The Drrons shoot a killer and other delights.

[drron]

Outside the hotel-

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The view from the lounge where we had an early dinner.

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The weather didn't improve as night came.

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[drron]

So the lounge spread in the evening.not the complete offering.

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Nice food but only the position of the plates varied each day.
Afternoon tea.

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Decoration in the entrance.

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[drron]

As a plat you could have breakfast in the restaurant as well as keep your 500 points amenity.We had brekkie there every day as we were on the same floor as the restaurant.

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One morning I had the special "foie gras"omelette.Just a piece of pate on top of a plain egg omelette.

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[drron]

So the second of our 2 days in Tokyo.It really doesn't matter how many times you have stayed here there is always something new to see or do.Today was going to be another day of firsts.Fortunately the weather has improved.First the floral display outside the hotel.

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There is a moat here running past the Prince and the New Otani hotel.

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And if you look closely you can see a couple of fellows fishing.
Here's where they get the boats.One fellow hasn't gone far.

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The New Otani and the Prince Gallery Koichi hotels.

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[drron]

Boat 42 has made a catch and is obviously happy taking a photo of it.

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Obviously something behind the wall and the gates.

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The Akasaka Palace.Originally the Crown Prince's palace.After WW2 Government offices and then renovated and used to greet important visitors,State receptions and VIP residence.

 

[drron]

The police outside the main gate put on a great display every time someone wanted to cross the road.

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It didn't look like much was going on so we decided to walk around the block-quite a large one.But around the corner was the East gate to the Palace and it was open to the public.Lots of older Japanese going in and we decided to join them.A young woman with good English came over and asked how we found out about the open day.Could hardly say we were just going for a walk around the block so said the hotel had recommended it.Then an older fellow who had worked in Australia came over and personally escorted us to the security point.Now mrsdrron had a bottle of water in her bag.Rather than confiscate it she was made to drink some.Because she did she was allowed to keep it.
We were then escorted by another young woman to where we could pick up the English audio guide we had rented.No photos in the Palace.It was modelled on Versailles but some of the rooms could have been at home in St.Petersburg.
We then walked the grounds.

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[drron]

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Gerald Ford's tree doesn't look in great shape but Gorbachev's looks good.

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This is one thing that always intrigues me in a Japanese garden.These fellows are individually pruning each pine needle with a pair of scissors.

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[drron]

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Before I forget the Palace is open pretty regularly.Dates are here with some photos of the rooms.
State Guest House, Akasaka Palace | Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

 

[drron]

Just planting out summer's blooms.

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No the last pic isn't about the tree-look at the downpipe.Wouldn't last at home.

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Now we went around to the main entrance of the building.

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[drron]

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At first glance this looks like one tree.

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It's actually 7 and there is another of 5.

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What was a guard house.One on each side of the major entrance.

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[RB]

Another great read! A look around the Palace like that is one of those spontaneous highlights that makes travel so great. I'm wondering how many GB of garden photos you have
Your report prompted me to look back at our old photos of Butchart Gardens-not much change to the entry sign since 1998

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[drron]

Probably a few gigs I suspect but the Butchart is one place that the hype is not deceiving.
But back to the last of the palace.

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They had a couple of stalls selling trinkets and a couple of food vans.We both had a white peach ice cream.We love it.

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Walking around the rest of the guest house walls there were some nice flowers.

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On the way back we passed another temple.

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Dogs seem to be the feature.

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[drron]

We do enjoy their temples.

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[craven morehead]

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Gerald Ford's tree doesn't look in great shape but Gorbachev's looks good.

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This is one thing that always intrigues me in a Japanese garden.These fellows are individually pruning each pine needle with a pair of scissors.

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Now that's dedication !

 

[drron]

The last of the temple.

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[drron]

Arrived back at the hotel ~ 1445 and decided to have a late lunch at one of the restaurants on the 1st floor of the building.We of course decided on a Japanese option.Mrsdrron the salmon over rise and I the tuna version.

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It was very good.
When we got back to the lobby I realised that there was a view of Haneda.

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In the evening it was back to the lounge.As most of the clouds had gone the setting sun changed the view.

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[drron]

Later and the night lights from the lounge and then our room.

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[drron]

Time to leave Tokyo.Catch 1235 bus to NRT.Pick up our bags and then have lunch before checkin opens.

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Tonkatsu and fried oysters.
Then to checkin.Our plans had changed a little-mrsdrron wanted to get home earlier so we shaved 2 days off our Tokyo stay and a couple of days off Bangkok and Sydney.Meant a change of date for our NRT-BKK flight.The only premium awards available were J on the late TG flight so I took them.Now I always check LM awards on TG and on arrival in Tokyo I noted our seat assignments had changed.Checked the new seats and they were in the F cabin.Double checked the original email and I had only paid the J award points.
There was a woman standing looking at passports as you entered the lines and we were escorted to the F checkin and then to the fast track security.Went for the body scanner and you stood beside it and turned around..Straight through Immigration and to the ANA Flounge.We have now been here a couple of times and not our favourite.

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But you do get good views.Good to know our plane had arrived.

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Basically the food offerings are poor though there is a place to order noodles.wines not wonderful.mrsdrron had a glass of white whilst I drank tonic water.Not even any gin.

 

[drron]

TG 677. NRT-BKK. ETD-1725. Push back-1809. Take off-1828.. A380. Seats-1E,K.
ETA-2155. Landed-2221. At gate-2235.
The seat.Not great with limited storage.

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Champagne in hand as soon as seated.Service pretty good.
Sunset as we take off.

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[drron]

So to the menu and wine list.

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