Author Topic: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.  (Read 32778 times)

Offline DMYD

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #20 on: January 08, 2015, 02:36:50 PM »
How is the jet lag with a kid that young? I am traveling oversees soon and have a kid close in age.
Every kid different, you have to pray for the best

Online chff

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #21 on: January 08, 2015, 02:39:48 PM »
My "return" so far is CX F to HKG on 1/15 and KE flights on hold for the 19th and 20th. Hopefully I can transfer in by the 17th before the hold expires and go that way. Otherwise, no idea yet.
I booked today KE with DL

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #22 on: January 08, 2015, 03:39:38 PM »
How is the jet lag with a kid that young? I am traveling oversees soon and have a kid close in age.
He was great on the flights, but we all seem to be up for good now at 5:30AM (which is not too bad).

The only way you will know how your kid will be is to fly. Can't really predict it.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #23 on: January 08, 2015, 03:40:20 PM »
I booked today KE with DL
I want/need to book KE with KE from a UR transfer.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline dealfinder85

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #24 on: January 08, 2015, 04:29:43 PM »
He was great on the flights, but we all seem to be up for good now at 5:30AM (which is not too bad).

The only way you will know how your kid will be is to fly. Can't really predict it.
went to phoenix with my son last year and he was out for the whole flight both ways
i wish i could say the same about my israel trip this year  :'(
and he woke up every night at like 10 pm  :'(

Offline rots5

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #25 on: January 08, 2015, 04:39:47 PM »
amazing!!!! competing with mrs. ajk here
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #26 on: January 08, 2015, 05:07:34 PM »
amazing!!!! competing with mrs. ajk here
That is a very kind compliment, but I don't think I come close to any of the AJK's in terms of TR writing. Maybe after I have nearly as many trips as them.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #27 on: January 08, 2015, 07:33:50 PM »
Great TR so far! Very enjoyable. As someone who is behind on TRs, I wish you luck getting the time/patience to write the rest!

Offline smart brit

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #28 on: January 08, 2015, 07:59:07 PM »
Thanks for the great TR!
Did you use the Concord room in lhr?

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #29 on: January 08, 2015, 11:26:59 PM »
I want/need to book KE F with KE from a UR transfer.
FTFY

Offline actionjackson

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #30 on: January 08, 2015, 11:40:00 PM »
Great read so far, i have a trip to Japan planned before pesach so I'm taking notes:) Did you end up having any problems bringing in the pomegranate dinners, or were they in the other suitcase?

Offline sam28

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #31 on: January 08, 2015, 11:51:41 PM »
Wow keep it coming . Do u get more for lost baggage when flying first ?

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #32 on: January 09, 2015, 12:38:39 AM »
Thanks for the great TR!
Did you use the Concord room in lhr?
We did not get a chance to. We literally went straight from one plane to the next.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #33 on: January 09, 2015, 12:41:48 AM »
FTFY
I guess it does not go without saying that I wanted F :)
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #34 on: January 09, 2015, 12:42:52 AM »
Great read so far, i have a trip to Japan planned before pesach so I'm taking notes:) Did you end up having any problems bringing in the pomegranate dinners, or were they in the other suitcase?
Wow keep it coming . Do u get more for lost baggage when flying first ?
The meals did make it into the country.

In regards to the baggage, I am really not sure if we got more because traveling in F.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline moish

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #35 on: January 09, 2015, 06:08:41 AM »
great read so far

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #36 on: January 10, 2015, 05:33:10 AM »
Part Two:

   Our first morning started out nice and early due to the jetlag. Around 5 AM we were all up with no chance or hope of falling back asleep. After catching up on some work and showering, we went downstairs to see if we could pick through the standard breakfast as HGP Diamond members. We were told that we can get vouchers to sit in the regular restaurant, but it would be a one-time offer and we would need to go upstairs to the Regency Club the remaining days.
   
   The main dining room had a more elaborate spread than the Regency Club, but we were not really able to eat anything anyways. We had some hot drinks, salad and sat around enjoying the view. The Regency Club offers free breakfast for Diamond members as well, but it is a much more limited fare (as we were not able to eat much anyways, it was not a big deal).

