Tuesday 29 October 2013

The eagle has landed....

Well, I have arrived and have already had my first chat via Skype with hubby, so all is well in my world!  It is 9 hours ahead here so my 9pm is noon of the same day in the UK.
Anyway - a bit more info of today - after the ice-cream in Dubai, it wasn't long to boarding and although the flight wasn't nearly as busy as the first one, we still were about 30 minutes late taking off. After a short look at the in-built entertainment I settled to watch the 4th film of the day - what I omitted to say was how good all this film watching is for the knitting - my long cardigan is coming on at great speed - I had started the second front before I left home, but had only done the rib - am now on the second repeat of the cable pattern above the pocket.  Not doing anymore tonight tho' as want some sleep! Doesn't matter that you haven't seen the pattern - it is a chunky marbled yarn in a sort of turquoise and is mid thigh length with wide ribbed band and collar - hundreds of stitches on a circular needle for that bit when I get to it!
Food on 2nd flight was Japanese - and lovely. I had a salmon and cod dish served in butter sauce with green pea and beans on the side. this was accompanied by a lovely lemon risotto.  Now I have never cooked a risotto but will definitely have to look for a recipe when I return. Later we were served with breakfast and I did wimp out here and have a western style as didn't like the idea of the Japanese one - it was tuna marinated in miso sauce served with steamed J rice topped with sesame seeds, accompanied by broccoli florets, fried aubergine and stir fried courgette - all ok but not for breakfast! I had creamy omelette thing it was cheese but not a strong taste, with sauteed spinach and fried herbed potato. With croissant, bread and biscuits. Not at all carbo free and I didn't eat it all as it was too much. Kept the cheese and biscuits and have had that for supper!
Once I had gone through security and retrieved my luggage it was off to locate the transport. This turned out to be easy as the reception desk was just opposite where you walk through. I showed my reservation and had to wait for another passenger who turned out to be the bloke form 2 seats away who joined the flight in Dubai. He didn't speak English so we just nodded.  I suspect I will be doing alot of nodding and bowing - must get into the language mode and at least mutter something in pseudo Japanese.....maybe after a sleep!
The journey from the airport seemed to be all motorway with lots of tolls and almost all the roads had screens at the sides to stop the noise, I assume. It was now dark so I could just make out lots of buildings with lights blazing. There didn't seem to be any gaps and we went from one town to another. The journey was about 2 hours but I did drop of along the way! Osaka to Kyoto is about 120 miles I think, from what I remember. 
After the chap was dropped of at his posh looking hotel, it was of to the back streets to find my lodgings. The driver escorted me up the narrow road and made sure that he was delivering me to the correct place, then he was gone and it was all down to me.  I introduced myself to the proprietor, Haru, who thankfully speaks very good English. he showed me to my room, and gave me a tour of the facilities and showed me how to deal with my bed, then he left me to it with a few more maps etc to peruse.  When I made the reservations at Bola Bola, I knew it was a guest house and is a typical Japanese style. The walls are thin (earplugs provided!) and the doors are sliding ones just like in the books. 
The technology is fine and now that the internet connection is established, I can stop worrying about it and enjoy the trip.
I don't intend further posts to be this wordy, but wanted you to follow the journey here. Tomorrow after breakfast I will go exploring and see where I am and what is about. So on that note I will wave you all a contented good night!

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