Fun Run?

Just because fun and run rhyme,
it doesn't imply that they should ever be linked together!

OK, so entering a fun run isn't really about being in a 'Far Away Land', but it is about being in a 'Far Away Reality' and that is close enough for me. Really I just want the world to know that I was there, I was one of the 26,000 odd people who decided that Sunday morning was a lovely morning to run 15.2km!

The plans for entering the Run for the Kids started in early December. It seemed like a feasible option; to train for 4 solid months to be fit enough to enter. Well before we knew it January, February and even March had been and gone, and so had my plans for training and getting fit. Oh well, I had said that I was going to do it and I am not one to go back on my word.

I read the pre-race booklet, skipping the pages that mentioned about how all the training would pay off on the day, focusing on tips for a successful fun. These included eating lots of carbs and going light on the protein the night before, not drinking alcohol and drinking plenty of water. This I translated to - eat does fish and chips with Sharn and the kids for dinner, (minus the fish), not opening a bottle of wine and drinking a few bottles of water. All this seemed to do was to make my stomach queasy from the greasy food that was floating around on top of all of the water. It also kept me awake with multiple bathroom visits during the night!

Race day we met up with the rest of the 'City Pigs' and wandered down towards the starting area. It was mayhem. I have never seen so many people all wanting to run! I had had more water to drink with breakfast - as suggested in the tips booklet. This made me need to go to the toilet again. Alas the line for the toilet was at least 100 people deep, per entry door, per truck. I wouldn't be getting there any time soon.

As it was 8.30, the scheduled start time for the run, I figured I could hold on until the first 'emergency toilet' at the 3 km mark, if only the run would begin. Eventually the race began for the wheelchair athletes, the elite athletes, the fast runners and eventually the rest of us. It took forever just to shuffle to the starting line, but eventually we were on our way.

I ran with Larinda and Jen for the first 2 and a bit kms and then stopped to take photos in the tunnel. I could see them ahead of me, but I could also see the toilet. By this stage the need for a toilet was much more important than having someone to run with. I shuffled into the toilet line, only to stand there for 15 or so minutes, waiting patiently in line with all the other people who didn't want to wait in line before the race, before the clock was ticking!

Back on the road and out of the tunnel, I was on the long road to the bridge. The traffic had thinned out and you could actually move comfortably along the road, regardless of the speed you were traveling. I was middle of the walking pack. I was overtaking quite a few people, but runners were overtaking me left, right and centre. It was amazing seeing so many people moving together, some whole families with the kids in a stroller, others with the kids running alongside. If a few cases, the dad carrying the kids.

Just before the bridge, there were quite a few departures from the road. They weren't pulling out, they were just making the most of the last shrub-like toilet facilities planted alongside the road (Oh to be a boy - it would have been so much easier!) before the bridge.

The bridge was a long slow climb, passing the 7 km mark just as the bridge crossed the Yarra. I thought that it was an opportune time to begin sending random text messages to people and snapping a few more pictures. This may be the only time I stand on top of the Bolte Bridge - I had to have photographic proof.

It was more than 2km over the bridge, and we hit the 9km mark just before the exit to Footscray Road. I had made it - I had achieved my goal - to make it over the Bolte. If you were taking too long, a bus would pick you up and drive you over the Bolte! Now all I had to do was finish the race.

The stroll back through the city was quite pleasant. There were heaps of people about wishing all the participants well. Wandering along the front of Crown was relaxing, thinking that we were almost done.

I hadn't actually looked at the map to realise that we crossed back over the Yarra at Queens Bridge, to go around Flinders Street Station. It made sense, but it was disheartening to have the finish line moved further away.

Time for a distraction, a few more text messages to be sent. I even tried calling Sharn to try and find out where the kids were. Unfortunately there was too much noise to actually work out where to find the kids, or to explain where they needed to be to see me run. I could have stopped to look for them, but by now, 2 hours in, I was well and ready to sit down.

The finish line was only 800 meters away when Sean found me. He jogged with me part of the way, then took off cross country to get a photo of me crossing the finish line. I couldn't believe that I had the energy to actually run at the end (it may not have been very fast, but it was definitely a run!).

