Less Than 50 Days to Japan!

The time to fly is drawing near and I already know what I'm wearing to Tokyo Disneyland! I don't want to make it sound as though we leave in a few days. We still have six weeks. But, it's now a great deal closer than the last time I wrote about our up coming trip!

Just within the last week Eric and I have plotted out which regions of Tokyo we will see per day. To sum up the itinerary:

We arrive/land Monday evening and head to our first apartment. Travel one train stop to Disneyland and DisneySea for the next four days (most people I know had lengthy train rides to the parks). We'll then switch apartments to Shibuya on Saturday, and see the Robot Dinner Show that night in Shinjuku. Sunday morning we'll check out Japanese cosplay in Harajuku plus surrounding area. Early Monday, travel to Kyoto via bullet train to spend a day there looking at shrines and the old city. Then Tuesday through early Thursday, see more of what Tokyo has to offer. That Wednesday we will have our Ghibli Museum visit as well. We had hoped to break up the Disney Parks days, but the multi-day tickets must be used consecutively. And, we can only park hop the last two days. 

Eric and I are not at all worried about running out of activities. Although we initially thought our length of stay was good enough, it seems like we definitely will need to go back! I don't think I've been this far out from an up coming trip and already thinking about when we can go back! There have been suggestions to visit Universal Studios in Osaka as well, but we can't justify that when there's plenty to see in Tokyo. 

We did hit a slight snag, but I think we have a solution. We purchased our Tokyo Disneyland resort four day pass. As it turns out the printing process would prefer us to use "A4" paper. Using our standard size, a small portion would print on a second page. The point of why this is an issue is this: The resort wants the barcode on the ticket to be read properly by fast pass machines. Unlike the US parks, they don't exchange your e-ticket for an actual ticket stub. It being the USA, we don't use "A4" paper here. My friend in England was astounded that i'd never heard of it. What can I say? I'm a pompous American! Luckily they had examples on their site as to the preferred image and sizing of the bar code, so we'll be fine. Here's a screen grab from YouTube of some lady's ticket. Thanks for the image lady. 

Something to keep in mind if you plan a trip to Japan is the Japan Rail Pass. It is only sold outside of Japan. Many people give rave reviews regarding this, but you have to make sure it works for you. Eric and I have read that it is worth it even if you only use the bullet train for one round trip. It can also be used within Tokyo, but only used on assigned trains/rails. One negative for us is that although it's active for seven days, we won't actually need it until we have less than seven days left on our trip. There isn't a "JR Pass Activation" office near our first apartment in Edogawa and we won't have a need for it until we leave to Shibuya. 

We also have the option to pay as we ride by purchasing a train card (Suica or Pasmo). A traveller can load up those cards with money and it gets deducted with each use. There is also the option to buy a ticket each time. Of course, the cost will change depending on the distance travelled. The JR Pass seems like the best value. But, it still bothers me that even though we'll pay for that unused time, we won't activate it or have use for it until Saturday. 

It should be mentioned that there are a few tour sites, such as Japanican.com and sunrisetours.com , that have ways for travelers to get outside of Tokyo. We even used Japanican to buy the Robot Dinner Show tickets at a discount. I'd say the most confusing part of this trip planning has been all the options available to you. 

We have found some help on YouTube. I'm glad that's been around because there isn't a lot to read online. What I have found online (Blogs) are mere recounts of trips, which is fine, but I want content with real tips/issues. I hope this helps possible "trip planners" to Japan avoid some problems or with decision making. I couldn't find anyone with Tokyo Disney ticket experience either. I only found one video that showed a lady fold her e-ticket for fast pass use. Eric and I still have more plans to solidify and I look forward to getting that done. Although it sounds confusing at times, it's been fun so far. 

All We Needed Was Sand

Compared to my Roaring 1920s party, for my 33rd birthday, this year was very last minute. With Tokyo coming up (have I mentioned we are going?), I wasn't planning on spending extra funds on a party. But, as the date crept closer I felt we should put together something small. A little more than week before my birthday I decided to have a Retro Beach themed birthday party. To be honest I was "phoning" this year's party in by choosing an easy theme. One might say I did the same last year with a 1920s theme, but with that party I mimicked a specific scene from The Great Gatsby film. This year I went ahead and raided the tiki/beach sections for decorations. I think the decor, along with the retro music, conveyed a happy atmosphere. 

I was taking a few test shots with the camera. I didn't want to wash all the photos out with a flash, so I had Rey and Brandi sit for a few silly poses. Work it you two!

