Impressions
I had forgotten how peaceful and relaxing it is at the Meji Shrine.  The temple feels like a “real” temple.   It was pretty empty there when we went so that probably added to the feeling there.   Unlike the Senso-Ji Temple in Asakusa, the Meji Shrine area feels a lot less commercial.

The nicer weather convinced us to visit Harajiku again.  Well more because it’s right next to the Meji Shrine.  I’ve never seen so many combination of fashionable outfits.  Every single person there was expressing their own fashion statement, although some made me question their tastes.  One thing I didn’t notice last time was people coloring their faces in the name of fashion.  My favorite outfit was a combination of a french maid and Little Bo Peep outfit.

Itinerary
Train to Kawagoe Ichibangai but was canceled cbecause of train problem due to hurricane
Train to Ikebukuro
Pasta and pizza lunch at Ikebukuro
Food market at Seibu Department Store
Train to Meji Shrine
Walkthrough Harajuku
Train to Ginza
Walk through Sony Building, Mitsukoshi, Matsuya, Matsuzakaya
Train to Ikebukuro
Walk to Tokyu Hands
Walk to Sunshrine City and Namja Town
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

Impressions
The Ghibli Museum is amazing.  The museum takes a lot of the scenes from several Ghibli films and recreates them to give you a nice “maze” of tunnels, stairs and bridges.  Another big plus about the museum is that you get to see one of the Miyazaki short films exclusive to the Ghibli Museum. We saw Monmon the Water Spider, and it was brilliant and “kawaii” (cute).

Itinerary
Breakfast (Café)
Train to Mitaka
Bus to Ghibli Museum and Cafe
Bus to Mitaka
Train to Suwayama Kichijoji
Lunch at Satou Steak Shop
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku
Train to Meji Shrine but closed
Walk through Harajiku
walk to Shibuya
Dinner at Sushi Nomidori at Shibuya
Train to Roppongi Hills
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

Impressions
We went to the Tsujiki Fish Market, something I did not do in my previous visits to Tokyo.  That was an incredible experience.   I’ve never seen so many people selling and buying fish.  They even had an auction for tuna.

Afterward, we went to Sushidai for lunch.  It’s a popular place according to the guide book, and the line to get in is suppose to be extremely long.   Luckily for us, the line not terribly bad because of the rain.  Was it worth the 30 minute wait?  In a word, YES.  I normally don’t like uni (sea urchin) and giant clam, but it tasted so good and fresh there.  Very different from the good sushi places i’ve eaten in NYC.  My giant clam was still alive and moving when the chef served it to me.   I never thought i would like giant clams this much.

Itinerary
Train to Tsukiji Fish Market
Walk to Sushidai for sushi
Walk through Tsujiki Outer Market
Train to Asakusa
Walk through Nakamise-dori Asakusa to Senso-Ji Temple
Tempura lunch at Asakusa
Train to Ueno Station
walk through Uenokoen Park to Tokyo National Museum
Walk to Ueno Area
Train to Akihabara Electronics Town
Walk through area and check out electronics and anime stuff
Train to Tsukishima for Kobe Beef but was Closed
Train to Daiba Aqua Mall and Ramen dinner
Walk over to Odaiba Little Hong Kong (Food Theme Park) & Ichiban shopping street
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

Impressions
We landed in Tokyo today.  Unfortunately, we landed while there is a hurricane nearby so it rained a lot.  At least the great food semi makes up for it.   We went to a local restaurant for breakfast where you by tickets from a vending machine before getting the food.  I didn’t know what to expect from the food, but it was delicious.   We also had a wonderful crab dinner with crab prepared in several different ways.  The hardest part of our trip will be having enough stomach space to eat all the different foods here.

Itinerary
Land in Haneda Airport
Trains to Shinjuku Station
Walk to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku and drop of bags
Breakfast at Ticket machine meal set
Walk to Shinjuku station
Train to Chiyoda
Walk to Imperial Palace
Walk to Hibiya Park
Walk to Tokyo Station
Snacks at Red Bean Place
Walk through Ichiban Cartoon Street
Walk through market in Daimaru Dept Store
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku and check in
Dinner at Shibuya Crab Meal Shinjuku
Walk through Kabukicho Red Light District
Crepes Snack
See Games and Pachinko
Walk to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

Impressions
I had forgotten the one thing I liked about Hong Kong:  all the good food here.  We spent the whole day walking around Hong Kong eating and snacking on different types of food.  I still like the fish balls in curry sauce on a stick the best here but everything tastes so good.