   The Concierge service by the Regency Club was very helpful to us (mostly) and I do advise asking for any help if you do need during your stay. The hotel does offer a free shuttle service to one of the main train stations, but for some reason we were advised to take the train by the hotel one stop  (where the shuttle would have dropped us of) and transfer from there to where we needed to go. Not sure why we were told to do that, but we know now and will not be doing that going forward. 

   After breakfast I noticed a paper on the desk in our room mentioning that the pool and spa would be closed for the duration of our stay (WTH!!). It would have been nice to get some kind of email with this information, as I most likely would have made alternate arrangements for my stay. I was able to get the concierge to call the Park Hyatt and get us access to their pool, which was nice, but still not as nice as having one in the hotel.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline Marco Polo

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #37 on: January 10, 2015, 05:33:28 AM »
      Two things I noticed about the trains/subways in Japan. First, everyone on the train/subway are eerily quiet and second, between all the different train/subway lines, it seemed like we were in the Jules Verne novel (GIYF), and it certainly felt like it at times. We took our two trains and went to Harajuku to spend our day. Apparently my wife came to Japan to shop at the same stores they have in the States. There are a couple streets with local stores, some with some very questionable clothing designs and styles and lots of cafes and restaurants. We went into a store called Kiddy Land (yes there were creepy people all around this place), which is four levels of toys and other toy themed paraphernalia. One floor was Hello Kitty and some other Japanese character, another was all Snoopy items, one floor was all Star Wars, Transformers and lots of other figures and show characters (Sailor Moon anyone?) and the last floor was probably some other items from a Japanese themed show. I would stay the customers were split between children and actual adults buying these items (I have my own collections, but this seemed way too much) who must have never heard of Amazon or the Japanese equivalent to order from home.

   We then moved on to the Oriental Bazaar, which I was looking forward to seeing. Much to my dismay, the bazaar is actually just a store with that name and sells souvenir items (no bazaar in sight). We did find some stuff to bring back, but it was nothing like the markets in Thailand I grew fond of. After that, we went inside to a mall (something Hills was the name) that seemed just like America and was not too impressive other than the ramp that wound around every floor (don’t make it a point to go see). By this point we were done for the day and needed to get back and get ready for Shabbat. We had some of our Pomegranate meals for dinner and called it a day (night).

     The next morning we were up early again, but tried to prolong actually getting up as long as we could. We made it upstairs to have some fruit and vegetables and then went out to walk to the Park Hyatt and see the pool. The walk is about ten minutes and we were escorted upstairs to the pool. The views of the Tokyo skyline and Mt. Fuji in the distance were amazing. There is a nice gym on either side of the pool and the pool itself was nothing amazing.  We then took a self-guided tour of the different restaurants and New York bar (Lost in Translation) and were glad we did. As we did have a two-night reservation for the PH later in the week, we decided to cancel it and stay elsewhere based on our tour. We were really amazed with the views, but what little service we did have was nothing great and we were not willing to shell out lots of points for the views we got to see. We made it back downstairs went to the park across the street.

     This is a huge park, which we would watch people doing Tai Chi every morning and had wanted to check out at. There was a nice children’s area and lots of walking paths around the park as well. One corner of the park had some kind of shrine, but no English signs so we could not really gather too much information about it. After Shabbat went out, I went and booked the Conrad Tokyo as we kind of had enough of the HR and with no pool, spa or way to “normally” warm our Pomegranate meals, we wanted out. With the new hotel booked for tomorrow, we are now waiting to see what microwave Pomegranate meals taste like.

    Another couple of days and some more culture witnessed and experienced. Tomorrow brings our tour guide and what will most likely be a much different perspective than what we have experienced so far.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline AharonInIsrael

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #38 on: January 10, 2015, 01:00:49 PM »
Great read! Looking forward to the rest!

Offline morgs

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Re: Getting To Japan Backward and Other Tall Tales from MP and Co.
« Reply #39 on: January 10, 2015, 06:13:13 PM »
Cant wait for the rest-hope you are enjoying!!