Have Tiara, Will Travel

Thursday, 9 April 2026

Thursday 9 April Osaka

What is it with Japanese and toilets? The toilets in the airport lounge bathroom yesterday had heated seats and now in our hotel room it is the same but with a control panel. The toilet is self flushing as you close the lid but Im not game to touch any other buttons even though they are in English!

Was too tired last night for photos but definitely a great view from our hotel window. Daylight view is impressive too. We have the day to ourselves so will need to get our bearings and work out where we are confident to get to.

Buffet breakfast was good but will need to take my Vegemite tomorrow morning. After breakfast we asked revelries staff where they suggested we go that is within walking distance. Across the bridge next to the hotel is a cherry blossom festival and we are in luck as the trees are still in flower so we head over the bridge and under the railway line to wander along the river bank. It was a lovely walk that went on and on.

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Heaps of food stalls too but nothing was in English so I had no idea what any of it was. There are no flies but also no refrigeration so we were not going to chance anything that was simply sitting out on display waiting to be cooked or dried! We kept walking past the main cherry blossom trees and found even more pretty parks and buildings. We then walked back to our hotel along the opposite riverbank. wasn't wearing my pedometer so not sure how many steps but reckon 10,000 is a fair estimate.

As we headed back over the bridge to the hotel, lovely view of Osaka castle which we will visit in a couple of days. Weather is very mild and plenty of cloud cover so a lovely day for walking and exploring but time now for a sit down and cuppa.

J1 is suffering from acute aerosinusitis (Dr Robinson diagnosis after conferring with Dr Google) so we get on a taxi and head for a main shopping precinct to locate a pharmacy. Dr Robinson has prescribed Sudafed with pseudoephedrine. The main road has shop after shop of the high end brands. There is even a queue outside the Rolex store! We head for the more densely populated shopping area behind the main drag and find a pharmacy where little English is spoken by the staff and all packaging is in Japanese. However Sudafed and pseudoephedrine must be understood internationally as we are given a packet of something that requires J1 to sign for and the purchase is completed. I even think I understood correctly when the fellow said 2 tablets 3 times a day but J1 thinks it is 2 tablets a day for 3 days. (Google translate later confirms my understanding!) So many people and so many shops.

Ginza in Japanese means silver mint so no idea why there is a Ginza Karen store, but it is nice to know that I get a mention anyway! We find a busy little shop that we each buy a panini for our lunch and eat it in the upstairs seating area. Time to wander again and J1 find just the right store for her grand daughter.

Not lots of tourists but you can pick them out amongst the black haired locals. So many young ones out shopping that I wonder if they work or living off parents? It's now after 4pm so we find a taxi rank and get back to our hotel for another cuppa and rest before we head downstairs at 6.15 to meet our travel group and tour guide, Yoko. No, not that Yoko. 18We had been sent name nagged before we left Oz so I have to include in the blog that J1 was having trouble wishing it how to attack the magnet backing to the front name badge through her clothing. She wasn't happy, claiming that it was a very poor magnet. Probably didn't help that she was trying to get the back of the magnet (not magnetic) to attach to the name plate! Her words upon discovering her error was, I suppose this is going to end up in the blog! I'm not one to disappoint my friends... 19On sering the rest of our group, I estimate that we have dropped the median age a good 15 years but I'm not sure if this is actual years or they are just'old' in manner and image! There are about 2 dozen of us and J1 is already sizing up who she is likely to vote off the island. Im reserving judgement but there is one woman I have my eye on. It is a short walk to the restaurant where we have a 5 course Japanese style dinner. Courses are very small and lots of fish until we get to the wagyu beef which was excellent.

Wine was included but we had to almost beg for refills until we finally got a fellow who gave a decent pour! Vicki (her older sister is a Karen) and Brian from Rockhampton, plus Rosemary (boring as bat s**t) and Brian 2 from Sydney made up our table. Vicki loves talking about herself and her white BMW that is the only one of its kind in Australia and she bought it in Adelaide! I've warned the Sydney Brian that we vote people off the island and he only gets one warning so he's already on notice! With dinner over we are told that we all have to leave at the same time but it is now lightly raining so J1 and I take off at a cracking pace (cos I don't want my hair to get wet or it will go curly) and make our back to the hotel first, without getting too wet. Back in our room it is time to rest up, get in our jammies and work out what time we need to get up in the morning for an 8am departure for a long day tomorrow of shrines and temples plus we are forewarned that it will be raining for most of the day. Bugga! However we do have a lovely view from our hotel so with that in mind it is lights out and the end of a very successful first full day in Osaka.