Itinerary
Breakfast at Mei Sun & McDonald
Shopping
Swing by Hong Thai for tour group info
Get guide books for Tokyo & Taiwan
Shopping
Try fish balls, satay, soup & drinks
Lunch at Fairwood
Shopping
Street food dinner
Bus to HK Chek Lap Kok airport

Impressions
We landed in Hong Kong today to start our vacation.  Kathy and I went to her old hometown in Tsuen Wan.  As we walked through the area, I realized that a lot of Hong Kong really does look the same.  Even though we’re at the New Territories location, I keep thinking this place looks like TST.

Itinerary
Land in HK Chek Lap Kok airport
Bus to Tusen Wan
Rest and late night snack
Walk back to Tsuen King

Impressions
My flight back from Nice was quite an ordeal. The actual flights themselves were good. It’s everything else that sucked.  My flight from Nice to London was delayed and we landed a hour twenty minutes late. I’m ok with a little delay, but not when that cuts into my flight connection time.  Objective: Go from Terminal 1 to Terminal 5 to catch my flight in less than 30 minutes. I literally ran with my carry-ons through terminals and escalators, caught a bus to get to the right terminal, and caught a train to get to the proper gate.  All of this just to make my connecting flight. I never thought I could cover so much ground in so little time. I guess i looked really bad when I got there because someone asked if I was OK since I was sweating like a pig.

Luckily I caught the flight, but I don’t think British Airways thought I would.  While I was seated, the flight attendant asked to see my ticket and said, “Oh, you made it…”  I guess that should have warned me because when I got to JFK, they didn’t have my suitcase.  Nope.  It’s still in London at Terminal 5.  The joys of traveling.

What I Did
Car to Nice airport
Return car rental (bye bye Mercedes E220)
Fly out to London
Sprint to catch connecting flight to New York
Land in JFK and see my girlfriend ^_^

Impressions
My last night here.  I went out with my coworker to Nice to drop him off at his airport-hotel and grab some dinner there.  We got pizza at the first restaurant I ate at in Nice. I have to say this was one of the best meals here.  I think I’m getting sick of eating the same type of food.  Oh, and leaving tomorrow probably makes everything taste better. I get to leave tomorrow to go home.  And I get to see my gf after 3 long weeks.

What I Did
Car to Sophia Antipolis office for work
Car to Centre Commercial CAP 3000 (shopping center) in Saint-Laurent-du-Var
Car to Novatel hotel in Nice to drop off cowowrker
Cab to city center for dinner at La Pizza (Italian food)
Cab to Novetel hotel to pick up car
Car back to La Bastide de Valbonne

Impressions
So this week, I’ve been taking it easy because I’m extremely tired from this trip. Being away from home for 3 weeks is really killing me. Anyhow, no more going out and exploring since I’ve pretty much done all that I can in the area. I just want to go home.

What I Did
12.17
Car to Sophia Antipolis office for work
Car to La Bastide de Valbonne
Car to Grand Mercure Sophia Country Club (French cuisine) for dinner
Car back to La Bastide de Valbonne
12.18
Car to Sophia Antipolis office for work
Car to La Bastide de Valbonne
Car to Grand Mercure Sophia Country Club (French cuisine) for dinner
Car back to La Bastide de Valbonne

Impressions
Today was the first day of my business training so back to work as normal.  I met some of the guys from our London and NY office, and I found out from them that they are staying at a nice, modern hotel, not the quiet inn I’m staying at.  I didn’t even know such hotels existed in this area.  The best part- they actually have a restaurant and bar at the hotel. I’m surprised such a “modern” hotel exist in this area. I thought only quaint and homey hotels were in this area.  You learn something new everyday.

What I Did
Car to Sophia Antipolis office for work
Car to La Bastide de Valbonne
Car to Grand Mercure Sophia Country Club (French cuisine) for dinner
Car back to La Bastide de Valbonne