We just returned home from a 2-1/2 week trip to Asia – a Regent Seven Seas cruise that started from Tokyo, traveled around the southern half of Japan, then to Seoul, and Shanghai. We covered 2,942 nautical miles – about like going from New York to Los Angeles.
Lots to unpack.
I will share my travelogues and photos over the next few weeks. As usual, I will post my drinks culture reports and photo essays. And, I’m working on a wrap-up post with my thoughts on traveling in Asia and small(er) ship cruising. And I have many, many thoughts.
So, diving in . . .
Day 1 – Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵
Safe arrival in Tokyo.
Damn, that was a loooong flight. Only three movies, one book, and a couple of unsuccessful attempts at sleep and we were there.
Brief moment of terror in the taxi on the way to the hotel when I forgot they drive on the left in Japan.
Neither one of us really slept on the flight, so we’re desperately trying to stay awake until something that resembles a reasonable bedtime. Checked into our hotel in Yokohama – the cruise line uses the Hilton Yokohama as a base from which to get everyone to the ship, so we stayed there for our pre-cruise adventures.
I knew we’d both fall asleep if we sat down, so we set out on a walk in an attempt to stay awake.
Found a convenience store so we could get some cash at an ATM. Success. Briefly checked out some of the goodies. Not sure I’m in the mood for an omelet stick. Definitely not in the mood for cheese sandwiched between cod sheets. The candy looks good, though.
Ooooh. Street art. You know I love some good street art.
Initial, sleep deprived observations:
1. Everything here is VERY clean.
2. There are a LOT of people.
3. There’s a constant chaos, but there’s an orderliness to the chaos.
4. A good 20% of the people are wearing masks.
5. Almost everyone is wearing black and white clothing. Very professional. Very little color. An occasional rebel in tan.
There’s a swanky bar at the hotel, and it felt like a Negroni kind of night. The young woman next to us (who looked to be about 20 years old) ordered a couple of colorful drinks and a colorful cake. And then she took no fewer than 100 pictures of her drinks and cake – each picture staged with a different little creature she pulled out of her purse.
Well of COURSE I got a stealth shot.
And that’s a wrap on my first impressions of Tokyo.
Fading fast. More tomorrow.
Kanpai! 🥃
I know that feeling of trying desperately to stay awake until a fairly reasonable bed time after a long flight! Seems you found plenty to distract you. Looking forward to hearing more.
It’s the worst feeling – the thing I LEAST look forward to about any trip. We always call that first day, “Zombie Day”.
Well, that was a short read. Didn’t mention Ken by name once. I will admit I liked the part about the 20 year old and her cake. Makes you wonder wtf was going on there. But, I must say I expected a longer synopsis. I feel a tad cheated (I bet Ken does as well)! 🤪
Think of it as an appetizer . . .
Hahahahahahaha! When we first set off in a sprinter van in Kyoto, There was a guide in the “driver’s” seat and she kept turning around talking to us, and all of a sudden I absolutely panicked because I thought it was a driverless van!!!! Of course I was jet lagged, but it was shear terror!!!!! Great photos, as always.
Nothing like that half-second of absolute terror to get the blood flowing (and stay awake), though!
I’ve always wondered why they call them appetizers. After having 4 or 5 they ruin my appetite.
I think this is a quantity problem, not a quality problem. 😉