As we decided to forgo a trip outside of Tokyo, T and I decided to make the most of our ‘’staycation” and see the sights we’ve not yet done in the city. On the agenda for today: Tokyo Tower.

What many consider to be the focal point of Tokyo, the Tokyo tower is situated just past Zojoji Temple, one of the largest in Tokyo.

The small figures above are found on the left side of the shrine. Each has its own red knit cap and pin wheel. Each cap has been hand knit and many a different styles and in different conditions.

Just across the street is the Tokyo Tower. Picture the Eiffel Tower in bright orange.

Although the clouds rolled in during the late afternoon, we were able to get some shots from the Special Observatory while the sky was still blue. You’ll notice that Tokyo goes on as far as the eye can see in almost all directions. It is sprawling and enormous.

The views were pretty spectacular. The lines equally so. In the end, we opted to hike down the stairs only to find a small amusement park on the roof of the base building.

Yes, those children are riding giant bears. No, I really don’t know why. To say it was a strange little amusement park would be a massive understatement.

Following the tower we wandered over to Shimbashi for our favorite sushi while taking in the sights along the way.

For anyone who is planning on visiting Tokyo a note on Sushi: One of the best sushi place’s we’ve found is actually under the train tracks between the Shimbashi and Yurakacho stations. The sushi melts in your mouth.

And now a quiet evening of Olympic watching.

Up tomorrow: Still deciding, you’ll just have to wait and see!

About a year ago this time I looked like this:

No, I don’t turn the air conditioning up that high.

There’s a saying in Japan that “Climb Fuji-san once and you are a fool no more. Climb it twice and you are forever a fool.”

In July and August of each year thousands of people partake in the rite of passage known as “climbing mt. fuji.” While we’ve since learned that none of the people we know have climbed it, T and I decided that we too should partake as we’d heard it wasn’t that bad.  Normal people would realize that the words “not too bad” and “mountain climbing” don’t typically go in the same sentence. We didn’t.

So, for those contemplating a climb up Fuji, I offer you (a year late) review of the experience.

Step One: Getting to Mt. Fuji.

Prior to setting out we’d been told that a bus would pick us up from Shinjuku and deliver us directly to the 5th base station of Fuji. What no one told us was that the bus required reservations and was fully booked throughout the month of August. Determined to conquer the mountain, T and I set off on a three train journey that found us on a packed train of goth teenagers who were setting off to the amusement park just a bit away from Fuji. Three hours (and trains) later we found ourselves at the fifth base station.

Step Two: Climbing It.

Climbing Fuji-san is technically not too bad. When I say “not too bad” I mean you don’t have to haul oxygen or use ropes. You do have a lot of uphill walking to do.  For said uphill walking I’ll reiterate the guide book notes: Buy the wooden climbing sticks at the 5th base station.

As you climb up Fuji-san and pass by each base station you can pay 100JPY ($1) to have your stick branded with that station’s elevation, number and symbol. While this may seem a bit uncool it does become quite fun at times. I’ll also admit that as the sunset and we weren’t even close to our sleeping station, those brands were a strong motivator.

It’s also important to note that there are some areas that require literal rock climbing. While we aren’t exactly mountain goats, our headlamps proved quite helpful as we scrambled along.

Step Three: Look around as you go!

Our initial plan was to see the sunrise. This meant that if we wanted to take it at a normal pace (with some breaks) along with a nap at a mountain station, we needed to set out before sunset. The sunset itself was an incredible site.

Step Four: Take a nap we 35 of your closest friends!

As the sun went down and the headlamps were turned up (very necessary and very unattractive) we finally made our way up the mountain to our base station. Having made reservations weeks in advance, we were able to spend a few hours getting acclimated to the elevation.

Note: Some would say you don’t need to stop and rest. Some also believe that it is possible to alternate puffs from a cigarette  and a can of oxygen…Some were later seen throwing up on the side of the mountain. We recommend the nap.

Although we’d originally thought we’d be able to get a solid five or six hours in, upon our arrival at the base station, we discovered that in order to see the sunrise from the top you must leave at 3:30 am. After a bit of fretting over this, we begrudgingly agreed to the “wakeup call” and went to find our places. While we were expecting a row of cots, what we found was twenty times more amusing:bunk beds. Not just any bunk beds..but bunk beds that held 35 people a bed. Yup. We slept with 35 people in one night. 35 Snoring and gassy people. Being the two least mature people in the situation T and I spent half the night laughing.

Step Five: Stand in line for the Sunrise.

We hopped in line to reach the summit just after 3:30am. Yes, a line. This is Japan after all and Japan is famous for its lines and the way people love standing in line.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it up in time for the sunrise but we instead opted to park along side the line and actually enjoy the sunrises (it was the goal of the entire exercise).

And it was very pretty:

Step Six: The Summit.

