Upon arrival in Thailand I checked in at the Amari airport hotel. Went to their gym and had an hours excersice. Then dinner and reading until it was time to pick up Chie – she flew in from Tokyo and arrived past midnight.
Had a visit to the new Eurostep office in the early afternoon. We have moved since I went to Tokyo. It was a brief stop to check out the new office and to say hello to all work colleagues.
After that was taken care of I went to Arlanda. My flight to Bangkok, Thailand, was in the night. Via Helsinki. Where I had a few hours to kill. Which I did. Mainly by buying a new Suunto watch and having dinner. Around 11:30 pm I departed from Helsinki’s small international airport.
I had 3 seats byt myself but it was still difficult to sleep. I tried and tried and tried. But woke up every once in a while.
Woke up early in the morning to get ready to go to Narita airport. Chie joined me to Tokyo station where I got on the Narita Express. It was quite OK since I know I can see her again in just a few days. But then in Bangkok, Thailand.
The train ride to Narita was un-eventful, as was the pick up of my lagguage, and check-in. I checked 33.6 kg in two bags, and probably had about 15 kg in my carry on.
After security check and passing immigration I went to exchange money, Thai Bhat, and then to the NWA lounge – luxurious thing when you fly business class. Had something to eat and drink there and had a chat with Chie on Messenger.
The flight was, as the train ride, un-eventful. I slept for a while. Watched a lot of movies. Had somethig to eat. Went to the bathroom a couple of times. Read. Transferred in Amsterdam. Read some more. Had some more to eat. And then I arrived in Stockholm, about 16 hours after I left Narita.
Met Chie for lunch in Kamiyacho. We had grilled fish and vegeable soup with sashimi. After that we went to Roppongi Hills. There Chie bought a pair of pants. And we had coffee and hot chocolate before Chie had to head back to her office and I to the gym.
At 5:45 pm I met Chie in Ebisu again. We bought tickets for the Nariata Express. Both for me and for Chie when she is going to Thailand next week (I am going too but from Sweden).
Then we went to Red Pepper for dinner. All the ordinary staff was gone. They had moved to other restaurants of the same owner, like Walnuts. But the new staff was really friendly, especially when they found out that Chie new the ex-manager – now manager at Walnuts.
Chie and I had a great time as usual and we could enjoy yummy food. Dry tomato, ceasar salad, Chie’s special pizza, and grilled pork. I was too full to have a dessert, and I knew I had some unfinished cake at home that I wanted to eat, so I skipped the dessert.
At home we talked some more, watched American Idol and suddenly it was past midnight again. And no sleep-in tomorrow since I have to fly back to Sweden.
Met Chie in Ebisu after her job. Bought Narita Express tickets for tomorrow and then we went to Shibuya.
In Shibuya we first went to Mont-Bell and bought a portable tea ceremony kit for me. A new phone for Chie. And then we were waiting for Uwe and Jochen in front of the Policce Box (Koban).
Uwe showed up and told us Jochen was late so the three of us went to the restaurant and waited there instead. Japanese style.
After a while Jochen showed up. And after another while even Mina-sensei showed up. We ate a lot of food. Talked. And had a fun time. And after no time at all they asked us to leave because they were closing the restaurant. Time flies.
At the Shibuya station we said goodbye and went our own ways. It was past 1 am when Chie and I went to bed.