崇おじさん

It is so good to see that Mana chan has a good relationship with her uncle.
Every night she would excitedly (and hopefully) ask if Uncle Takashi is coming over.

Since we have been in Japan Takashi has taken the time out to see his niece (almost every 2nd night)
Normally he would come over after he'd finish work and yet still manages to find the energy to play "Horse" this involves Mana getting on his back and the two of them running around the house,counting games ,drawing,hide n seek you name it.

But the part they both enjoyed the most was "Bed time story"

Thanks bro :)　まちがえて　本　当　に　ごめん　なさい　名前　　

Okaasan 's birthday dinner

Taka dropped me off and "just" had enough time to catch up with Keiko and Mana chan before he had to go and I had to get ready for Mums Birthday dinner.

All scrubbed up we drove to a very nice French fusion restaurant at The Plaza hotel located near Kachigawa station.

It was a step up from the casual/Izakaiya we have been to since we arrived and it was quite a nice change.

The food was simply AMAZING and made all the better with good Japanese service and the attention to every little detail when it came to presenting the food.

The birthday cake came out followed by a "Happy Birthday to you" and presents were given.

Mum (actually all of us) had a big smiles as we left ,because of the company or maybe the six course meal it doesn't matter.

A great night out ..............Happy Birthday Okaasan.

Morning surf Home

Got up this morning not expecting any change from yesterday (but we still went out JUST in case haha)

On the way to the beach one of the boys yelled out the window as we went through the intersection "Hara heta!!!" (I'm bloody hungry) so we pitted in at the local supermarket to graze on Takoyaki well the boys did I went for the pizza Japanese style rather than baby octopus

Still flat as and yet we still paddled out regardless of the conditions (or lack of them) and again frustration got the better of us and after an hour of paddling aimlessly we got out.

I was spose to get the train back but Taka said he would drive me back to Nagoya he had nothing else planned and he could catch up with Keiko and Mana chan .......Sweeeeeeet as I wasn't really looking forward to the train ride back.

On the way home we stopped in to see a bit of boat racing Japanese style


So after we paid the Toll fee 1650 yen (one way) and an hour and a bit drive I was home.

Thanks for a AWESOME weekend bro.

Takas tour

Up with the sparrows this morning (or in this case ) the Karasu or Crows and I didn't really have a choice in the matter, but it wasn't too long before we were driving off to the beach.
Unfortunately all the "Mind surfing" and positive talk last night didn't help one bit and she was "Flat as a pancake" even so it didn’t seem to deter the sixty-gazillion other keen souls out for a wave too.
No waves but I was still stoked to be in the water and at the birth place of my surfing life.
We packed up after a couple of hours (mostly out of frustration) and cruised up the Atsumi Hanto coast road for a Taka Tour to do some Tour-risty things

Keeping one eye on the time as tonight's dinner was at one of Taka's favorite restaurants ......and kinda special cause I get to met the "girlfriend" for the first time (not that my approval means squat really to him)

What she see's in a ugly mug like Taka I don't know but they make a perfect match (kinda like "Beauty and the Beast" hahahaha sorry bro)

It was awesome to (finally) meet Maki chan with plenty of great food and more than a few laughs along the way.

Toyahashi here I come

OK all set Money....Check, Mobile phone ....Check, Backpack....Check ,Omiagee....Check, 7.2 surfboard??....Oh yeah Check...... I was off.
Mum dropped me off at the local Kachigawa station about 1630 (She really had her doubts that I could find my way) .
First off I had to catch a JR (Japan Rail) train to Kanayama, 15 minutes (how hard can it be?)
Well I got more than I bargined for as it was packed and I couldn’t hear the conductor's announcements properly so what sounded like "When I was at high school I liked to eat banana....."
In actual fact was "blah,blah ...... MAMONAKU KANAYAMA DESU!" (soon we will be arriving in Kanayama)

But I squeezed and politely shoved my way out (sumimasen) so I could change to the Meitetsu line bound for Ina.
I chose to wait till 1848 to get the Semi Express which would not stop at every station (so I figured less crowed)
As I waited and watched "another" train go past I was approach by a young girl asking if I was ok? (in Japanese)
Of course I said "Dia joobu desu" (I'm fine)
I guess I looked lost and definitely out of place but she insisted I "needed" help and proceeded to explain at 100mph (in Japanese) the finer points of the train schedule.
Turned out Rihoko was going to see her boyfriend in Ko (1 station before me) so she was getting the same train and again "insisted" that I need help.

The Meitetsu line was packed so tight the platform conductor said twice "that he can’t close the door as we were spilling out.
I was getting the look from just about everyone (Stupid GIJIN....I wasn't winning any hearts with my surfboard taking up all the room)
Anyway an hour into the trip it finally started to empty out and Rihoko told me that I should get off at the next station....2mins later I arrived at Ina station.
Taka has not changed one bit still a free spirit with eyes wide open to the world.
We walked 2 minutes down the road to the local Yaki niku (barbque & beer)
10 minutes later and 2 and a half beers (what?? It was a hot night and we were dehydrated) it was like we had "caught up" last weekend and not the 3 years he's been back in Japan.
Missed my bro and was good to hang out.
After we got kicked out (we were still drinking and eating but they wanted to go home pfffttt whats up with that???)
So we wandered (stumbled) down the road to the local Izakaya (another pub) and continued eating drinking and generally talking shit.
Home time about 1200 to watch Surf DVD's (and talk some more shit) till about 0145.

3 out of 3

Shes got it all.........looks,intelligence and rhythm.

Went to Saty this morning and while K had a nail appointment Mana and I went to buy some omiyage (present) for Takas family as I'm staying with them tomorrow.

