Japanorytag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-16846742011-04-14T15:19:13+02:00Tales from Tokyo.
Expats in Tokyo. A British family experiencing their new life in Japan.TypePadGuten Tag!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e87cac0ee970d2011-04-14T15:19:13+02:002011-04-14T15:19:14+02:00Thursday 14th April 2011 Well hello again! I just wanted to let you know we've all arrived safely in Berlin. I'll blog more fully about our trip and arrival as...Carole Hallett MobbsSayonaratag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e875b5062970d2011-04-09T16:36:16+02:002011-04-09T16:36:16+02:00Today it finally hit me that we are leaving Japan for good on Monday morning. Why the realisation should poleaxe me today, I don't know. Well, actually I do know...Carole Hallett MobbsKyoto - The Golden Pavilion & Ryoanji Zen Gardentag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e30b6293970b2011-03-10T14:51:56+01:002011-03-10T14:51:56+01:0027th December 2008 Quaint streets meander around the city, with countless small shops, restaurants, wooden buildings and geisha headquarters lining them. Kyoto is a cultural and architectural paradise which is...Carole Hallett MobbsKyoto Sightseeing – Kyomizu-Deratag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e5fb06865970c2011-03-10T10:49:20+01:002011-03-10T10:49:20+01:0027th December 2008 Until 1868 ...Carole Hallett MobbsWhat to See in Kyototag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e2fd68fc970b2011-03-09T11:51:19+01:002011-03-04T16:57:03+01:00Friday 26th December – Sunday 28th December 2008 I can't believe it's taken us so long to get around to visiting this ancient city. With Mum here for her third...Carole Hallett MobbsFrom Sashimi to Jimmy Chootag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e5f99ab19970c2011-03-05T15:31:12+01:002011-03-05T15:31:12+01:00Tuesday 23rd September – Friday 3rd October 2008 My fabulous friend, Naz, arrives for a holiday. We met many moons ago when we both worked at the BBC, hit it...Carole Hallett MobbsSeoul Survivortag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e2eeb506970b2011-03-03T16:20:41+01:002011-03-03T16:20:41+01:00Friday 29th August 2008 Tim's only in work for the morning so I took Rhiannon swimming, then headed back into the tunnel nearest the hotel to buy her a souvenir...Carole Hallett MobbsLost Seoultag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e2eea3a9970b2011-03-03T10:43:26+01:002011-03-02T05:54:09+01:0028th August 2008 Rhiannon and I are on our own in a confusing new city. If I was travelling solo, I would be so nervous about it, but with the...Carole Hallett MobbsSeoul Searchingtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e5f93a4b4970c2011-03-02T14:54:09+01:002011-03-02T05:59:22+01:00Wednesday 27th August– Saturday 30th August 2008 And now we're off to Seoul! Tim has to go to South Korea on business every few months, and this time his trip...Carole Hallett MobbsSnow Monkeys – in Summertag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e2eb34b0970b2011-03-02T10:36:01+01:002011-03-02T10:36:01+01:00Saturday 23rd August 2008 It's time to head home to stifling Tokyo from our short break in the cool mountains. Rather than set off back the way we came, I...Carole Hallett MobbsKurobe Dam and Butterfly Magic. Hakuba – part 2tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e2eb09fc970b2011-03-01T21:00:00+01:002011-03-01T16:56:20+01:00Friday 22nd August 2008 Lots of photos Today Tim wishes to visit a dam. Yes, you read that correctly, a dam. I can't believe it. We've travelled all this way,...Carole Hallett MobbsHakuba – part 1tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e2e49392970b2011-03-01T11:30:00+01:002011-02-28T17:40:48+01:00Thursday 21st August 2008 In the northern Japanese Alps lies a ski resort in the Nagano Prefecture called Hakuba. There are two seasons here – the white season and the...Carole Hallett MobbsHome to Tokyotag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e86640150970d2011-02-28T21:30:00+01:002011-02-28T17:30:36+01:00Tuesday 12th