Tokyo, Japan

After driving 300 + kilometers, flying Christchurch to Auckland, Air New Zealand took me on an 11.5 hour flight to Shanghai, a 5 hour wait, then to Osaka and one more segment to Tokyo Haneda. I then had to find my way on the Japan rail to Shinagawa where I finally made it to my hotel. This accounted for about 48 hours of travel!

I had a good sleep and headed to Shinjuku to meet Dave, a long time friend of my son Andrew. We had a coffee and arranged our ticket to Nagano to see the famous monkeys that keep warm in mineral hot springs. Well, we got there just as the last bus left for the place :-( so we toured rural Nagano in the cold (+7C), bought some beer and food then took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Another long day. The most interesting thing was the Buddhist temple with a snow blower at the door! This is, of course, the Japanese Alps, and they get a lot of snow - hence the Winter Olympics in Nagano in the 1990's.

Today I took the trains to Asakusa to see the Senso-ji Temple, the oldest temple site in Tokyo history dating from 628, but the current version from 1692.  From there I walked to the Asahi brewery - the picture shows their iconic "golden turd" but note the Sky tower - the tallest in Japan.

Another set of trains took me to Edo Castle, the Imperial Palace and the Nijobashi Bridge all from 18th and 19 century reconstruction. Apparently the royal family still occupy some residences within the Imperial grounds which feature amazing manicured trees and gardens.

Tomorrow I am off to Osaka for the day, taking the Shinkansen again. More to come.

Mt. Cook

Sorry to those who did not see photos...I am trying again through Google drive...

The drive from Wanaka was through sheep and cattle country. There are signs indicating "This is the home of Icebreaker" (best quality Merino wool clothing) on some stations (farms). Looks like a lot of cycling opportunities here although roads are narrow and locals drive quite fast. This photo was taken as I drove away from Mt Cook this morning...amazing.

I arrived in Mt Cook 2 days ago in light rain. The clouds hung around the peaks while I hiked both days in the Tasman glacier  and Hooker valleys. After dinner the clouds began to lift and New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki, or Mt. Cook (3754 m) showed herself. What a treat!

Tonight I flew from Christchurch to Auckland and checked in for my overnight flight to Tokyo via Shanghai and Osaka. More from Japan...

NZ Westlands

Arrived in Christchurch in pouring rain 2 days ago. Had dinner with my nephew Bob, his wife and lively 3 year old daughter! Walked the city Friday (which was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquake) and saw much more re-construction and a more normal business district than we saw in 2012.

Drove 400 Kms over Arthur's Pass to the west coast in brilliant sun, but as I approached Franz Josef (glacier town) some cloud appeared. Stopped at the Castle Rocks, a very unique limestone rock formation which could easily be a set for Lord of the Rings.

It is a bit strange not only driving on the left side of the road, but the sun is in the northern sky down here whereas at home it is south!! Really have to work to find my bearings.

Today hiked to both Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. It is Labor Day weekend here so plenty of other hikers. I seem to have avoided the traffic fortunately. I am quickly getting used to driving on the left and haven't used the wipers to signal TOURIST too often!!

Love business class

The first 3 flight segments from Edmonton to Auckland in business class really spoiled me! Good food, nice wine on linens, a bed pod where you can lie down to sleep. The 15 hour flight from Vancouver was delayed an hour  but it made up some time en route to Sydney. Staying at the hostel in Auckland and  caught up with  a friend, Val, who I trekked with in Nepal many years ago. It is spring here and today the sun was shining an +19C. Had a sushi picnic lunch on one of the local beaches. Now feeling just a wee bit jet lagged. 

Packing light!

Well, it has been about 9 months of planning and I am almost packed! I decided travel to 6 countries in various seasons from spring in the Southern hemisphere to fall in Japan, still hot in late summer in Southeast Asia and winter in Norway would require a variety of layers and a bottle of liquid wash.

Although I could do 2 checked in bags, I decided to go as light as possible with a backpack carry-on and check in one bag with just the bare essentials. I'm taking a light pack of most of my medications, ball cap, raincoat, gloves, umbrella, bandana, toothbrush, electronics and camera in the carry-on and a few clothing layers, socks, underwear, shorts, spare shoes, toiletries, towel, sandals, hiking poles, (and oh yes, imodium) in the roller bag weighing 12 kg!

Got my Indian visa (which you have to arrange in the month before travel), international driver's license (for use in NZ), JR rail pass for Japan, an itinerary of about 18 + flights...a bit of cash and an ATM card.

Hope to find enough wifi to update this blog from time to time. And hope it will be interesting to those of you I send this to. Thanks for all the many well wishes...