26 October 2012
Japanese girls and make up
I managed to sleep for much of the flight! Quite an achievement. After my massive meal in the lounge before the flight I turned down the crap they serve on board.
I had a spare seat next to me which is good for arm room, put my seat back no more than an inch and probably slept for at least 4 hours.
Having been in first class once, business class many times, premium economy and economy, I find that the cost of the seat ($400 through to $4000 for the same flight!) makes little or no difference to the amount of sleep I might get on a plane.
Nothing of great interest happened on the flight, I didnt even watch the movies, the people around me did nothing hilarious, the pilots were all matter of fact in their announcements, Mothra did not make an appearance.
Once on the ground, right on time at 6AM, I was the first to get to the customs counter (should have mentioned last night I was actually first to board too).
After the usual photo and fingerprints the lady told me, you must love coming to Japan, I hope you continue to keep coming back. Which was nice. Its better than, 'Why do you keep coming here, are you drug dealer man???'.
The downside of Tokyo is the airport is 90 minutes to 2 hours from town depending on traffic. Today was 2 hours. Its not a big deal since I got the 6:45AM bus, but if you had to come here regulary for work or something, it would be annoying.
The bus ride was a real treat. I have taken the same bus before with maybe 3 other people. Today it was 100% full, and mainly full of young girls.
Time to observe the peculiar behaviours of Japanese girls preparing themselves for school / work then.
For all of them, this took the entire journey, and they all had multiple tools. I am not joking some of them wet sanded their faces. They had spray bottles and sand paper. The girl sitting next to me had tweezers for her eye brows that seemed to have lasers in them.
Another one mixed multiple pastes together before applying them, like a mad chemist. Many of them glued on eyelashes, and then set to work with a curler thing that looks like a gynaecologists tool.
Finally so much hair spray was applied I think the air in the bus became flamable.
Once off the bus, and covered in skin particles of young girls, I thought it would be quite a long walk, with bags, to my hotel. It was only about 10 minutes and I had no problem finding it. Of course I cant check in yet but it looks nice enough and they are happy to keep my bags.
Due to my excellent sleeping skills I dont feel tired, but decided to take it easy anyway, much coffee was involved.
The rising sun rising over my plane in the land of the rising sun.
Here I am, in Japan, standing in front of a cat cafe, which is guarded by a giant pink cat.
This area, called Odaiba which is an island of reclaimed tsunami bait land, has many themed areas, for kids, pets, and Toyota.
You come over this big bridge on a monorail to get here. I have been before but that time foolishly went on a Monday when everything is shut. Insted on that day 2.5 or so years ago I answered an important work phone call involving consultants from France, which cost a fortune, which I got in trouble for, and paid back! Which was bullshit let me tell you. Todays visit had no such issues.
I have not seen these in australia yet. Scooter / bike hybrid. Be the first to import them and get rich.
As I said, the areas of this island are themed, we are very much in kids land, with lego world, a sega world and lots of teddy bear stores etc. So clearly a condom shop is needed. Complete with halloween themed condoms, trick or ?
Yeah! What? Still in kid land. I have no idea why this poster is here!
Just because its a short holiday, no need to skip the traditional ferris wheel ride.
The far side of the island is a port as you can see. The whole area is about 3 inches above sea level. What could possibly go wrong?
I wasnt concerned. I was unshaven and my hair has become so dry from the long flight, and hair spray fallout from earlier that I was frightened to touch it in case chunks cracked off. Ok enough hair news.
A couple more photos from the ferris wheel
last one.
As I mentioned above, theres also Toyota world. At first this is just a rather weak Toyota showroom (although it does have a test course the public can use). However they have a great museum! Its not just Toyota cars either.
I like all of these cars for their mirror placement.
Theres also a massive collection of model cars, grouped by make. Downstairs thers a heap of Toyota F1 bits and pieces too. Its also free. I spent an hour here with the place largely to myself.
Then I spotted a giant Gundam flying robot thing. Which had many people excited.
So excited in fact, that they have grown a flower version of a robot death machine!