Liz is loving Asia: a trip report!
Mar 6th, 2008 | 12:57 PM
#1
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Liz is loving Asia: a trip report!
Hi Fodorites,
Well we're here in Asia and having a great time!
Here's a brief rundown of the trip so far:
<b>March 4th:</b>
We headed to the airport, headed back home because Tim forgot his glasses, and re-headed to the airport. Luckily we only live a few minutes away.
After relaxing in the NWA World Club (a 60-day temporary membership, $85, which allows a person to bring in two guests, is very much worth its cost IMO) we boarded the flight.
We had great seats (for economy), 35H/J, which are exit row seats without anyone else in our row. The service was great, the food was terrible. No free wine on NW Trans-Pacific flights so we drank water which was for the better!
<b>March 5th:</b>
Narita airport was a traveler's dream-- NO lines, anywhere. Bags out on the carousel before we could get there. We found a Citibank ATM, got our yen, bought our bus tickets, played with the vending machine, were amazed by the toilets, and finally boarded our bus for the 90-minute ride to the Park Hotel Tokyo.
We really like our hotel a lot. It's a great value, and we were given a room on the 31st floor with a direct view of Tokyo Tower AND Mount Fuji. Beautiful!
Upon check in we had a note from our fish market guide, Naoto. We were to meet him at 4am on the morning of the 6th.
After checking out our room (and the robotic toilet of course) we decided to try to find the meeting space for the fish market tour. The Shiodome complex can be quite confusing, and even with a map and directions from the front desk, it took us almost 90 minutes to find it. But we did.
We were so tired we just bought some wine, mixed nuts, snacks from the convenience store and went to bed about 9:30.
<b>March 6th</b>
We woke up at 3am and departed the hotel at 3:30am in order to meet Naoto by 4am at the meeting spot.
We loved the fish market tour and highly recommend it. There is absolutely no way that we would have known where to go or what we were seeing without Naoto. The cost is 7,500 yen per person for a 2-2.5 hour tour.
http://homepage3.nifty.com/tokyowork...ijiTourEng.htm
Lots of photos on my blog. (Email me for access at [email protected])
He took us to his favorite market sushi spot at the end of the tour. I believe it was called Sushi Daiwa, but there was no English sign. It consisted of one long counter, about ten stools, and no room. The set meal was 3,500 yen per person. We had soup, green tea, tuna maki, salmon roe maki, sea urchin (uni) maki (not sure if it was technically maki, but resembled loose maki), tuna nigiri, fatty tuna nigiri, yellow tail nigiri, raw shrimp nigiri, grilled eel with sauce nigiri, something similar to cuttlefish nigiri, sweet egg cake, and more. There was one thing, served by itself, about 1 inch long. It was slightly crunch and tasted like shrimp. Any idea what it was? Or don't I want to know??
We stopped at Starbucks on our way home and stayed in the hotel for a few hours.
Well we're here in Asia and having a great time!
Here's a brief rundown of the trip so far:
<b>March 4th:</b>
We headed to the airport, headed back home because Tim forgot his glasses, and re-headed to the airport. Luckily we only live a few minutes away.
After relaxing in the NWA World Club (a 60-day temporary membership, $85, which allows a person to bring in two guests, is very much worth its cost IMO) we boarded the flight.
We had great seats (for economy), 35H/J, which are exit row seats without anyone else in our row. The service was great, the food was terrible. No free wine on NW Trans-Pacific flights so we drank water which was for the better!
<b>March 5th:</b>
Narita airport was a traveler's dream-- NO lines, anywhere. Bags out on the carousel before we could get there. We found a Citibank ATM, got our yen, bought our bus tickets, played with the vending machine, were amazed by the toilets, and finally boarded our bus for the 90-minute ride to the Park Hotel Tokyo.
We really like our hotel a lot. It's a great value, and we were given a room on the 31st floor with a direct view of Tokyo Tower AND Mount Fuji. Beautiful!
Upon check in we had a note from our fish market guide, Naoto. We were to meet him at 4am on the morning of the 6th.
After checking out our room (and the robotic toilet of course) we decided to try to find the meeting space for the fish market tour. The Shiodome complex can be quite confusing, and even with a map and directions from the front desk, it took us almost 90 minutes to find it. But we did.
