First tentative steps….
13–14 de fev. 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 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, itLeia mais
Terminal 2 or should it be 3?
14 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 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 eachLeia mais
Dubai pit stop
14 de fevereiro de 2024, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 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. WeLeia mais
Tokyo bound……
15 de fevereiro de 2024, Emirados Árabes Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
The unexpected and very welcome spare seat on a plane - it’s like winning the lottery 🙌🏻
The land of the setting sun….
15 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ 🌬 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 deliciousLeia mais
Techno Beverage
16 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ 🌬 12 °C
Just had my first ever coffee made by robot.
Sushi
16 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ☀️ 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 queuingLeia mais
Out and about
16 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ⛅ 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 kindlyLeia mais
By night
16 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
Sensō-Ji Buddhist Temple
17 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ☁️ 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 😬
There were lots of folk dressed in traditionalLeia mais
I ♥️ owls……
17 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
…..so we had to visit The Owl Cafe 🦉🦉🦉
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, perchedLeia mais
Plastic food
17 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ☁️ 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 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Another full on day……
•Pachinko machines
•Sensō-Ji Buddhist Temple
• Another 🍣 🍱 lunch
•Owl Cafe
•Akihabara to buy a lost cable
•Tokyo Skytree
I was a bit smug in a previousLeia mais
Tokyo Skytree - highest viewpoint
17 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ☁️ 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 aLeia mais
More robots - almost
18 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ⛅ 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. ILeia mais
Fabulous Tokyo
18 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ⛅ 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 toLeia mais
Shops real and vending
18 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ ⛅ 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 toLeia mais
Day 3
18 de fevereiro de 2024, Japão ⋅ 🌙 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 wonderLeia mais
Tasmania, we’re coming your way….
19 de fevereiro de 2024, Austrália ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Hello Melbourne, clocks forward another 2 hours 🥱
We had to make the transition from international arrivals to domestic departures, which was quite a painful process as it turned out.
Got thruLeia mais
And relax…
19 de fevereiro de 2024, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ 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 leaveLeia mais
Hobart
20 de fevereiro de 2024, Austrália ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
So we’re now in the southern hemisphere which means SUMMER ☀️☀️☀️
A chilled day which was much needed. After brekkie and some general sorting of stuff (which, now set free from theirLeia mais
Seaplane
21 de fevereiro de 2024, Austrália ⋅ ⛅ 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 theLeia mais
Gateway to the Antarctic
21 de fevereiro de 2024, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ 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 beingLeia mais
Evening cruise
21 de fevereiro de 2024, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ 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 aLeia mais
G’day Sheila!
22 de fevereiro de 2024, Austrália ⋅ 🌬 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’sLeia mais








































































































































































