Sightseeing in Sendai

Yesterday I went sightseeing with my daughter, her boyfriend and his parents. We took the Loople Sendai, which is a sightseeing bus that goes to all the major things to see in the town. On a Sunday there were only two of the sights open, but they were so spectacular that it was more than enough.



First stop was the Mausoleum of the Sendai-Han - Zuihoden. First you need to wash your hands before visiting any shrine, it is a holy place and you need to meet the spirits at least with clean hands.


The water was very cold, and was a nice refreshing thing to do before climbing the stairs to the shrine.


The second stop on the route took us up high over the town, to the place where the castle of Sendai once was. Not much is left since the bombing of Japan during the second world war, but the view of the town is stunning.

Exactly when we arrived the sun broke trough the clouds, and allowed us to take some nice pictures of the town. With the mountains in the background, one is sure to see that we are in Japan.


After a long afternoon on the road, we ended up in town, enjoying a nice meal in a traditional Japanese restaurant. The five of us had a place in the restaurant to our selves, at a low table where we could sit with our legs in a hole in the ground. no shoes allowed, as in many places in Japan, but we had slippers handed out if we had to move outside our little cabin.



After this nice meal, we had to go and play a game in one of many gaming-halls in town. The young people had a favorite game we had to try. Drumming on the traditional drums , and getting the rythm of the melody right, not very easy - but FUN!



Late in the evening we went to see the last day of the lights of town, together with a lot of other people. These lights are only on for Christmas, which is no big event in Japan, NewYear on the other hand is the biggest, so we are going to celebrate the coming of the year of the mouse today. First partying, and then going out to the ocean to watch the sunrize, which is said to bring luck the rest of the year.


So I only say "A-ke-mash-te o-me-de-to" to you all - and till next year.

Waiting

Yesterday I had arranged to meet with my daughter, and she told me to meet her on the central station, next to the Samurai. After a quick breakfast at Mac Donalds I went there, a bit early, and found that this is where people wait in Sendai.

I was having a great time waiting and watching people standing and waiting. It is really strange to be in a country where there are SO few tourists, I have seen one so far in Sendai, that I could see was not Japanese.

Eagles over Sendai

I reached my Hotel in the early afternoon, after more than 24 hours of no sleep, but decided to wait with sleeping till evening. Jet lag had to be prevented. Before hitting town I had a look out of my window from my room, and spotted several eagles flying over town, and just HAD to take a picture.

After a quick shower I went exploring in town. My daughter who I am visiting here, had told me to get a cellphone in Japan - renting should be the option. and I had to get a plug for all my tech-gadgets that fitted into the Japanese power.

So out in town, equipped with a city-map from the Hotel and a lot of curiosity.

I went shopping in the Clis-road, very nice place full of stuff. I had asked in the hotel about where to find Soft-Bank, the company my daughter had advised med to use for cellphone, and that I did find, but the power-thing was not found. So I finally had to ask the only englishspeaking lady in the cellphoneshop to tell me where to find a shop.

To get the cellphone up and running took two hours, so I went deeper into this shopping paradise, and ended up getting my first meal in the top floor of an expensive Mall.

7 floors of electronics finally gave me what I needed - so now I can blog and power up all my gadgets.

Landing in Tokyo

After a long flight, first from Copenhagen to Zürich, and then from Zürich to Tokyo, I had my photo taken in the airport. My sweet companion from the flight, David, took a picture of me. Blurry but still, my first steps in Japan, and very happy we finally had solid ground under our feet again.

After that picture was taken another flight awaited me, to my final destination Sendai.

My luggage was in Copenhagen been promised me to go all the way, so I didn't bother about that till some nice Japanese lady told me I had to pick it up myself. hmpf! back trough the customs and retrieving my precious luggage, just to let it go again for the next flight.

All set to Blog

I have gotten myself a new little laptop, a tiny little thing, to bring with me to Japan. such a sweet little thing.. but capable of all I want to to do - even Second Life. (not that I imagine having that much time for such things)

So now I am all settled for blogging big and small events on the road.

Merry Elf Christmas

Now.. soon soon I fly off to the other end of the world.. but before that there is a holiday...

So.. here is my Holiday Greeting..

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1655058400

Have fun watching.. and take care all.. see you when I land in Japan and start blogging from the real thing

Got shot today

Got my shot today.. so I can go to Japan without worrying too much. Not really that bad - now I don't have to be afraid of getting sick while I am there.

The planning in practical is slowly starting. I am looking at many days, and limited space in my bags. My daughter tells me not to plan to buy any clothing in Japan, I am simply too big for their small Asian sizes. So I will have to have a basic wardrobe, and some washing powder.

The weather in Japan is a little warmer than here, but I still need winter things, so I will have to have a good coat and some solid shoes, for snow and ice.

the excitement is rising, and I cannot wait ;)

Loooong Travel

I am getting more and more exited about my trip, and wondering how it will be to go SO far away. I will be travelling for SUCH a long time, just to get there. starting up at 9.30 in CPH and landing the next day at 11.35 in Sendai, and from the airport then a little while with the train, or a taxi, to get to my hotel.

I hope I can meet with Lea right away on that day, with or without jet-lag.. people tell me its harder with jet-lag in that direction, and I know I will have to find some help against my normal travel-illness, or it will be just as much hell as last year where I went to NY.