Narita : Tokyo Exploration.

Ep. 19

NRT - Narita, Japan.

“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints.” - Wilfred Peterson.

Me at Asakusa Temple

Half of my November was spent in the training school. Yes, it has been 3 months roster since we passed our Induction training. Induction 28/2011 once again reunited in a classroom to do the conversion training. We will be trained to operate the other fleets that CX had, which means another stressful weeks and tests. Coz we started by Boeing 777, now we’re about to study about Airbuses and Boeing 747 fleets. Excited? Well, it was more because later on we can operate all fleets, which means more destination for us, and reunited with the whole Induction 28/2011 is something I missed more. Some of us have been flying here and there and had no chance to see each other for such a long 3 months roster time. Long story short, of course we passed all the tests (how smart are we!).

The Hassle of Rainy Shibuya

Thanks to God once again that this job enabled me to go around the places which only in my dream for such a long time. Japan, which is only appeared to me through comics and anime that I watched, already amazed me in many many ways. And on 19^th of November 2011, right after my conversion training, an unexpected trip to Tokyo was taken. CX524 departed on midnight. All the passenger were sleeping, I have more confidence to do the tasks, more familiar with the service flow and Japan flight has been on my roster since the first month I joined (my November roster is 4/6 Japan flights), but this Narita is my first Japan long stay. My purser that day was really nice and cheerful, we talked a lot and chit chatted the whole night (to keep us awake). She seemed to be a Japan Lover that she knows Japan so well. I told her about my first few months flying, about my interest and so on and so on. She said that she gonna met her friend and go to Tokyo to visit Shibuya and the very famous Asakusa Temple (the one with huge lantern in front of it) and lucky me, she offered me whether I would like to join her or not. I agreed, of course! (it’s a common sense). After 4-4.5 hour easy and smooth flight, I arrived at Narita, Japan.

Ueno Market

atashi no kippu da~~

We arrived at the hotel at around 6 am in the morning. My purser, another purser, a BC (my rank in CX) from he front galley and me agreed to come down and went together to Tokyo at 8.30 am in the lobby. My purser said it would take around 1 hour 45 minutes from Keisei Narita St. to Tokyo. If you ever go to Hong Kong or Singapore or any other places with train services, for Japan train service map, you will be confused, it was like a spiderweb with many many many destinations and stops, many colors and it stated the price. And if you think that you’re familiar enough with vending machine, Japan has a lottttttt of them and a looottt more sophisticated. If you need to purchase a train ticket on a machine with coin, have u imagine that Japan has a very unique machine. You don’t have to put your coins one by one into the coin slit, you can just pour your pocket into the coin bucket, it will automatically absorbs your coin and calculate how much do you have, such a convenience! We purchased a ticket, which priced us JPY 810, got on the train and around 1 hour later, we got off in the station named Ueno. Ah! The other purser bid us good bye here coz her destination is different.

My lovely purser, Me and a box of takoyaki

We got off at Ueno station and my purser said we have to change our train line. But before that, we can go around Ueno nearby to grab us some breakfast. It was still early for people to open the stores, but Japanese are those people who can represent Asia’s diligent aspect the best. It started to rain (this time I am well prepared! I brought an umbrella), and we ran to an alley where my purser says supposed to be a shopping district area, she recommend us to have a buffet lunch and shopping around Ueno area, coz she knows where is the best place to shop. We strolled around the shopping district, saw those Japanese people getting ready to start their business in the rainy day. We stopped by a Takoyaki stall (Octopus Ball), I bought a portion of 6 takoyaki, which cost me JPY360. We ate in front of the stall and chit chatted until we finished our takoyaki. By the time it was 10.30 am, the street start to filled with people, the atmosphere is totally different, business starts and crowds appearing. We went to the shopping building that my purser mentioned, called ABAB building, where we also met her friend. Up onto the 7^th floor is the heaven (repeat: heaven) to all girls in the world. All accessories, socks, cosmetics and whatever is all JPY 300 (except those that has special price tag), I bought myself an earmuff (considering it will be winter soon) for JPY 890 and a nail polish for JPY 150. 

my lunch first two plates.

my dessert first plate.

Lunch time we still at the ABAB building and we queue up in this all you can eat restaurant called Sweet Paradise. It was really unique. It costs JPY 1480 per person for a 7- minutes validity stay in the restaurant (once again, you have to buy your ticket in a vending machine in front of the restaurant and handed it in to the waitress). The buffet table is small and short, not many menus you can see on the table. But, every time a selection of menu was ran out, they will replenish it with another new menu, and this is applied to all main courses and dessert. Within 70 minutes, I fed myself a small amount of beef kare-rice, 2 small amount of udon, salmon spaghetti, tomato pasta, ice cream, 2 plates full of dessert and cakes, 2 glasses of green tea. Being refueled, we continue our journey on that rainy day. 

