Sunday 2 February 2014

Nippon 2014 trip day one!!

Ahoy to all of you, well I have a couple of brief video logs, but, and this is somewhat personl preference, I don't feel that I carry a video on my own of this sort. Thus, huzzah! The blog has been raised from the dead!

So 2nd February and I am in Japan, by god does it feel a million times different to summer! Last year when I disembarked from the train I felt as if I had stepped out off the frying pan and into the fire. Right now? LIke I have gone as far south as Crewe! Lol

Still that'd putting the cart before the horse, so to rewind, my trip began on 31 January at 20:30 UK time, though my bodyclock had been on japanese time so for me it was 05:30! After blazing through some hours on my Twitch broadcast for Forza Motorsport 4 I spent the night triple checking I had everything, then at 05:30 UK time I leapt in a cab to the airport.

On arrival I went to check in and it was not even 6am, this is usually waaaaaay too early if the flight is at 09:00, but no, the desk was accomodated, lady did check in and then on to security, by 06:20 I was through in the departure lounge! I have NEVER had it that easy!

So I had hours to kill which involved drinking Bombadier and calling my mother for a general life update. Once the plane wheeled up all seemd smooth but as the in flight service came by they had NO BEER! *Blows whistle* Instant penalty! I am aware that saturday is when England rugby team had a match in france, but you don't cease alcohol service for that! Unlike UK football fans, the rugby crew don't cause trouble.  Remember when I went to an away Sale Sharks game, we got absolutely thrashed by Bath rugby, but afterwards all we did was have some quiet beers. Still had to go dry!

Still landed in Charles Du Gaulle, security for hand luggage was battered but made it through without incident, when I realised that I had only brought my outwards flight information, most would think, and?  However, when filling out the landing card for Japan, it is in two parts.  One for your trip into Japan, and the other for the section they leave in your passport alongside the visa, and on this second part you need the flight number you are departing Japan on!

However, air France were very helpful and just printed a basic crib sheet with it all on, so onwards to Japan. Found myself on an aisle seat which I as thankful for.  Two reasons.  1) I am tall, so being able to plant a leg out into the aisle for extra space was very welcome, 2) I like to get up during the flight and walk along the aisle to stave off DVT!  There was a free seat on my row so able to get more comfortable, but, still could't sleep.

Flight was like any other long haul, very long!  Staved of boredom by watching The Wolverine which I still laugh at due to the silly location errors during the footchase from the funeral, along with the howler about Ueno having Southern going Shinkansens lol  Also watched Aki colourful character on my tablet, other than that little of interest to go over.

After landing cleared border inspection and was kept waiting a good 20 minutes for my baggage to be put through the belt.  When I got to customs though he asked why I was in japan, told him about the Kikka/Possi Possi girls gigss I am attending plus my mates that I am meeting, all this was fine but I made a severe blooper by putting my journey start as Paris, having seen my UK passport he was asking if I lived in France.  I explained that was when  started my trip to japan and the dude waved me through, could have been much more problematic!

Leapt onto the amazing Skyliner and was bound for Nippori as usual, strangely a foreign dude and his daughter were looking at me a lot during the journey.  What made this odd is that this girl had a MULLET I am talking worst of the 1980's, so how I commanded attention I don't know!

Got to my apartment and initially landlord was nowhere to be  seen but a couple of phonecalls later, followed by the passing of 25000 yen I was busy unpacking!  Once done I felt peckish and in need of getting out there, so ventured into Akihabara...  Where I was accosted by a cameraman to give an interview for TV about Japanese music...

Now I had been awake for a good 36 hours at this point so I did't half talk some shite, both in Japanese and English.  Dude asked me to sign a release form and it had 'music station' on it...  Trust me, if that airs, it will be trainwreck tv!  Someone send me a clip if it does lol

So now I am chilling with an Asahi and enjoying a quiet evening.  Well sunday night, take it easy now, and the rest of my vacaton will follow!  Until next time!!  *sets sail*

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