My first fun run was done. 15.2 km in 2 hours and 11 minutes. It wasn't as bad as I imagined, I will even try to do it again next year, perhaps even run some more of it. I would like to think that I will train before the next run...but that is a whole year away, why start now?

Back to Reality

Well it feels like my time in Japan was all but a distant, wonderful memory. I have slipped back into the 'real world' of work, kinder and kids activities far too easily.

Oh well, at least I have hundreds of photos to look at to remind me of my holiday away, and plans to make for another adventure...

Tokyo

Originally uploaded by superRelish.

If you want to see more photos of my adventures in Tokyo, check out my flickr pages!

Home Sweet Home

Finally, after 2 very long and crowded flights, we made it back to the Land of Oz. Our flight was to arrive at 7am. I asked Sean and the to meet us at the airport at 8am, figuring that an hour would allow for flight delays and customs. Surprisingly enough, the flight was on time, perhaps even early. Customs was no hassle, even though my bags were filled with chocolates and we made it to the 'other side' at 7.30, before the kids and Sean arrived.

It was wonderful to see the look of love on their faces as they ran towards me in the airport.

Excess Baggage

Well I arrived in Japan with a huge suitcase that was less than half full, weighing about 10 kilos, with a limit of 20 kilos. I knew that I would buy heaps to bring back, as well as bringing back some of Ellen's things for her.

When it was time to check our luggage, my now full bag weighed in at 22 kilos, Ellen's bag was 33 and she had another smaller suitcase that was almost 10 kilos. Ellen didn't really mind, she was happy to pay for excess baggage. The girl checking our luggage told us that if we rearranged the luggage so that the 2 big bags were 50 kilos between them, she would let us take the smaller bag on as carry-on.

Well who are we to argue? We sat in the middle of the airport with our cases open, moving everything around until we met the weight limit and didn't have to pay any excess. Good in theory (although the same amount of luggage would be onboard?) but not so practical. I had my once light carry-on bag now overflowing with books and heavier items and Ellen's camera bag. Ellen had her own also overflowing carry-on bag, her laptop and now her small suitcase that weighed over 15 kilos. Add to that the duty free shopping and we took up quite a lot of room! Oh well, it all made it back to Australia (at no extra cost) and that is all that really counts!

Home Time Already! :-(

Well it is hard to believe that a week has disappeared already. We are packing our bags and are getting ready to go.

Dai, who had been away for the majority of the time we were in Tokyo, actually had time off work, so he came to entertain us as we finished packing. Yoshi said goodbye to us yesterday. He couldn't wait around to say goodbye to us the morning as he was in the middle of brain surgery! Ritsuko came home from the hospital to walk us (and far too much luggage) to the bus terminal.

Ritsuko and Dai meet the police!

Finally it was time to go. I had an amazing time in Tokyo. Thank you Yoshi, Ritsuko, Obaasan (grandma), Dai and Chaiaki for sharing your home with us and for showing us your wonderful city.

Last Day Luxury

Hmmm, what to do for our last full day in a hectic crazy city? Lets go to Odaiba Onsen, an onsen 'theme park'!

First stop, check in our shoes, get our 'e-tags' and yukata and it was time to relax.

The rules of the onsen - no clothes allowed past the change rooms. Everyone there had to wear their underwear only under a yukata, but that was all. The onsen itself, all you were allowed was a bare butt and a tiny towel.

Having never been to an onsen before and growing up in a country where the only place you would find a large group of naked people is in the changerooms after a footy match, I found this a little weird!

We did the safest onsen option first - a foot onsen. A nice false stream through beautifully manicured garden. Relaxing our aching feet in a warm stream. This was wonderful, but tame, so we decided to upgrade our onsen experience.

Next stop - Doctor Fish! We paid an extra 1000 yen ($12) to sit with our feet in a small warm pool so that some small fish could nibble all the dead skin cells on our feet. OK, so everyone thinks this is disgusting, but it was actually really ticklish and fun. I had to concentrate to make sure I didn't giggle, as every giggle or twitch made the fish swim away, and well you know me - I wanted value for money. The doctor fish provided a very relaxing 15 minutes.