Rey and Brandi look great here, but maybe I should've repositioned her straw? Meanwhile, in the background, I don't think that tiki idol was enjoying her photo being taken. Fashionably speaking, Rey looks like a greaser from the 50s while Brandi has that Biker's chick look. We all loved her hair!

Soon after we had the music going. The playlist was simple, full of Annette Funnicello, The Ventures (surf guitar), and The Beach Boys. The loop only lasted about 2 hours, but we just kept repeating it. Sure the music was a little on the corny side, but it was upbeat. 

As we shopped around the stores, Eric was very determined to grab some cocktail umbrellas. I'm sure glad he did because they added that extra touch to the cupcakes and the drinks. The cupcakes were store bought, but now they blended in with their surroundings. As my UK pals Mikey and Jonny would quote me saying, "It's in the details!"

Whether she cared for it, or not, Daphne got in on the beach action. Eric and I thought she looked great in her outfit. We aren't those "dress up your dog" type people, but this definitely called for an exception. 

Soon guests arrived and they were either mingling, or apparently on their iPhones ;-)

I can see here that Rey was about to enjoy more of his Fruit Punch/Coconut Rum concoction. 

Our gal pal Kelly joined us from Newport Beach in what I think was reminiscint of the 1960s character Gidget. I don't know if that was her direct intention, but she sure did a nice job!

The rest of us guys took the easy way out. Beach attire for that era is as easy as a camp shirt and the shortest swim wear you can find. However; Eric did personify a fashionista/trend setter of the early 1960s. All that was needed here was was a nice bonfire, but of course that would've taken down the place. 

We should've had a prize for who travelled the farthest. First we have Ricky and Greg that drove down from the Hollywood area. Then there was Jeff and Lance (pictured directly above) that joined us from Riverside! But, I think the invisible trophy goes to Angie (below w/red headband). She drove down from San Luis Obispo! I can't take all the credit. Angie was also on her way home to San Diego county. No matter from where they drove, I was very lucky to have our group come together to celebrate.

As with any gathering we have, this couldn't have happened with Eric! Who knows, maybe from now on Eric will be the bar keep. He was having a fun time mixing up some drinks for our guests. He kept that blender spinning! I thought he was going to try to chop up our fake pineapples for garnish! 

See below.....What did I tell you all? There's Eric making another drink for Ricky! And that reminds me of something. Everyone came with either a snack or alcohol to contribute. It really does say something about the friends we invited. I didn't ask them to bring anything, only themselves. Sure we did have a few ask what they could help with, and we welcomed that help. Others surprised us with items. I was even given some fabulous and again unexpected gifts. My point is that we had some great people over that night, special people. I hope they know I'm grateful for all of them and I look forward to more times together. 

Practicing for Japan!

Recently Eric and I purchased a Nikon D3200. We've always loved photography, but hadn't put down money on a higher end camera. I know there are more advanced models out there, but this was highly recommended for beginners. 

To get used to settings and learning from "trial and error", we decided to head to the local Disney parks. We arrived in mid-afternoon because our goal was to also try out night shots. 

I can't post this and pretend to give photo advice. I really just wanted to share what we attempted with the new camera. There are some nicely hidden corners in both Disneyland and CA Adventure. We also like the details in architecture and the color choices. But, that's not new right? I would think most people recognize at least those two traits. I'd add that if people don't pay attention to that, it's through no fault of their own. The parks really immerse the visitor in a time or place. The details can then become an after thought. 

One slight issue Eric and I may have in Japan is deciding who gets the camera. I found myself getting into Instagramming and almost forgetting about the new camera. I think I did this because it's obviously easier to get the iPhone into hard to reach places. I found the strap and having a certain grip on the Nikon slightly tedious. That's pretty much where the differences stop. I feel the photos the Nikon produce are beautiful, pending the setting. We took a few with the wrong setting, and the result wasn't ideal. But, sometimes the incorrect setting can make a photo interesting. Take the next....

Ursula is either being sucked away by a Dementor or Winifred Sanderson of the film Hocus Pocus! We were like "Whoa! She's being swept away!" It would be much better if at least her face was in focus. We are trying to perfect "dark ride" photography. The tips we have read haven't worked, but we will keep trying to learn. I'm glad we are messing up now and not in Tokyo Disneyland. 

I really liked that although the photo is straight at the sun, the sculpture of Grizzly Peak is still visible. 

I'm not claiming to find a hidden gem, but I had forgotten about this painted wall. It's an out of the way, dead-end, sitting area that I never think to visit.

We attempted to ride Radiator Springs Racers, but the ride shutdown while we rode. Our vehicle made it to the tractor tipping scene and came to a halt! Eric and I only waited about twenty minutes in the Single Rider queue so it wasn't a huge loss. In fact, we were given passes to return later. It worked out nicely. 

