Welcome to Japan - July 26, 2011

My flight from Toronto was delayed for about an hour and a half which was just as well because I woke up to rain and thunder in the morning. Otherwise, it was smooth flying. I had the aisle seat because I did not want to feel guilty everytime I had to go to the washroom. The Japanese couple beside me would always attempt to jump over my legs everytime they had to go through. Well, imagine doing that in economy. They were probably in their 50's by the way. Was it because they were too polite to disturb me? I wouldn't call jumping over my legs (and in economy) polite either. The food was so so - it wasn't such a big disappointment to me as I wasn't expecting much. It filled my stomach and that was enough for me. Over all Air Canada wasn't so bad :)

The flight landed in Narita thirthy minutes ahead of schedule. It was cloudy but not raining YES! The immigration officer NEVER asked me a single question. Just gestured that I had to have my fingerprints taken and the eye thing. He stamped my passport, he smiled and I was on my way. The customs officer made more effort. He spoke in Japanese. I caught the word "hitori", I said yes I was travelling by myself. He pointed at my luggage I assumed he meant was that the only luggage I had, I said yes again. I guess I answered right cause I was on my way. Immigration and customs not even ten minutes.


I uttered my first Japanese: 「けいせいの駅はどこですか。」　Where is the Keisei Station? Found it, bought my ticket and had six minutes to run to my train. Made it! It was an hour from Narita to Keisei-Ueno by Keisei Skyliner. From Keisei-Ueno, I had to transfer lines. It was no joke! It was 8 minutes away inside the station! And guess what - no elevators nor escalators! So I had to lug my suitcase flights of stairs. This cannot be! I gotta find an exit with an elevator or at least an escalator. By this time I was sweating buckets. I never sweated like this in Toronto. But I must say this humidity is tolerable yeah yeah.

I found my hotel no problem. Thanks to Google Maps - amazing. Not sure how updated that photo was cause my McDonald's and Starbucks landmark was nowhere to be found. Lawson's was there. Yoshinoya was a welcome sight cause I knew it was right across my hotel. Was going to have dinner there but when I passed by all the customers were salary men so I changed my mind. There is a Family Mart two doors down which by time is like my go to place for stuff. Bought myself an onigiri which by this time is my fill'er up food hehe. Cheap and Filling - important :)

Here are some pics of my humble abode for the next eight days: