Recovery time was had and a few days later.....we were off to Disneyland!!!!!!!!! The excitement clear as day as we jumped out of bed at 8am. We had decided to spend 2 days there, one at Disneyland and one at DisneySea. So we booked ourselves into the Sheraton just next to Disneyland. Surprisingly it was the cheapest and best option out of most other places. Two nights for the price of one regular cost of the Sydney one. A bargain!!
Our Disney view
Supposedly this was the best time of year to go as it was just the start of Autumn: so no humidity, and just after school holidays: so no waiting in the queues for 3 hours! With rain threatening we headed there regardless. The amusements of everything was enough to preoccupy us for 9 ½ hours of non stop adventure!
We had arrived for the first day of Halloween at Disney. So the theme was fierce and everyone was dressed head to toe in Disney character outfits. It really endorsed the Disney spirit and took people watching to the next entertainment level. It was great!
In hysterical excitement, Sophi's love for Disney and all things cute (maybe an asian trait coming through!!) supplied endless energy, and Cam's inner boy came out with wanting to head straight to Tomorrowland to Space Mountain.
Cheesy Disney Spirit
Many had advised us to get a 'FAST PASS'. A pass that you get from the ride you want to go on. It gives you a time to come back, so to miss the long queues (average being 1.5 hours which no Japs had a problem with). However....the most popular rides can run out by 2pm! (Such as Winnie the Pooh!) The catch is you can only get one every few hours, so no chance in piling up all the good rides in one go. Taking good use of this system gave us more time to explore.
Timing was on our side and all the rides and parades fitted in perfect timing one after the other by sheer coincidence and no intent on our behalf. After circulating the theme park multiple times riding on everything we could (even a few classic shit rides were thrown in there), the only sad event was the closer of Splash Mountain for maintenance. Anyone could easily be swept up by this novel fantasy world.
From beginning to end of 9 ½ hours all energy was exerted till gates closed and every bit loved. The daily finale of Disney fireworks left all on a happy note. We headed back to the hotel ready and rearing for the day ahead.....DisneySea was beckoning.
DISNEYSEA!!!!!
Up early and excited all over again, our bodies once again re-energised themselves with excitement. A hearty buffet breakfast was had and the journey to another world began.
Disneyland, a childhood favourite. Something new was even more awe inspiring. DisneySea a concept never yet seen by either of of us.
With various reviews of DisneySea being: either better or worse, better for older people, more romantic, more fun cause you can drink, not as many rides..... one was to wonder what to expect.
The Disney monorail pulled up into the surroundings of a man made shipping yard. Attention to every detail wasn't gone unnoticed in either Disney world. Theme details and of Mickey in every which way or form.
The work of DisneySea was amazing. A mini Venice and Mediterranean Harbour gave a beautiful view with a giant steam liner in the adjacent world of the American waterfront. This harboured Cam's favourite ride the Tower of Terror.
Across the water was Port Discovery: a futuristic land.
Further on was Lost River Delta: a land set in Central America with ancient pyramids and jungle surroundings. The Raging Spirits roller coaster was sadly closed and the Indiana Jones ride sped its way throughout the pyramid.
Mysterious Land: the central land which is a giant volcano. A great massive structure that you ventured through to the middle where it was open with sea flowing through it. Quite spectacular.
The last leg of the lands was saved till last for Sophi... her 2 favourite Disney movies.
Little Mermaid was represented by the underground world of Mermaid Lagoon. Cam had never seen Sophi so snap happy. For Sophi this was a childhood dream come true. A childhood of going to Disneyland in America never delivered this world.
The entrance was the underwater castle and when you entered... it took you to an under water world. Many hours was spent searching every corner.
A much more segregated world spread over a vaster space meant tired little legs. Yet still strong and excited with determination to do everything, a full 12 hour day was achieved till gates closed. The daily fireworks display again left everyone on a good note. However the grand fire display took the cake with lit monsters coming from the Mediterranean waters. Flames several metres high singed the faces of mile long crowds. A display we only caught the few last moments of.
Although new and not as many rides, the potential for the future growth and additions to come over years was foreseen and we are ready and waiting to return.
Japan: a consumers world
Every Disney store (and there were millions of them) was jam packed with Disney lovers and stock was flying off the shelves at an amazing rate. To the point frantic little shopkeepers were forever seen consistently restocking the shelves, yet at times not fast enough where some looked quite bare.
A well behaved Sophi restricted herself to all things miniature and flat... although if she had been allowed she would've gone biserk!!
Where else to put a thriving theme park but Japan. The land of obsession of all things cute, and a place where any product will sell within a milli-second to one of the most densely populated countries in the world. A phenomenon never to be forgotten.
After 2 epic days we headed back to our hotel. Few glasses of wine, cheese and sleep was in order. The final day our journey home we took the Disney monorail to the station. At this station is Iksperia. Unknown to us it is actually a massive shopping complex on Disney ground. Last minute shopping and the discovery of Kua' Aina Burgers (Hawaiian burgers) tied it all up.
A note on the burgers – a priceless discovery as they were the best 'real' burgers we had discovered in Japan. Something later that was to become a tradition with the discovery that it had branches all through Tokyo.
ADVENTURE CLUB AIR
On Saturday we made plans to go to Club Air near Shibuya for Sasha's birthday (a friend through Mel). We met a large group from Sophi's work at a standing bar in Shibuya. We started walking to the club......
Matt and Kaori
Mr Know-it-all Pick new a “faster way” if we got a cab and it would only cost us $10 to get there.
So the 3 of us jumped in a cab with our flatmate Ryo.
The taxi dropped us off at Daikanyama station and James assured us it was not far from there. 2 hours and taxis later, we ended up back at Shibuya station! Tiredness and grumpiness started to show but we finally met a random who knew where it was. No one seemed to have any idea. Once inside James told Cam a little secret............that he'd never even been to this club before and had had no idea how to get here! He was thinking of another club Unit. Silly Jimmy Bob.
So finally we arrived very late..... they had a DJ playing there from Pacha in Ibiza (Richard Grey). He was pumping out some solid house tunes, albeit, most of were a little wary from the long walk there. After a few drinks we sparked up and hit the dance floor.
3 = Trouble
We met some cool J people there that night, one in particular a guy who was in the Japanese army. His life-long dream was to dance. James gave some very helpful advice on how to jump up and down in the air to house music.... great work Jimmy.
Army Moves
Dawn was breaking and first train was calling. We ventured into the morning light and to our surprise, guess what was right next to the club???? SHIBUYA STATION!
Urban Sunrise
When we got home, James and Cam once again decided that going to bed was a bad idea.....
They bought some cheap drinks from the Convein-ee and headed into the local sports university. Sitting courtside during basketball training yelling out calls of “Travel” and “You're off the team”.
As we left we felt somewhat embarrased by our actions, but none the less, a good night was had.
Sunday, Cam spent the day at Komazawa Park with Dave and Kumi... Sophi spent the day in bed nursing a sweet hangover. It was nice to be out in the sun again relaxing, unfortunately the pool had been closed because it wasn't summer anymore even though it was 30-something degrees.
Kumi Stylin
James, Sophi and Cam headed out for some local Chinese food and we suddenly realised that it was Ashley's farewell party. James and Cam hurried off and drank a few beers with him and his mates. Got to meet some new J people which was cool. We were not in the best state after the weekend just passed so we got the midnight train home for some well-earned sleep.
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