(These are my feet and the 'doctor fish', and no I don't have cankles - it is merely the angle the photo was taken from!)

We were on a roll, so next we thought we would try a sand bath. Another 1000 yen and we were in a heated barn like building, laying in a giant sandpit being buried up to our necks in heated sand. Another bizarre experience. The weight of the sand combined with the heat of the sand (someone said something about 40 degrees?) allowed you to feel the blood pump throughout your body. I couldn't get my wedding ring off before the sand bath, so my hand had to be wrapped in a towel before it was buried to prevent swelling of my fingers and being burnt by the metal. Another strange but very relaxing encounter, but after 10 minutes I was almost cooked.

The real 'normal' onsen was amazing. Heated mineral pools, spas and saunas of all temperatures both inside and out. Once I was accustomed to the 'get naked with a bunch of strangers' concept, the onsen was amazing.

It is amazing how exhausting it is just relaxing all day long....

Oh well, back to reality. It is now time to pack and tidy, ready for the journey home.

Night Lights

Last night was spent with a relaxing night lights tour of the city. We started with a delicious dinner in the Washington Hotel, on the 21st floor, with a beautiful view of the city. This was followed with a short bus ride to the Statue of Liberty. It is a life size replica of the French statue (not the American one) so it is much smaller but still pretty.

A trip over the rainbow bridge followed and then through Ginza to view the most expensive real estate in the world, filled with some of the most expensive shops in the world. The tour finished in an observatory 250 meters above sea level with an amazing view of the city, from Tokyo Disney, to the Tokyo Tower, the Rainbow Bridge and more lights than you can possibly imagine.

Thank you so much Yoshi and Ritsuko for giving us the chance to see Tokyo by Hato Bus at night!

Those Crazy Kids!

Any guide book will tell you that a trip to Tokyo MUST include a Sunday afternoon in Harajuku, to see all of the young people in their Sunday finest. The area around the station is filled with a 'freak show' and hundreds of tourists taking photos of the freak show.

Their parents must be so proud! I guess most kids leave home for the day in normal clothes and take with them a suitcase for their costume and makeup!

The guidebook was right; the parade at Harajuku is well worth a visit!

Fireworks

The predictions were true. To get a front row viewing position for the fireworks, you would have had to waste a beautiful summers day. Instead, after we enjoyed our delicious meal, we wandered along the river toward the fireworks. We only had to walk for 5 minutes before we could see the fireworks.

We walked as far as we could before traffic stopped us. We were still miles away, so far away that you could not even hear the noise. Fortunately for us, fireworks is a visual thing, and we were both tall enough to see from far away!

Even from such a distance, the fireworks were spectacular. A beautiful way to spend a balmy summers evening!

Picnic on the Roof

There was a huge fireworks display over the river tonight, but we heard that if you want to get a really good viewing spot, you have to set up camp early in the afternoon. We didn't really want to waste the best part of the day doing nothing, so instead we planned on walking along the river that night, hoping to see some of the fireworks.

It was great planning, just as we arrived back, to get organised for the fireworks, Ritsuko invited us to join them on the roof for an early dinner before the fireworks. We set up the table and helped Ritsuko bring the food upstairs (via the lift) as Yoshi went out to get some tempura.

We enjoyed what could be described as the Japanese equivalent of a barbeque; tempura, edamame, salad, cold noodles and pickles. It was a delicious meal. I will have to try and introduce some of the delicious foods we ate for our barbeques back at home.

Japanese Tea

Over the past few months I have begun to acquire a taste for some tea varieties, but I have to say I am not a huge fan of your normal, every day black tea varieties. Well I can now say that I am not a fan of traditional Japanese green tea.

Picture mowing the lawn in summer, and then hosing out the mulchy grass that is still in the catcher. Then boil this grassy mixture and make tea. The tea looks bright green, with foam on top. It smells like grass and to make it worse, this tea tasted like a huge shot of hot wheat grass that was flavoured with seaweed. Interesting, but not a flavour that I have acquired a taste for at this stage!


