Southern Summer Sojurn

New Years Greetings and best wishes for 2011 to my legions of Followers,
Tuesday 4 January saw us wiz down the Hume Hwy through Queanbeyan and take a left at Cooma and the Monaro Hwy towards the coast. We were headed for Tathra and were pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy the drive is now to almost the NSW border. The drive along the plateau of the Great Dividing Range from Cooma to Brown Mountain was fascinating - Tess said it was like being above the tree line and there certainly were 360 degree views.
Brown Mountain was misty and and lush. Tess snapped an old clunker steaming after blowing its radiator on the climb, a reminder of our own unreliable old cars of our youth. The children don't know how lucky they are!
We are booked into Kianinny Resort for three days at holiday rates:((( Tess expected the worst but has so far been unable to complain about cramped quarters, noisy neighbours, unruly children or any of a score of possible problems with accommodation less than 5 star.
If you plan to visit Tathra, enjoy the view south with a drink on the deck of the pub but I'd avoid the food at present.
On the tech front, we are well equipped for this trip. The ipad has a telstra Sim as does the Netcom mifi the kids gave me for Xmas. I'm using it while i type this on the macbook Air. Spoilt for choice!

Tokyo

Just about to head to bed. Big day tomorrow. Won't write till I recover.



- All my own work. RV. Except for the bits by Tess.

Location:Hotel Nikko Narita, Japan

Sydney-Tokyo

So far so good.

Reminds me of the joke about the Irishman falling from a tall building, cheerfully making above pronouncement as he passed each floor. JAL service is typically attentive and efficient. Seats just as close but so far, not reclined:)



I'm being good and drinking plenty of fluid, none of it alcoholic. And it's already 11 o'clock! Watching my second movie as I type. Some Adam Sandler movie with Rachel from Friends about plastic surgery. So awful I turned whole entertainment unit off. Very small screen. Tim is right about Sandler movies, even when stars are with him.
Quite enjoyed Tangled. Can't beat Disney.

I have been taking silly photos with the kayaking camera so we have a record of the trip even before the good bits because you never know what people might enjoy. Will try to add a photo or two this post when we are settled in our Narita hotel. Should be there in 7 hours. So will our bags, unfortunately. Our stay is 40 minutes too long for sending them straight to Vancouver.

Better get back to the movie as I cannot do this post justice. I'm sure I had something else to write but at least I've shown off the ipad and Zaggmate.


- All my own work. RV. Except for the bits by Tess.

Hotel Nikko Narita, Tokyo, Japan
Not only here but fed and watered and using free wifi in the lobby. Why won't Bigpond work overseas? Lucky I have MobileMe. Tim has been spying on us I think as we had a message that Tess's phone had been found.
I forgot to mention how quiet the flight was despite hosting 60 excited Japanese school kids. They sat at the back quietly all trip. The shuttle bus here was noisier. Began our holiday by questioning the wine bill. Not sure of the exchange rate with the Yen but elderly (pretty incompetent) cashier caused concern over charge for Californian Chardonnay before being proven correct on all counts. God knows what the bill will be on our return.
We have a loooong day ahead of us tomorrow ... early rise for adventure on train to Tokyo, hopefully returning in time for 6 pm flight to Vancouver, followed by 7 hour drive to Revelstoke. Haven't worked out the hours yet but seems a lot.

Location:Above Australia