2018 Trip to Australia Day 11

The last day of Trip to Australia.

I started the day early from 3 am, took a shuttle at 4:10, flight to Sydney at 6 am.
One hour and a half flight was good, but transit was rather complicated to change the airline terminal first and international terminal next.

To my lucky I could use rhe American Express Lounge.

Flight from Sydney to Narita Airport delayed. At first my seat was middle but to my lucky I could change it to the window side of two seats just behind the wall. I enjoyed the view in the morning and three movies later.

I came back to Japan finally.

This trip was supposed to be 10 days, and airline was supposed to be Cathay Pacific.

But it became 11 days and I used JAL, Qantas, and Virgin Australia.

I could visit four World Heritage Sites, attend the Mega Rockstar Trip, and meet my friend. It was a nice summer vacation.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 10

It was fine.

I enjoyed the regular Sunday life in Australia.

I enjoyed making candy sushi with my friend's daughter which wasvery interesting.

I walked around her house. There is a pond nearby and thetr were many birds.

We went out for lunch which was very volumy.

We attended balance yoga lesson for an hour.

My friend took me to the airport hotel.

It was a calm day.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 9

It was fine and beautiful.

I had Australian style breakfast at the wood deck made by my friend's husband.
It was so nice and I remembered my Florida life.

I visited many places in Brisbane such as Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Queen St. Mall, City Hall & Museum of Brisbane, Old Museum & Science Center, Southbank Parklands, City Botanic Gardens, and Night Street Market.

After arriving at the airport, I knew my flight was canceled.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 8

It was another moving day.

I checked out the hotel around 10:20 am and headed for the airport by shuttle bus, then took the flight to Brisbane by Virgine Australia. I wished to get a window side, but could not.

After arriving at the airport, I met my friend at the shopping center and went to the pier to see the sunset.

It was another beautiful sunset.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 7

It was fine in the morning.

I attended the one day tour visiting two World Heritage sites.

The pickup bus came at 8 am and I went to the peir to take the boat to Green Island. it was about one hour ride. First I walked around the island taking pictures.
It started raining for a while.
Then I got on the glass bottom boat as an option for 30 minutes and enjoyed the Great Barrier Reef.
Then I went back to Cairns.

After 30 minutes lunch break the pickup bus took me to the Skyrail station. It took about 45 minutes to Kuranda stopping at two stations. I enjoyed the Barron Falls.

After arriving at Kuranda I only had 30 mimutes to walk around and got on the train back to Cairns. It also stopped at the lookout to see the waterfalls. It took about one hour and a half to Freshwater station and the bus sent me to the accommodation around 5 pm.

After coming back I saw the rainbow for the second time during this trip and felt happy.

It was a nice sight seeing day.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 6

It was a no plan day.

I wanted to join the catching mudcrab tour but it was fulj.
I tried to eat it at the restaurant, but they did not have. It seems it is not the season.

I walked around and enjoyed shopping.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 5

It was another moving day.

I left the hotel around 7:30 am, got on a ferry to Hervey Bay, took flights from Herver Bay to Brisbane by Qantas and from Brisbane to Cairns by Tiger Air.

This is the very first time for me to use LCC. The limit of check in baggage is 15kg, therefore I had to repack.

I wanted to have a window seat but it was middle. So I asked the CA on board and she changed after the seat belt sign became off. To my lucky The seats next to me were vacant. How lucky I am! I saw the beautiful sunset.

I bought hot chocolate and lamington at $6.

From the airport I took taxi which cost AUD22.

After checking in, I visited the Night Market.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 4

It was fine and beautiful.

After having breakfast there was a training for two hours.

Then we ate lunch.

We went to the Lake Makenzie which had a breathtaking view.

I went to see the beautiful sunset.

After wearing Yukata(浴衣), summer kimono, I attended the Gala Dinner. Many people were pleased to see my yukata-style. I enjoyed eating, drinking, chatting, and dancing.

It was a nice day.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 3

It was fine.

Today is a moving day from Gold Coast to Fraser Island via Brisbane. 

First I took G-Line Tram, next Airport Train, third was airplane, fourth bus, fifth ferry and the last shuttle tram.