Walking through the wharf Eric got an appetite for the sourdough bread. It wasn't quite dinner time, but we went through the tour to grab a sample. I know most people grab the slice and run away. Eric and I aren't in a hurry, so we went through the Rosie O'Donnell narrated tour. The bakers seemed to be a little happy to see visitors pass through as they waved to us both. 

Our part of the world was starting to make its move away from the sun at a quick rate. We hoped to get a few sunset type shots. But, Eric and I also realized we were getting hungry. It was about 7:15 PM and we would be heading to Disneyland soon. 

It felt as though it had been too long since we ate at Paradise Garden Grill. I most likely mentioned it's our favorite place to eat at DCA. I haven't tried any other sauces on my tofu/veggie skewer, but next time should. Here I ordered it with the tzatziki sauce. I can't gush enough about the cucumber salad. The flavor for the salad has a slight tang and compliments the rest of the dish well. 

Heading out toward Disneyland you can see we have yet to perfect the "selfie" with this camera. It is a little awkward to hold. Eric wants to buy a small tripod and remote. We definitely don't want to forget to include ourselves in photos of Japan or the Disney Parks. 

Eric thinks he looks drunk here. He really wasn't. 

I saw these cans tipping and had to hold them up. 

And as I mentioned we were heading to Disneyland, but remembered that we had our fast pass for Racers. We couldn't pass that up. This time we rode without interruption and Eric attempted a few shots as we rode, no flash of course. 

They are still a little blurry. Luckily we still have time to get better at these sort of shots. In a big you'll see how the Southern CA weather really affects night photos. Once at Disneyland the clouds had rolled into the area and really added an awful backdrop to the scenery. 

I had attempted firework photos, but I hated them all. I always forget people feel the need to stick their arms up while holding cameras. A women in front of us filmed the entire show. And, I guess I don't blame her. Maybe this was her one trip here for her life? 

Both Eric and I worked "it's a small world" for quite a while in our earlier Disney career. It's actually where we met. Anyway, the lighting on the facade is very interesting these days. Even as the train passes, the colors change as it moves across the front of the facade. I was a total nerd, all giddy. 

I did my best to not breath during this one. 

Have you been noticing the sky in these night shots? I blame the desert for drawing in all this upper moisture.

Clearly I am getting carried away with this post! Eric and I have a lot to work on, but I am pleased with some of other shots. Our worst ones will hopefully improve. 

People might think it odd we are so worried about how well our photos will turn out, and to enjoy the moment. I'm sure many can agree that it's very enjoyable to takes pictures and get the best you can. Even though Japan is 3.5 months away, we are having some nice bonding time as we practice. 

We Can See Tokyo Getting Closer!

The time of only daydreaming about visiting Japan is slowly becoming a reality! A few months back Eric brought up that we need to put in vacation and start saying "We ARE going to Tokyo!" So we requested the middle of October as vacation. There wasn't a deep meaning in that time of year. Basically no one else in our office has requested that time off. Saying it out loud and truly believing it set us on a path to make Tokyo happen. 

We told ourselves in March that we needed our plane tickets by the first week in June, or we wouldn't go. It was time to save money in any way possible. I was nervous about being limited to no extra activities, but felt Japan would be more than worth it. We did notice that plane tickets were cheaper now than they had been a few years ago. Right after the major quake/tsunami, the flights were just over $1200! As of now the flight price hovers between $800-900. 

We of course began to consider lodging as a major necessity to our trip. Out of all the tips we had seen or read, Tokyo has many "Hubs". This fact makes it hard to choose exactly where to stay. A place like NYC makes it easy. The closer to Time Square, the closer to the tourist action. Tokyo seems very spread out like Los Angeles. Although we were definitely looking to be a tourist, we also wanted to take a road less traveled, but not get lost. In early April Eric came across a News report that changed how we approached our trip planning. 

Eric saw on television a promo for Airbnb.com, a new way to travel. It isn't actually a new concept. The site is more of a liaison between you and someone running a "bed n breakfast". It was being featured because through this site, people were making extra money. We both looked into the site and downloaded the app. 

The Hosts on the site all seem very excited to "host" you and show their town. For Tokyo we came across Tokyo natives and people that have moved to the area from various countries. In some cases the guest doesn't even need to see the host. Check in is done on site at a lock box and so is check out. Imagine NOT having an awkward language barrier at a Japanese hotel! 

I could go on about all the details of this service, but it would get very lengthy. I would suggest to at least look into it when traveling to a major city with high hotel prices. We found these apartments for rent to be about $20-30 cheaper than hotels. Also, most of these apartments come with a portable wifi router. I'm sure we will need that when lost in Tokyo! Obviously there will be more to write about the full experience once we've stayed there. Will it be negative or positive?????

This Trip Planning post is getting rather lengthy, but I just received word that we are confirmed for the second leg of our stay. For the first half we are staying at an apartment closer to Tokyo Disneyland and the second half we will be in the city (near that crazy crosswalk you may have seen). 

Our flight is booked on Singapore airlines. Although I am not a huge fan of flying, especially for 11 hours, I'm excited! I've read so many great reviews for Singapore Airlines. It sounds so much more interesting than my flights to and from Europe. 

Eric bought a book called "A Geek in Japan". It has a lot of great cultural information. I keep re-reading sections because I want to know as much as possible. There are amazing facts on home life, work life, and what it means to be a "nerd" in Japan. If you ever to go Japan I think you should pick this up via Amazon. We have also been doing homework on YouTube as we learn about the subway system and possible day trips (i.e. Kyoto). 

I'm sure I'll think of more as time goes by during the Summer. Ever heard of The Robot Dinner Show in Tokyo? Well, it looks really crazy and I think that's going to be a must. Women hanging from the ceiling while wearing robotic bikinis and dinosaurs fighting robots! Sounds like a whirlwind that is exactly four months away!!

Who Laid All These Eggs?

Well Spring has taken over the Disneyland Resort. Although we didn't see all on our "To Do" list, Eric and I had a fabulous time.

Sure the crowd doesn't look too rowdy, but since we arrived before opening it hadn't filled in just yet. We had our hearts broken at the start because Big Thunder Mountain was delayed to open. Within the first hour we managed to grab a Space Mountain FastPasses and ride Matterhorn. It felt as though that Matterhorn queue did not move. We could've used the Single Rider queue, but we wanted to ride together. If I wanted to ride alone, I'd have gone alone, right? 

Hearing Eric's laughs and vocal exclamations are what make coasters fun for me. There's the obvious turns and drops, but friends and family enhance the enjoyment. 

The five minute queue for Big Thunder made up for the time we spent in that Matterhorn queue. It's been said, but this new track gives such a better experience. And, this time we noticed new evacuation walkways. Eric commented that they looked disguised as horse trails. I agree. 

While it's open for a brief two weeks, we just had to hop aboard and sail around the world. Both of us were delighted to see the new water effect for the Taj Mahal'a reflecting pool. After all these years of that pool looking drab, it looks wonderful! (Video link of the new effect I shared on Instagram http://instagram.com/p/mxxcD5yy7O/  )

The floral arrangements gave off so many scents that stimulated my brain! A quick breeze would waft the strongest aroma toward us and I felt I stepped into a flower shop. The colors and smells were a grand backdrop of the Disneyland Egg-stravagaza!

The concept was easy. Find the decorated egg by using the hints (now covered by the corresponding sticker), and cover that space with the sticker that matches. It was even stated we could skip the "hunting" and claim the prize. How boring would that be?!?! 

Looking closely, you can spot the eggs we found. They were everywhere, but apparently Spring doesn't exist in Tomorrowland. No eggs in the future. 

    "THUMPER!!"

It was around 85 degrees today. Hot!!! So when Eric and I were about 80% through we took a break and watched the show at the Royal Theater in Princess Fantasy Faire. I'm sure it's been reviewed online elsewhere, but I wanted to mention my quick thoughts. It was a cute show with a few good laughs. The tale we were told was Tangled. The guy playing Mother Gothel was so silly and stole the show!

We wrapped up our egg search on Main Street, and turned in our map for official verification. There was a kid ahead of us in the queue that said, "I understand that I don't actually need to do the search. Can I just get the prize?" What a boring kid. Good luck little one! 

Taking part in this "hunt" reminded me of the time we looked for the clues at D23, Adventureland Trading Company. I wonder if they're connected at all, put on by the same team? 

Here were our prizes. One egg each. Donald for Eric and I had Dale on mine. 

We came across a lot of people participating today. It's good that these little activities come up now and again. I don't think we need the full blown "Sorceror's of the Magic Kingdom", from Disney World. (Not that I've heard any rumors what so ever) I just feel it's good to have these as temporary events to match the season. 

Earlier that morning we made reservations for Carnation Cafe. I don't know why I didn't think to take photos there. Maybe my brain was winding down from the heat? The food was good. I had a vegan burger and Eric had a cheeseburger. I definitely would have that dish again. 

We were ready to head back indoors, at home. As you can see, Eric was running for the door!