England... and a massive change of pace.

Getting on the plane in Tokyo , I was in various states of mind ...

Anxiousness
Excitement
Wonderment
Drunkenness

For those who aren't totally aware of my family , I'll try and explain.

Many years ago , my fathers parents came to NZ with him and his brother. My father grew up , met my mother , and got married...

Soon after this , my Uncle moved back to the UK , leaving my dad and my Grandparents. Over the years , my sister was born , and both my paternal Grandparents passed away.

Long story short... as it stood at the beginning of this year, I was THE LAST remaining member of my family to go back to the "Mother Land". It would be here , that I would finally meet some of my family that I'd never met in 30 years of life. I'd spent many a Christmas Evening yelling "Merry Xmas" down the phone , but never face to face.

It was with this in mind , that I was both very nervous , but very excited.

The flight to London was to be a long one, only to be broken up by a brief stop-over in Frankfurt, Germany.

Now , if you track the flight path from Tokyo to Frankfurt , it's not as you'd first expect... it's a straight line , around a curved sphere ( the Earth... it's not flat ya know! ). So we actually got very close to the Arctic Circle in relative speaking...

I was lucky enough once again to be able to secure a window seat with a spare seat next to me, looking out the window I was lucky enough to grab a couple of shots...







Now , the next bit , I am SURE will make some of you laugh quite considerably.
The flight from Tokyo to Frankfurt is around 11hours , so there's PLENTY of time to amuse yourself. It wasn't long into the flight that I came to be browsing the movie and TV shows on the Entertainment Centre. It wasn't long before I was throroughly transfixed by a re-watching of "Platoon" , a bit of comic relief with "Confessions of a Shopaholic".
What's this I spy!? 6 episodes of "Two and a half men" !!! Lovely...

Then...

I saw it...

I had been avoiding this moment so hard , but ... there it was...

This movie was one that cause SO much hype , so much hysteria... specifically from the female gender. I had refused to watch it , but now... 30,000ft in the air... it was the only thing left.

What do I do ... do I continue playing Minesweeper on the Laptop , Bejewelled on the planes "Games" console...

or...

Watch the movie... "Twilight"

Needless to say... for the next 122minutes I was hooked. I take back every bad thing I said.

Yes, it's a chick flick.

Yes, it's a very tame take on "Vampire" movies

Yes, it's got a complete lack of decent sex scenes and nudity

Yes, I loved it

I'll hand my man card in next time I'm passing. I'll freely admit it. There were even moments in the movie that had tears welling in my eyes. Very cool movie. Enjoyed... can we forget this and move on? Yes, thanks.

We land in Frankfurt , and wow... what a change. No more dark haired midgets speaking Japanese. We know rather attractive airport staff speaking German.




I was warned about Frankfurt Airport about just how large it was , and that I had to make double sure I made the connecting flight on time. To be honest , I needn't have worried, I had a 3 hour wait between flights. Which I utilised by sitting in the TMI Travel Lounge and drinking some much needed fluids ( Hangover much? )

Over the Intercom I hear my flight is boarding and off I go. We hop aboard the bus that takes you to your plan. Once a small flight of stairs is conquered, we're strapped in and off. In just over an hour , I'll be in England...

Now , some of you have been wondering why the blogs have stopped... The reason, I'm in England.

But not just ANY part of England. I'm in the sleepy hollow of England. I needed a bit of R&R , and also so much needed clearing of the head. To do this , I decided that once I left Tokyo and arrived in England I would go and stay at my Uncle and Aunties ( John and Glenys ) , who live in "The Cotswolds".

Now, to explain a little further as to where I've been for the last week. They live in a village called "Teddington" , which is within the Gloucestershire area.. under the "Tewkesbury" area name. Teddington is a village... oh yes , is it ever.

Welcome to Teddington... this is the Village sign.



And this , is the street map of Teddington... don't worry, you won't find it hard to navigate.

I promise...