Rokku District

We went back to Ueno St. and transfer to the other line heading to Asakusa St. (where Asakusa Temple located). It costs JPY 230 from Ueno to Asakusa. Although it was raining, our spirit (read: my spirit) of exploration has not drain even a bit). We walked toward where the crowd walked (Tips: whenever you lost, follow the crowd, it will lead you to a place of tourist attraction). For most of the twentieth century, Asakusa was the major entertainment district in Tokyo. The Rokku or "Sixth District" was in particular famous as a theater district, featuring famous cinemas such as the Denkikan. Anyway, it became a shopping arcade nowadays. The area was heavily damaged by US bombing raid during World War II, particularly the March 1945 firebombing of Tokyo. The area was rebuilt after the war. All the way up before we could see the magnificent Asakusa famous lantern, we were welcomed by all the stores and shops selling the traditional Japan cookies and cakes, souvenirs, omikuji (sacred lot or pouch), etc.

my no. 21 omikuji desu!

The rain was getting nasty and nastier. We took some picture around the vicinity. The famous magnificent lantern, which is one of Tokyo landmark is obviously grand and Wow-ed everyone who sees it. We went into the temple and my pursers told me how to do the ritual. There was a thing look like a pond containing of, which believed, holy water, we are supposed to wash our left hand first, then our right hand and finally our mouth. This means that we cleanse ourselves before we enter the temple. We can also buy a small pack of incense (JPY 100), burn it and stuck it into a big pot and pray for our wish simultaneously. For those who read Japan comics, you must be familiar with the ritual of “tossing coins into the box, ring the bell and clap your hands twice, and make a wish” kinda thing. I did it! (finally I tossed JPY 100, wish? Secret!). Then we moved on to the other famous thing that I read in comics, pray while you’re holding the box of sticks which has the number, shake it until one of it fall out from the box and get your prophecy from the drawers provided (I called it Ciam Si, as in Chinese tradition). It took me soooo long when its my turn to shake the box, the whole group of us are laughing at me, saying that I pray for so many things, that is why it took so long. In the end I got no 21 and the result was very good! What if it is not good? Well it was believed that you should do some “fingerwork” you have to fold the prophecy paper by only (repeat: only) your left hand and toss it under the sacred tree of the temple.

Hachiko Statue

Sushi Underground

We spend almost an hour and a half at Asakusa Temple, then we moved on to our next destination. Ah! I forgot to tell the time, I think it was already almost 5 or 6 pm. coz it was getting dark already. What else can we see in Tokyo? Exactly! SHIBUYA! The Times Square of Japan, one of the most crowded place in the world and not to forget to visit the Hachiko (influence of Hachiko movie) statue in front of Shibuya St. So be it! We set off to Shibuya and in minutes, we arrived already. My purser was very kind to be patiently took pictures of me, but sleepless for almost 24 hour and walking around in the heavy rain is not a good thing. I know exactly how my body reacts at that time, slower than my brain. We went to shop again at Shibuya 109, we explored every floor of it (9 floors). And by the time we finished, it was already almost 9. My purser took us to a sushi stand in a basement of one building. The sushi was really cheap for only JPY 190 per plate. We had our dinner there, like we have not enough all you can eat lunch and FINALLY decided to go back to the hotel.

Asakusa Jinjya

We bid my purser’s friend good bye at the station and we took our train back. Exhausted? Hell yeah! By the time we arrived at the hotel, it almost midnight and I almost crawl to my room. What time should I operate back to HK tomorrow? 8 in the morning! So, as soon as I reached my room, I took a short bath and soak my feet in hot water (felt damn good). I went to sleep, a very deep sleep until 5 am in the morning, I felt that my bed was shaking, hard enough to wake me up. Yes! It was an earthquake. Due to my exhaustion all I could do was peeped through my eyes and saw that every furniture in my room were shaking. But I was too tired to even held my head up, so I went back to sleep (whatever!). 

Ocha o nomimasu.

My flight back at that day is great, my pursers even asked for my facebook account as she promised me to tag all the pictures in her camera (Nice!). Even up until today, I still keep in touch with her and looking forward to fly with her again someday. She is just a cheerful person that I would never forget. Thank you for the wonderful trip Ah-Je! (ah! i should pay Tokyo tower a visit next time).

“Wherever you go, you’ll meet many kinds of people. Just be yourself, and you’ll attracts those that is fated to be in your life” – Me.