Japanese Christmas
Monday 21st December 2009:
Up at 4am to catch my train at 6.10am from Birmingham New Street to London Euston and onto Heathrow airport.
Plane was on time and I eventually got through the long line up at the security checkin section, only to find the complete airport waiting and shopping area completely chockers of people.
The flight to Helsinki was uneventful. However on arriving to Helsinki it turned out the connecting flight to Osaka was delay, due to weather problems on the weekend, by about 3.5 hours. When the flight finally arrived, it turned out to be overbooked, and volunteers were asked for compensation of 600euros and a night in the Scandia Continental Helsinki hotel.
Stayed the night in the hotel having a good nights sleep and waking up for breakfast on Tuesday.
Tuesday 22nd December 2009:
Met one of the other ladies who took the compo aswell and we went for a walking tour of Helsinki. When we left the hotel it was snowing a mini storm and so we got covered in snow. This eventually disappated about 45mins later, and was replaced by freezing weather and sunny skys - was -2 while it was snowing, and probably dropped below that as the day got older.
After some souvenir shopping, we headed back to the hotel and on to the airport. Only to find our plane was again still delayed but this time by just under 3 hours and due to leave at 20:00. I had to get my Osaka flight changed again, and so now have a flight leaving Osaka at 18:15 and arriving in Tokyo at 19:25. I was also given a 17euro serivce voucher for food for the wait.
While waiting I jumped online and was chatting to G & V about the new flight details etc, and arranged for me to stay with V for the night and meet up with Greg etc and surprise M&D on the Thrusday (Christmas eve).
Flight was eventually called for boarding at about 8pmish. While the majority of everybody else lined up, myself and the other 4 people who took the bump from Monday night stay seated until the line was almost gone.
We didn't have to wait long to get to the front of the line. Lucky for me I was the first of us, and as such the Japanese lady in front of me wanted to swap her business class seat for an economy one - not sure why, and the check-in lady said it's the first time she's ever heard anyone want to do that. Well lucky for me I was right there and said in a joking/serious manner, well is she doesn't want it I'll take it. Oddly enough it worked and I got upgrade to a business class seat for free - sitting in my bc seat writing this at the moment.
Well I have to say the service and attendants are much better up this end of the plane. We had to wait for about 1.5-2 hours on the plane while we waited for the clearance to taxi and take off. During this time we were treated to drinks and a small prawn cocktail. All the movies are available and can be paused while watching them - unlike most economy seatings. Dinner consisted of 3 courses - entree being Japanese cha soda noodles, miso soup, seasonal salad, and either a sushi selection or a lightly salted salmon with horseradish sause - I had the sushi instead of the salmon - main consisted of either a roast turkey fillet, gingerbread sauce and goat's cheese rosti, or beef, teriyaki sauce and Japanese rice or Fried salmon stewed fennel and spinch potatoes - I had the fried salmon. Dessert consisted of either a mature emmental and brie cheese platter, a raspberry shot, an ice cream selection (vanilla or strawberry) or fresh fruit - I had a strawberry ice cream with a sweet wine.
Watch movies of 500 days of summer, and the Disney movie UP.
I have to say I do love these seats that recline and fold down into a bed for sleeping, not that I got any - as usual couldn't sleep on the plane, I did try to but was just unable to fall asleep, so I just ended up resting the eyes for a few minutes at a time.
Wednesday 23rd December 2009:
Plane - The day started on the plane and as such because of that I decided for this exercise that the day started at breakfast, which consisted of a choice of roast cod and tamagoyaki omelette, a cheddar cheese omelette, cheese sauce and bratwurst or a selection of cereals and natural yogurt. Well as I don't like egg, I guess I was stuck with the cereals and yoghurt, which was such a bad thing, as it all came with fresh fruit aswell.
Japan:
Osaka - 3hr wait over in Kensai airport, went through customs and had to collect bag and recheck-in for my JAL flight to Tokyo.
Tokyo - Arrived at the airport, collected my bags again - after the piped christmas music on the plane - then met Van who was waiting for me. We then caught the mono-rail to the train station, then the train to Van's place for the night.
Thursday 24th December 2009:
Woke up early for a trip to the train station and star bucks to surprise mum & dad. Got the camcorder ready and walked to the window in front of them and just stood at the window filming. Eventually after some prompting (about 1 min) mum and dad realised it was actually me.
The rest of the day was spent walking around Tokorozawa, having lunch then heading back to Greg's for the afternoon. I got to hold Hanna and she fell asleep in my arms.
Friday 25th December 2009:
Christmas Day.
Woke up early for Jack to open his and Hanna's presents.
The morning was the spent at the park, the off to Jonathons for Christmas lunch (which included desert).
We then headed back home for an afternoon kip, followed by homemade pizza for dinner.
After dinner it was more present opening time followed by bath and bed time for Jack and Hanna.
Saturday 26th December 2009:
Off to Yokohama today to see somewhere new. Made our way by train down there. Waiting for Baba and Jiji - Yukiko's parents. I again had to hide away out of sight as they didn't know I was coming to Japan. We surprised them by me walking up and asking them if I could take a photo for them.
After out coffee/tea break we headed along the park and waterside down to the old brick warehouses for lunch.
We followed this by a ride back on the water taxi to the Yokohama park - dad get seasick and forgot to bring his tables so we didn't end up going on the sightseeing boat tour.
We then went for a walk around chinatown for a bit before heading in for another coffee/tea break and then heading home.
Dinner was what you will followed by bath and bed time for Jack and Hanna and everyone else.