As you can see , Teddington is small. It is the quintessential little English village.

Refer - ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddington,_Gloucestershire )

Basically speaking Teddington , and it's nearest village Alstone ( About 20mins walk ) have a COMBINED population of less than 300 people.

I now know how Postman Pat felt. It was awfully quaint , very picturesque , but also very very remote. Just walking around Teddington , you start to feel how remote we are. Everything is so picture postcard , but so very far from everything...


















Luckily though , I was living in a house that had everything I needed.

So, as I mentioned , I've been staying here for the last week , I decided to not do a day by day blog of the goings on for now , simply due to the fact that a lot of it is taking up relaxing and just soaking up life. And being in the middle of nowhere.

Over the last couple of days though , I have been taken around some of the nearby villages and shown just what English country side looks like.

Here's just some of the pics that have been taken over the past week , in a number of various villages surrounding us...

Winchcombe
Bourton-on-the-Water
Overbury
Upper Slaughter
Lower Slaughter
Stow-On-The-Wold
Broadway

It's an odd thing when you step inside an old house , maybe 100 years old , its odd when you see old people... just trying to comprehend time of that length is hard...

When you're then walking amongst whole protected villages of 17th and 18th century, so suddenly get strong images of a Robin Hood-esque time.





















The shops , the house , the churches , everything around us , is as if time stood still for a while. Many villages have an almost uncanny mystical feel about them. My Aunty and Uncle , both very old and traditional , fit right in here. I have even had my token visit to TRUE Sunday Cricket. Set amongst the fields and the stone walls , in a teeny tiny village. Two teams dressed in their perfect whites , fighting it out with with and ball.

To take the traditional theme one step further , my cousin David has taken up "Real Tennis". Basically , the origin of "Lawn Tennis" that we of today. "Real Tennis" has many similarities , but also , many differences...

refer - ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_tennis )

One thing that blatantly catches your eye... is the court.



Take notice of the "Galleries" ... or , holes in the wall!

And , as for the Racquets...



Looks like it needs some Viagra... droop anyone?

So yes, this area is simply dripping in old age history , family heritage , and old crap...

It's been an outstanding week here , of living and learning. I spent an afternoon with my Aunty going over letters that were written by my Great Great Great Grandfather in the early 1800's. I honestly can't explain the sensation I had reading something that someone DIRECTLY related to me, had hand written 200 years ago.

It's from here , that I am coordinating with family, to travel West and stay with them.

It's all a little frantic and up in the air... but , I have more than enough time , and the world is my oyster.


I'll close this blog by saying , I've come to realise lately , that we seem to be so intent on rushing things , as if life is too short... it's not , it's the longest thing we'll ever do.

Standing amongst fields and churches , houses and shops that have stood for over two centuries makes you think how young we all really are...


Scary thought really...

Thursday... Tourist Oops...

Ahh.... Thursday , the last day I will have any time to do much in Tokyo. Now, as I mentioned earlier in one of my previous posts, Tokyo doesn't have the "typical" Temples and Shrines that you sort of imagine when coming to Japan. It may be media in ways of Movies and TV that dictates that way of thinking. Or , it may just be a complete sense of ignorance... who know...

Luckily for me, Marty and the Melbournites ( Chris , Tara and Alana ) had all told me about an old Japanese Temple and Shrine that was within walking distance from Asakusa. This sounded like a great idea to me, I didn't really feel like a full-on day today, as I had to be up fairly early tomorrow as my flight left at 11:30am. Remember... International Flights need to be there 2 hours before , the train ride to Narita is 80mins long , I had to get my luggage TO the Train Station... you can see where this is going right... it's going to be an EARLY MORNING for me.

So after a quick bite to eat I headed deep into Asakusa area. Interesting to note , is that during May every year... is the "Sanja" festival ( http://hometown.infocreate.co.jp/en/kanto/asakusa/maturi-e.html ). Basically a religious festival that spreads all through the streets and has various things happening all the time. Today was no exception... so people in religious dress everywhere, chanting and clapping. Very odd...

