I'm about to embark on a few weeks of travel around the place. Tomorrow I head to Beirut, Lebanon. On Monday and Tuesday I am attending a Middle East Healthcare Insurance conference, then meeting with our local team on Wednesday. Wednesday night I fly back to Tokyo via Dubai.
Then on the following Monday and Tuesday I will be in Seoul, South Korea, for meetings with the Metlife guys. Tuesday morning I fly back to Tokyo, go check the cat, and then in the evening I fly to New York. There are meetings on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and on Saturday I will come back to Tokyo.
Then a week in Tokyo, before heading to London for the week of 29 November. Possibly with a stop in Paris on the way back, but this is not confirmed.
Sonia, on the other hand, will be stuck between Tokyo and Bangkok like normal!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Driving
I forgot to put something on here about drivers' licenses. I got mine. Finally. Last Thursday, I took the morning to head to the licensing centre to go through the process. It took about 3 hours, but in the end I know have a Japanese license. That is not such a big deal, as kiwis get to simply swap licenses over without having to sit tests, etc. The Americans on the other hand...
The big news is that I have a full motorbike license. And that is something that no-one else managed to achieve. Anything over a 400cc bike normally requires people to sit a practical test, which in usual Japanese style is very picky. It includes riding slowly over a "bridge" (a 10cm wide piece of wood), swerving through cones, braking test, etc. The story goes that people who take the test normally fail for the first 4-5 times. The normal way around it is to spend about USD 3000 to attend a school that teaches you how to pass the test (I mean how to ride correctly) over the course of about 40 hours of instruction.
But Kiwis are apparently well-trained enough to be trusted with a full license without sitting the test. So I have my license, to the chagrin of the other guys at work who have had to go through the school...
The big news is that I have a full motorbike license. And that is something that no-one else managed to achieve. Anything over a 400cc bike normally requires people to sit a practical test, which in usual Japanese style is very picky. It includes riding slowly over a "bridge" (a 10cm wide piece of wood), swerving through cones, braking test, etc. The story goes that people who take the test normally fail for the first 4-5 times. The normal way around it is to spend about USD 3000 to attend a school that teaches you how to pass the test (I mean how to ride correctly) over the course of about 40 hours of instruction.
But Kiwis are apparently well-trained enough to be trusted with a full license without sitting the test. So I have my license, to the chagrin of the other guys at work who have had to go through the school...
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Post 400 - Where did the time go??
Well Andrew is clearly doing a very poor job of maintaining our blog so I guess that it is up to me...
Tonight is the annual Alico Fancy Dress Halloween party hosted by the Regional CEO. Andrew is off dressed as a Cowboy - I am extremely naughty and do not 'do' either Halloween or Fancy Dress so I am at home alone with the cat - the fact that I really do feel flu'ish with a sore throat and a headache is just validating Andrew's claim that I am unwell and therefore could not attend :-)
Tomorrow I am off to Hong Kong to get my work permit renewed. It seems amazing to me that this means I have been just over three years back with Bravura - time really does fly! I am still (mostly!) enjoying what I do, but a job that did not demand quite so much travel would not be badly received. The rest of next week I will spend in Bangkok - I really will miss that city when the project there ends. It is looking like the end of the year may see the end of my involvement (we shall see!) and it will be sad in a funny sort of way after visiting at least twice a month for the last three years!.
We have been exploring Tokyo by bicycle the last few weeks - we picked up our (not too 'japanese shopping bike' looking) bikes while Kyla was here, and realised that most of the places we go on the weekend are no more than 8 to 10 km away - easily doable in a city that provides ultra wide pavements and expects you to ride on them. It has been good to get some exercise and the fresh autum ('fall') air has been lovely. We slept without the air-conditioner for the first time in ages last night and it was great. The cat has also become much more cuddly as the weather has cooled down - she likes to sleep leaning up against one or other of our legs.
Andrew is currently talking within Alico about a potential move back to Hong Kong next year - our lives are never dull! We should find out within the next few weeks if this is really going to happen. It would be kind of strange because I have not really been here long enough for it to feel like 'home' but I guess I will adjust. My last visit to HK seemed particularly seedy and smelly - I guess it really does depend which part of HK you are in :-)
Not much else happening I am afraid - life just goes on! Hope yours are going well too...
love, Sonia
Tonight is the annual Alico Fancy Dress Halloween party hosted by the Regional CEO. Andrew is off dressed as a Cowboy - I am extremely naughty and do not 'do' either Halloween or Fancy Dress so I am at home alone with the cat - the fact that I really do feel flu'ish with a sore throat and a headache is just validating Andrew's claim that I am unwell and therefore could not attend :-)
Tomorrow I am off to Hong Kong to get my work permit renewed. It seems amazing to me that this means I have been just over three years back with Bravura - time really does fly! I am still (mostly!) enjoying what I do, but a job that did not demand quite so much travel would not be badly received. The rest of next week I will spend in Bangkok - I really will miss that city when the project there ends. It is looking like the end of the year may see the end of my involvement (we shall see!) and it will be sad in a funny sort of way after visiting at least twice a month for the last three years!.