Up at 4am to catch my train at 6.10am from Birmingham New Street to London Euston and onto Heathrow airport.
Plane was on time and I eventually got through the long line up at the security checkin section, only to find the complete airport waiting and shopping area completely chockers of people.
The flight to Helsinki was uneventful. However on arriving to Helsinki it turned out the connecting flight to Osaka was delay, due to weather problems on the weekend, by about 3.5 hours. When the flight finally arrived, it turned out to be overbooked, and volunteers were asked for compensation of 600euros and a night in the Scandia Continental Helsinki hotel.
Stayed the night in the hotel having a good nights sleep and waking up for breakfast on Tuesday.
Tuesday 22nd December 2009:
Met one of the other ladies who took the compo aswell and we went for a walking tour of Helsinki. When we left the hotel it was snowing a mini storm and so we got covered in snow. This eventually disappated about 45mins later, and was replaced by freezing weather and sunny skys - was -2 while it was snowing, and probably dropped below that as the day got older.
After some souvenir shopping, we headed back to the hotel and on to the airport. Only to find our plane was again still delayed but this time by just under 3 hours and due to leave at 20:00. I had to get my Osaka flight changed again, and so now have a flight leaving Osaka at 18:15 and arriving in Tokyo at 19:25. I was also given a 17euro serivce voucher for food for the wait.
While waiting I jumped online and was chatting to G & V about the new flight details etc, and arranged for me to stay with V for the night and meet up with Greg etc and surprise M&D on the Thrusday (Christmas eve).
Flight was eventually called for boarding at about 8pmish. While the majority of everybody else lined up, myself and the other 4 people who took the bump from Monday night stay seated until the line was almost gone.
We didn't have to wait long to get to the front of the line. Lucky for me I was the first of us, and as such the Japanese lady in front of me wanted to swap her business class seat for an economy one - not sure why, and the check-in lady said it's the first time she's ever heard anyone want to do that. Well lucky for me I was right there and said in a joking/serious manner, well is she doesn't want it I'll take it. Oddly enough it worked and I got upgrade to a business class seat for free - sitting in my bc seat writing this at the moment.
Well I have to say the service and attendants are much better up this end of the plane. We had to wait for about 1.5-2 hours on the plane while we waited for the clearance to taxi and take off. During this time we were treated to drinks and a small prawn cocktail. All the movies are available and can be paused while watching them - unlike most economy seatings. Dinner consisted of 3 courses - entree being Japanese cha soda noodles, miso soup, seasonal salad, and either a sushi selection or a lightly salted salmon with horseradish sause - I had the sushi instead of the salmon - main consisted of either a roast turkey fillet, gingerbread sauce and goat's cheese rosti, or beef, teriyaki sauce and Japanese rice or Fried salmon stewed fennel and spinch potatoes - I had the fried salmon. Dessert consisted of either a mature emmental and brie cheese platter, a raspberry shot, an ice cream selection (vanilla or strawberry) or fresh fruit - I had a strawberry ice cream with a sweet wine.
Watch movies of 500 days of summer, and the Disney movie UP.
I have to say I do love these seats that recline and fold down into a bed for sleeping, not that I got any - as usual couldn't sleep on the plane, I did try to but was just unable to fall asleep, so I just ended up resting the eyes for a few minutes at a time.
Wednesday 23rd December 2009:
Plane - The day started on the plane and as such because of that I decided for this exercise that the day started at breakfast, which consisted of a choice of roast cod and tamagoyaki omelette, a cheddar cheese omelette, cheese sauce and bratwurst or a selection of cereals and natural yogurt. Well as I don't like egg, I guess I was stuck with the cereals and yoghurt, which was such a bad thing, as it all came with fresh fruit aswell.
Japan:
Osaka - 3hr wait over in Kensai airport, went through customs and had to collect bag and recheck-in for my JAL flight to Tokyo.
Tokyo - Arrived at the airport, collected my bags again - after the piped christmas music on the plane - then met Van who was waiting for me. We then caught the mono-rail to the train station, then the train to Van's place for the night.
Thursday 24th December 2009:
Woke up early for a trip to the train station and star bucks to surprise mum & dad. Got the camcorder ready and walked to the window in front of them and just stood at the window filming. Eventually after some prompting (about 1 min) mum and dad realised it was actually me.
The rest of the day was spent walking around Tokorozawa, having lunch then heading back to Greg's for the afternoon. I got to hold Hanna and she fell asleep in my arms.
Friday 25th December 2009:
Christmas Day.
Woke up early for Jack to open his and Hanna's presents.
The morning was the spent at the park, the off to Jonathons for Christmas lunch (which included desert).
We then headed back home for an afternoon kip, followed by homemade pizza for dinner.
After dinner it was more present opening time followed by bath and bed time for Jack and Hanna.
Saturday 26th December 2009:
Off to Yokohama today to see somewhere new. Made our way by train down there. Waiting for Baba and Jiji - Yukiko's parents. I again had to hide away out of sight as they didn't know I was coming to Japan. We surprised them by me walking up and asking them if I could take a photo for them.
After out coffee/tea break we headed along the park and waterside down to the old brick warehouses for lunch.
We followed this by a ride back on the water taxi to the Yokohama park - dad get seasick and forgot to bring his tables so we didn't end up going on the sightseeing boat tour.
We then went for a walk around chinatown for a bit before heading in for another coffee/tea break and then heading home.
Dinner was what you will followed by bath and bed time for Jack and Hanna and everyone else.
posted by Matt at Friday, December 25, 2009
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