I asked Mana if she would help translate for me.........I was sooooo impressed she translated perfectly......so we shot up to the game centre

Disneyland "the day after"

Getting up this morning wasn't as bad as we expected and after breakfast K and Mana decided to go to the hotel Ofuro.

I wasn't that keen on staying indoors so as usual and armed with my camera I went for a bit of a Tiki Tour (as one does when one is in a new place)

The view had changed considerably since we crashed last night and I was keen to see what was around us while making sure not to get lost.
(Lucky for me the hotel was a stand out and I never lost sight of it)
A fairly big (and new) Mekai University was just across the road with all the associated parks and sport stadiums, a large supermarket department store and a constant procession of people going to (and from) work or just going about with there daily lives.

The rest of the morning was spent just lazing about until the free shuttle picked us up and took us back to the station at Disneyland.
We said our final farewells to the "Land of Smiles" then took the train back to Tokyo station.
Arriving with plenty of time up our sleeves we decided to look around......and spent some more money before our Shinkansen back to Nagoya

Blasting along at 170kph listening to some good ole Kiwi Drum and Bass is something that I highly recommend when in Japan

Tokyo Disneyland

Great start .....We waltzed straight thu......no waiting,no line :)
I guess it had something to do with the weather ,cloudy with patches of drizzle and a "chilly" 19c seemed to keep most people away.

Straight thru the iconic castle to our first ride of the day (forgive me if I get the names wrong) the carousel ride then right next to it was The Spinning cups and of course Mana was in control (bad move but a lot of fun)

Then it was straight across to Its a Small World and to our surprise NZ was represented with a Kiwi and two native looking dolls!
Next was a refuel on the Disney tradition of the bucket of honey flavored Pop corn (Mmmmm) and we timed it perfectly for a Parade.
Our next ride was the Peter Pan ride (which was our longest line up time of 40mins.....yes unheard of in Tokyo Disneyland)
The weather closed in abit and I felt like shooting some Disney characters (never did like those Seven Dwafs) so it was off to Goofy's shooting saloon.
I was alittle disappointed that there were no dwarfs....only saloon bottles and the odd moving rodent) still 400 yen and 20 shots later (100% accuracy) Mana & I had 2 Sheriff stars.
While K and Mana went to the restrooms I found the Swiss Family Robinson's tree house which was so cool we just had to do it again (and no line)
While there we heard this really loud DJ type voice "Welcome aboard the Western Railway explore the American Frontier yada,yada...." sweet thats us.(waiting time 10 minutes)

While on the train I spied out the Jungle ride and we SOOOO lucked into a good guide he obviously LOVED his job and he had the entire boat in hysterical laughter (some of the jokes I didn't get but the facial expressions and the way of telling I couldn't help but laugh)

Off to the Dunbo ride (there are 2 buttons 1 up 1 down guess what one Mana kept pushing?

Then it was off to Toon Town to ride the Rodger Rabbit Car I tried to video Mana & Keiko but they were spinning so fast I couldn't keep up (K was heard to say "I’m gonna have sore muscles tomorrow)

Came out of there and straight onto the Funny up n down car which stopped just as the massive sound system kicked in indicating another Parade this time with Princes & Princess.

We were all feeling hungry so off to the Queen of Hearts for lunch.
Our "Fast Track" passport time for Thunder Mountain was approaching and instead of the 70minute wait it was 8 minutes!! (even did the touristy thing and brought the photo too)

Then it was on to the Spinning cup and Small World (both for the 2nd time)
The only thing disappointing about Tomorrow land was that the Cars went sooooo slow (but Mana and I had a great time)
Then on to that Buzz space dude I LOVED IT once again a chance to shoot aliens,cartoon characters, small rodent I don't care.
Mana and I were "blasting" away with Mum at the helm.
We came out of that and "stumbled" straight into the Star Journey (and just walked right in) its a VR type ride thru space super cool.

Keiko wanted to get a Scissor Cutting picture? (Yeah I was abit like that too)
We found it and sat in turn (the results were amazing)

Yet another Parade and Mana finally got to post her letter to Cinderella.
Our final attraction was the Haunted Mansion, Mana was alittle scared and there were I a couple of times I had to reassured that it wasn't real.
The final event was the closing fireworks display then we boarded our shuttle bus for the 25 minute ride to our hotel Emiron.

ABSOLUTLEY STUFFED!


WARNING:
This is what 12 hours of Disneyland will do to your child.

Ummm "I am where on this map?"

0540JPT All sorts of scenarios were going thru or heads as Mum drove us to Kachigawa station in the rain this morning.
As K and I went over our battle plan we arrived in Nagoya and found our Hikari Shinkasen Super Express and some 2 hours later and 350 kms cruising at a constant 170Kph we arrived in Tokyo.


Lucky K and I both (well more K) anticipated "what if" and had prepared as best we could beforehand for the madhouse known as "Tokyo Station"
With people.....With masses of people running about like "headless chickens" trying as hard as they can to somehow pretend that they are not surrounded by sea of a gazillion other bodies.

This can be achieved in a number of ways either "wiring" up with headphones or my personal favorite, phone open and busy txt/emailing in the hope of creating the "Look I’m far too busy for anything else"...Leave me alone!!

Mana and I were talking about it and I said "There are a lot of people running around isn’t there, its because they are late" which prompted Mana "They should get up earlier aye?"......can’t argue with that logic.

Anyway with K's wired (almost scary) understanding of the whole "organised chaos" and although it was abit of a mad dash we made it to the appropriate connecting train (with time to spare,well done K)