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 Ciao. This week has been tough... Seb & I have basically barricaded ourselves in the edit suite making sure that Hong Kong & Tokyo look good, sound good, feel good and are good enough for broadcast. The good news is that it's all good and... actually great! Some of the features are lovely -Iaido (swords), Tokyo fish market, golf and one not - karaoke on the Sumagawa... my singing is AWFUL! We have been working all hours so I can come back to Tuscany, to the Castello del Nero. A few months ago, I met up at my local (fabulous) Italian with the Castello's owners Bob & Ragni and we planned this visit. Unfortunately they are not here BUT they have ensured that the sun is shining and the air is clean. It was very sad this morning leaving the girls at home - mioaw, mew and ruff... it was still dark (0430). Took the Gatwick Express and jumped on the BA to Pisa. Alex is playing Stepmom... Rather than taking a hotel taxi, I decided to drive the 1 hr 30 to Tavarnelle Val di Pesa on the road to Firenze. The journey was fun. I drove this crazy automatic Smart (hire) car that is bashed up on one side ("crazy American drivers!" according to the rep) through some stunning countryside, up & down the back-roads to this slice of heaven. The traffic was good and I only had to shout "Bella pasta" or "margherita pizza" a couple of times in anger! As concert season is up soon in London, I have a collection of CDs for some of the ones I am going to... today it was "Ghosts" - bubblegum pop if you’ve ever heard it... fun but no Bob Dylan... I have been snoozing for most of the day - mostly by the outdoor pool - so the real exploration starts tomorrow.  Song of The Day: That's Amore - Dean Martin Weather: Totally Terrific (in Tuscany)
 The last three days have been hectic to say the least. I am off to Tuscany this weekend and LA to film next weekend so Seb & I are motoring through the footage for Hong Kong and now Tokyo. All is looking superb! It's funny watching everything we have filmed as although it was only 2 weeks ago, it feels like a lifetime...  Apparently in a few weeks I am going on "astronaut training" hahahaha! I am totally in love with Milk & Honey - my "local" ... I have never been an "after work drink" kind of person ... but I am learning! Not much to report this week. I have given up bread etc for 2 weeks at least and I feel much healthier ... but I am really missing my pain au chocolat in the mornings. Starbucks chai tea latte (with extra chai) with soya milk is getting me through the days. It’s been 100 days since I started my adventure and you know, I am just as excited about the next 100. BUT where have all the days gone ?????? Whoo-hoo! Song of The Days: Killer - Adamski & Seal Weather: Changeable
Not much to report from the weekend. On Saturday I was back in the edit all day. The weather was quite lovely and I am sure I should have been on a golf course or at least walking the park with The Moo and a cigar ... but no, in Soho looking at shots of Hong Kong. Sunday was not much better as I was scripting most of the day. NEXT weekend WILL be different. Only 1 photo from the whole weekend...Maisy - the perfect kitten. This week I am going to drink cocktails - even if it kills me! Song of The Day: Tweeter and The Monkeyman (Bob Dylan & The Travelling Wilburys) Weather: Yes
Totally enjoying the editing... Seb & I are goofing about in the suite getting some really good stuff done... it's an enjoyable & pretty stress-free exercise. The evening was quite different though.. "Communism" & "peace" are great concepts... & if the people who believed in them could get them to work, then I am all for it... but when you see people doing a hash-ob on them... (Stalin etc)... then its quite depressing. I bought tickets to the "peace one day concert" at The Royal Albert Hall... I wish I hadn't. Actually some of the music -Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) and Annie Lennox were fabulous but it was the "politics" and self-promotion in the middle that stood out like a discarded tuna carcass at the Squegee Fish Market (!) in Tokyo.  