Day 16

 Day 16

Just the knowledge of having to get up at 4 was enough for a sleepless night.

So predictably when the alarm went off I was a complete mess.

Still, we packed everything up and met the taxi driver outside the reception area just before 5

Somehow she managed to cram all our stuff (and us) into the car and it was a 40 minute ride to the airport.

At the airport the guy on information lied by saying we didn’t have to do the self serve baggage check in as we absolutely did have to

Eventually we managed that and to get through all of security in a fairly short time

Excellent that we were there in good time, bad news was that nothing opened until 7

Still we queued for a cafe to open and ate some very poor cheesy hotdogs - it was the only thing on the menu we thought Kieren could cope with

The plane left about 30 minutes late and we sat there prepared for the 14 hours to come

I say prepared but yet again it was awful, made worse by the poor selection of movies

When we did land and I turned my phone back on the taxi driver called to say where to meet him after our loooooong wait for our luggage

It was only a 15 minute ride to the hotel and then I drove home in about 90 minutes

I was so tired but still went to Tesco to get some of the basics before half eating a curry - I was just too tired - worked out by 8pm our time we’d have all been awake for 24 hrs and Hattie only just made that time before crashing

Now we are home I have some thoughts on Japan

It’s probably the safest place I’ve been - no need for bike locks and no-one would even think of jaywalking

Building works always employ someone to just stand outside - every single time - which was weird

Urinals went all the way to the floor, so even short arses could use them - and don’t get me started on their far superior toilets

You’re only ever 10 feet away from a vending machine, 20 feet from a 7/11

The trains are superb and so easy to use

I love the ICOCA/PASMO/SUICA Card - makes paying for journeys so easy

We never once had all our meals served together - because they assumed we would share what did come out - NOT going to happen

Just because it says what it is on a menu it doesn’t mean that is what you are going to get

It was almost impossible to find something with the word Japan on it - everyone wears clothes with English writing all over their shirt / jumper etc - especially about the USA

Bars and restaurants were rarely at street level - you had to look at both basements and higher levels

Manners are everything and I know it won’t last so will miss Kieren’s bowing the most

Finally - never set yourself up as an electrician in Japan