Hong Kong - December 25th, 2023 to January 6th, 2024

A fabulous video montage of our family time in Hong Kong. Thank you to my sister for creating this unforgettable memory.

 

Today's Lesson: Set the Alarm

Nice to meet Matt's old host brothers after 30 years!

We had lunch plans to meet two of Matt's host brothers at a special restaurant in Osaka. 

We planned that if we were to leave our Airbnb on the 11:00am train we would make it on time. We certainly didn't want to be late because that is extremely rude here.

For some reason we didn't set an alarm, I think we figured we would wake up naturally and could have an easy morning.

At exactly 10:28, my eyes popped open and when I looked over at the time, it was all hands on deck. Shove everything into bags, brush teeth, leave the place in a somewhat respectable condition, and RUN.

Your order your food on the screen, it comes on a conveyor belt,
you load the empty dishes back on the conveyor belt and press the button.

We literally arrived at the platform just as the train was pulling up. We made our lunch date on time, but only just. What a way to start our day.

It was wonderful to meet Taiga and Nasahiko. Matt stayed with their family exactly 30 years ago in Kobe when he was an exchange student. I had met their older brother Masahiko when Matt and I visited Japan back in 2007 but unfortunately he couldn't make it this time. Despite the language barrier (for me) they were so kind and friendly. 

We spent the rest of the day navigating the train system, getting some logistics sorted for the next few days and making our way to J-ship Capsule Hotel where we spent the night.

And you cook your own food right at the table!

Just in case it wasn't clear enough, get over your nakedness!

Aila and I stayed on the female floor of the capsule hotel.
Super clean, quiet and a haven within the hectic city.

Aila got the top bunk.

Super cozy. Dimmable lights, radio, alarm, fan, charging sockets,
bedding and a pull down blind.

Perfect 1st day: Temples, Sento, GOOD FOOD & Friends

Duck boys!

Our first full day in Japan was packed like a typical Japanese tour itinerary. 

After a wonderful sleep on tatami mats under the futon (or as I like to call them, "fluffy weighted clouds"), we peeled ourselves from under the warmth, scoffed some instant coffee and hot chocolate, ate the nigori and rushed off to the train station to meet friends Naoko and Ai.

We took a bus tour to visit the three most popular shrines in Kyoto: Kinkakuji Temple, Kiyomizudera Temple and Ginkakuji Temple.

It was a good way to get around and also catch a little cat nap in-between each visit.

There was a tour guide on our bus who spoke at length about...well I'm not sure what... But as Aila said "she must know a lot because she keeps taking!"

We wondered the narrow streets full of shops and street food. 

A feast for all our senses!

Fluffy weighted pillows. So comfortable and SO difficult to get up in the morning though.

We then went to a local sento (bath house) where Matt M. met us. I could have stayed there for hours soaking and relaxing in the warm thermal pools. Honestly, I am completely in love with the sento concept here. Who doesn't want to 

This time Aila and I had two sento experts with us (Naoko and Ai) so we could follow their lead. It made us realize the little faux-pas we committed last night when we went on our own. Oops! You live, you learn!

All relaxed and squeaky clean, we headed to Matt's home where he cooked up a feast. We finished off with his delicious berry crumble and homemade ice cream.

When we got back to our Airbnb we collapsed under our puffy clouds... Until 2am for me when I woke up wide awake and 3.5 hours later still haven't managed to get back to sleep.

So it's thanks to jet lag l'm able to summarize what has been a memorable day of hospitality, friendship and relaxation.

Onigiri for breakfast.

At Kinkakuji temple with friends Naoko and Ai.

Reading her fortune.

Beautifully raked Buddhist gardens at the Ginkakuji Temple.

Vending machines are EVERYWHERE!

Kiyomizudera Temple

Kids doing a good impression of the dango, a traditional Japanese sweet.

Outside the sento we visited.

Buy your ticket for the sento, lots of options!

Matt M, the chef extraordinaire!

A roast dinner in Japan, well why not?!

Take off to Asia

The excitement was building for weeks!!!!!

And before we knew it, we were packing our bags and heading to the airport at 3am.

It is always so interesting travelling through airports.

Our journey from Copenhagen to Osaka required us to transfer in multiple cities (Brussels and Abu Dhabi). As we stop for a few hours in each airport I notice the shift in language, food, clothing and personal space.

The first flight we heard announcements in Danish and Flemish. The second flight was in Flemish, French and Arabic. Our final flight we had Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin and Korean. It was kind of surreal hearing all of these languages in the span of 24 hours. Even Aila remarked "to be a flight attendant you must have to know a LOT of languages."

We were impressed with Abu Dhabi airport. You get the sense this is the gateway to Asia, Oceania and beyond. The multiple perfume stalls and diamond stores are very alluring, but just looking at the eye-watering price tag, we resisted. Instead we opted for the 8 AED (Arab Emirates Dirham) soft serve ice cream

When we landed in Kansei airport, we had been up for 24 hours already but we still had a few things to do before we could completely crash:

1. Pick up our train tickets we had preordered online. In hindsight we shouldn't have bought the cheapest tickets because it only allowed us to travel on the slow train.

What could have been a fairly smooth and quick ride on the fast train meant we had to pass through every. single. station.

2. Get a cold drink from the vending machine. Hah, easier said than done. First of all, it only took cash. So off the ATM I go. It took several tries and a kind woman who took pity on me, but I got the cash.

Unfortunately the machine only accepted small denominations so off I went to buy a snack to break my 10,000 yen note. Finally with some coins in hand, I chose the chilled grape and aloe drink from the vending machine.

I almost choked on my first sip, I didn't expect little clumps of grapes to be inside the drink! But it was rather tasty.

3. Figure out exactly which train, platform and transfer we needed to take. Luckily Matt still remembers his Japanese but things have changed in 18 years and now he had three trailing people who were basically depending on him to lead them the right way.

4. Operate the toilet. So many tempting buttons to push and no clue what they do. What could possibly go wrong?!

We reached our Airbnb, met our super friendly host and went out in search for food.

That first meal in a new country is always better than it probably is on a normal day. But it's the feeling of accomplishment, relief and fatigue that is served up alongside that is so satisfying.

We ended the night at a local sento (bath house). Basically you go in, undress, wash yourself whilst sitting on a plastic stool with a powerful hose and then proceed to soak in various hot spring baths and saunas. Absolute bliss.

Now I feel like we are truly on our way. This trip will be nothing short of epic. Feeling so fortunate.

McD's soft serve ice cream is always a good idea.

No Swarovski for us this time.

Breaking our yen bills. Yummy siu mai for the win.

Finally got the correct change to buy a Coke to keep us going.

How's that scenery, Tai?

Coke didn't do the job, oh well.

Squeaky clean after a visit to the local sento.

WHAT does this mean?! This will take some getting used to!