Wednesday 8 April Melbourne Singapore Osaka

Managed to get sleep overnight which was just as well with a 2:45am alarm. Quick shower and cuppa to be checked out for our shuttle to the airport. We were early but the lovely fellow on duty at reception took us straight away. Simple process through check in and time to head to the Silverkris lounge. A much needed coffee, vegemite on toast and a yoghurt have sufficed as breakfast. 2 hours til our 5.55am flight so nice to be comfortable while we wait. Time to board and find my pod for the next 7 1/2 hours.

Service great as usual, as is the food. Should have done a bit better homework though as I pre ordered prawns in ginger sauce for my main meal and it was also the entree, with prawns as a starter as well. Just as well I love prawns. Forgot to photograph the chicken satay inital dish! The chocolate coffee mousse cake was delish.

We had been flying more than 2 hours when the flight attendant asked me if I would like a drink as I had already had a coffee while most other passengers were sleeping. I asked her if it was too early for a wine and she said that it was never too early for wine. I think I've found a new friend! Now far be it for me to dob in a mate, but J1 did manage to knock over her glass of water whilst trying to remove the tail from one of the prawns on her entree plate.... At least it didnt require tongs or an engineer to clean up. LOL! Smooth landing in Singapore and time to find our way from terminal 1 to 2. The airport really is amazing. there are so many shops, but it is the theme gardens and sculptures and waterfall and sensory areas that make it so enjoyable to wander around. Just love the overhead lake.

Up to the lounge to then await our next flight which will get us to Japan. Soon enough we head to the gate for our 5h 45m flight.

Excellent service once again and food aplenty. The lobster thermidor was exceptional.

We were 20 minutes late departing and once we arrived at Osaka it was a good 15 minutes before we were cleared to approachthe gate but we finally made our and then worked out way through immigration which was no mean feat for poor J1 who had to deal with a pedantic officer who workaholic accept the description of tour on the firm whereas as the venue I had didn't bat am due at the same description for address while in Japan. Next stop was the luggage carousel. Then through quarantine and out to the arrivals hall where we eventually located our driver who was holding a sign 'Wenzel with Ponant'.Somehow he worked out who we were for Travelmarvel! A 45 minute drive later and we were deposited at our hotel, Doubletree by Hilton. Took a bit of working out that the arrival lobby was just that and we had to go to the 6th floor for reception! Duh. An easy check in and off to our hotel room which was really nice. It is now almost midnight. There have been 2 time changes and I'm seeing double vision so it is well and truly time for bed. Welcome to Japan.

Tuesday, 7 April 2026

Japan here we come Tuesday 7 April

Japan here we come, but via Melbourne overnight as it’s an early flight Wednesday morning. Nothing like a complimentary car to pick us up for the airport. Bit of a drag to have to wait with the general public for our flight as we couldn't see the value of paying for Business class on a one hour domestic flight. Mind you, my one and only Business Class domestic flight last month resulted in J2 dropping an airpod down the arm rest tray holder, and then dropping the tongs the flight attendant gave her to retrieve the ear bud! The pilot had to be advised to arrange for an engineer to be waiting when we landed, to retrieve both items! C'est tellement embarrassant! I'm quietly confident that J1 won't replicate these actions, plus she isn't blonde so we should be safe... Our driver was 15 minutes early but I was ready and a pleasant drive to the airport. Easy check in but I wasnt happy having to go through the general public screening line as my legs definitely wanted to steer me towards the priority line! Thankfully not many going through so I managed to ward off a panic attack. Now to fill time until our flight. I knew we wouldnt be offered a meal in Economy on a 1 hour flight so I had made sandwiches which we consumed in the waiting area. J1 decreed that it was wine time, and who am I to argue? A nice lttle Sav Blanc helped pass some time.

