GRcade Travel Topic

PostGRcade Travel Topic by **Parksey** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 3:39 pm

How long do you have? Not sure how it works, but I don't think you can buy a rail pass for the Shinkansen while you're actually here. Otherwise basically anyway up to Kyoto and Osaka would be within a two hour journey or so.

If you're looking for history than Nikko is about an hour and a half away, which you could easily do on a weekend trip.

For Tokyo itself, there's Asakusa and Meiji Jingu Shrine for some temples , Akihabara and Shibuya for bright neon death, Shinjuku and Ueno for bars (though they'll be plenty of those in Shibuya and the like too), Ginza is basically Tokyo's fifth avenue and for shopping and high end stuff. Tokyo Tower and/or the Skytree are good to climb. There are a few city gardens if you want some peace as solitude, though their names escape one (one was next to the Tokyo Dome).

Ueno Park and Zoo might be nice in the autumn leaves. Basically around now, Japanese people lie took see "Koyo", which is basically the bright red and yellow autumn leaves. It's just about to happen here, though maybe further north it's already started. I'm not sure. I'm actually doing a five day tour of Northern Honshu starting on Wednesday and will be going via Fuji and the Five Lakes on Sunday.

There's even Disneyland in Chiba if you've never been. I hadn't and I quite liked it being filled with crazy, enthusiastic Japanese people (they love Disney over here).

If you have a bit of time, you might want to go further afield, in which case I talk more from experience as I've only ever been to Tokyo four times and just pretty much as a tourist.

For evenings only some stuff won't be that suitable. I'd go to Shinjuku, Ueno, Shibuya and Akihabara for sure, as at night they'll typify a certain image we have of Japan.

Go to an izakaya (Japanese bar) and do nomihodai (all you can drink, usually for 90 mins to 2 hours). Make friends with drunken Japanese salarymen or go to karaoke.

Oh yeah, the Robot Restaurant is apparently completely mental and worth it too. Never been personally.

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **massimo** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 4:53 pm

That's brilliant, thanks.
I only have evenings this week and Saturday. So Akihabara and Shinjuku are on the cards.
My colleagues all go on about Robot Bar, so may have to go.

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Bunni** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 7:41 pm

Can confirm robot restaurant is mental. But not worth getting a bento box out

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **massimo** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 4:49 am

Just had my first bento box in our staff cafe. Not bad, not bad at all.
Also, waking up in the middle of an earthquake to your building swaying from side to side, not enjoyable.

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Tomous** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 9:12 am

Just completed Day 1 of Everest Base Camp trek. 4 hours and my back is already in agony. Regret how much I packed.

Wish me luck...

Corazon de Leon · PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Corazon de Leon** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 9:15 am

Tomous wrote:Just completed Day 1 of Everest Base Camp trek. 4 hours and my back is already in agony. Regret how much I packed.

Wish me luck...

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **SandyCoin** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:40 am

massimo wrote:Also, waking up in the middle of an earthquake to your building swaying from side to side, not enjoyable.

The two big ones in Italy recently seem to have given me slight vertigo :dread:

Anyway, anyone been to Hamburg before? My and my gf are planning on moving to Germany next year as we are ready to leave Italy. We were looking at Berlin but it seems quite gooseberry fool for teaching as there are so many teachers they are only charging like...10 euros an hour, whereas places like Hamburg it's 40 for 90 mins.

It wasn't even on my radar but loads of people seem to love it. My gf just went on a trip to Cologne to check it out and whilst she likes it she thinks it's a bit too small for us.

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Parksey** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 11:29 am

Tomous wrote:Just completed Day 1 of Everest Base Camp trek. 4 hours and my back is already in agony. Regret how much I packed.

Wish me luck...

Jealous of this. How easy a thing is it to organise? And what does it set you back?

I'd love to go to Nepal, but while I am not scared of flying in general, I don't particularly like small planes, and some of the airports in that area seem a bit hairy.

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Moggy** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 2:08 pm

Tomous wrote:Just completed Day 1 of Everest Base Camp trek. 4 hours and my back is already in agony. Regret how much I packed.

Wish me luck...

Will Tomous be the first forumite to post from the top of the world? :shock:

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Tomous** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 6:50 am

Moggy wrote:
Tomous wrote:Just completed Day 1 of Everest Base Camp trek. 4 hours and my back is already in agony. Regret how much I packed.

Wish me luck...

Will Tomous be the first forumite to post from the top of the world?

Amazingly the base camp route has excellent phone reception up it :lol:

It might be too cold to post from base camp by the sounds of it...

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Tomous** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 6:55 am

Parksey wrote:
Tomous wrote:Just completed Day 1 of Everest Base Camp trek. 4 hours and my back is already in agony. Regret how much I packed.

Wish me luck...

Jealous of this. How easy a thing is it to organise? And what does it set you back?

I'd love to go to Nepal, but while I am not scared of flying in general, I don't particularly like small planes, and some of the airports in that area seem a bit hairy.

You will hate Lukla (airport you fly to from Kathmandu to start trek) which has the second shortest run way in the world (1500ft) and once a pilot starts his descent he can't change his mind as you fly between two mountains to land... "world's most dangerous airport" it regularly gets called but the pilots are extremely skilled (and rightfully walk round like they own the place in leather pilot jackets) and there have only been 3 fatal crashes in 50 years. If that makes you feel better...

Its cost me about £500 for flights from Kathmandu to Lukla and back, accommodation, a guide, insurance and permits and then i expect to spend £200 over the 12-13 day trek on food and drink (its expensive on the trail).

If anyone's interested I've been posting updates to my Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/tomr1912/

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Rocsteady** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:47 pm

Some fantastic photos there, mad jealous of you!

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Starbreaker** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 5:00 pm

Can anyone advise on plug adaptors for Aus/NZ/USA? I have no idea if I'll need one total (ie all power sources are the same) or one for each country - can't seem to find a clear answer.

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Kezzer** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 5:17 pm

http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/list_bylocation.htm

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Starbreaker** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 8:59 pm

Brill. Thanks!

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Tomous** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 8:39 am

Rocsteady wrote:Some fantastic photos there, mad jealous of you!

Cheers mate.

Currently at 4960metres, Everest Base Camp ascent is tomorrow if all goes to plan :toot:

Had an earthquake at 5.30am today too...

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **SandyCoin** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 10:18 am

Good luck with that. I can barely walk up my 6 floors to my apartment, let alone a mountain :dread:

Corazon de Leon · PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Corazon de Leon** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 10:39 am

Some belting pictures there Tomous, keep 'em coming!

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Moggy** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 4:27 pm

Tomous wrote:
Rocsteady wrote:Some fantastic photos there, mad jealous of you!

Cheers mate.

Currently at 4960metres, Everest Base Camp ascent is tomorrow if all goes to plan

Had an earthquake at 5.30am today too...

You haven't made it to the top yet? :roll:

Stay safe you crazy bastard

PostRe: GRcade Travel Topic by **Tomous** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:58 am

Moggy wrote:
Tomous wrote:
Rocsteady wrote:Some fantastic photos there, mad jealous of you!

Cheers mate.

Currently at 4960metres, Everest Base Camp ascent is tomorrow if all goes to plan

Had an earthquake at 5.30am today too...

You haven't made it to the top yet?

Stay safe you crazy bastard

I mean I want to go to the top but they won't let me. You're only allowed to attempt a summit expedition in April/May. Health and safety gone mad...

GRcade Travel Topic

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