And the Trip Back to Oregon

My short trip to Tokyo was over and I took the N'EX train back to Narita. It's a good way to go. By buying a round trip ticket, I saved money too. So I bought a few things to enjoy on my way to the airport and on the flight back. These almond cookies were rather good. They went well with this Salty Litchi drink. Someone had a bottle in a photo and it was at the local konbini so I thought I would try it. Well first it was to have something cold to put on my injured right leg the night I fell. The bottle is a good shape for that. The drink was interesting. I thought it would taste salty but it really didn't.

I found these at the same konbini. Chestnut KitKats and they were pretty good. I think I ate these on the plane.

This Hiroshima lemon cake was also enjoyed on the plane. I was walking back through Ikebukuro Station after returning from Venus Fort and there were booths in front of one of the department stores. I could not resist buying a few treats for the trip home, this being one of them. Like I mentioned before, a lot of lemon flavored foods this time around. I learned on the flight there that while Hawaiian Air is not a bad airline, the food left a bit to be desired, especially since they do not give you a choice at meals. So I made sure to have a couple things to eat.

Since it was dark on the ride to Narita and then the flight to Hawaii, I didn't take photos. I also didn't take photos in the airport in Hawaii since I did that previously. And there wasn't much time in between flights since getting to customs was a very long walk, followed by another long walk to the departure gates. Finally we boarded our plane bound to Portland, Oregon. Hoping we would beat Hurricane Olivia which was headed directly to Hawaii.

 Well, we sat in the plane at the gate for at least a half hour, due to inbound planes flying around Hurricane Olivia. On the same flight path our plane needed to take to get to Oregon. So I took a few photos of the U.S. Air Force planes that were landing.

Finally we were taking off. The sky was getting darker but Olivia wasn't near Hawaii yet. Still stormy weather was being sent towards us thanks to Olivia. My trip was book ended by these storms.

Honolulu and Diamond Head in the distance. 

Not as sunny as the day I first arrived. Still warm. 

Aloha Honolulu. Still the color of that water, beautiful. 

Goodbye Hawaii. 

A very long sunset off in the distance while we flew into another night. Going back in time. 

Finally arriving at Portland International Airport. Where there is a Lego version of our beloved Multnomah Waterfall. 

Complete with little visitors.

I still have a few things I want to post about from this trip so this isn't the last post. Next up will be a few food things.

Going Back to a Place that is in my Heart

Two years ago I went to Japan in August. For a concert. While the heat and humidity was not the greatest experience, the concert was something I had dreamed of doing, sort of. For about 14 or 15 years I have been a fan of a band that I wish I could have seen live. There are videos of their performances and I would watch and wonder what it would be like to be in that audience. Because this band would have amazing concerts that went beyond just performing music.

 2016 I needed something to look forward to. Returning to Japan after my last trip during which the Great Tohoku Disaster happened, and having the chance of a lifetime to see the founding members of this band perform together, that was something. I blogged about that trip here, and about the Deep Sanctuary concert which featured the reunion of Közi, Yu~ki and Mana, founding members of MALICE MIZER. It also was the start of my enjoyment of Moi dix Mois live performances.

So when this year's Deep Sanctuary's concert was announced, I wasn't considering going. I already had my trip for March planned. Plus being in that heat and humidity again wasn't something I was keen on, since it means going places is a little more difficult. I needed to deal with moving once I returned from Japan. Tickets went up for sale and I passed on buying one even though they had a special way for overseas fans to buy them.

However, the person who was putting this concert together kept making announcements about it. Like how this time there would be three vocalists. There would be more songs than there were at previous shows. New costumes, resurrecting classic instruments, and more.  Temptation. And then they announced a second day. By then I had everything taken care of in regard to my moving, and also a certain Gackt Taeyang doll sold for enough money to pay for my ticket. So I gave in.

September 11th, I got up early, caught a bus to the local train station and headed to Portland International Airport. My first time going this way, and it was really easy and very inexpensive. I don't think I've ever posted a photo of the trains here. Till now. They aren't fancy but they are run well. It was nice being able to put my feet up too. 

I'm pretty sure I've posted photos of Portland International Airport. So instead here is a photo of the place I ate breakfast at. Portland has more great restaurants than one can imagine. Getting an additional space in the airport is a popular thing, and The Country Cat is one of those restaurants.

Like most airport restaurants, Country Cat has a well appointed bar. 

However I was just there for food. I ordered their Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon. This was way more food than I normally eat. Even though it was really good, I couldn't finish it. But it was a nice meal to start my trip. 

Another benefit of flying out of Portland is getting to see the green woods and fields, along with Oregon's mountains. 

Along with all our rivers, bridges and volcanoes. Like Mt. Hood off in the distance. That is Portland below with the Cathedral Bridge and then the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge.

However most of my flight to my first stop was over blue Pacific waters and clouds. Because I was trying something new for the place I would connect to my flight to Tokyo. Hawaii. Which will be in my next post. 

Aloha!