A Sister is a Gift to the Heart...

 ..."a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life." ~ Isadora James

    My sister and I had a few days in Japan together while she was here on island for her and her husband's vacation back to Guam. We left Guam on Sunday evening around 7pm and arrived into Haneda Airport around 10pm that night. We just checked into our hotel room at the Royal Park Haneda Hotel within the airport. It was time for bed soon after.

By morning, we got ready and ate breakfast, than planned our trip for Monday in Japan. Breakfast was in the hotel as we got the breakfast added feature during our stay. The hotel room was small, but very stylish and the bed was so comfortable and just right, well at least for me. Haha! My sister not so much, as it was too firm for her. 
 

The hotel's Tailwind restaurant and buffet, above. They had some of the same food choices as in Narita Gateway Hotel. We felt it was an ideal place to stay as it was just in the airport and close to getting around Tokyo for us. The hallway was long and eerie a bit too but nice. We decided on Monday to start with a scenic place, The Anamori Inari Shrine. We made our way from the hotel to the Keikyu Airport Line. Because according to Google it was the easiest route to take to get to it. 

The weather wasn't ideal sadly. Raining most of the day. As we made our way towards the shrine. First, we got off too early from the stop we should've taken. I realized it when we walked out of the train station and ended up on a bridge and the surrounding areas did not look like the right place. Haha! So we ended up having to get back on the train and when we did, we got out on the correct stop. Sadly, by then it was raining harder. Lita had a head ache, so luckily there was a Seven Eleven store just off of the ramp from the station. We bought umbrellas and it was just to wet to continue for a scenic walk. So back onto the train we went and headed back to the airport. 

We ended up not getting off at the right stop. Darn, so we ended up staying on the train a bit longer than we needed too. When we finally got back, we put our coats and umbrellas in our room and made our way to the shopping area. The 4 and 5 floors was designed in an Edo Era style and we made our way up this wooden bridge. We looked around and did a bit of shopping. Than, found a place to eat lunch. We sat for a bit and just relaxed and people watched. 

 

On the 5th floor we found the observation deck and lots of shops on both sides of the area. A whole gacha shop, and little souvenir shops, etc. My sister went into most of them first and then I did after her, since I had a wheelchair. Lots of cute things to see for sure!

I even spotted this remote control car speed race game. I think Sara, Brenavin and Sam might enjoy this one! Haha! We even spotted a Sora Donki store in the other side of the observation area! 

There was even a smaller size Popmart vending machine as compared to the one in Narita Airport. It was busy too! All these ladies getting their Popmart fixes too! I just looked to see what they had in the machine, but I couldn't see too well as there was a line and it was crowded.

The gacha shop that I went too! So many cute things to get. But I ended up with just one item and I left. Only because I found a cool gacha machine on the M5 level just after the bridge. It had a pearl gacha machine! Yup, I said pearl! At first I remember I saw this similar machine when we were in Tokyo Disneyland shop, and thought it was a joke or just a toy pearl! But upon closer inspection, it was a Gacha for pearls by the company Akoya, and Uwakai pearls. Each Gacha costs about one thousand yen or about six dollars and fifty five cents. Not too bad for pearls that are already as jewelry to wear. So I got two that day. One was a ring, and the other was a set of pearl earrings! They were both in silver settings with those clear rubber locks.

After lunch we looked around a bit more. Took photos. Sat and relaxed as we watched other tourists and passengers make there way through TSA and customs to depart. It was quite crowded mostly because of the rainy weather outside and all of us staying indoors instead. Haha!

By the evening, we grabbed dinner from the Seven Eleven in the terminal, and made our way back to our room for the night. Looking out of our window, we see Tokyo come to life. A bit of what I got below from today. I had my sister choose between the ring and earrings and she chose the ring. The gacha I got for Sara and one of the name plates I got from a gift shop for Sara in Kanji. It was time for bed and more of tomorrow's adventures...

Below, I found this at Seven Eleven! It was where all the mangas and magazines were, a bag inside a magazine. So cute too! I got it for my sister! There was a Mario yellow cube bag in another magazine, which I was tempted to get. But I decided not too. LOL!

On Tuesday, we decided to take a taxi to Shibuya Scramble Crossing, and leave it to the driver to get us there rather than take the train and get lost in the process, as I wasn't feeling too confident to find it on my own. Eek! Today, was way better, still overcast outside but no rain so far, whew! We took our umbrellas just in case though!