August 2008 I now call Tokyo "home", not the UK. Whereas Tim still refers to going to the UK as "going home". Not sure whether this has any...Carole Hallett MobbsMiniature Pony Centre - Againtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e860c810e970d2011-02-26T11:15:00+01:002011-02-26T11:15:00+01:00Monday 4th August – Friday 8th August 2008 Rhiannon wants to take Eve to the pony centre. I hate the drive there - all narrow windy roads which, when I...Carole Hallett MobbsA Car Park Mistaketag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e860c6f01970d2011-02-25T10:58:00+01:002011-02-13T17:06:47+01:00Monday 4th August – Friday 8th August 2008 Although Exeter city centre is within just-about-walkable-distance from the house, it's a bit too far with children and with Jane still fairly...Carole Hallett MobbsA Perfect Day - Lyme Registag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e5f275b1d970c2011-02-21T11:45:00+01:002011-02-11T16:14:45+01:00Sunday 27th July 2008 We've arranged to meet some friends who we met here in Tokyo and have since moved back to the UK. For some reason we decided that...Carole Hallett MobbsDevon Daystag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e5f206779970c2011-02-20T11:12:00+01:002011-02-10T17:40:14+01:0024th July – 8th August 2008 Again, much the same as last year! The pony centre again. Different pony, same child, but a little larger than last year. Becky Falls....Carole Hallett MobbsEngland Here We Come!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e27b4496970b2011-02-19T11:41:00+01:002011-02-11T17:30:38+01:00Tuesday 15th July – Tuesday 12th August 2008 It's time for our annual trip back to the UK. We're all flying out together, but Tim will be returning to Japan...Carole Hallett MobbsApril Visitorstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e24208a8970b2011-02-05T07:23:10+01:002011-02-05T07:23:10+01:00Wednesday 9th – Thursday 17th April 2008 My friend and her just-about-pre-teen daughter arrived. Tim kindly collected them from the airport so they didn't have to negotiate the train and...Carole Hallett MobbsA Magic Floortag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e2109935970b2011-01-29T09:45:46+01:002011-01-29T07:46:58+01:00Sunday 2nd March 2008 We went to a different shopping mall over at Odaiba. Nothing much to see in the way of shops (for us) but it was a beautiful...Carole Hallett MobbsGuam – Some Extra Photos of Wildlifetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340148c8076d7c970c2011-01-28T10:52:33+01:002011-01-28T10:52:33+01:00As I had 'flu and wasn't firing on very many cylinders at all there aren't the usual number of photos of my holiday. But here are a few random ones...Carole Hallett MobbsGuam – a Short and Very Incomplete WWII Historytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e1fe2f19970b2011-01-27T10:58:48+01:002011-01-26T17:38:43+01:00After the attack on Pearl Harbour in World War II, Guam was wrested from the Americans by the Japanese in 1941. The Americans seized it back in 1944. It was...Carole Hallett MobbsAsakusa & Tree Bondagetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e1d8e773970b2011-01-23T14:49:25+01:002011-01-23T14:51:14+01:00January 2008 Mum wanted to go on a quick trip back to Asakusa as she remembered there were lots of fabric shops in the alleys around the temple. At home,...Carole Hallett MobbsMount Takao & Fuji - photostag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340148c7d03b8a970c2011-01-21T08:04:10+01:002011-01-21T03:11:21+01:006th January 2008 Still backtracking. Found some more photos which I'd like to share with you. We took another trip to Mount Takao. The weather was stunning. It was very...Carole Hallett MobbsWelcome to Yesterdaytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e19b042d970b2011-01-17T17:16:21+01:002011-01-17T17:16:21+01:001st January 2008 As well as setting foot on Fuji-san, we wandered around Lake Kawaguchi for a few moments – it was bitterly cold, so we didn't stay outside for...Carole Hallett MobbsMount