We were so tired we just bought some wine, mixed nuts, snacks from the convenience store and went to bed about 9:30.
<b>March 6th</b>
We woke up at 3am and departed the hotel at 3:30am in order to meet Naoto by 4am at the meeting spot.
We loved the fish market tour and highly recommend it. There is absolutely no way that we would have known where to go or what we were seeing without Naoto. The cost is 7,500 yen per person for a 2-2.5 hour tour.
http://homepage3.nifty.com/tokyowork...ijiTourEng.htm
Lots of photos on my blog. (Email me for access at [email protected])
He took us to his favorite market sushi spot at the end of the tour. I believe it was called Sushi Daiwa, but there was no English sign. It consisted of one long counter, about ten stools, and no room. The set meal was 3,500 yen per person. We had soup, green tea, tuna maki, salmon roe maki, sea urchin (uni) maki (not sure if it was technically maki, but resembled loose maki), tuna nigiri, fatty tuna nigiri, yellow tail nigiri, raw shrimp nigiri, grilled eel with sauce nigiri, something similar to cuttlefish nigiri, sweet egg cake, and more. There was one thing, served by itself, about 1 inch long. It was slightly crunch and tasted like shrimp. Any idea what it was? Or don't I want to know??
We stopped at Starbucks on our way home and stayed in the hotel for a few hours.
Mar 6th, 2008 | 02:03 PM
#2
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,433
Likes: 0
Liz,
Loving the blog! And thanks for the mini-trip report...so glad you guys are having such a good time (like anything else is to be expected?)
Looking forward to following along--you have lots more adventures in store...that's the best part!
Loving the blog! And thanks for the mini-trip report...so glad you guys are having such a good time (like anything else is to be expected?)
Looking forward to following along--you have lots more adventures in store...that's the best part!
Mar 6th, 2008 | 08:52 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,408
Likes: 0
Hi Liz-
Just checked out the Blog. Great photos of the fish market. I've always wanted to go there! Someday...
How are you liking the new camera? I think we have the same (nikon D40x)? It looks like we have the same camera bag too, judging from your luggage photo. I got both the camera and the bag for xmas and am looking forward to using them soon in Rome. How's the bag working for you?
Looking forward to more.
Just checked out the Blog. Great photos of the fish market. I've always wanted to go there! Someday...
How are you liking the new camera? I think we have the same (nikon D40x)? It looks like we have the same camera bag too, judging from your luggage photo. I got both the camera and the bag for xmas and am looking forward to using them soon in Rome. How's the bag working for you?
Looking forward to more.
Mar 6th, 2008 | 10:13 PM
#6
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Hi Liz, Just arrived in the Executive Lounge of the Holiday Inn BKK from Chiang Mai this AM. Now using their free internet access. Great photos.
Do you know that i have lived in Japan for over 10 years & have never been to Tsukiji Market? I really need to do that soon.
Will be following you through your travels. We return to Tokyo this Sunday.
Do you know that i have lived in Japan for over 10 years & have never been to Tsukiji Market? I really need to do that soon.
Will be following you through your travels. We return to Tokyo this Sunday.
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Mar 6th, 2008 | 10:45 PM
#8
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 0
Thanks, all! It's so fun to get these messages while still on vacation.
HappyCheesehead- if you read this- we are also so, so sad about Brett Favre. Tim has been streaming video from espn.com to keep up with it all. I was only 12 when he started playing, and I really don't remember Sundays without him. It's truly the end of an era!
We are currently in the Narita World Club. This WC is better than the rest-- there's a fancy beer machine and sushi! Love it.
Kristina- I have the D40. I absolutely love my bag. I used it in Munich/Venice over Christmas and am used to it. It's nice how it can still be strapped on and you can access the camera from the side. I also like the other strap that comes around from your right side-- it gives a lot more support than a usual one-shoulder bag.
And hi to Bill, Femi, Bob, bmt and Marksfour!
MORE REPORT
After relaxing post-fish market, we headed out to the Asakusa area. Those of you who read the blog will have read the stories and have seen the photos-- but let's just sum it up by saying it was a beautiful day! We loved the area around the temple. We met some Japanese schoolchildren who interviewed Tim for a class project. It was nice.
Then, thanks to bmttokyo, we walked over to the Kappabashi (sp) area to see the plastic food models. Great suggestion!