 The ride was a bit long, but at least it wasn't as crazy like on the train. We watched as the taxi driver took us through some parts, but it was early and so there was morning traffic. On the way, we could see the Tokyo Skytree in the distance, and than the Tokyo Tower a bit closer. By the time we got to Shibuya, everyone was busy getting to there destinations. He pulled right up the the crossing and let us out. We stayed a bit waiting to see all those people walk through the crossing. There was even a photographer on her step stool waiting to capture the shot!

This was one of the places on my bucket list and I was so happy to have made it there with my sister!! We took photos and just simply watched people pass and looked at all that was surrounding us. I was in awww! Coming from a small island, it was definitely a beautiful sight to see. Though to many it may be trivial and unimportant, this moment was magical for me.

We decided to go down one street, and I forgot to mention on the way to the crossing, was a theater I think? We saw a long line of people trying to go in?! Not sure? I will have to check exactly what that was and why that day had so many people lined up for it...

We did find a Mega Donki! Haha! My sister realized she needed a hoodie, because it was kinda chilly with the wind blowing and it being overcast. So we went into the store and went up to the 4th floor. There were 7 floors!! We spent a lot of time there looking even after Lita found a hoodie jacket! Haha! Before we went in, people were all looking at the aquariums on both sides of the entrance. On the left was one with large eels and on the right different fish. By the time we got out of there, there was a family watching the diver cleaning the eel tank. It was wild too! We made our way to the nearest Mcdonalds and had lunch, and sat for what seemed like a very long time.

My sister and I just talked and talked about family, life and dreams we still had in our age. It was really nice and so warming to just be and spend time with her. We headed back out and walked some more. We stopped in a few shops here and there. Lots of cute things too! But by then it was time for us to head back to the hotel. We got dinner and caught a taxi back to the airport. By the way, this driver took us through the scenic route and we got to see a bit more of Tokyo,  and Roppongi Hills Tower! He was very nice and the drive cost us a lot less than the other one. 

My sister went to bed early that evening, and since I couldn't sleep right away. I went back up to the M5 level of the airport and got a few more gachas from the Seashore Uwakai pearls. I wanted to get a few more for my daughters and myself! Teehee! And at one thousand yen, who could beat that!! 

Our last day, we ate breakfast, and went back to our room and relaxed as much as we could. Check out was at 11am, and we wanted to rest up because our flight wasn't until later Wednesday evening. More shopping and just relaxing in the airport. We ate lunch at Mos Burger and had the Teriyaki Double burger with fries. Not bad and the meal sort of reminded me of Burger King and Jack in the Box too!

It was the end of the journey and mini vacay with my sister. She had to be back on Guam for her flight back to Washington. This one I will always remember and how we got lost on the train for a few hours and made it to one of my bucket list items! I hope she enjoyed herself as well and maybe we will continue our adventures the next time she is on island...

I truly appreciate you reading and I hope that you choose to take on adventures if you can or just drive somewhere new and explore with a loved one or a friend and make memories!

Have a wonderful Halloween my friends! Until next post! 

Thank you for looking! ~ ggsdolls

One Week in Japan!

 We had planned a family trip Stateside, but plans changed due to health reasons... So instead I had to take my daughter and her little family to Japan. Sara tagged along and we stayed for a week!

We arrived into Narita and made our way to our usual Hotel. We ended up just staying in. Mostly because everyone except me got sick! So, we all just rested and by Wednesday morning I had breakfast and we got ready to ride the Limousine Bus to our stay at Hilton Tokyo Bay Hotel. No fussing with trains and carrying our luggage as we changed stations, Yippee! Just one shot loaded our luggage, got onto the bus and we rode for an hour and a half.

If was definitely a nice ride. We got to our hotel by around 3pm. My grandson, loved the play area! Other kids were having fun there too, while parents were checking in. We got our rooms and both faced the Tokyo Bay. Sara even noticed that we could see just a glimpse of Mt. Fuji in the distance. It was overcast, but you could definitely make out a silhouette. Wow!

 

Our room was nice and the beds were so comfortable. I loved the window treatments, they were Tatami style too! So you would just slide the gold style divider and than the white rice paper shade. We definitely felt excitement in the air!! New adventures await!