Before long I can see hints of where I'm going , the 'Sensoji Temple' ... from the pictures you'll be able to see why I could see it from a little way aways...

Quick history lesson for you , to make you realise just the sense of history I had walking into this place.

The temple is dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon, also known as Guan Yin or the Goddess of Mercy. According to legend, a statue of the Kannon was found in the Sumida River in 628 by two fishermen, the brothers Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari. The chief of their village, Hajino Nakamoto, recognized the sanctity of the statue and enshrined it by remodeling his own house into a small temple in Asakusa, so that the villagers could worship the Kannon.

The first temple was built on the site in 645, which makes it the oldest temple in Tokyo. In the early years of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu designated Sensō-ji as tutelary temple of the Tokugawa clan.

Suffice to say... this was OLD!! Just talking through the main gate of this place, you truly got a sense of beauty in an historic way. Many buildings and parts of building were ruined during the bombing of WWII , but much of the beauty still remains. In three different directions there is a street of stalls and markets selling items of all sorts. All of which were Japanese, majority of which , I had no frikken idea what they were. As for the food... GOD KNOWS!!!

I wandered around the grounds of this place, looking up at the 5 storey high structures , and for the first time in my life I thought...

"People have been walking here for well over 1,000 years.."

It seems such a simple concept , but in NZ , I never really had a full on feeling of that. NZ seems so very "New" compared to other countries. I think NZ oldest building is just over 100 years old. This was built in 645..... this just doesn't compare.

And the architecture... the way they built things , it's so intricately put together , and oh so elegant when finished...

Have a look at the photos... they do NOT do it justice , but have a squizz...







You can see that as a Westener , it's all very pretty , and big... seriously... standing in the middle on Sensoji's ground , looking round at all the people and the building... I thought to myself...








"Shit , I'm the only white person here...."








And after that though, I thought... "These Japanese sure don't do things by halves!"

5 storey buildings, HUGE gold plaques... you really felt dwarfed by some of the most simplest things around you.

After many hours walking round Sensoji I needed to pop back to Shibuya to pick a little something up , and then I decided it was time to head back to the Asakusa Smile and get dinner at some stage...

Later in the day , I hit the 'Smile's' Common Room , where Chris and Alana were retelling stories of their day spent at the fish markets. I had declined to attend the fish markets, anyone who knows me to any degree will tell you , the only fish I like comes covered in Batter and served in yesterdays New Articles. I hate fish... simple.

Chris and I decided that we should go get some food , Alana agreed , stating that Tara was out with family and she would be back around we the time we finished dinner. Plan sorted we headed out...

Walking up and down the streets of Asakusa , nothing took our fancy. Lots and lots of little eateries, but nothing jumped out and said... "NOM NOM NOM!!!". What we had come to learn throughout our days in Tokyo , is that there are more than enough little restaurants and places to get food. What you DON'T realise first off , is that most of the little Japanese restaurants, are basically a McDonalds/Wendys/etc , but for Japanese food. So whilst, yes, they are serving Japanese food , it's not a good way to base Japanese from.

We discussed things between us , and come to the conclusion that the restaurant that we walk past EVERY day; literally , this place was RIGHT at the top of the stairs to the subway, was always busy. That must be a good sign, rule of thumb... if it's always full, it must be good, surely!? We arrive at this little place, and it's basically a little kitchen room , with covered and non-covered tables all round the outside. We choose to sit outside, it's a beautiful night. We perch out butts on napkin covered upturned milk crates... how very "Little Tokyo" can you get?