Jet lag hit us hard, and we returned to the hotel to nap until 5:30pm (we set a wakeup call). We didn't actually wake up until 8:30pm. We walked around the Shiodome complex and grabbed a quick dinner- nothing special- and decided that we'd have a good day on Friday. We didn't get to see Tokyo all lit up at night, but hey, I have a feeling we'll be back.
Friday we checked out and headed to Shibuya. Wait, first we had breakfast at Vie de France-- thanks tower (Stu) for the recommendation! On to Shibuya. We took my photo next to the dog statue (Hachiko?) and then wandered over to the Ometesando (sp; sorry I don't have my notes and am going off of memory) street. We stopped in the Oriental Bazaar and picked up a few items.
We then went to the egg/batter/shrimp/scallion pancake (o something) restaurant hole-in-the-wall place recommended by tower (Stu). His detailed directions took us directly there! Unfortunately it was not open-- at about 12:30pm. I was so disappointed as it sounded great. But we can go next time.
We grabbed a quick Italian lunch and went back to the Shiodome to await our airport bus. These airport buses make everything easy, I highly recommend it over the train if the bus goes directly to your hotel.
Now we're at the Narita airport waiting for our flight to Hong Kong. We have three nights there, three in Siem Reap, and five in Bangkok.
I just want to quickly add that we *really* enjoyed ourselves in Tokyo. I thought it would be OK, but I didn't expect to like it as much as I did!
More soon! Thanks for reading!
Liz
HappyCheesehead- if you read this- we are also so, so sad about Brett Favre. Tim has been streaming video from espn.com to keep up with it all. I was only 12 when he started playing, and I really don't remember Sundays without him. It's truly the end of an era!
We are currently in the Narita World Club. This WC is better than the rest-- there's a fancy beer machine and sushi! Love it.
Kristina- I have the D40. I absolutely love my bag. I used it in Munich/Venice over Christmas and am used to it. It's nice how it can still be strapped on and you can access the camera from the side. I also like the other strap that comes around from your right side-- it gives a lot more support than a usual one-shoulder bag.
And hi to Bill, Femi, Bob, bmt and Marksfour!
MORE REPORT
After relaxing post-fish market, we headed out to the Asakusa area. Those of you who read the blog will have read the stories and have seen the photos-- but let's just sum it up by saying it was a beautiful day! We loved the area around the temple. We met some Japanese schoolchildren who interviewed Tim for a class project. It was nice.
Then, thanks to bmttokyo, we walked over to the Kappabashi (sp) area to see the plastic food models. Great suggestion!
Jet lag hit us hard, and we returned to the hotel to nap until 5:30pm (we set a wakeup call). We didn't actually wake up until 8:30pm. We walked around the Shiodome complex and grabbed a quick dinner- nothing special- and decided that we'd have a good day on Friday. We didn't get to see Tokyo all lit up at night, but hey, I have a feeling we'll be back.
Friday we checked out and headed to Shibuya. Wait, first we had breakfast at Vie de France-- thanks tower (Stu) for the recommendation! On to Shibuya. We took my photo next to the dog statue (Hachiko?) and then wandered over to the Ometesando (sp; sorry I don't have my notes and am going off of memory) street. We stopped in the Oriental Bazaar and picked up a few items.
We then went to the egg/batter/shrimp/scallion pancake (o something) restaurant hole-in-the-wall place recommended by tower (Stu). His detailed directions took us directly there! Unfortunately it was not open-- at about 12:30pm. I was so disappointed as it sounded great. But we can go next time.
We grabbed a quick Italian lunch and went back to the Shiodome to await our airport bus. These airport buses make everything easy, I highly recommend it over the train if the bus goes directly to your hotel.
Now we're at the Narita airport waiting for our flight to Hong Kong. We have three nights there, three in Siem Reap, and five in Bangkok.
I just want to quickly add that we *really* enjoyed ourselves in Tokyo. I thought it would be OK, but I didn't expect to like it as much as I did!
More soon! Thanks for reading!
Liz
Mar 7th, 2008 | 01:38 PM
#16
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 0
Liz - I loved your blog and your pictures - you did a great job!
I have to add that when I went in to check on your progress I saw a link to your parents luggage for their round the world cruise. Well, OF COURSE, I have to read their whole blog about said cruise, WOW! That is one amazing trip. I was going to post a note to your mom but worried she would think it bizarre.
Glad to know the Narita WC is a good one, I do believe we have a few hours to spend there on our way to and from Bangkok, at least I hope so from the sounds of it. I get so tired of the same cheese/crackers/carrots/cookies at Detroit!
I have to add that when I went in to check on your progress I saw a link to your parents luggage for their round the world cruise. Well, OF COURSE, I have to read their whole blog about said cruise, WOW! That is one amazing trip. I was going to post a note to your mom but worried she would think it bizarre.
Glad to know the Narita WC is a good one, I do believe we have a few hours to spend there on our way to and from Bangkok, at least I hope so from the sounds of it. I get so tired of the same cheese/crackers/carrots/cookies at Detroit!
Mar 7th, 2008 | 08:27 PM
#18
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 0
The flight to Hong Kong was uneventful, and we arrived 30 minutes early. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get through immigration, but again our bags were waiting for us.
We took a taxi to the Salisbury YMCA. The cost was about HK$285. The taxi driver did not understand us but called an English speaker who straightened it out.
We were slightly disappointed with the Salisbury room. Although I had booked this (non-smoking double) room almost a year ago, and paid extra for the harbour view, we were given a room on the seventh floor (the lowest floor with rooms) where the view was somewhat obstructed by the cultural center. It was also a smoking room and quite dingy. They were able to move us to a non-smoking room on the eighth floor, although it has two twin beds. They could move us again today, but we don't want to pack up all of our stuff again! It is fun to watch the harbour traffic from the window.
We had the breakfast buffet on the 4th floor this morning-- it was delicious. So much Western and Chinese food. I was able to have bacon, hashbrowns, noodles, and three kinds of dumplings for breakfast- quite the mix!
We then headed out to the flower market and bird garden. I took a lot of photos.
Tim isn't feeling too well so we came back to the room for a little bit. I think we'll head out on the Star Ferry next and hopefully hit up the Yellow Door if Tim feels up to it. Otherwise I might just do the above by myself.
We're on opposite sleeping schedules-- I am tired at 10pm and up by 5-6am, he's up until 2am and then feels like sleeping in. This is the total opposite of how we are in the US--must be jet lag related.
We also started the Malarone today since we'll arrive in Siem Reap on Monday.
HappyCheesehead- my mom loves getting comments on her blog, so comment away! She sometimes posts on Fodors, and has made a lot of friends from cruisecritic, so she "gets it."
We took a taxi to the Salisbury YMCA. The cost was about HK$285. The taxi driver did not understand us but called an English speaker who straightened it out.
We were slightly disappointed with the Salisbury room. Although I had booked this (non-smoking double) room almost a year ago, and paid extra for the harbour view, we were given a room on the seventh floor (the lowest floor with rooms) where the view was somewhat obstructed by the cultural center. It was also a smoking room and quite dingy. They were able to move us to a non-smoking room on the eighth floor, although it has two twin beds. They could move us again today, but we don't want to pack up all of our stuff again! It is fun to watch the harbour traffic from the window.
We had the breakfast buffet on the 4th floor this morning-- it was delicious. So much Western and Chinese food. I was able to have bacon, hashbrowns, noodles, and three kinds of dumplings for breakfast- quite the mix!
We then headed out to the flower market and bird garden. I took a lot of photos.
Tim isn't feeling too well so we came back to the room for a little bit. I think we'll head out on the Star Ferry next and hopefully hit up the Yellow Door if Tim feels up to it. Otherwise I might just do the above by myself.
We're on opposite sleeping schedules-- I am tired at 10pm and up by 5-6am, he's up until 2am and then feels like sleeping in. This is the total opposite of how we are in the US--must be jet lag related.
We also started the Malarone today since we'll arrive in Siem Reap on Monday.
HappyCheesehead- my mom loves getting comments on her blog, so comment away! She sometimes posts on Fodors, and has made a lot of friends from cruisecritic, so she "gets it."
Mar 8th, 2008 | 04:06 AM
#20
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,941
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Liz - that's too bad about the Salisbury - I think we were on the 11th floor which got us up above the cultural centre - if you have a chance the art gallery there is quite lovely.
How was Yellow Door? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
How was Yellow Door? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