I left the apartment before 9 am  and arrived at the airport around 11:30 am,  took flight at 1:40 pm  and arrived at Hervey Bay around 2:30 pm and took ferry and arrived at the final destination Kingfisher Bay Resort aound 5 pm.

It was a long trip. But coming here is the main purpose of this whole trip to Australia.

Fraser Island is the biggest sand island in the world, and listed on the UNESCO's World Heritage. I am looking forward to my stay here.

I enjoyed the beautiful sunset and made new friends who have the same sense of value regarding traveling around the world.

I had dinner with two Anerican sisters and had a good time.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 2

The 2nd day started in Sydney.

I arrived early in the morning and it was a bit chilly outside.

After immigration I repacked to bring liquid.

It was just a transit, and I just stayed for an hour or so. Looking around the shop reminded me of other Austrarian visit before.

I am glad to have tried withdrawl of HSBC for the first time.
Though it is a Chinese bank, all of the advertisement to the plane was HSBC.

After arriving at Brisbane I enjoyed meeting with my friend from EXPO2005 and her family after three years or so.

Visiting  the local supermarket is one of the things I try to do abroad to know people's life. I found many interesting things such as big sausages for dog and cats.

We went to the Japanese school which opens on Saturday to pick up their daughter.

I do not have children, so it was very interesting to spend time with her.

After coming to my accommodation we walked to the Surfer's Paradise. There were so many doves on our way, and seagulls at the sea.

It was very nice to see the rainbows while eating lunch.

At night I attend a Glow Worm Tour which was really good.

I am so glad to have attended the tour conducted in English.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 1

The destination of  my summer vacation this year is Australia.

Maybe it's been 18 years since I went to Australia last. It was the time of Sydney Olympic.
I have been to Australia for four or five times before.
The reason I did not visit for such a long time is the death of my friend from Expo '92.  She had lived in Australia and after seeing her in 2005, I was going to visit her. But she passed away so suddenly that I lost the reason to go to Australia.

This time I was invited to the training in Fraser Island and decided to come.

I will go to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Fraser Island, and Cairns this time.

I booked the fight tickets to go to Brisbane via Hong Kong. However there was something wrong with the plane, and it delayed for an hour and a half which made the connection flight impossible.

Therefore they offered me to go to Sydney by JAL and to Brisbane by Qantas which arrives earlier than the original plan.
I accepted this plan. Unfortunately I could not get the window side. Since the ticket was booked by Cathay, and it was impossible to upgrade by mileage. It would cost yen30,000 to upgrade. It would take 9 hours and a half.The connection flight will be at the window side so I gave up upgrading.

The service of JAL is very good. I enjoyed a Japanese movie "Laplace's Witch" which I missed while it was showing at the theater. I watched Queen's Live too.
It was a nice day after all.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

2018 Summer Hong Kong Trip Day 4

It was cloudy in the morning, became squall again, and became fine.

The typhoons are approaching and the flights to Centrea and Kix were canceled.

This morning I went to HSBC to open an account. I am a world traveler and I think it is very important to have an international bank account. So I am glad to make it successfully.

I came back to Japan safe and sound.

It was a fruitful trip.

2018 Summer Hong Kong Trip Day 3

The weather in Hong Kong is unstable. It was cloudy in the morning, became fine, and rained heavily with thunders.

In the morning there was a lecture and I heard the very big news.

In the afternoon seven of us went to the Peninsula Hotel to enjoy the Afternoon Tea. One person is HK$388 and two persons are HK$688 with 10% service charge. We had scorns, sandwiches, cakes with a pot of tea. We ordered 7 different teas to share the taste.  Chocolate was served at the very last.  What is more BVLGARI chocolate was given. Wow!

After that we went to the Lady's Market and enjoyed shopping.

For dinner we enjoyed at the local restaurant.

2018 Summer Hong Kong Trip Day 2

It was another long day having two seminars.

We went out for lunch at Dim Sum restaurant. They were delicious.

When we got out there it was raining heavily. It did not last long, but was like squall.

We had a dinner party at night.

After that we went to see the $ Million Night View. It was so beautiful.

We had a group meeting until late at night.

2018 Summer Hong Kong Trip Day 1

I came to Hong Kong after four years or so.
This is a big group tour of 300 people which I attended for the first time. It is the 66th trip of this series. This is a kind of study tour.