With the sun finally overhead, we finished the ascent to find the summit of Fuji-san to be full of people, food stalls and souvenir shops. Too tired to find this odd, we found a small corner and took some time to enjoy the view and our newly complete walking sticks.

Step Seven: Get down safely.

The path down Fuji-san was actually worse than the path up. Covered in loss, slipping rocks the mountain side proved to be pretty difficult to maneuver as people slipped and fell their way down the mountain.  The view through the clouds was pretty though.

All in all it was a great adventure.  If you are planning to climb the mountain be sure to take plenty of snacks, clothes and pictures!

Our first morning in Sydney we ventured downtown to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Following a brief orientation that included signing a waiver and taking a breathalyzer test we were outfitted with jumpsuits where everything is strapped or clipped on to you so nothing falls off the bridge. Aside from a fleece, rain-shell, a beanie cap, and gloves, everyone is fitted with a harness to keep you on the bridge. After that you get to climb a few ladders and walkways inside to give you a feel for what you’ll be facing outside, but to be honest nothing prepares you for the reality of the actual climb.

So after 45 minutes of preparation we faced the point of no return as we stepped out on to the underbelly of the bridge. Oddly enough this, for me, was the scariest part. Basically you walk along two narrow planks with nothing but the harbour beneath you while ducking through girders and beams to get to the ladders that take you up. This portion of the climb lasted roughly 10-15 minutes. Following that you have to ascend several flights of ladders as cars and busses rush by.

One step at a time…

It reminded me of what my father told me when he served in the Navy on a helicopter carrier with the stairs leading up to a noisy flight deck and down into the water. But I followed the instructor up and didn’t look back until I was secure with Chicken #2 on the upper level as she followed behind me.

Once we were actually on the upper part of the bridge the rest of the climb was relatively easy. From this vantage point the views were stunning as the entire city unfolded before our eyes. Unfortunately it was at this time the rain really started to pick up. Initially the weather looked promising, but we wisely chose to take along protective gear and were glad as we would have been soaked otherwise.

For roughly an hour we walked up the bridge to the top and then back down all while getting a brief history lesson, some great exercise, and having some photos taken of us.

All in all it was great and we really enjoyed it. Our guide was very entertaining and helpful throughout the entire process; thus making something very scary fairly manageable.

Would we do it again? Sure, but hopefully we’ll get better weather next time!

-T

Next up – Exploring Sydney

Nemo has been found. He was frolicking in a reef about 90 minutes off of Port Douglas, Australia named Playground. He was also spotted later in the Dark Reef. The little guy gets around.

Anyway.

When we first started planning our trip to Australia I put my foot down and demanded a trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

After we were certified in scuba last year, it seemed sacrilegious to be in the area of some of the best diving the world over and not go. So chickens #1 and #2 signed up for two days of scuba diving…then spent two months preparing our wills and gizmo’s custodian ship just in case. Needless to say, we were a little nervous.

Also, apologies for some of the photos – it’s hard to take pictures while floating/breathing underwater/trying to capture moving objects.

For our trip out to the reef we were picked up at 7am and driven about an hour and a half north of Cairns to Port Douglas in order to board the high speed boat that would take us out to the reef. Full of snorkelers, divers and one woman who boarded the boat already holding a sick bag, the Poseidon was a great boat.

T says – Only Meg would book us on a boat called the Poseidon…?!?

M replies – I still have no idea what you are talking about.

A few Dramamine later – for precaution sake – and we were zipping up our wetsuits and strapping on our airtanks.

Bubbles are fun to photograph. And bubbles are pretty much the only thing I got pictures of the first dive as I had to reorient myself into surviving underwater adventures. I should also add, I am making it sound a lot worse then it is but I am, afterall, chicken #2.

Here is a shot of chicken #1 underwater. He asked that i post this lovely photo so no one will doubt he did it.

Here is chicken #2 – confirming that no one looks attractive cold, wet and underwater.

The second dive was much easier and a lot more fun as we quickly remembered what we were doing and I figured out how to use the rental camera.

An important note on the GBR – The big ol’ sharks that eat people don’t hang out there. Prior to taking the plunge we were assured that the only sharks in the reef were the reef sharks who were likely to be under six feet and are most likely to be seen swimming vigorously away as they were the only things more nervous underwater then the two of us.

Lucky for them (us? T’s heart?) we didn’t see any of them. We did see quite a few types of clown fish, coral and all sorts of other fish. If I were a more diligent diver I would be able to name them for you but homework was never really my strength.

Overall, we had a great dive experience and I’d love to go back to a different section and see some sea turtles.

Sadly, we only got the chance to go one day as the morning of our second dive all of our adventures and travel caught up with us. As we were both exhausted we decided a car ride and bumpy boat ride wasn’t the best idea so instead we napped and walked the beach.

Next Up – Sydney and yet another death defying feat (perhaps that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but you’ll have to wait and see until tomorrow.)