TOURIST TUESDAY: DAY EIGHT HARAJUKU

And just like that it was time to go home. In true 'us' style we spent the last day eating. Wandering the streets taking photos. Then taking advantage of the fact we were staying in a Air B&B, and having a massive nap, and shower.

I used my skills at packing, and fitted all of our (Justin's) purchases back in the same small bags we came over with. Bar for one extra bag/box which had his new Docs in them.

Taxi, bus, plane. Waiting. Lines. Three whole novels read. And before we knew it we were back at the Gold Coast.

Lucky for me Justin can drive/survive on little to no sleep cause Jarvis and I slept the whole drive home. Why is it I can sleep so well in a car, but never on a plane? Maybe it was that coffee in a can before we left Tokyo?

I have to send out another thank you to the travel gods. Jarvis was an angel to travel with. 

TOURIST TUESDAY: DAY SEVEN HARAJUKU

We had planned to spend the morning and most of the day photographing the Tokyo Rockabilly Club. Which has been gathering every Sunday in Yoyogi Park near Meiji-Jingumae station for thirty years to celebrate spirit of the 50s. Justin and I had been excited about this for weeks. But of course on the one Sunday we are in Tokyo is rains. And no one shows up.

To commiserate we have a ginormous breakfast, and opted to spend the day just wandering around Harajuku. 

With a pitt stop for Justin to buy new Docs. (great customer service here!)

Yes, we could have travelled else where. But, travelling with a toddler, and with both Justin's and my love of photographing people. We knew we would be more than happy to people watch. I took so many photos that day, a lot with my little (heavy) accessory on my shoulders. On busy days, Justin and I take turns keeping Jarvis up high above the crowds

The highlight of the day for Jarvis was we went to the Deus Cafe, and we finally found him a chocolate milkshake. Jarvis got to oggle the bikes, and Jarvis consumed two milkshakes. So I had two very happy boys. 

Look at his milk stoned eyes! So content!

TOURIST TUESDAY: DAY SIX. SHINJUKU AND SHIMOKITAZAWA. NIGHT

All three of us woke a little flat on day six. Not Sure if it was because we had such a good day the day before, or because it was our first day of grey weather.

We had breakfast at a cafe in Harajuku, first meal I did not eat. I ordered an omelette and it came out cold and floating in grease.

Another train ride to Shinjuku, which is one of the 23 city wards of Tokyo, but the name commonly refers to just the large entertainment, business and shopping area around Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku Station is the world's busiest railway station, handling more than two million passengers every day.

But the time we had walked through my tummy was feeling gross. Justin headed straight for Big Camera (Big Camera is one of Japan's leading discount electronics retailers. It has two large stores in Shinjuku: one in the Odakyu Halc Building near the station's west exit and one east of the station near the Isetan department store.) Whereas I headed for the nearest toilet. Thank you Maccas at Shinjuku. Justin bought enough film to fill an entire shelf of our fridge back at home.

Justin and I joke at least once every holiday I get an extreme upset tummy/bowel. Only exception has been in Bali. Nup, never had Bali belly!

Back on the train to Shimokitazawa, where we found a great cafe to have lunch. The neighbourhood is often compared with the backstreets of Ura-Harajuku smaller shop units and restricted vehicular access Shimokitazawa has limited appeal to larger domestic and international fashion merchandisers, enabling independent retailers to survive.

The numerous cafes and second-hand and vintage shops, Shimokitazawa is

popular with students and followers of Japanese youth subcultures. Or people like me, who just do not like normal retail shops. I only bought one vintage cardigan. Justin bought a little (a lot) more.

After a late nap we headed back on the trains to visit Sensō-ji. Senso-ji Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo. It is one of the oldest and most significant temples of japan.

We got to see a Geshia wandering around with her client. Stunning costume. Plus the temple at night is absolutely stunning. Unfortunately I did not get a shot of her. But if you head over to Justin's Facebook page you can see the image he got.

The rain pushed us back onto the train, and back to Harajku, Crepes on the side of the road were a stand in for Justin's birthday cake. 

 Elevator Selfies of the day.

PEOPLE I MEET: PEOPLE OF JAPAN. WHEN IS IT TOO MUCH MAKE UP?

