Move To Japan*

28 March 2010
Two notes about the Salisbury: A great place to stay at a great price by Hong Kong standards; there was certainly a large number of M’s, we supposed quite a few C’s but Y’s were certainly in the minority, as for how much A was going on we shall not comment.
Smoggy haze returned to Hong Kong; a quick trip to Kowloon station where we were able to check-in for our flight, leave our luggage (which went to the airport without us – mild panic but everything was OK) and get on the train for a very fast journey to the airport.
Not a bad flight (vegetarian food: tick), G&C disaster watch (stronger than normal jet-stream winds: tick – took an hour off the flight), landed at Narita (hassle-free immigration and customs: tick) found our way to transfer desk (good bi-lingual signage: tick) smooth journey into Tokyo (kept informed about where we were and alternative route being taken because of traffic jams: tick) arrived at hotel (courteously met and bowed at several times: tick). G&C Disaster watchers forgot to tell us that Tokyo is experiencing very cold weather – sandals were not appropriate footwear. Taken to our 31st floor room which is very pleasant – small but perfectly formed (as friend Mike would say) with views of Hamarikyu Gardens. Inevitably after a long journey from the airport we needed the loo; now we consider ourselves to be fairly knowledgeable and experienced travellers but we couldn’t find out how to flush the toilet after use! We were OK with the heated seat (had to turn down the temperature though) and found the shower (a long metal arm extends and sprayed sensitive parts of the anatomy with warm water) and the bidet and the air-drier but not the flush... we did eventually find it but not before having a number of new experiences to recount!
A Japanese dinner of nine different courses – all very small (G got very worried when first course of only two tempura broad beans arrived) but all incredibly tasty and all beautifully arranged – the ceramics and the decorations were as beautiful as the food on them. We even had sake and were bought a basket containing a variety of sake cups from which to choose – it was like a small display of Japanese ceramic techniques. However we can’t help feeling that it is all just too unfamiliar and we’re not sure how we will get on.