Eurasia 2012

Had a very slow day Thursday. I woke up at 5:15 when I thought the lamp was on. But it was just the sun shining through the bathroom window onto it. Closed the door, but didn't really sleep anymore.

So just took it easy. Stu enjoyed the big bed :)

At 10:30 I suddenly realised I hadn't gotten ready and I wanted to repack my suitcase. Blah. So was a little bit rushed to check out by 12pm.

After we checked out we wandered around and found an Excelsior Cafe for drinks and nibblies.

Antony Donaldson sculpture in the lobby of the Park Hyatt Hotel

Then walked through the park and up to the Tokyo Government building to go up the tower.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Shinjuku Niagara Falls

Tokyo Mode Gakuen Cacoon Tower

Tokyo 2020 Candidate City sign

View east from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

View towards Tokyo Tower

NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building

Park Hyatt Hotel

View north from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

View towards Tokyo Sky Tree

Then back down to find some late lunch (just maccas :( we were almost out of money).

Back past Excelsior Café for another coffee for the sweetie, then upstairs to the hotel to get on the bus to the airport. We decided that the "Limousine" bus at 3000 yen per person would be much much easier than dragging my broken suitcase all over Tokyo on the trains, and not that much more expensive than the NEX anyway (our passes had long since expired). It was door to door and saved quite a lot of hassle.

Got there with reasonable time to spare, so went to the Qantas lounge, and sat in pretty much the same place as last time - even the plane was at the same gate! (different plane though).

Sunset over Narita Airport

Snackages and a drink and my laptop in the Qantas Club

Qantas Boeing 747-400 VH-OJQ arriving at Narita Airport

I was near the back in a row of three, but fortunately only one other person on the aisle so noone next to me. The sweetie had booked separately and got himself an exit row seat for more legroom (although the thickness of the door made it look like it actually had *less* room?) Noone directly next to him either.

Neither of us slept :(

I watched Margin Call and Inception and some Big Bang Theory.

Couldn't eat much dinner (too many snackages in the Qantas lounge). They turned the cabin lights on at 4am :( Trying to match the sun in Japan or something?? And breakfast came a little while later.

My dinner on the plane - grilled pork fillet with a mustard jus, roasted potatoes and vegetables

My breakfast on the plane - omelette with potato hash, ham and braised beans

View towards Brisbane Water

Sydney Harbour

Sydney Airport

Tried out the new egate thingie at immigration, but the machines didn't like either of us - probably because of our glasses reflecting or something - will take them off next time.

Customs wasn't too bad. Had to show them our wooden stuff. There was a sign up saying they were filming Border Security there today, but alas didn't see them.

Then over to the domestic terminal. Had a short break in the Qantas lounge.

A very full Dash 8. Had a lovely view over Sydney, flying over the St George and Sutherland Shires, then south of south west.