In Country

Here I am. The flight over was long (surprise, surprise), but made the more so 'cause I had to sit in a window seat (which always seems more cramped). Halfway through the flight, though, I moved to an empty aisle seat in a row of four, and ended up talking for the rest of the flight to an attractive Japanese girl who was sitting in the same row. Means I didn't get any sleep, but I can think of worse ways to spend four hours.

Immigration was the usual pain to pass through at Narita: long, twisting line that took I don't how long, but by the time I got down to the luggage carousel, it seemed all the other passengers had collected their bags, but mine - as mysterious left-overs - had been segregated and were being anxiously fondled by a trio of concerned-looking staff.

Figured out the train to Ueno without mishap, and finally napped as it made the hour-long trek from the airport to where I'm staying. The grey, drab landscape - made even greyer and drabber by the rain - was certainly conducive to sleep: nobody wants to look at that at the start of a vacation.

After asking directions at Ueno station to my hotel, I made the hump with bags in tow to my lodging, which is (for Tokyo) an affordable business hotel (i.e. $100 per night for a cramped room with tiny shower) - dingy, but staffed by reasonably sharp kids.