The waitress comes out , pad and pencil in hand... "Konnichi Wa ... *add some Japanese I didn't catch*... " was said.
In our best Japanese we tried to reply and ask for a menu. At which stage , she frantically waves her arms , and in very broken English explains she doesn't speak English. She then rushes inside hurriedly. In a blink of an eye , out walks a young Japanese boy, who in PERFECTLY spoken English talks us through the menu. AWESOME...
The Menu is basically all item by item... rather than dish by dish. You could order Chicken Skewers... or Pork Dumplings... or Pork Stew. Then you could add sides of rice to the side, you get the idea.
What made this place so much better, is that due to Alana being Vegetarian, she could order Vegetable Skewers and be safe in the knowledge she didn't have to fish the meat out of it ( Ha... Punzilla again... ) .
So there we are , gorging ourselves on Pork Skewers , Chicken Skewers , Pork Stew and Alana's Vege Skewers , when Alana says she really wants something like a Vege Fried rice...
Without missing a beat , the young Asian waiter has made a special order into the Kitchen , 5 minutes later... she has it. I'm no Vegetarian connoisseur , but I know what I like... and it looked damn good , and smelt delicious too.

Once we had finished , came the bill...

5,000Yen/$79.39, now , keep in mind , that's 3x people with a shared entree , 3x FULL mains and 5 drinks. That's damn good for Japan we thought....
I can also safely say , it was THE nicest food I ate in Japan... bar none!!

Walking through the doors of the Smile! we're greeted with cheers and hoorahs... two words enter my head...

"Oh shit..."

The place was just a hive of activity , people just everywhere , and the atmosphere was just electric , this place wanted to party.... ( Seriously.. keep your hotels , and motels... give me a Hostel thanks!!! )



Now , you will have to excuse me, cause I don't remember all these peoples names. But... If I don't remember their names , I do know where they came from... sorted.. sorted!


On the left if Michael , on the right is Tara , Michael and Tara and cousins. ( Aussies )


From left to right... Al, John , and Johns friend... umm... god knows. ( All from the UK )


This is Lauren, Lauren is Michaels sister... awesome chick , shame we didn't get more time to hang out.

There were also two Albanians ( One we nick named 'Vin Diesel' ). And a group of guys from Italy/Sicily.

Everyone was sitting round and talking ... when I spied Gina ( Gina is the Asakusa Smile Manager - from Detroit USA incidentally )



A couple of us ask how "America" is, yes, remember the young chap who got arrested a few nights before in Shibuya.

"He's been deported"....

WHAT!?

"He's been deported, and will have trial in the US".

Now , I'm no legal expert. And I have NO idea on Japanese laws. But , I hazard a guess that he's going to be getting more than a slap on the wrist.

Tokyo Tourist Rule #1: Never get yourself on the wrong side of the law.

After this new Chris and I are having a ball , we have a couple of rounds of drinks when I hear he dreaded word I was trying so hard to avoid all trip...


KARAOKE!!!




Oh god , no.... It's bad enough on Singstar... but no... these guys are taking this one step further!

It's been decided that we're all off to Asakusa town to find a Karaoke centre.

"Guys, it's 10 o'clock... I've got a early day tomorrow , can't we sit here quietly... no.... I'll get my shoes..."

So there we are , were now walking down the main street of Asakusa , most of us well on our way to large hangover tomorrow...





It was whilst walking down one of these streets, that we seemed to "FIND" ourselves an elderly Asian man , who was seemingly transfixed by Michael , as he was in a wheelchair.
The Asian man , clearly spoke no English , what was also clear , is that he was totally drunk... problem being... so was Michael!
The next 10minutes made for some very tense times as Michael being drunk as a skunk said and did some things that were really funny , but also , so totally culturally wrong. On the other hand , the elderly Asian man, was getting FAR TOO FAR inside Michaels person bubble, at one stage , Michael was even accidentally tipped out his wheelchair trying to evade this guy...



( ps: You can see 'Vin Diesel' holding the Coke , and his friend frantically trying to diffuse the situation between Yoda and Michael )

Crisis averted and we're now at the entry way to Karaoke... oh god , am I really doing this?

You ride the elevator up 7 stories and you're at the reception.