I left home around 6 am arriving at the Haneda Airport at 7:44 am. Train was full after the bon holiday and I am glad to have sent the suitcase by the delivery service.

Flight delayed for an hour.

I am glad to have seen "A Theory of Everything" which I wanted to see because I missed while it was showing.

We arrived at Hong Kong at 3:19 pm  Japan Time which is 2:19 pm Hong Kong Time.

I exchanged yen10,000 to HK$660.

After arriving at the Intercontinental Grand Sranford Hotel Hong Kong, there was an explain meeting.

At night we went to a local restaurant and ate a lot. Most waiter and waitress could not speak English but our group leader has lived in Hong Kong and can speak Chinese so that we were very lucky.

There was a meeting until late at night.

According to the tour guide:
Hong Kong's industries are tourism, finance, and trading.
Rice is Thai rice and all of automibiles are foreign made.
There are four parts: Lantau Island, Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and New Territories.
People only eat at home for dinner.
There are many high rise buildings because there is no earthquake.
There is no winter, it is 12 to 13 degrees centigrade in winter.
They use cooler (air-conditioning) all year around.
Scaffoldings are made of bamboo.
Subways run from 6 am to 1 am, buses run for 24 hours.
In March and September they visit graveyard.
Big Chinese fesivals are the moon festival in fall and the old Chinese New Year in February.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 9

It was raining when I arrived at the Narita Airport around 7:30 am.

I sent the suitcase by using the privilege of the gold card again.
 
When I came home around 11 am, it was fine.

The first thing I always want to do after coming back from abroad is to take a bath. So I did taking time.

The trip to Dubai via Kuala Lumpur was very interesting, and I made some friends.

I am looking forward attending the next one.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 8

My first trip to the Middle East, and my first trip to Dubai went well for the most part.

But the last transfer to the airport was not. I was told that "Your transfer was confirmed" so that I had waited at the hotel lobby earlier and waited for more than one hour. But nobody came and I took a taxi to the airport.

I left Dubai at 3:10 am for Kuala Lumpur.

I arrived at Kuala Lumpur around 2:30 pm.
First I exchanged some money. Then I went to KLCC by Express train and other train. It cost RM55 and RM2.40, and took less than one hour.

It was hot and humid at first and started raining a little bit.

I enjoyed taking pictures of twin towers from the park and went to the Mandarine Oriental hotel lobby to meet my friend from high school.

We had dinner at Hakka Restaurant, which seems very popular. There was a folding roof, and after a while it opened and became light, but it half closed again later according to the weather.

After that we went to see the beautiful scenery of night view.

Around 8:30 pm I headed for the airport by blue taxi, which cost RM148 and took one hour. At the counter I asked the seat change to the window side. To my lucky this time again I got a premier seat behind the business class without having somebody next to me.

I used every money I exchanged.

It was a nice short stay in Kuala Lumpur.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 7

It was fine.

My last day here at Dubai was very fruitful.

After checking the hotel, we went to Ibun Battuta Mall to see the mist besutiful Starbacks in the world. ai am not sure if it is the most beautiful, but indeed it was very beautiful. There were exhibitions of Ibn Battuta, the world traveler. I really respect him.

Then we went to Atlantis the Palm, the famous hotel with attractions. There we enjoyed the Classic Aftetnoon Tea. It cost AED140 with two drinks. Hot tea comes by pot so that you can have about four cups.

After that we went to Burj Kharifa, the tallest building in the world.We went up to 148 floor which cost AED535, very expensive for the entrance fee, but I really enjoyed the daytime scenery, sunset, anf night view.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 6

It was fine.

Since we extended one night, we decided to go to Musandam Peninsula, Oman. It is a full day cruising tour.

At first we were told to be at the hotel lobby from 7:30 to 8:00 but they changed the schedule and informed us the new time as 6:45 to 7:30, and we have waited and waited but they came to pick up around 7:40 after all.

We went to the border control and the port by bus which took about three hours from Dubai and changed to the boat. We arrived the snorkeling spot around 11:30 and stayed at the Haffah Qadema Beach for three hours including lunch.

We came back to the hotel around 7:30.

Then we went out for dinner.

The fullmoon was beautiful.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 5

It was fine.

Today we went to Abu Dhabi by one day tour which I booked from Japan.

