Kon-nichi wa!

Hello from Tokyo! What an amazing city.....the energy and enthusiasn of Bangkok, but soooo clean and ordered and polite, I have never experienced anywhere like it! Everything is shiney -the cars, the buses, the buildings....everything! Firstly a huge A-ri-ga-to (thank you) to Zoe who sorted out everything in Japan for us....it has been soooo easy! (I can recommend for anyone travelling to Japan...Audley Travel and their Japanese expert - Zoe Woods!!!! - my little plug!) We arrived late on Thursday and had to travel at night on trains and tube, but the city was as alive as ever, i have never seen so many suits!!!! Our accommodation is fantastic, even including a heated toilet seat - you haven`t been to a toilet until you have sat on one of those!!!! They also give you free slippers and a rather fetching night gown! We are staying in Ginza, a lively entertainment and shopping area of Tokyo. We explored around there today and I have to say spent quite a bit of money!!!!! We then ventured into one of the karaoke booths...well, it had to be done did`t it!!!! it was fab, a tiny booth to ourselves! It took us about 30 minutes to work out how to load the songs as it was in japanese...however, once we got going there was no stopping us.....from billy joel to the foo fighters, from elton john and kiki dee to Whitney, we did them all!!!! Yesterday we explored the city a bit, walking round the temple at Asakusa, then taking a boat ride on the Sumida river to Hamarikyu Gardens - with the oldest pine in Tokyo! We then headed to Shinjuku - this will be what you imagine of Tokyo - the lights, the shops, the people! Apparently more people pass through Shinjuku station every day than the entire population of Canada! Last night was a special evening...we met up with Gabs (a great friend from Ipswich who happened to be in Tokyo on business!!! How lucky!). We joined him and his colleagues at the Palace Hotel for drinks....what a treat, the view was amazing - overlooking the Imperial Palace Gardens and the whole city! - and of course the company was fab! The taxi back to the hotel was quite an experience, Tokyo is huge, and the taxi drivers do not have the knowledge that you will find in a London taxi driver, so, it is advisable ALWAYS to carry your hotel address (in Japanese) with you at all times!!! A tip which we had neglected to follow!! Our driver knew the district we were heading to, but had no idea of the hotel....but....no problem....trusty technology was on our side.....he turned to his GPS....however, only knowing the name of the hotel is not enough for this great invention....and after many attempts, and suitable frustration when the system crashed after he pressed the buttons too much....the only hope was to go to the police! Yes, the taxi driver drove to a local police station, ran in, found the necessary information and returned....and now the GPS came into its own! The driver was more excited than we were when the hotel came in to view　- he almost jumped out of his seat!!!! (Was glad he didn`t as we were still moving!!!!) So, we made it safely - but there is a moral to this tale....always carry your hotel address clearly with telephone number, so that you can get home!!!! The most amazing thing has been the people - so friendly...they all try to help, even when you are stood looking completely mystified at the utter lack of any english or even recognisable symbols....even if they don`t speak a word of english they will help...or try to help...it is soooo refreshing! Tomorrow we head to Kyoto by bullet train to experience the more traditional side of Japan! ok, so that is quite a lot...i will sign off now.....enjoy! Faye xxx