We stopped for a traditional tea at the Hamarikyu Garden boat house. Fortunately the tea was accompanied by a traditional sweet. The sweet looked amazing, and the best way to describe the taste would be sugar coated refried beans! Strange but delicious.

Surprise Gardens

After the fish markets, we had no real plans. The map we have been using has a limited number of interesting places listed on it, but does have some of the major parks. We found a park nearby, Hamarikyu Garden, and decided that it might be a nice place to wander.

After paying our 300 yen entry fees, we wandered in just in time to see the beginning of a performance where a Japanese lady balanced items on an umbrella and made them run around the rim of the umbrella. No mean feat I hear you say. It went from really cool to amazing when she made a square box run around the edge of an umbrella!

After the performance, we wandered around the gardens, finding lots of amazing sights. We even stopped for a spot of traditional Japanese tea at a tea house on the lake. A lovely way to finish the day, if you excuse the fact that traditional tea really isn't very nice!

Fishy Bits

Yet another first for me, I chose to go to a fish market. When we first arrived I was thinking that I don't really like this place, it stinks. All those glassy eyes, peering out of the ice at us - EEEWW.

It was interesting, and I took a pile of photos, some will be classified as 'Things I Eat' and another that will be titled 'Never in a Million Years Would I Eat That'. Naturally the first grouping was the smaller of the 2; a fish market really doesn't sell much other than fish! There was the odd pickled vegetable stall, as well as a few fresh produce stalls. We did manage to get a peach each as a snack, they only cost 500 yen (we have seen them as much as 800 yen - almost $10 each!).

Things I Eat!

After our snack, we accidentally found the real fish market, the wholesale market. Surprisingly enough I really enjoyed this section. There was no smell, the floors and benches were continuously being hosed down and it was very clean. Some of the fish there were monsters. It would have been nice to see the auctions as one fish we saw (and we only saw half of it) cost 8000 yen. It was a massive tuna that weighed about 160 kilo.

'Never in a Million Years Would I Eat That'

The people at the market thought we were crazy, wandering through taking photos of fish guts. I never though I would ever enjoy something so fishy!

Happy Birthday to Me

"What!" I hear you say, it was your birthday and you chose not to spend it with your family - how rude! It wasn't my real birthday, it was just an excuse to be handcuffed and dragged through a dungeon to be locked in a tiny cell. It really wasn't as horrible as it sounds, it was a theatre restaurant where all diners were prisoners.

We were in Shibuya and met up with a friend of Ellen's and together they dragged me up and down tiny streets to find the secret restaurant! Once inside our cell, we were quite comfortable if not cosy where we ate and drank Japanese 'pub food' to our hearts content. This pub food is similar to Aussie pub food - chips and pizza, but also included chicken knuckles and edamame. Not a big beer fan, I drank Japanese vodka sours instead.


A very nice way to spend my 'birthday'!

Shopping in Tokyo

Where to start...

Akihabara - The electronics district where you can buy any gadget imaginable. Unfortunately it is difficult to work out what most gadgets do when you cant read or speak Japanese! In the electronics district you could always fill your day by playing games in a 5 level electronic game building.

Loft - Picture a really nice department store crossed with Ikea, add with a splash of Brunswick Street 'fun but not exactly useful gadgets', toy stores (for kids and adults!) and a fabric shop! Shopping heaven.

Mitsokoshi - A giant upmarket department store that has everything from exclusive restaurants, toys, clothing, boutique foods and a fun zone for the kids. Everything you could ever need, and then some!

Harajuku - freaky fashions. Do you want a maid outfit, a giant bunny suit, gothic attire or just something else completely insane? I am sure you will find it in Harajuku.

Ginza - the place to shop when you have more money than sense. The most expensive real estate housing the most expensive fashion. It kind of makes sense. A great place to window shop!

Transport Madness

Very few people in Tokyo seem to drive. There is a logical reason for this - public transport in Tokyo is amazing.

Over 20 million people pass through a single subway station in a single day. When you get off the train, signs tell you how far via subway it is to other train platforms (in some cases up to 1km away). Signs also show what is near each exit, so that you go to the correct exit. Essentially one Metro station in Tokyo is larger than the entire subway system in Japan!