 

We decided to eat at the buffet restaurant in the hotel for dinner. It was definitely a feast with many choices for sure! Just look at my dessert choices! Haha! Sara and my grandson were not as hungry as the rest of us, because they were still battling a cough and cold. So we just ate our fill and than decided we'd call it a night so that everyone could rest for our day of fun at Tokyo Disneyland!

 From Sara and my room we could see downtown Tokyo and all the skyscrapers with lights. Every so often airplanes were leaving Haneda Airport. A dreamy place for sure at least for those of us who live in a completely different atmosphere from the city life. By Thursday morning, we ate breakfast and made our way towards the Disneyland Monorail. It was already crowded and the park hadn't even opened yet!! 

By the time we got to the park there were loads and loads of people in line. The park was decorated in a Halloween theme and was just as magical as ever. We took photos of the decor and made our way to shops for some souvenirs. Than we decided to eat some ice cream, drink hot cocoa and a marching band played as they came through. The main reason we came to Tokyo Disneyland was to help my daughter's partner propose to her. So I had the ring hidden in my purse. I made the request of taking photos in front of the castle. 

While Brenavin and Taby posed for a photo, Taby began to walk away and I had her turn to him and he was already knelt down and he proposed to her! It was a dreamy proposal and to see her say yes was even better!! Mission accomplished! Now, on to more fun!

We went through the castle and just took our time going through the park. We took TJ to his first time at It's a Small World. He enjoyed it I think! Haha! Toontown, than also to Mark Twain River Boat, just to name a few of the rides. Lots and lots of people. There were even people already sitting at certain spots for the parade route. But we heard from a teammate that the 1pm parade was cancel due to the wind, and perhaps the Halloween Parade may also be canceled too. UGH!

Just some quick pics of the Small world ride...

By the time we were done it was lunch time. We decided to eat at the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall. There were set menus available. I got myself the Hamburger steak dish and salad. Which was pretty good actually and the nice surprise was that if you had ordered a dessert in a Alice theme ceramic dish, you got to keep it! So cool for sure!!

Taby got to keep the mug and heart shaped plate! So she had one set. I kept the one heart shaped plate as well! So cute and small too and perfect as a candy dish! If I had known that I would've bought more desserts!! LMAO! 

By the afternoon, we just decided to buy some popcorn buckets and do a bit more shopping and head back to the hotel. It was overcast most of the day with temps in the early 70 degrees with winds at 9mph. Sadly, both Sara and my grandson were exhausted and fussy. So we called it a day and went back to our hotel rooms. 

I did get a cute Nightmare Before Christmas charm bell and I played this cool Fortune palm Ready Machine at the Penny Arcade. 

My view from our hotel window. Made me think of the cool anime or mangas with Tokyo's concrete jungle. But this was just so amazing to see! Sara took some meds and we fell asleep early. Poor baby, but I made sure she rested as much as she could.

By Friday morning, Sara was still not feeling well. So I opted to watch my grandson while Sara rested and Taby and Brenavin went to the Tokyo Skytree and downtown! Sara slept in and Baby slept not long after as well. Which was good because by the time the two got back, they decided that later they'd go to the Disney Mall for a bit of shopping! So Sara felt better to go with them.

That evening, when the gang got back, B got me these two too cute to eat bear donuts!! One strawberry and one in mint chocolate chip!! Sara ate the mint one and I had the strawberry one. I saved the pink bear for my coffee in the morning! 

By Saturday, we had to check out and catch our bus back to Narita for the remainder of our trip... It was a rainy day. We had actually lucked out, because our Disneyland day was overcast but not rainy! Yay! It was raining most of Saturday. I can't complain because there was a typhoon close by. Just so thankful it didn't really hit the areas we were in. 

Once in Narita, we headed to Aeon Mall for our fave shopping fix. I tried the Sankaku Choco Pie at Mcdonalds. It was like eating a Chocolate Lava Cake! Yum!! The bun was flaky like a croissant too, Oh My!!

We spent most of Saturday and Sunday at Aeon Mall, shopping, playing the arcade, dining in, etc. On Monday, we caught our flight back to Guam. It was a really tight flight too! Whew, we made it home safe and sound. Now, hopefully everyone can get well asap. So far, I am thankful for all we've experienced. 

I hope you try to get out of your comfort zone and live! I truly appreciate you my friend! 

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls