Omiyage

Posted on 2008/03/12 21:20:56 (March 2008).

[Sunday 9th March]
In under a week we'd be in Japan, which could mean only one thing today - omiyage. It's the Japanese word for souvenirs, and is an utter obligation when going to visit people you haven't seen for a while, especially if you're coming back from abroad.

(as an aside, I have noticed recently when telling people about my upcoming trip to the Far East I've been telling them I'm going back to Japan)

Anywho, today was our last full shopping day to try and sort out things for our friends and family in Japan, and so we ventured into the centre of London. Our first port of call was Gendai Travel in Holborn, to pick up our Japan rail passes (Chie is pleased as punch that she actually qualifies for one of these now), and after that we had a quick lunch at one of those Chinese vegan buffet places that seem to be all over central London. The omiyage buying frenzy then commenced in earnest - Royal Mile Whiskies provided a very good start, especially as I realised I had sat next to the two guys who worked there at tasting session I had been to at Whisky Live last week. From there we also managed succesful purchases at reliable old haunts like Liberty and Fortnum & Mason. So that all went rather well.

Back at the flat we had sausages and mash for dinner, and I then spent the remainder of the evening watching telly - including an episode of Jeeves and Wooster, plus another episode of Mad Men, as well as the documentary about the advertising industry that the BBC showed beforehand. Again was filled with a slight sense of unease about the fact I effectively work in advertising. Ho, hum.

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