First tentative stepsâŠ.
13.â14. helmik. 2024, Englanti â
âïž 11 °C
The torture of anticipation, prepping and packing is over. Our carriage (Mike’s van) has deposited us at The Premier Inn, at Heathrow: gateway to the world…..
Wet and grey on the drive up, itLue lisÀÀ
Terminal 2 or should it be 3?
14. helmikuuta 2024, Englanti â
âïž 13 °C
As we jumped off the Hoppa bus, ‘Oh yes, yes def Terminal 2’ I said confidently, then seconds later: ‘Errr oh no it isn’t….. Sorry’
Luckily the two terminals are a short walk from eachLue lisÀÀ
Dubai pit stop
14. helmikuuta 2024, Englanti â
âïž 13 °C
Following a ‘go around’ after the captain aborted his first landing, we’ve emerged blinking in the bright lights of arrivals. After a pointless security scan, we trudge wearily to departures. WeLue lisÀÀ
Tokyo boundâŠâŠ
15. helmikuuta 2024, Yhdistyneet Arabiemiirikunnat â
âïž 20 °C
The unexpected and very welcome spare seat on a plane - it’s like winning the lottery đđ»
The land of the setting sunâŠ.
15. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
đŹ 17 °C
Second flight ok, we both managed some sleep which was a bonus and the ‘bland meals’ which I selected for myself ahead of time, were better than the previous flight. You also get your deliciousLue lisÀÀ
Techno Beverage
16. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
đŹ 12 °C
Just had my first ever coffee made by robot.
Sushi
16. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
âïž 13 °C
Breakfast or lunch? After a bit of searching found somewhere to eat. Love a bit of sushi, so this place was apt.
As we’re rapidly learning, there’s an order / system to life here.
The queuingLue lisÀÀ
Out and about
16. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
â
7 °C
There seems to be no shortage of people happy to help us. A Korean student helped us escape Shibuya station last night (we might still be wandering around, it’s a maze).
In the Sushi bar, a kindlyLue lisÀÀ
By night
16. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
â
6 °C
SensĆ-Ji Buddhist Temple
17. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
âïž 13 °C
Completely mobbed, the opposite of tranquil and reflective. All the guidebooks suggest you visit, and everyone did just that, at the same time đŹ
There were lots of folk dressed in traditionalLue lisÀÀ
I â„ïž owlsâŠâŠ
17. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
âïž 14 °C
…..so we had to visit The Owl Cafe đŠđŠđŠ
https://akiba2960.com/
It’s a bit out of the way, in a couple of small rooms, but then you enter and there are REAL OWLS. Lots of them, perchedLue lisÀÀ
Plastic food
17. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
âïž 11 °C
Most restaurants have windows full of plastic food, replicating their dishes. I couldn’t resist a few pics, but unable to verify if the real deal looked as ‘delicious’ as the plastic versions…..
Day two
17. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
âïž 10 °C
Another full on day……
•Pachinko machines
•SensĆ-Ji Buddhist Temple
• Another đŁ đ± lunch
•Owl Cafe
•Akihabara to buy a lost cable
•Tokyo Skytree
I was a bit smug in a previousLue lisÀÀ
Tokyo Skytree - highest viewpoint
17. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
âïž 10 °C
For night views, we headed to floors 350 & 450.
The place was mobbed, hoards of visitors corralled into groups for queuing, ticket printing, up lifts, down lifts, the glass floor terror, getting aLue lisÀÀ
More robots - almost
18. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
â
15 °C
Having watched Jane McDonald (one of my cultural references for Tokyo!) on her televised trip to Japan, we were keen to visit Pepper Parlour, a cafe where robots interact with you at your table. ILue lisÀÀ
Fabulous Tokyo
18. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
â
18 °C
I can't understand why it's taken me so long to get to Tokyo. It has shot way up on my list of favourite cities. Big, but not brash, a mystic narnia of techno niknaks one moment and shinto shrine toLue lisÀÀ
Shops real and vending
18. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
â
17 °C
Loved looking at the shop displays…..
We enjoyed the Animate shop, all things Anime, including banks of vending machines full of trinkets in plastic capsules. We both used up some small change toLue lisÀÀ
Day 3
18. helmikuuta 2024, Japani â
đ 16 °C
Luckily I’d done a bit of repacking last night, because after my wakeful night, I then overslept. After a smartish brekkie and ‘jamming things in our bags’ sesh, we had a few hours to wonderLue lisÀÀ
Tasmania, weâre coming your wayâŠ.
19. helmikuuta 2024, Australia â
â
22 °C
Hello Melbourne, clocks forward another 2 hours đ„±
We had to make the transition from international arrivals to domestic departures, which was quite a painful process as it turned out.
Got thruLue lisÀÀ
And relaxâŠ
19. helmikuuta 2024, Australia â
âïž 18 °C
The last few days have been full on with flights, jet lag and seeing as much as we could squeeze in, in Tokyo. I really enjoyed the vibe, we did a lot in our limited time, but I was ready to leaveLue lisÀÀ
Hobart
20. helmikuuta 2024, Australia â
đ 17 °C
So we’re now in the southern hemisphere which means SUMMER âïžâïžâïž
A chilled day which was much needed. After brekkie and some general sorting of stuff (which, now set free from theirLue lisÀÀ
Seaplane
21. helmikuuta 2024, Australia â
â
23 °C
So the seaplane plan worked out! Had a fab 30 min flight over the bay this morning.
The waters were crystal, the weather perfect, and the coastline just beautiful.
The pilot works in Tassie in theLue lisÀÀ
Gateway to the Antarctic
21. helmikuuta 2024, Australia â
âïž 25 °C
Really interesting and thought provoking visit to Mawson’s Hut, an authentically recreated version of the real hut still in Cape Denison, Antarctica (and which is currently beingLue lisÀÀ
Evening cruise
21. helmikuuta 2024, Australia â
âïž 29 °C
Booked ourselves on an evening cruise with dinner!
Sounded a bit grown up for us, but thankfully it was very casual, nice food and gorgeous views of the harbour and the River Derwent.
It’s been aLue lisÀÀ
Gâday Sheila!
22. helmikuuta 2024, Australia â
đŹ 30 °C
Motor home pick up day. Always a bit fraught, accom check out, taxi to depot, van admin, bags galore, getting to grips with the driving, food shop, navigation, a new space to negotiate - plus it’sLue lisÀÀ








































































































































































