We were quite happy to leave Shanghai for Tokyo. We arrived in Tokyo
mid-morning after a very very good plane ride. Air Japan are the best airlines
we have had so far. On a 3 hour flight they did not stop pampering us. Drinks,
nibbles etc. kept coming ........ and then lunch.
Now you must understand that we have not had a "normal" salad since leaving
London, so to be given a fresh garden salad with French vinaigrette was
unbelievably good. A cold fish starter of 2 prawns and a slice of smoked
salmon, a warm chicken risotto and an apple slice with cream .... this was the
bog's bollocks. It was so good I actually video taped it ...... hdv baby, in all
it's glory!
Anyway, after an introduction like that, Tokyo was always going to be good in
our books and so it has proved.
The Japanese are well mannered, quiet, well groomed, fashionable, creative, soft
spoken - basically the opposite of the Chinese. Where the Chinese would push
their own mother out of the way to get into a train and have no concept of
patience or a queue, the Japanese are very well mannered and even have special
sections on every carriage just for elderly or pregnant woman. In fact, during
rush hours, there are pink carriages on every train just for women!
Our hostel is good, all the things we need, except for a cosy corner double
bunk! We had a Luca/Steffi moment trying to decide who would be on top, but as
I was still feeling a bit ill, I just gave up and slept on the bottom bunk.
