My Journey Home (Part 2)

Okay, so there I was in Sydney, trying to just get on a freakin' plane for Tokyo. Made it to Tokyo finally, managed to sleep quite a bit on the plane, even though it wasn't as comfortable as I would have like (Japan Airlines, for future reference has VERY small seats) and I had a seat next to a drunken Irishman (aren't they all? Just teasing) who didn't get the hint that talking throughout the flight was certainly not most welcome. Anyway, watched a few movies, slept, ate etc. Got through Narita Airport procedures pretty quickly (one of the benefits of arriving as the first flight in the morning. Took the shuttlebus to the hotel where I was informed that since I was going to be flying out the following day, the arrangement for my room was that I was going to have to pay ¥16,000 to stay the night! I only had ¥35,000 total and I still had yet to do all my Christmas shopping! Told the very shocked desk clerk that I most certainly was NOT going to be paying, that JAL stuffed up and they were going to cover it. After much to-ing and fro-ing, I finally got my room (and a nice one at that) and settled in for a bit. A note on Japanese television - WOW!! Morning telly in Japan is STRANGE! I was SO hoping to come across some interest anime program, but all I got was MegaMan - something I could have watched at home! Anyway, got my ass into Tokyo on the train for some shopping and stuff. Went to the Apple Store in Ginza (WOW again, that's all I have to say on that) and found some excellent bargains on gifts for Christmas (kokeshi dolls for Mum, traditional paper fan for Dad, Tokyo Giants ballcap for Karl, car magazines for Peter, some things to send back to me matey's in Australia, some nifty little things to send to Marie Louise in London and a nice metal Buddha for myself). I went back to the buddhist temple Sensoji, the same one I went to on my way to Australia - and did some shopping there as well. Went to Akihabara to see the manga shops, check out the new gadgets (PSX from Sony was already sold out everywhere I went, and it hadn't even come out yet!) and got some nifty little things (MechaGodzilla figure, Akira figure stuff like that). Had ramen noodles in my favourite little ramen shop in Asakusa and stuffed myself while I was at it. Never before in my life have I had noodles as good as these handmade ones in Tokyo. So, now I've had a 12 hour delay getting to Japan, finally got settled, got my shopping done and was ready to head back to the hotel for my final night's sleep before heading home to Toronto. For those who don't know, the subway system in Tokyo is enormous, confusing, and consists of three different companies for which a separate ticket is required for each one. Best just to get a day pass that covers all of them and then there's no need to worry about how to get to where you want to go. The trains run on time, efficiently and calmly - even in rush hour. Well, that's about to change. See, bad things come in three's and I got my second that day. The train stopped suddenly at the station, the doors open, people get off, others get on, the doors close and the power shuts off. Of course, I'm looking stupidly confused by this, and even more so as I screw up my face in mock understanding of the announcement coming over the PA system, presumably that there is a delay on the train. Several people pull out their mobiles, and start chatting away, so I'm assuming there's going to be quite the delay. Not to worry, I have nowhere else I need to be. About 20 minutes later after much running back and forth of the clearly excited train personnel, another announcement causing many groans and moans comes on, and we get off the train. Well, I reckon I'm only one stop from where I need to be, guess I'll just walk it. Ended up talking to some Japanese girl in english (of course) about where the station was (she asked me, mind, as though I should know these things?) and tells me that there was apparently a suicide as someone jumped off the platform into the train as it was pulling into the station. Huh. Strange things happen I guess. Next day, no dramas as I get on the plane, get my seat (with an empty one next to me thankfully), made it through Chicago chatting away to a VERY bubbly girl from Burlington. Plane leaves, plane lands, customs is a breeze, one bag comes on the conveyor - the other one not to be found. So, my parents are waiting in the arrivals lounge to greet me and I'm being hassled by the baggage claim people about filling in stupid forms to find my bag. And no, it couldn't be the one that has my non-essentials in it - nope, its the one with my toiletries, my clothes and even my laptop charger. Guess I needed that third thing to happen, huh. They found it finally, lost in Chicago (thanks American Airlines for the continuing commitment to customer service!) Five days later I got it delivered. So I managed to lug over 39 kilos of stuff from Melbourne, to Sydney, to Tokyo to Chicago without a "real" hitch - and finally in Chicago they lose it. On a flight of 25 people, only lasting an hour. Efficiency reigns. Anyway, that's the saga of my journey home. The new journey is starting - and I'm not sure I'm ready for a new one yet. Some time to relax would be good, but I'm not going to get it - that would be far too easy.