Using our senses and cents around the Kyoto sights...

When we posted the blog last night we hadn't been up to the top of Kyoto tower.  It is 100m high and on top of the hotel we are staying at.  It has awesome views!  We went up at dusk, so we saw the views in daylight and then with the city lights.  We could use the binoculars to see if people on the street were smiling or frowning.  There is some great architecture - especially the Kyoto train station.  

We had a great sleep and early night last night. We enjoyed sleeping on the futon's. Nobody snored, talked or walked in their sleep.  Thank goodness for that! Then we had breakfast, yum! Cinnamon bread, french fries, bacon, berries, yoghurt, cereal, even omelet's being made especially for us. 

The first attraction we went to was one of the Japanese temple's - Kiyomizudera! (Aren't we clever for remembering that!). We had a great time looking at the kimono's, cleansing our hands and burning incense. The maples around the temple were beautiful. 

Our second attraction was eating Japanese food off a conveyor belt. We had to save our plates which were different plates for different foods, so they could see how much to charge us. 

Next we went to a market with lots of fish so Tiana had to stand by the flower stalls all the time! As you can see Miss Hill and Hannah took the dare to eat a baby octopus! We bought lots of things including kimono's, pottery, silk scarfs, Japanese shoes, fans and postcards. By the end of the day we were really tired and worn out. We had an awesome day and it still hasn't finished because we still have to decide where and what to have for tea! 

Going fast on the bullet train!!!

Today we have been cleaning, traveling and exploring. This morning we started to clean up for the trip to Kyoto, making sure nothing was left under the beds and out of the hotel we went! Ms Spencer, Kaiya, Tutawake, Miss Hill, Hannah and Tiana went for a trip around Tokyo on foot while William and Katrina went around Tokyo train style and Ray and Kate went to the market! Then we set off for Kyoto, a two and a half  hour trip that took us a distance the same as from Christchurch to Invercargill.  First we had to go to another station which took five minutes so we could board the bullet train. It was good for our feet to have a rest from yesterday at Disneyland!!! We have finally arrived in Kyoto and now we are organizing our accommodation.  Here are is a picture of our traditional accommodation...

                                                                                                          

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

We have just had a fantastic day at Disneyland.  Some of us have run out of 'scream' (or giggles in Ms Spencer's case!)!  We managed to successfully and independently negotiate our way on the subway to Disney.  We went on at least 10 attractions.... including space mountain twice!  (For those of you unfamiliar with Disney, Space Mountain is a roller coaster in the dark... not for the faint hearted!)  It rained all day!  However we think that this was to our advantage, as the lines were probably shorter and it was fun to walk around with our new Disney umbrellas singing in the rain, looking like Mary Poppins.  We satisfied the merchants with our obligatory shop merchandise.  Who knew how many ways Mickey Mouse could be sold.  I hope our bags are big enough to accommodate the extras...especially for Tutawake, Kaiya and William!   Finally after about 10 hours we called it a day and dragged our sore water logged feet back to our soft comfortable beds.  Here we are typing up the blog at 12:00!  One day we will make it to bed early!  Tomorrow's bed will be on a futon in Kyoto.  In true Japanese style we will be sleeping together in one big room.

Tokyo in a day!

We were awake at 4.00 and then 5.00 and then 6.00 because our bodies were still in the NZ timezone!
We had breakfast at the hotel.  We could have everything from lettuce to corn, sausages and ham.  The butter was really white and the honey was really runny. (Tiana found out about the runny honey the hard way.)
After our breakfast team talk we went into the hotel lobby and were introduced to our guides for the day.  First we went to the Science and Technology museum.  We saw a great 3D movie and the robots were cool.
Then we went on the Ferris Wheel.  It took 15 minutes to go around once.  Miss Hill managed not to get too anxious when we got to the very top.    The views were fantastic.
After this we went to lunch with our hosts in the highest apartment building in Tokyo.  Mr and Mrs Sakura and their children were very good hosts.  They had decorated a special lunch room with Japanese and New Zealand flags.
Next we were on the train ... yet again... and off to the Pokemon Centre.  Kaiya, Tutawake, William and Kate were very happy to spend their money!   Hannah and Tiana are waiting for tomorrow....
Finally we went to a famous spot in Tokyo - the Harajuku district where people dress up in very interesting ways.  We enjoyed looking at them as we ate a very yummy crepe filled with berries and ice cream.
At the end of the day after about the 10th subway ride of the day (we are now pro's at jumping on and off the train and keeping hold of our tickets), we found a local Japanese noodle house and ordered our meals from the pictures on the menus.  We were all very happy with our choices!
Now we are catching up on communications and very soon we will be off to bed because tomorrow will require even more energy!!!!

Phew the biggest plane ride ever..

After 10 hours and some minutes we arrived in Tokyo where we were met by a very friendly and extremely helpful Mr Miyabe from Gifu School.  We then had to catch a train from Nartia airport to Shingawa in Tokyo.  That took about one hour and then another quick train to our hotel.  Very exhausting but fun - lots of snacking today.  On the plane we played on i-pads, i-touch pads, watched karate kid, listened to music and sat... lots...   If we are on NZ time we are going to bed at 1am!  But we are on Japan time so its only 9pm, but our body clocks are saying 1am.


We are now resting in our rooms but we are all on different floors.  When we look out our window it is dark and we see thousands and thousands of lights.

Breakfast in Auckland

We were up at 6:30 and away to the airport by 7:00.  We didn't set off any beeps at customs and now we are enjoying breakfast.  Thanks to Katrina and Ray for allowing us this treat!We'll be on the plane in 15 minutes...time to eat another croissant !!!!

The journey has begun...

We have spent one and a half hours on the plane traveling to Auckland.   Kaiya felt it was more like two hours.  Kate thought it was good that we didn't crash!  Many of us liked the view from the plane... when Tutawake's head wasn't in front of the window!  We are just about off to bed because tomorrow we will be getting up early to get to the international airport.  I wonder what we'll have for breakfast? Ms Spencer, Tiana and Hannah have spent some of the  time on the plane getting earache's!!! Owwww!!