December 2017

This is our last day in Tokyo. Jan left the hotel to go shopping in the Shinjuku malls and I had to buy train tickets to the airport. We would meet up at our hotel later in the day; but somehow, at the exact time and place, we ran into each other in the biggest train station in the world. This place is over a kilometer long and has 200 separate entrances and we ran into each other... THIS REALY MEANS SOMETHING. So we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Anyway, here is a bunch of photos from all over Tokyo, a world class city that everyone should visit.

We bought subway Pasmo cards when we arrived here and we went a couple of stops last night, but it's been a little intimidating. This is not your typical subway system...

So here we go, all day on the subway: train changes, station transfers, exit maps, etc.

The white gloved pushers were out in force in case you didn't get into the subway car (this was the most packed car we have ever been in, anywhere)

Shibuya subway station is massive and dumps 3-5 train loads of people into this intersection every 5 minutes (the busiest crossing in the world)

Shibuya is also a huge shopping area


Meiji Shrine


Ramen shop. Many restaurants in Shibuya were "closed" when we walked in, even though they were full of locals. This place seated us but we had to pick one of these items from the board and accept what we got (which was pretty good). I gave the waiter a few thousand Yen and he brought some change. We never spoke (we couldn't and he couldn't)


Tokyo Tower

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We're staying in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo. Flew into Narita airport which is 90 minutes by train to the Shinjuku Station (the busiest train station in the world).
Our hotel is in the Shinjuku ward. It's pretty roomy for Tokyo with a double bed and a desk.

Shinjuku's Golden Gai area is 200 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries. Most have just 4 seats. Drinking Japanese cocktails and conversing with your bar mates over hibachi cooked skewers is the pass time here.






Here is a little Yakatori place (six seats) Jan found on her iPhone. Yakitori is a Japanese type of skewered meat cooked over charcoal. The owners spoke no English, so they just served us their delicious fare two at a time until we could eat no more. The other patrons bought us a round of Sake.


Kabuki Cho is an entertainment and red-light district with many restaurants and colorful neon signs.




Took the Tokyo Metro to the Sky Tree (tallest radio tower in the world).







Jan went shopping at the Shinjuku station (largest train station in the world) with dozens of malls and hundreds of restaurants. We had dinner just outside the west gate of Shinjuku station at Omoide Yokocho ( “Memory Lane”)

Hi,
We’ve just arrived in Tokyo and are waiting to take a high-speed train to our hotel. Only 7 more days left of our wonderful trip.
Love,
Jan and Lyle

Rooftop restaurant at the Marriott 48th floor

Best steak ever: El Gaucho Bangkok

Jan's shopping excursion





We visited a small flower market near Chinatown in Bangkok. There were huge baskets and bags of orchids, long strings of marigolds, and small colorful arrangements that are often seen on the elephant statues and as temple offerings around the city.
The cute kitty found a comfy spot to curl up for a nap.

Khao San Road - The book 'The Beach' famously described it as "the center of the backpacking universe" with countless guesthouses, hotels, internet cafes, bars, restaurants, massage parlors, travel agents, bookshops, market stalls, tattoo shops and much, much more. Its unlike anywhere else in Bangkok. Located north of the Grand Palace, the 400 meter long road is a bit difficult to find from the river, but we did eventually stumble upon it.