We had to wait for a long time to be picked up.
It took about two hours to go there by bus.

We visited Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque which was big and white and beautiful.
It was hard to take a whole picture.

We had lunch near the Ferrari Museum.

Then we went to the Louvre.
There were some Japanese exhibitions.
The building was very beautiful and amazing.

Tour ended at the Emirates Mall. We came back to the hotel by train.

It was another long day.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 4

It was fine.

We had free time until 3:30 pm, so we had a relaxing breakfast in the morning. We walked around the lake for the first time snd visited 5  supermarkets to see people's life.
I
At 3:30 pm, we got together and went to Desert Safari which including 4WD running on the sand dune, camel riding, watching belly dancing, watching fire performances, having BBQ and so on. I also tried to wear the black costume.

It took about five hours and a half in total.
4WD riding was so exciting as a jet coaster riding.

It was a nice experience and I want to recommend it.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 3

It was fine.

It became a long day starting at 6 am.

We had a big breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Maybe too much eating.

The city tour started at 8 am, and ended around 9 pm visiting the famous touristic spots in Dubai including the beach to take pictures of Burj Al Arab, spice souk & gold souk, museum, Dubai Mall,  Dubai Fountain and so on.
We enjoyed everything very much.  Unfortunately there was something wrong with my camera and smartphone camera, I could not save some pictures in the evening.

I felt tired.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 2

I left Kuala Lumpur at 10:20 (local time) am and arrived at Dubai at 1pm (local time), which is 6 pm in Japan time. There are 5 hours differences between UAE and Japan. It took about 24 hours from my office to Dubai having 6 hours transit.

The view from the airplane was desert.

It took about one hour and a half to pass immigration, pick up the luggage, exchange money, and meet the driver.
Yen 10,000 became AED315.

After checking in the hotel, I walked around the hotel. The view was very nice.
Then I took a bath and wore the yukata (浴衣), summer kimono, and joined the welcome dinner.

This time there were 11 participants in total. All were women. Four from South Korea, four from Japan, and three from the USA. There were two people whose birthday is April, therefore we had a birthday cake. I hope to join the Dream Trips next May.
My friend joined later.

It was a nice day.

2018 Golden Week Trip to Dubai Day 1

It's time of the Golden Week in Japan. It starts on April 29 and ends on May 5. If you take two days off on May 1 and 2, you get 8 days off. I decided to take two more days off.

This year I chose to go to Dubai during the Golden Week.

This is the first trip to the Middle East for me. I have wanted to go there for a long time but had no chance by now.

I am a member of the very nice worldwide travel club and they offer many reasonable trips to Dubai. I chose the one from April 26 to 30. This time I go there with my college friend who lives in Kyushu. She took the flight first, but booked the wrong day. Therefore we dicided to stay there one more night.

We have thought how and where we spend the additional day. We looked for the one night two days tour to Abu Dhabi from Dubai, but we found only one of them which did not include visiting the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque. Therefore we decided to stay at the same hotel and go to Abu Dhabi by one day tour.

Unfortunately it was too late to book the direct flight when I started looking for the ticket. However I needed to be there in the day time before my friend arrives therefore I chose the Malaysian Airline leaving at night from the Narita Airport.

I used the free pick up service of the suitcase by the benefit of the AMEX Gold Card and my suitcase was delivered to the airport beforehand.

To travel light is one of my dreams. So I am glad to do so.

I left the office around 17:30 and arrived at the airport around 19:30. After checking in I wanted to buy something and use the lounge, but I could not.

The seat was 9K and it was spacy. It must be a preminum seat between Business class and Economy class fortunately.

It takes about 7 hours and 10 minutes from Narita to Kuala Lumpur, and there is one hour difference between Japan and Malaysia.

There were peanuts & drink service, dinner, and sandwich & drink if you like.

I watched a movie "Bucket List" which I wanted to see for a long time.

In the morning it was raining but became fine in Tokyo. During the flight it was fine, and the Moon and the way of Moon light reflected on the ocean were so beautiful from the window. Before approaching to the Kuala Lumpur airport I saw many thunderlights, but it is fine.

Now I am waiting for the next flight to Dubai at the premium lounge which is also the benefit of the AMEX Gold Card.

My first trip abroad with the new passport has just begun.

I am going to enjoy this trip to my heart content.