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Asian Odyssey.
  • Karry Long
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  • Karry Long

Asian Odyssey.

A 24 day trip starting in Japan and then travelling to Vietnam, back to Tokyo to fly home. We’ve been to both countries before but there is always something different to see. Read more
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  • Karry LongAsian Odyssey.Traveler
    Hope this is the right spotChicken something, some were a tad chewySashimiOmelette?

    Yamanouchi

    May 25 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Finally got ourselves out for Tokyo, well on the outskirts anyway to Ashikaga Flower Park. It’s much later than we thought we would be here, which turned out to be a good thing. It was so hot today but by Kate afternoon it had started cooling off. Ashikaga is renown for massive big 160 yer old wisteria trees. Unfortunately the wisteria flowering is finished for the year but the park has any number of other flowers. More roses than you could count and millions log petunias. I think it would a gorgeous place any time of the year and we enjoyed an hour or two wandering around smelling the roses.
    Thank goodness we had booked a hotel here, and it wasn’t too far away. Our host sent us in the right direction for a great dinner at a little bar about 300 m down the street.
    Had no idea what anything was, luckily there was a young guy working in there who had a bit of English and he gave us his suggestion. Although we did draw the line at Pig Intestines.
    I think he was trying to give us the weirdest things on the menu but we surprised him by eating everything.    Read more

  • Karry LongAsian Odyssey.Traveler

    Out of Tokyo

    May 25 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Bit of an epic journey this morning. We have to get the train out to Higashi Matsudo station, pick up the hire car and then drive all the way across to the other side of Tokyo to drop off two ukuleles to Ukulele Bird.
    Driving in Tokyo is much less stressful than I expected until we had to do a u turn and find a park. Wow some of these streets are so narrow. I’m pretty sure we drove up the wrong way on one and then down a pedestrian walkway but we got there.
    There was a young guy there. Pretty famous musician in Japan apparently and he played a couple of Grahams ukes. Beautiful player, so effortless.
    Another bout in the traffic and we headed off to Ashikaga Flower Park.
    We were having a good run until the gps last service in the tunnel and then thought we were on a road below us. Confusion reined for a while until we got back on track.    Read more

  • Karry LongAsian Odyssey.Traveler

    Seafood Dinner

    May 24 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We celebrated a successful festival with an entree of beer and gyozas and then a seafood feast. So many great eateries all on our doorstep.

  • Karry LongAsian Odyssey.Traveler

    2 nd Day at Tokyo Handcrafted Guitar Festival

    May 24 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Second day at the festival. Seems a bit quieter today until about lunchtime. Slow Sunday morning I guess. Someone who brought one of Grahams ukulele’s came in this morning to meet him. Brought us bag full of treats which was nice.

    Then the couple from Ukulele Bird arrived and after a bit of bargaining brought 2 Ukulele’s. Topped it off with selling a mandolin and Graham is happy as Larry.

    The festival finished at 5 and we were packed up and back at the apartment by 5.30. An appetiser of gyozas and beer and then a seafood selection for dinner and we’re just about done in Tokyo.    Read more

  • Karry LongAsian Odyssey.Traveler

    Tokyo Handcrafted Guitar Festival.

    May 23 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    This weekend we will be at the Tokyo Handcrafted Guitar Festival. This is the second time we attended. Lots of people, lots of guitars and ukulele’s and lots of talking and trying to interpret on both our parts and the customers.

    The first day is done and there’s been lots of interest but no sales yet. Might not be our year. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

    We went looking for some dinner and stopped into a bar on the corner of our street that always seems to be packed when we go past. We had to wait in line for ten minutes or so but it was worth it. Gyozas, Ramen, Beer and Sake. The perfect dinner.    Read more

  • Karry LongAsian Odyssey.Traveler

    Sumida

    May 23 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Train hopping in Tokyo
    The guitar show doesn’t start until tomorrow so we have a free day today. Last time we were here we really enjoyed the Fish Market so decided to go back for another look. Lots of interesting stalls, so much seafood and snacks to buy. We had a breakfast of crab legs, scallops, sea urchin, tuna sashimi and strawberries.
    This place is full of bus tours so you need to be early to avoid the worst of the crowds. By the time we’d had our fill of seafood it was packed. Time to go!
    Siybuya crossing is another place we’ve never been to. It’s a bit of an effort to get there but we had all day to fill so why not.
    Got a bit lost coming out of the station but we found an information team and they put us straight.
    We went across the crossing, looked at it from the 11 floor, the 2nd floor, the 3rd floor and on the ground. It’s a rainy day so lots of umbrella around which added a bit more interest. But honestly we couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. Pretty unremarkable as my Dad would say. 😂    Read more

  • Karry LongAsian Odyssey.Traveler
    Crab legs
    They were deliciousJapan has the most delicious strawberriesTuna sashimiThe knives were popularNot sure what these were coated in Marsapan maybeHe's loving it.Scallops and sea urchinI do need some more bowlsMore tunaThe Sake was greatAnd the beer!But the eel was the standout.Who doesn't love Karage Chicken.No idea!Our friends for the night. They couldn't believe we found this bar.

    Trains around Tokyo

    May 22 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We had a few things we wanted to see in Tokyo. First off the Tsukiji Fish Market. It was just as good as we remembered, although we couldn’t find any live sea urchin, we did find lots of tasty tidbits. After our fill of seafood we took the train to Shibuya station, three trips to Tokyo and we still haven’t visited this iconic scramble crossing.

    We looked at it for the Eleventh floor, from ground level and from the 3rd floor, 2nd floor and I still don’t see what all the fuss is about. Unremarkable as my Dad would have said. 🤣

    After having a drink ( you can either have a $10 coffee or a $10 cocktail, it’s a no brainer) on the second floor to watch the crossing we were done.

    We had planned to visit the Meiji Shrine and the gardens but the weather goods were not in favour today, so after a coffee at the entrance waiting for the rain to clear we decided to head home for a rest.

    A trip to Daiso our favourite store in Tokyo is always a must , I could spend hours in there, we came away with so many great bargains.

    Time for a drink. Decided to head in the other direction when we left the apartment. We only got about 1/2 a block before we saw a little bar.

    We were only going in for one drink…. 3 hours later.    Read more

  • Karry LongAsian Odyssey.Traveler
    Early start
    Nice sunriseYes that is a happy smirk.So comfyTime for a real napGraham found a friend on the train.Late morning.

    On our way.

    May 21 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Heading off early today with the first flight out at 6.35. Everything went to plan had all the instruments checked through to Tokyo, so we had an easy ride across to the international airport. Good run through customs and immigration with plenty of time for breakfast and coffee.

    Waiting at the gate we got a text the flight would be delayed for an hour. Luckily the seats were comfy so we both had a little nap to make up for the 4 o’clock wake up.

    The wait was worth it, the plane is only half full, if that. There is plenty of room for everyone to spread out. It was probably the most comfortable flight we’ve had in years. Saying that nine hours is still a long time, locked in an aluminium can so we were still happy to be getting off.

    Takes an hour to get into the city in the train and it was a bit of a circus with a guitar, three suitcases and a couple of backpacks. We’d forgotten how many stairs there are in the train stations and you can never find the lift when you want one.

    We finally made it to our accomodation and deciphered the instructions to get in. It’s very compact, but has everything we need and is just around the corner from the hall where the Handmade Guitar Show will be.

    Offloaded all our gear and headed out to find some dinner, Beer and Ramen, can’t go wrong with that.    Read more

    Trip start
    May 19, 2026