Arrived late this afternoon into Kansai International in Osaka. Weather is HOT and humid. Ugh. Was seriously hoping that the weather was going to cool down by now - usual high around now is 78 and we're running around 88 degrees with humidity so obviously the weather gods won't smile upon us until Ngaire gets to Osaka. :)

Took a quick express train ride to the Nanba station and checked into our hotel. Very comfortable room though the bathroom is smallish. Certainly bigger than the average Japanese hotel room. We've got some beautiful night time scenery views from our room of the Osaka city lights. My parents flew with us to Osaka since they're doing their own Japan visit with my sister and her husband and they dragged us out to a funky old neighborhood a few subway stations away where we had kushikatsu - skewered deep fried items (pork, beef, seafood, vegetables, etc.). Bad for your cholesterol but oh so good when washed down with cold beer!

I'm off to look for my prepaid cell phone tomorrow after having breakfast at the hotel (including in my hotel rate). It turns out that I'm a moron and forgot my glasses at home so I'll be blind as a bat after I take off my contacts tonight. Luckily, Amanda's parents who are meeting us in Shanghai are staying at our house right now so I'll call them tomorrow to see if they can bring them up to me.

Hope the rest of the PANDEES are having a great time and are having safe travels getting here!

Masaki