TOKYO.

Tokyo was really great. It was lovely to see my Dad, a familiar face is always a comfort. Where to start with Tokyo!? Its a metropolis for sure, we climbed a few of those jolly sky scrapers (when I say climbed I mean shared some sardine packed lifts) and there was only one view. Tokyo. Tokyo. Tokyo. And a Mountain. Just joshing, no it was just Tokyo to be seen. In all directions. A particular favorite perk of traveling with your Dad is the plush hotels and bars you get to frequent. Just to make you a bit jealous:

Thats me, (Hello) in the bar they filmed most of Lost in Translation. No peanuts were sent our way, but they were very nice to us all the same. The last is a photo of the view from the room, Tokyo Bay at dusk.

GIFTED.

We went to Gifu over the weekend to sort out a little ambition we hadn't realized we even had. Ever seen the HSBC advert about amazing fishermen in Japan that have a relationship with the local birds that help them fish at night? Been there, seen it, done it. Even had a traditional Japanese dance performance on a parallel boat. Came across a shrine for children too, with rows of paper cranes hung up for good health.

On our boat-of-amazing-dreams, met a very nice family who had some of those cool bean paste and leaf parcel sweets. They were with their friend of 20 years who was also a Buddhist Monk. Hit that.