We have been exploring Tokyo by bicycle the last few weeks - we picked up our (not too 'japanese shopping bike' looking) bikes while Kyla was here, and realised that most of the places we go on the weekend are no more than 8 to 10 km away - easily doable in a city that provides ultra wide pavements and expects you to ride on them. It has been good to get some exercise and the fresh autum ('fall') air has been lovely. We slept without the air-conditioner for the first time in ages last night and it was great. The cat has also become much more cuddly as the weather has cooled down - she likes to sleep leaning up against one or other of our legs.
Andrew is currently talking within Alico about a potential move back to Hong Kong next year - our lives are never dull! We should find out within the next few weeks if this is really going to happen. It would be kind of strange because I have not really been here long enough for it to feel like 'home' but I guess I will adjust. My last visit to HK seemed particularly seedy and smelly - I guess it really does depend which part of HK you are in :-)
Not much else happening I am afraid - life just goes on! Hope yours are going well too...
love, Sonia
Monday, October 04, 2010
And one of the cat - just because she is cute....
Where is Sachi.....
Ah - there she is :-)
I knew there was a reason I spent large sums of money on a silk throw for my bed - it was to keep the cat warm!
I hear that Toby is looking forward to seeing his new home as well..... wonder if he will get to sleep on the bed?
Ah - there she is :-)
I knew there was a reason I spent large sums of money on a silk throw for my bed - it was to keep the cat warm!
I hear that Toby is looking forward to seeing his new home as well..... wonder if he will get to sleep on the bed?
Home again
Well for some reason the blog won't let me respond to comments today - guess that means I'll have to write a new blog to answer your questions.
You definitely can be the next visitor Tiffany -bet you know how to turn off lights and shut toilet doors!
They biked for an hour and five minutes - does that count as serious? If the weather is any good tomorrow Kyla and I will bike up to Andrew's work in the morning to shop for a Yukata (summer weight kimono) that she really wants to get to take home with her. It is about 8km each way so should be a good ride. The Japanese all ride on the footpath so that makes life easier - no chance of being run down by speeding cars
At the moment Kyla and Andrew are making a cheesecake - something she has been very keen to do ever since she arrived. This really is her last opportunity - in 24 hours we will be on the way to the airport - amazing how time flies!
We had a great night away in a very quaint little old town about 4 hours our of Tokyo - it was good to get out of the city and be near the river and forest that runs through the Kiso Valley. We tried to get pictures of Mount Fuji for Kyla but it insisted on staying we behind a cloud. We saw lots of other mountains so I guess that will have to suffice.
I'm sure Kyla will have much more to tell you on her blog about her night in a Ryokan, but here are a couple of photos to get you started.
Here is the path down to the Ryokan - very quaint...
And then the Traditonal Japanese Garden our room overlooked
And here is Kyla acting elegant - Sharon this is the idea for the alcove in the lounge - somewhere to hang our Japanese scroll.
You definitely can be the next visitor Tiffany -bet you know how to turn off lights and shut toilet doors!
They biked for an hour and five minutes - does that count as serious? If the weather is any good tomorrow Kyla and I will bike up to Andrew's work in the morning to shop for a Yukata (summer weight kimono) that she really wants to get to take home with her. It is about 8km each way so should be a good ride. The Japanese all ride on the footpath so that makes life easier - no chance of being run down by speeding cars
At the moment Kyla and Andrew are making a cheesecake - something she has been very keen to do ever since she arrived. This really is her last opportunity - in 24 hours we will be on the way to the airport - amazing how time flies!
We had a great night away in a very quaint little old town about 4 hours our of Tokyo - it was good to get out of the city and be near the river and forest that runs through the Kiso Valley. We tried to get pictures of Mount Fuji for Kyla but it insisted on staying we behind a cloud. We saw lots of other mountains so I guess that will have to suffice.
I'm sure Kyla will have much more to tell you on her blog about her night in a Ryokan, but here are a couple of photos to get you started.
Here is the path down to the Ryokan - very quaint...
And then the Traditonal Japanese Garden our room overlooked
And here is Kyla acting elegant - Sharon this is the idea for the alcove in the lounge - somewhere to hang our Japanese scroll.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Starving and Exhausted
Well today has been a much nicer day weather wise. We have managed to Starve and Exhaust Kyla all in one day. The morning started around 10 with a 30 - 40 minute walk to Toyosu to pick up our new bikes that we ordered a couple of weeks ago. We stopped for a late breakfast at Tully's where you will be horrified to learn that the mistress of healthy eating had a mocha and a donut for breakfast :-). After collecting the bikes we walked/rode them home again, stopping at the dry cleaners on the way to pick up the week's order.
After a quick stop at home to put on the next load of washing (it is Saturday after all!) Andrew and Kyla rode the bikes up to Bic Camera while I took the train and met them there. We spent a loooooong time looking for a present for Braden (has anyone ever told her she is indecisive?????) before finally making it to lunch at 3pm - delicious noodles for Andrew and I and dumplings and rice for Kyla.
We then rode/walked on to Ginza and more present shopping - for Daryl and Sharon this time. Andrew took over the supervision of the shopping and decisions were made a bit faster! Home again for a change of clothes and then Andrew and Kyla went for some serious 'exercise' riding while I cleaned the house.
With lunch running late, dinner did too and we enjoyed chicken and salad at 8.15 in the evening while sitting in front of the 27 Dresses movie.
By the end of the movie eyes were definitely getting heavy and Kyla has gone off to bed... we'll have to get her up bright and early in the morning to update her blog because I think she missed doing it this morning. Tomorrow we are off southwest of Tokyo for a night in a traditional Ryokan - should be fun :0)
We are still enjoying having Kyla here - she seems to have been reasonably well dragged up! Wonder which of the neices/nephews are lining up to be the next to visit?
After a quick stop at home to put on the next load of washing (it is Saturday after all!) Andrew and Kyla rode the bikes up to Bic Camera while I took the train and met them there. We spent a loooooong time looking for a present for Braden (has anyone ever told her she is indecisive?????) before finally making it to lunch at 3pm - delicious noodles for Andrew and I and dumplings and rice for Kyla.
We then rode/walked on to Ginza and more present shopping - for Daryl and Sharon this time. Andrew took over the supervision of the shopping and decisions were made a bit faster! Home again for a change of clothes and then Andrew and Kyla went for some serious 'exercise' riding while I cleaned the house.
With lunch running late, dinner did too and we enjoyed chicken and salad at 8.15 in the evening while sitting in front of the 27 Dresses movie.
By the end of the movie eyes were definitely getting heavy and Kyla has gone off to bed... we'll have to get her up bright and early in the morning to update her blog because I think she missed doing it this morning. Tomorrow we are off southwest of Tokyo for a night in a traditional Ryokan - should be fun :0)
We are still enjoying having Kyla here - she seems to have been reasonably well dragged up! Wonder which of the neices/nephews are lining up to be the next to visit?
Friday, October 01, 2010
Keeping Busy
Sonia here
Well while Andrew has been off working all week Kyla and I have been having a blast around Tokyo. The weather has been dreadful (after weeks and weeks of solid sun I guess it had to rain eventually) but we are proud owners of plastic raincoats and managed to make our way around the city anyway.
We spent Wednesday in having a bit of a cook-up. Kyla is a great little cook - now to work on her cleaning up skills! (seem to recall the same was said of me when I was 12). She assures me that at her house you do all the cooking first and then clean up in one go - does not work so well when you only have 1 metre of bench to work with!
Thursday at Disney was great fun despite the miserable weather. We did a couple of the roller coasters, lots of other rides and then a couple of the Disney shows (great coz they were inside!). We left home at about 8.30 and got back at about 8pm so a long day but lots of fun.
Off to see if we can find Sharon's rice bowls this morning, and then to see if we can get tickets to Cirque de Soleil this afternoon. Decisions decisions, do we spend an extra USD 30 each to get better seats or do we strain our eyes from the back of the theatre... might be a spur of the moment decision coz I cannot make up my mind.
Well while Andrew has been off working all week Kyla and I have been having a blast around Tokyo. The weather has been dreadful (after weeks and weeks of solid sun I guess it had to rain eventually) but we are proud owners of plastic raincoats and managed to make our way around the city anyway.
We spent Wednesday in having a bit of a cook-up. Kyla is a great little cook - now to work on her cleaning up skills! (seem to recall the same was said of me when I was 12). She assures me that at her house you do all the cooking first and then clean up in one go - does not work so well when you only have 1 metre of bench to work with!
Thursday at Disney was great fun despite the miserable weather. We did a couple of the roller coasters, lots of other rides and then a couple of the Disney shows (great coz they were inside!). We left home at about 8.30 and got back at about 8pm so a long day but lots of fun.
Off to see if we can find Sharon's rice bowls this morning, and then to see if we can get tickets to Cirque de Soleil this afternoon. Decisions decisions, do we spend an extra USD 30 each to get better seats or do we strain our eyes from the back of the theatre... might be a spur of the moment decision coz I cannot make up my mind.
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