Chris
Sensoji Temple
(Continued from Journal 2011: Day 2, Familiar Ground in Asakusa.) Yes, we were back at Sensoji. Admittedly it is one of (if not) the biggest tourist destinations in Tokyo for locals and foreigners alike. But, we were also on a mission of education, so we wanted to make sure we covered some of the major [...]
Familiar Ground in Asakusa
(Continued from Journal 2011: Day 1, Home Sweet Home) We awoke to the sounds of the drums from one building over. It wasn’t like we were jarred awake or anything. Jet lag had us up early, and we were just trying to catch a few more Zzzz’s before finally getting up. Four bangs, and a [...]
Home Sweet Home
(Continued from Journal 2011: Day 1, Arrival, part two) On our last trip, we holed up in the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku. It was OK, but as we quickly learned during the planning process for this trip, finding an inexpensive hotel room in Tokyo, for four people, is just not possible. Two rooms? Yes. Inexpensive? Maybe, [...]
Arrival, part two
(Continued from Journal 2011: Day 1, Arrival, part one….) Once you finally take that seat on the NEX you let out a big heavy sigh. WHEW. We made it. Thank god. Words really can’t describe that feeling. From doorstep to here it had been (does the math, carry the one) almost 20 hours. The ever-so-polite [...]
Arrival, part one
Well, this is the first entry in our Japan Trip 2011 Journal…. After our trip in 2009 we knew we had to go back. This time, we made it a family affair, taking our two kids, ages 8 and 11 with us. We figured there’s no time like the present to get them “broke in” [...]
Thoughts
Yes, we made it back in the USSA Wed. evening, home by 9:30 PM after a LONG day of travelling. Added up it was something like 27 hours total from doorstep to doorstep. Train-train-train-plane-plane-car-pass out…. I realize I didn’t update things as often as I would have liked. Mainly because bandwidth was problematic (we had [...]
Another Update…
It’s Tue. 3/15 about 3:30pm. Yesterday was a bit of a challenge. The trains were totally messed up, but we managed to make our way on the Yamanote line from Shibuya to Hamamatsucho to see Shibarikyu Gardens and visit the Pokemon Center with the kids. The kids got a taste of the sardine-can rush hour [...]
Update
First off, we really don’t have any really impressive video of the earthquake. You’ve seen it all already. A shaking tree is about the best we’ve got. Also not interested in being celebrities due to our proximity…. Really our story isn’t all that interesting, especially considering the real story is north of here where the [...]
Mar. 11 Earthquake….
Yeah, that was fun. Until we learned just how bad it *really* was. We had just gotten off the Sumida river cruise boat at Hamarikyu Gardens, and were admiring the plum trees in bloom, when blammo. WTF. Is. This. Keep in mind this was mine and the kids first earthquake. No, not a short little [...]
Phase II begins tomorrow!
Oh yeah, tomorrow morning bright and early we all jump on the big plane to Tokyo. Thing is, I don’t know how often I will be able to update the site while we’re underway. I will do my best, though. The bulk of it will be after I return…. In the meantime, I will be [...]
