Settling Down, After a Recharge Trip

I am back after a 13-day break in 東京. Very different experience as I was alone most of the time, since my travelling partner was not with me this time. His companionship was missed but I had to make the best out of it :). I walked in parks alone, lunch-ed alone, tea-ed alone and shopped alone most of the time.

I ate cakes and donuts most of the time, which explained my expanded waistline. They were too tempting. I did my shopping, despite there were no sales and it was not intended even. I walked the gardens, since I wanted to have a truly good re-charge, and it was amazing that one week the trees were yellow and red, and the other week, they disappeared, due to the gradually lowering temperature.

I went to:
1. 東京Disneyland, which has a truly magical Christmas theme.
2. 御殿場市(Gotemba), which was a breeze from the city, since it is a factory outlet, biggest in asia, under 富士山.
3. 箱根町, yes it is a mountainous area and not a lake mistakened by tourist. I have my on-sen retreat, as well as, a relatively nice みかん plucking session in the みかん farm. 万葉御園　was a pleasantly surprising bonus, with a nice stroll under the 紅葉。
4. Simple Christmas illumination lightings, from 東京 Midtown ( http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/jp/index.htmland ) 六本木ヒルズ (Roponggi Hills).
5. My first shabu shabu in 東京: buffet-served style with australia すき焼き beef and mouth-watering buta-niku (pork), which is simple and light. This is followed by another nice dinner occasion at the 居酒屋 beside 北綾瀬駅 。
6. 青山一丁目、 外園前/ 明治神宮/ 皇居 Gardens: For the beautiful parks.
7. Blistful　and quiet shopping at the usual　下北沢 and 吉祥寺.

Of course, I wanted to thank my wonderful host, 銀座onechan, for taking good care of me, and my travelling companian most of the time when we are there.

There is one other incident that makes me love the city more: I lost a new scarf that I bought on the 銀座 line subway at 表参道 station. I was upset, and luckily onechan helped me to call the lost and found of 東京 metro. Guess what, they found it at 渋谷　station and I collected it in an hour's time. This is amazing as 東京 was so so big and it is something that will never happen in my small country, what a shame. That makes the memories of this trip truly sweeter.

I would look forward to go back to this city again with my travelling companion and also looking forward to seeing 銀座onechan again.