TOURIST TUESDAY: DAY FIVE UEON PARK/ZOO DAY, TOKYO NIGHT

We had gone to bed the night before planning a huge day for today. We had gone to bed thinking, that this day was Justin's birthday. Thinking that today, Justin would be turning 33. What we did not realise, is we had gotten our dates mixed up.

I had bought Justin's gifts the day before, so when we woke we head off straight away on our adventure for the day. Well not before fuelling our bellies. It would not be a day with Big J and Little j, if it was not dominated by food.

A train ride to Ueon Train Station, where more food was purchased. Then a quick walk to Ueno Park. The park was established in 1873 on lands formerly belonging to the temple of Kanei-ji. Ueno Park is also celebrated in spring for its cherry blossoms, which unfortunately we missed.  

We rented a pedal-powered swan and floated around Shinobazu pond in Ueno Park, I say floated, but with Jarvis in charge of the wheel, it made for an interesting ride. I have never giggle so much when we peddled up to another boat to ask if they would take our photo.

Renting the boat alone would have made my day. But, just before we hopped on the boat Justin realised the date, it was only the 9th. We had spend the last six hours thinking it was his birthday, nup wrong day. I guess when you travel dates really do not matter that much.

It was then another short walk through the area where the cherry blossoms would have normally been in bloom to the Ueno Zoo. Ueno Zoo is a 14.3-hectare zoo, It is Japan's oldest zoo, opening on March 20, 1882.

With not enough time to see all of the zoo we let Jarvis pick out his favourite animals. At the entrance we also hired a stroller. This was a tad small for Jarvis, yet it helped us cover the huge distance of the zoo without Jarvis asking to be carried. Plus, it was great to dump all of our stuff in.

After a couple of hours at the zoo, in the heat, we were all quickly running out off energy, so back to the train station and back to our accommodation for a much needed nap.

On our way to dinner we went via an op shop, or three. I have to say, Tokyo has the best op shops. Incredible stock in great condition for really good prices. I could have gone crazy.

Noodles for dinner, so yummy. Justin has been attempting to recreate this deliciousness since we have gotten home. He has mastered the broth, but not the pork. So any hints on how to do this?

After dinner Jarvis asked for a milkshake. Do you know it is impossible to find a milkshake in Tokyo? We tried and tried. Maccas had grape milkshakes, gross, and we tried close to a dozen cafes with no luck. I would have a child who is addicted to milkshakes in a country that rarely even does chocolate milk. I even put a call out on Facebook to friend who travel to Japan/Tokyo a lot if they had any hints. To the ones who told me there are lots of other yummy treats...yes i know this. But you clearly are the ones with not kids. When a child has travelled like an angel for almost a week and asks "peas milkshake Mummy", you know the kid deserves one.

With no luck, we ended up in a five? Six story toy store. Out of all of those toys all he asked for was one matchbox car and one melamine plate. Yes, because he rarely if ever asks for 'stuff', my gorgeous boy got them. 

 Family Elevator Selfie of the Day

TOURIST TUESDAY: DAY ONE CURRUMBIN

I am counting the day, before we flew out to Japan, as day one of our holidays. As a day on the beach was a perfect prelude. 

Our flight was at 6am the next morning, with us needing to be at the airport at 4am, we thought it easier to spend the night at the Gold Coast

We left late morning to arrive at the Gold Cost in time for our 2pm check in, and took advantage of the beach in front of our accommodation. Every single time I go to a beach I sit there and day dream about living with-in walking distance to an ocean.

I am a last minute packer. Always have been, I buy/organise a few things in the week leading up to going away, but I always pack at the last minute. Combination of the fact I don't own enough clothes to pack in advance, and I never know what I will 'feel' like packing.

Which, in all of my overseas trips, has worked for me. Bar for this time. I blame it on Chester's party the day before, and two separate sets of visitors popping in to visit before we left. I am always cold on plans. in fact I often wear a light cardi all year round. So of course the one thing I forgot to pack is anything warm.

It was about 5pm when I realised I forgot to pack warmer clothes and my belt. Knew I would being going shopping the first day in Tokyo.

When do you pack?