Fuji-San, boiling petrol and fish.




What a fab couple of days we've been having.  Fuji was shrouded with thick cloud when we woke up but, as we drove towards it, everything cleared and it put on quite a show.  


The car does not like the volatile petrol and it keeps boiling. Something to do with where the pipes and the carburettor are in relation to each other. As I write, it shaving its insides re-routed. A few other cars are having similar difficulties.  



Getting into Tokyo was surprisingly easy - despite signage confusion, we came straight to the hotel with not one traffic hold up. I wish driving in London was so straightforward. We came in on a very high level road but I don't suppose a flyover at eighth storey level along Marylebone and Euston roads would go down too well. 




Tokyo is a very cool and exciting city and well worth a few days exploration.  We are staying at the fabulous Palace hotel overlooking the Imperial gardens. This morning, the occupants of cars 9 and 14 left at 0530 to go the fish market.  They've clamped down massively since I was last there when it was possible to go everywhere, including the daily tuna auction where each fish can sell for around $500,000 or more.  





However, we enjoyed the outer market, ate amazing sushi and hot sake at 6.00am, and I bought a beautiful cooks knife that was lovingly sharpened for me. Pads and I were brave enough to eat sea urchin sashimi. (As I typed that last sentence my iPad auto corrected "brave" to "grave" - an omen? Spooky).  We seem to have survived although it does have a distinct public lavatory sort of taste.  I wouldn't bother if I was you, quite frankly, we've eaten it for you.  


Mr S left the fuel cap at a filling station a couple of days ago. I can say nothing as I did the same thing in Brazil a few years ago.  The foil around Treacey's famous cake came in handy as it is now stopping our fuel from sloshing out, being held in place with a plastic band.  Thank god for Trecay Reddington. Maker of fabulous fruitcake and provider of a makeshift fuel cap. We're heading north tomorrow.  I just hope leaving Tokyo is as easy as getting in. 





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A volcano and some frogs.

Image
Adcap I visited Costa Rica in 1996 when we spent three weeks driving all over and I absolutely loved it. This time, we spent hardly any time in the country, just a quick wiz through but with a great day off near La Fortuna, home of Arenal volcano and a wonder of the world. According to me, anyway.   In 1996, the volcano was going through an active phase and, during the day, there were multiple eruptions of volcanic ash.  It was at night though that we really struck lucky. We were staying at the Observatory Lodge, just a bit over a mile from the volcano and in an elevated position, so the view was astounding.  I was awakened by the bed shaking, I woke the kids up and we rushed outside to see the show. What a sight! Molten lava was exploding out of the top and running in rivulets down the side. It was one of the most exciting spectacles of my life.  Alas, this time it was not to be as it has been in a quiet phase si...
Read more

Yangon

Image
L We had a very easy day today.  There was not much rally stuff to do, except collecting the cars and reviving old friendships and making some new ones. Adrian and I set off for Scotts Market in the morning -  we were on a mission.  Adrian thinks he left his Tilley hat in a restaurant in Siem Reap, it has disappeared anyway.  Trying to buy a hat for such a large head in a land of small people is not easy.  He found a rather natty bamboo solar topee look alike in the market in super giant size though so the top of his head is saved.  The market was very orderly and clean, as is everywhere here, and was stuff to the gunnels with everything you could possibly need in life. Next door to the market is a magnificent Anglican Cathedral.  It is in surprisingly good condition inside and is set in beautifully tended gardens.  We talked to the Vicar who told us that there was not too big a congregation but, at least now, anyone can worship freely, unlike dur...
Read more