Our start was not that way we have expected, because we did not get seats at the window but right in the middle of the plane. Fucked up, we spent time in gaming, watching movies and trying to get some sleep. Indeed, it was a really quite flight to Tokyo/Narita, because Japanese do not speak loud. Instead they are really calm and polite. Finally arriving Japan we decided to leave the airport to explore some famous hotspots of Narita. First we were unsure to proceed in, because we got different answers - from “
Yes u can!”, “
Yes u can be using a visa“, up to “
No u can´t leave transitzone“
Nevertheless it was the best idea believing in Obamas way to declare “
YES WE CAN”. So we left transitzone on Terminal 1 at 8:20 am, took first bus to Terminal 2 and actually used there an ATM to get some cash. Conclusion at the ATM? A 10,000 Yen note looks similar to an US Dollar note. And there is an firebird on the backside. Those who know me well, understand the big smile on my face! ;-) By the way a 100 Yen are 1 Euro in exchange.
Pockets full of money we entered a hop on hop off retro bus directly at the Terminal 2 at 9:30 am. We decided to explore the shopping mall and the temple at next 6 hours to come. Lessons learnd pretty soon,, japanese people do not understand english, nor they speak. BUT they are always friendly laughing at u and nodding their heads :-)
At the hop on/off bus, two Aussies gave us a helping hand, because the bus driver could not exchange the tickets. So the Australian guys paid our tickets - backpacking friends forever :-D (by the way, a day ticket costs 500 Yen per person).
First stop at the AEON mall Narita, we got flashed by all these unreadable signs and prices. All items and goods which were presented and shown at the shops were blinking and flashing in all fabulous colours. Japanese like it really … hmm .. let say it this way -
they life in an other world as European does :-D And of course there was a great game area at the mall, which drove me crazy. All mixed noise seemed coming out of hell… As an European u felt lost in an other dimension. aja... dimensions... pissoires are so low beneath the earth, that u have to watch out not wet your knees :-))
After paying off my scores to the Aussies we shopped at the Hard Rock Café and then went on to the Naritasan monzen (Shinshoji Temple).
Lucky man we are leaving airport. Area, spirit and park surrounding the temple are so indescribable beautiful. U have to experience it on your own!
We decided to return earlier to the airport, to rearrange the seats of the next flight to Auckland, because our booked seats were not each other. Well, .. same Japanese have not still learned english during our visit. An the way back to airport we missed the bus, cause we waited at wrong bus station. Another 1 hour to head on at this lovely place, we climbed up a small street and explored a few small shops along the way.
Actually back to airport, the next failure popped up. By arranging new seats at Air New Zealand, the friendly lady at the counter infored us of another stopover in Christchurch for at least an hour. This wasn´t planned this way- Positiv fact, we got seats each other at the window…
...off we go to Christchurch
(more information will follow - WLAN sucks at hotels so far)