The next few minutes of my life , are probably some of the best , but also THE dumbest moments of my life... You see , Karaoke , well ... this one anyways... has a set entry fee. 2500Yen/40NZ ... Now , I can hear you all going "Wow , that's expensive" from here... Ya see... there's one little thing that's the Golden Nugget about it. I'll let this picture explain...



Yes.. Free drinks... all night. Fucking madness. $40.00NZ for all I can drink... AND TO SING!!! This is too good to be true!!!

We all pay our money and rush off to our rooms , as we're rushing though.. Tara and I spot something!

FREE ICE-CREAM AND FOOD TOO!!!!





Up to our room , and after a short technical hitch ( not understanding the Japanese instructions ) we were off... It was quickly apparent , that some of the team were very good singers.

Chris and one of the Italians were VERY good singers. Chris surprising us all , with wonderful renditions of olden songs , and the Italian singing Led Zeppelin , Queen and all the greatest old rock songs, with the addition of Guitar Hero actions at every solo!







( Look at the all ... Karaoke mad fiends!!!... )

Chris , I must ask though...



Were you singing about "Two in the Pink , one in the stink" , or were you asking someone for it...?



As the night progressed more and more and more drinks were had , and more Ice-cream was consumed....

It wasn't till 5am!!! ... WHAT THE FUCK 5AM?!?!?!?! ... We were basically thrown out of the Karaoke at 5am, so we dragged our drunken and tired arses back to the Asakusa Smile...

I'm standing on the roof of the Smile! , look out over Tokyo , drenched in morning sun ... thinking , I have to leave for the train in about 20mins. My head is spinning , I can barely walk , let alone carry luggage down 4 flights of stairs.... then I think to myself...

Tokyo Tourist Rule #2: Never do Karaoke the night before you leave.

I drag my luggage down the stairs and get ready to go, I say goodbye to those who are awake , or are half awake passed out on the roof ( Chris , Tara.. )

In my half drunk state, I'm starting to panic. I now have to walk 4 blocks to the Subway station, catch a subway train to one station , swap trains , ... travel 80mins to Narita to catch my train... ARGH!!!

So with suitcase in tow , back on my shoulder , camera bag on the other shoulder... I STUMBLE... I did not run , shit , walking was bad enough in my state , to the station.
Exhausted I buy my ticket, and bundle everything onto the train....

It's basically early morning rush-hour. The subway is packed. Men in business suits , and women all nicely dressed in corporate attire. Interspersed are young girls in School Uniforms... and then there's me.... hot , sweaty , and still half drunk... niiiiiiiiiiice

I transfer at the required station and sit anxious for the next 80mins that I'll be on time...
Somewhere on this trip I fell asleep , only to wake by some elderly women plonking her heavy bags on my hip...

"FUCK ARE WE HERE!!!"

Two stops away..... *WHEW*!!!

The intercom sounds 'Narita.." ... I flinch , as if to get up... A young Japanese girl explains to me , that I need Narita Airport, not Narita , ... on more stop. Pfft... I knew that , I was merely stretching my legs... *cough*.

"Narita Airport" the Intercom sounds... no sooner as the doors were trying to open , I was trying to squeeze through them. I grab the nearest luggage trolley. Now see , this was a silly move... you NEVER get the first trolley... why you ask? Cause this one has the bung wheel. So yes, there I am , trying frantically to rush through Tokyo Airport to catch my plane... with a possessed luggage trolley trying to veer madly left all the time. I make it to my check-in counter... they put my luggage through , all the time ... I'm thinking "How much time have I got!?"
I rush through the Customs area , and into the waiting room... how much time... an hour and a half...

WHAT THE FUCK!?!??!!??

I had rushed a little "too" much perhaps... but for the next hour and a half , I contemplated Tokyo. I remembered many things, many people.... and many feelings I had experienced over the last 7 days.

I thing I did a lot of over the next hour and a half... was sober up... closing my eyes just brought on boughts of nausea...


an 11 hour flight to Frankfurt was looking very interesting...



Oops