Our flight was 35 minutes late leaving but we finally got away and landed in Melbourne 57 minutes later. Not a real big fan of Virgin. I am the first to admit that I am a flight snob these days, and sitting in a cramped seat next to a large fellow who hogged both arm rests plus some of my knee space made it clear that one hour is the maximum I can manage in cattle class without alcohol!!!! Anyway, safe arrival and our cases arrived on the baggage carousel so all good so far. A 10 minite walk to our hotel, Ibis Styles, and we are checked into our room for the night. A much needed cuppa is the first order of business. Then we head down to reception to book the free shuttle for the morning. It is probably about 15 minutes to walk but at 3.30 in the morning we are opting for the hotel shuttle. Now time for for more wine!

We decided to stay in the hotel tap bar and have dinner. We will need an early night but chances of sleep aren't promising. Dinner was nachos and chicken spring rolls. Food was okay but took a very long time to be served. Even though it is only about 8pm local time we have headed back to our room and are ready for bed. Just hope I get some sleep before our very early start in the morning. Our holiday truly gets underway tomorrow as we head for Singapore and then Osaka.

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

Monday 5 January

Packing morning and J has decided that she is simply going to throw everything in her case, sit on it and close it. Somehow that worked but please don't ask me to lift her case! I have bought very little so am able to pack easily enough however I can't find a souvenir wall tile that I bought yesterday. I'm worried that J has grabbed it up and thrown it in her case but she assured me she hasn't. So I head to the downstairs Cafe where we had coffee yesterday afternoon and thankfully the assistant had found my little bag that I'd managed to leave behind. All our bags now successfully packed. Off to breakfast we go. We have late checkout so are able to relax for a while before it is time to check out and hopefully get a taxi that will accept credit cards as very few do, and I don't have enough cash for the 45 minute ride to the airport. Time to check out and wait for a taxi. Even though from 2026 all taxis must accept credit cards, apparently there are more than 18,600 taxis here but less than 500 currently accepting credit cards! We were so lucky when we arrived here and eventually got to the head of the extra long queue, that our taxi was one of the few accepting credit card for payment. Hotel staff tell us that we have to have cash and we are adamant that we don't have enough. Finally a senior person from the hotel comes outside with us and tells us that he still order a taxi that did accept card for us but it might be a wait. Our wait was only about 5 minutes so with all bags burbled into the taxi we head to the airport expecting a 45 minute ride. We were there within 25 minutes. It is a huge terminal and we manage to find our checkin counter and then work our way through the scanner where my carryon case needs to be searched. I'm asked if I have pepper spray! What??? After searching my little case we find the culprit. It is the Singapore Airlines gift cosmetic bag that they have me on a flight over that I sieved in my car and forgot about. Hadn't even opened it, but it had a tiny pump spray spritzer in it. Hilarious! I am then waved through. Will have to tell Emily about it when I give it to her. When then go through 2 lots of have scan and passport scan, where J gets stoppe at the final scan as the camera doesn't recognise her. How can it not recognise the only woman in the entire airport who has white hair with pink steaks through it! We have a laugh, shrug our shoulders and head towards the lounge where we are very happy to sit and eat and drink until it is time to board. While we imbibe I can catch up on the blog, plus add some photos that J took and has sent me. New Year's eve harbour cruise.

Learning my future by shaking the sticks.

My delicious seafood pizza!

We have had a great time and as I always say, I don't go anywhere to have a bad time! Time to board our flight to Singapore. Goodbye Hong Kong. You've been great!

Food was great as always. Loved the Laksa. No room for desserts. And soon enough we were watching the sunset as we arrived in Singapore.

About a 4 hour wait for our next flight which is due to leave just before midnight. I have to admit that I'm ready for bed now! Our flight home was uneventful and I enjoyed my lobster thermidor but only drank orange juice and water.

Easily enough through immigration and I remembered to collect the duty free. No was or wonderful chauffeur who collected us from the airport and so now safely back home. Time to throw everything in the washing machine. But don't put your passport on mothballs a we are off on our next overseas adventure in April. Safe travels!