Fujitag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e19adb6f970b2011-01-17T10:49:48+01:002011-01-17T10:49:48+01:001st January 2008 Yes! I've finally made it to another year – I really don't know if I will get Japanory up to date, but I will continue to try......Carole Hallett MobbsA Christmas Round-Up and My Adventurous Mothertag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340148c77f6113970c2011-01-16T11:57:40+01:002011-01-11T07:29:32+01:00End of December 2007 (finally!) Mum's arrival was a little late this year as she has plans to venture further afield in January. Always a great traveller, she's going on...Carole Hallett MobbsHawaii – the end of the holidaytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e143adb4970b2011-01-08T10:37:37+01:002011-01-09T04:33:45+01:00Saturday 27th October 2007 Most of our time in Hawaii was actually spent on the beach near the house with a few trips to various shopping malls for food and...Carole Hallett MobbsSealife Park – Oahu, Hawaiitag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340148c74d2d25970c2011-01-07T08:06:04+01:002011-01-04T17:36:18+01:00This was a trip especially for Rhiannon. Utterly obsessed with life in the oceans, she had seen signs for the Sealife Park and desperately wanted to go. However, for me,...Carole Hallett MobbsHawaii – Hanauma Bay Nature Preservetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e1438473970b2011-01-06T10:37:18+01:002011-01-04T17:30:53+01:00Another trip to another beach. Well, isn't that what Hawaii is all about? http://www.threebestbeaches.com/uspac/hawaii/2008/12/hanauma-bay-nature-preserve-oahu-hawaii.html This one is a specially created nature reserve (or Preserve, as it's called) and you do...Carole Hallett MobbsSurfing in Hawaiitag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e1355026970b2011-01-05T09:44:53+01:002011-01-02T17:25:41+01:00No, not me! I was enjoying lying in the soft white sand taking photos of the bucket & spade and laughing at Tim and Rhiannon's attempts.(For some reason my camera...Carole Hallett MobbsSight-Seeing in Hawaiitag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e13535a3970b2011-01-04T17:24:35+01:002011-01-04T17:24:35+01:00Driving around, just seeing what's to be seen. Mostly photos in this post. This is a beach... This is another beach. But not just any old beach - this was...Carole Hallett MobbsPicking Pearls at the Polynesian Cultural Centretag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340148c73e803e970c2011-01-04T10:47:32+01:002011-01-02T16:39:48+01:00After dinner, we had to do some shopping of course! Something that really caught my eye was a stall near the exit where you could choose an oyster for a...Carole Hallett MobbsHawaii - part 2tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340147e134fd09970b2011-01-03T15:21:28+01:002011-01-04T10:46:22+01:00One of our big day trips was to the Polynesian Cultural Center. This is a sort of theme park without the roller-coasters that showcases the various cultures that make up...Carole Hallett MobbsHawaii! – Part 1tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340148c738bcab970c2011-01-03T05:11:11+01:002011-01-03T05:11:11+01:00Saturday 20th October – Sunday 28th October I'm humming the "Hawaii 5-0" theme tune while I ponder how to document this trip. I've decided to just post lots of photos...Carole Hallett MobbsKasai Rinkai Koen and Sealife Centretag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340133f4fa399e970b2010-10-18T16:17:14+02:002010-10-18T16:17:14+02:00September 2007 We take a day out to visit this enormous park outside Tokyo. It's easy to find as there is a huge Ferris wheel nearby which is called the...Carole Hallett MobbsThings We Did in England - Part 2tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340133f446b5e2970b2010-09-20T14:13:38+02:002010-09-20T14:16:20+02:00At the end of July we hired a car and drove down to Devon for a change of scene. Luckily, I have a base there and so we stayed in...Carole Hallett MobbsNaked Men plus Tattoos Equals…?