We avoided 'peak hour', yet the trains were still full at 9pm.

The good things about Tokyo Metro and Japan Railways

• Trains run every 5 or 6 minutes, so it doesn't really matter if you miss your train.
• The trains are always clean.
• You can get from one area to another without having to go into the 'city'.
• If you didn't get the right ticket, you can change the ticket within the station with no hassles.

The not so good things about the trains

• Even at 9pm, some trains are packed (standing room only) with business men.
• Train fillers are used - to push even more people onto the trains. (For some unknown reason, we decided to avoid this phenomenon!)
• You can't buy a daily ticket, just buy per journey or prepay cards to pay per journey.

Fortunately, the transport maps had English versions, so even tourists could work out how to travel! Somehow we managed to work out how to follow maps like this!

Shibuya

Picture Times Square NY, except all of the neon signs are in a language that makes absolutely no sense to you (unless of course you read Japanese) and you are in Shibuya. The sights and lights, the humidity and for the first time, the smell - hot and festery, not exactly smelly yet, but far from being perfume!

An afternoon in Shibuya can be easily filled sitting opposite the station people watching, wandering throught amazing alleys and laneways and shopping.

Exploring Yokahama

On the way back from Kamakura, we decided to stop at Yokohama. The plan was to try and find Chinatown. We left Yokohama station and instead found an amusement park. Hmmm, dilemma time. Do we try to find Chinatown or enjoy what we already have? The answer was simple really, the waterfront amusement park was right there, so why not visit.

Yokohama was a beautiful city. It reminded me of a sleeker version of Docklands in Melbourne or Darling Harbour in Sydney. A wander through the area and a quick bite to eat and it was dark - just in time for a ride on the ferris wheel.

The view from the top was amazing, the photos do it no justice.

With our wander through Yokohama finished, it was time to head all the way back to Tokyo and bed. Maybe it was our overconfidence or just that we were both exhausted after walking for almost all of the day (12 hours at that stage), but we got off at the wrong station and then had to work our way back to Suitengamae, the station closest to home. It didn't take too long to work out where we went wrong. Maybe we will be more careful in our next adventures!

Missing Home?

Today was a beautiful day, exploring the area of Kamakura. We stopped for a drink in the shade of an old dirt-floor cafe to cool off before heading to another shrine.

The shrine was an amazing place. In one area there were hundreds and hundreds of small statues all in perfect rows alongside the path. It wasn't until I left that part of the shrine that Ellen told me that the purpose of the shrine was to remember children who have died or were still-born.

The area is referred to as Sentai-Jizo or One-Thousand Jizo. Jizo is believed to be a guardian deity of children, both alive and dead. Parents can dedicate the statuettes to thier lost soul and pray that the god may protect the poor little ones wandering in the netherworld, making offerings of clothing, hats and toys. The effect is rather heartbreaking, but a beautiful tribute to such a sad occasion.

I couldn't help but imagine the pain of being in such a terrible situation, and one thought lead to another and all I wanted to do was to be with my family and kissing my kids. I was sad that I wasn't with my kids, but happy that I was fortunate enough to be blessed with beautiful children. I love you AJ and Milla!

Daibutsu

Up bright and early Thursday morning to head to Kamakura to visit the giant Buddha and local temples. We left at around 8, to give us plenty of time to get lost on the way to Tokyo Station. Fortunately we didn't need so much time, we made it dare I say easily and managed to find the right train to take us on the hour long joruney to Kamakura.

After an hour exploring shops and local temples in Kamakura, we met up with Misao (a friend of Ellen's whom I had met in Ascot Vale). Misao had been travelling for almost 4 hours to meet us!
It was a beautiful day, still very hot but not unbearably humid. We wanted to conserve our energy, so we jumped into a taxi.

First stop, Daibutsu - the Giant Buddha. Now when I say giant, I mean giant, the second largest in Japan. The Buddha was over 13 metres tall and had survived a Tsunami in 1495!



The remainder of the day was spent eating and exploring - two of my favourite past-times and a great way to spend a beautiful sunny day. Eventually, it was time to say farewell to Misao and begin our journey back towards Tokyo, via Yokohama.