contrast from the steamy thunderstorms of Singapore.
Once in the taxi (a spacious BMW Hybrid of some sort), the (English-speaking) driver introduced himself, and asked where we were going. JD said that Em should have given the taxi company directions, so he scrolled through his screen. Indeed, there were the instructions: "bring them to my place". "My place" was written in English, so we could see that was literally what it said. Fortunately, I had Em's phone number in my phone, so JD rang her for directions, waking her up. She wasn't awake enough to appreciate the humour of it immediately, but 20mins later when we arrived, was alternately chuckling at it, and cussing the taxi company who screwed up the instructions (she had ordered the cab by 'net, and had entered the address as required). We were just incredibly grateful to have been met at the airport and delivered to her place at the crack o'dawn, not having to negotiate "real" Japan for another few hours.
Bubbins, Em's younger son (3.5 years old, actual name Jake), was awake but clearly overwhelmed by these big almost-strangers showing up at his house. It didn't take long for him to warm up to us, especially the boys once they started playing with him. And not much longer still for him to be calling us "poo-poo head" and other choice three-year-old insults. Hiro (Em's husband), Luke (6 yrs) and eventually Lily (9 yrs) were also soon up - the older two needed to be at school (a minute's walk away) by 8am. Hiro starts work at 10am (so leaves home around 9am), but works very late.
After a few cups of (mega-strong) tea, and some toast, we discussed what sorts of things we wanted to do while we were here. My proposal was to do a sampler - a range of archetypal Japanese things, plus some family time for the cousins to get re-acquainted, and so on.
We each variously napped (I got no sleep on the plane - my restless legs played up), until our serviced apartment room was ready. For the first two nights, we're in a small, one bedroom suite (?33sq.m.). Although we have bedding for the boys (fold out single bed plus single futon), it really is designed for two people only. I'm not quite sure where the futon is supposed to fit on the floor. Em graciously offered to have the boys stay with her while we're in this smaller room, an offer we eagerly accepted. For most of our stay, we'll be in a 71 sq.m 2 bedroom suite, which will fit us much better. (There's too many of us for us all to stay at Em's, unlike most her visiting guests; that, and she's got stuff to do, and us introverts need our downtime.)
After dropping our bags, we then walked the couple of blocks to the main shopping strip at Hiro-o for some lunch. This area has many of the embassies, and has lots of expats of various degrees of integration. Some, like Em, are practically fluent and are learning more; others figure they're only here for a few years, why bother (what a bizarre mentality!). However, all stores have English speakers in this area, so it's much easier.
For lunch, Em directed us to a Japanese restaurant, which operates on a ticket system. That is, you choose what you're having, put your money into what looks like a vending machine and press the button corresponding to the food you'd like. A ticket is then printed out, which you hand to your waiter as they take you to your table. We ordered what seemed like a huge amount of food, but finished most of it.
We returned to our apartment, for naps, showers and the like, and Em headed home to do some of her regular day-to-day stuff. She came and picked us up at 6pm, later feeding us roast lamb and vegetables (yummo!). We got a load of washing done, chatted a bit, enjoyed a glass of one of the wines we brought over; while Em nipped out to fetch Lily from her evening class, we were entertained by Em's boys as they ate their dinner (slowly for Luke, double helping for Bubbins), and then ushered the (not really) baby to bed.
The four older children then made up some weird confection that Lily and Em picked up from the 100yen store (PoundLand, $2 store, Dollar store equivalent). A tablespoon of water, plus the stuff from sachet 1 made a thick soda-flavoured paste. To that, the contents of sachet 2 made it purple or blue, and glossy and thicker still. Into the other bowl, the pop rocks or other lumpy bits were added, into which the glossy thick gloop is dolloped. Perfect dessert/entertainment for the pre-teen set!
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| Clockwise from left: Jos, Ky, Luke, Em (standing), Lily |
Tomorrow we're off to Akihabara by train, to investigate local SIM cards/pocket wifi, pocket camera (for me), and a sampling of toys. The weather is still shit - cold and rainy, and will be so for at least another day - but it's a blissful contrast from the steamy thunderstorms of Singapore.
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