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834013485aa32e9970c2010-07-24T17:57:00+02:002010-07-24T17:57:00+02:00Sunday 20th May 2007 part 2 (Lots of photos again!) So, we've arrived at Asakusa in the middle of the biggest crowd of people I've encountered outside of a stadium...Carole Hallett MobbsSumida River Boat Triptag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340133f285b0cc970b2010-07-24T16:08:05+02:002011-01-30T14:48:28+01:00Sunday 20th May 2007 part 1 Yes, I know - I've muddled up dates again. Never mind. I'm so far behind, consider this blog as a travelogue rather than a...Carole Hallett MobbsThe Sound of One Hand Clapping…tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340133f2767a98970b2010-07-22T09:22:46+02:002010-07-22T09:22:46+02:00Friday 25th May 2007 Heirinji Zen Temple (lots of photos) I have been gently coerced by important people into joining a trip to the Heirinji Zen Temple. The trip is...Carole Hallett MobbsSea Cucumbers, TV & a Sushi Walk...tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340133f247c5bf970b2010-07-14T16:41:44+02:002010-09-06T15:59:48+02:00Monday 7th -Wednesday 9th May 2007 A non-photo-prompted post! Tim's flown to Seoul (South Korea) on business. Rhiannon always plays up when he's away, so I'm not looking forward to...Carole Hallett MobbsYet Another Visitor - But Some Background Info First…tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340133ef560cbd970b2010-05-30T18:18:17+02:002010-05-30T18:18:17+02:00Monday 23rd April 2007 We had a restful two whole days to ourselves before our next visitor descended upon us! This time, it's a business meeting for me. A bit...Carole Hallett MobbsOdaiba and Pet Shopstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401310f7ec641970c2010-03-09T05:47:32+01:002011-01-30T14:54:55+01:00Friday 13th April 2007 Yes, we are packing all the trips in this week! Tim has to go back to work next week and as he's the one who does...Carole Hallett MobbsDisneyland Tokyotag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340120a909cc07970b2010-03-06T15:44:23+01:002010-03-06T15:44:23+01:00Thursday 12th April 2007 Ever the glutton for punishment, the day after arriving back from Nikko I agree to go to Disneyland. Tim had promised Rhiannon a trip and I...Carole Hallett MobbsNikko Day 2tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401310f674b82970c2010-03-05T13:17:14+01:002010-03-05T13:17:14+01:00We awoke early and creakily made our way downstairs for breakfast of porridge. As usual, we have no set plan - we must work on this when being tour-guides for...Carole Hallett MobbsNikkotag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340120a8f734cf970b2010-03-04T05:52:53+01:002010-03-04T05:52:53+01:009th to 11th April 2007 On the recommendation of some work colleagues, Tim booked us a couple of days in a log cabin allegedly buried deep in a forest near...Carole Hallett MobbsTrick Art Museumtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340120a8eff423970b2010-03-03T06:22:33+01:002010-03-03T06:23:49+01:005th April 2007 Across the road from Mount Takao is a rather special museum full of illusions. Called the Trick Art Museum, it's full of optical illusion art. Flat paintings...Carole Hallett MobbsMount Takaotag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401310f567ca9970c2010-03-03T05:42:11+01:002010-03-03T05:42:11+01:00Thursday 5th April 2007 Another day trip planned. Today we go to Mount Takao, a sacred mountain with stunning scenery, rare woodland walks and a temple complex. The peak is...Carole Hallett MobbsHakone - A Birthday Triptag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401310f56491f970c2010-03-03T04:58:31+01:002011-01-30T14:55:55+01:00Tuesday 3rd April 2007 It's my birthday today. I don't get a cake, but I do get to eat black eggs! Tim's taken a couple of weeks off work so...Carole Hallett MobbsSnow Town Yeti!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-638175572009-03-09T05:56:16+01:002011-01-30T15:08:29+01:00Tuesday 13th February 2007 OK, I agree this is a bizarre title, but it is the name of an actual place; a snow resort at the base of Mount Fuji....Carole Hallett Mobbs