It was awful, toe-curling and painful. People like Shimon Peres saying that he was up for peace and Jude Law spreading his peace message. One thing I noticed is that while they had "celebs" endorsing the idea that 21st/9 is an international peace day & some fellow from the UN - and we KNOW how useful the UN are! There wasn't a senior politician from the UK, US, Russia, China... etc etc endorsing this and in the end they are the main protagonists in the global war scene! It has to be said that Ben & Jerry - the ice-cream kings - came on to point out that the US spends 300 billion a year on arms a year and that just 15 billion of that could save all the children who die of hunger annually... ironically, there was no Chunky Monkey or Cherry Garcia on sale at the RAH - just some poor effort from Cornwall...  The music - well - Corinne Bailey Rae was happy, Mr Islam was depressing (but fabulous), Kate Nash (brilliant & so humble ... it was funny how her rude rap was followed by Cat Stevens ... a duet would have been the mismatch of the century), James Morrison (who?) and finally Annie Lennox - with the most beautiful female voice on the planet.  I was left very unsatisfied ... after my U2 experience of 2005 - basically dodgy politics wrapped up in a bad performance - wrapped up in £100 a ticket - wrapped up in more bad politics - I vowed never to go a "political" concert again ... I love music, I just don't like the preaching in between ... last night's was truly awful. Back to the edit this weekend. who-hoo! Songs of The Day: Saturn (Yusuf Islam) and Peace one Day (St Peter's School) Weather: Fresh
Mistake - taking the Underground (Tube) to work. I am amazed by how many Londoners have a) no manners b) are unaware of the word "deodorant" c) look miserable d) do not demand a/c in carriages. In recent weeks I have taken sneaky journeys on the systems in Tokyo & Hong Kong and while the rudeness still exists, at least there is a modicum of happiness due to the surroundings...well, resignation anyway. I walked home. New editor Seb is superb! We are rattling through my televisual memories at great speed and his attention to detail is very comforting. We are currently cutting Hong Kong and it's not the case of what to add, it's what cut out as there is just so much. I hope this is the same with Tokyo. I am very pleased with the stuff we shot on Aqualune (the night junk on Victoria Harbour) and at the dolphinarium...my smile while I cuddle the dolphin is positively wide-screen!  Tomorrow is going to be a fun day...I feel it! Song of The Day: Moon Dance (Van Morrison) Weather: A wind of change is blowing
Totally exhausted...not due to jet-lag but due to the fact that there is so much to do and so little time to do it.
Awoke in a time-zone somewhere between Morocco and Kabul...
Kittens and pup decide to lick my face... takes 10 minutes in my new bathroom to remove the smell & slobber.
Spend morning writing scripts before walking into Soho for the edit. I have a new editor in the form of Seb... he hasn't shaved for several weeks (25 he says). I am jealous.
Not much to say today EXCEPT that Autumn has broken in London (Fall for you Yankees) and everyone is starting to dress for the season. Quite a change from the t-shirts of Hong Kong & Tokyo.
I am taking up boxing and the local gym. I am not sure why.
M'na M'na is from The Muppet Show by the way – the DVD that christened our new tv/dvd thingy at home.
Song of The Day: The Muppet Show (The Muppets)
Weather: Confusing
 So ends the Japanese movie "Zatoichi" - the blind swordsman - starring Takeshi Kitano. I had ordered a copy before I left Tokyo and watched this masterpiece surrounded by the family yesterday. It's a stunner and my favourite ending to a movie...EVER!! After 30 days of being away, it's weird but lovely to be home. We are already in the advanced planning stages for our next two filming trips - Los Angeles and Miami... which will be finished by the end of November... It's now editing, writing scripts and more editing! Can't wait! Song of the Day: When you're Happy & you know it, clap your hands (?!) Weather: Dark p.s. Paddington Bear does NOT, will NOT and never HAS enjoyed Marmite! He ONLY eats Marmalade! Bears don’t get to kiss other bears with Marmite breath - that's a fact!
Saturday: (Konichiwa Arielle!) 0700 - Up early to try out the Peninsula "afternoon tea". As the afternoon tea service is just so busy with queues that stretch literally round the block - we have to film early to avoid the crowds. Like tea at The Pen in Hong Kong, it's a full-English with cakes, sandwiches and tea..it's quite delicious and I can see why people queue for this. There is no pre-booking - hotel guest or celebrity - a real leveller....
 0800 - Jump into the hotel BMW and drive round the city to pick up shots for the show. Omotesando is once place we go to - it has some of the most amazing looking shops I have ever seen including that of Prada... its hard to describe but Tim made me promise NOT to take a photo as it would not do it justice... the HD camera never lies however... The Meiji Shrine was stunning too BUT we were turned away... some mix up over camera size I think!  1600 - Head out to at Sasagin (a restaurant) in Yoyogi Uehara - home to Mr Narita and his 100 + collection of sake bottles. Narita-san's English is not great so we have Karen with us from the hotel who acts as translator. It works. I love sake BUT not Shochu... Sake is NOT rice wine. Yes, it's made of rice BUT it's brewed... making it more a beer that wine. Shochu is a distillation of sweet potato... it's grim :( Anyway, the shoot went well and I was still standing when we finished up for the day... and the Tokyo shoot!
Sunday: 0800 - Tim & Alex are off to the airport but sadly, my seat-class was overbooked so I am still here in Tokyo but I am still at The Peninsula SO I am not really complaining too much! It's been an amazing - if slightly gruelling - 4 weeks... - I have handed out 265 business cards
- Had an average of 6.12 hours of sleep a night
- Played ½ a round of golf
- Filmed & visited 20 luxury hotels
- Swam with 2 dolphins
- Ate 16 club sandwiches
- Ate 11 pizzas
- Met 20 lovely hotels PRs
- Had an argument with Alex or Tim about anything exactly 0 times
- Been through 16 razor blades
- Said "amazing" at least 1,000 times
- Shopped too often
- We used 76 x 30 minute filming tapes + 8 mini-camera tapes (60 minutes)
- Around 60 x 9 volt batteries
- Was bowed to 15 times in one 3 minute conversation
- Visited a gym 0 times
-Interviewed 36 hotel General Managers
- Laughed - all the time
- Lost 3 kgs of weight (yippee)
- Read half a book
- Raided the mini-bar - 0 times
- Hangovers - 0
- Lost "it" - 2
- Had 16 spa treatments
- Smoked 10 cigars
- Wished I had another job - 0 OK - well - I am off for a day of being a tourist -– then home tomorrow! This entry is dedicated to those wonderful people who have made the past 30 days just brilliant - Tim, Alex, The GMs, The Hotel PRs, the chefs, Heinz (ketchup) and the people I have really missed... The Friends... and most importantly The Family... "mew, mioaw, ruff & kiss"”. Song of the Day: Crazy (seal) Weather: Out with a Bang!
Weight: 82.1 kgs p.s. my favourite photo below is called "monkee-ing about" - basically Tim, Alex & myself - showing the Japanese what true karaoke is all about!! What an evening!! 
 Today’s entry is dedicated to my Pimlico/Hong Kong buddy Shevaun who has retired at some ludicrous young age... good on you girl! What a day! 0430 - Up & about before the sun has even thought about coffee. Last night, housekeeping dropped off a Tempur pillow so I slept like a baby... 0600 -Arrive at The Grand Hyatt - hotel number 20 in 4 weeks. Last time I was here, I was amazed and astounded by the greatest art exhibition ever. Mr Mori - who owns the hotel building - created exact scale models of all the major cities that you could then zoom into via baby cameras to see where you lived. It was awesome. The hotel has 390 rooms - so quite large. We filmed, filmed and filmed! It looks excellent on camera. The Presidential Suite has the only “in suite” swimming pool in Tokyo. The GM - Xavier Destribats - is an excellent Frenchman who smokes cigars. This morning was all about cigars as Alex tried one for the first time and quite enjoyed it! Now, if I get her to play golf, we will be buddies for life! The hotel is in Roppongi - once the “red light” district of Tokyo - now very hip, swish and cool -mostly down to The Mori Building and the hotel... 1430 - Jumped into one of The Pen’s Rolls-Royce Phantoms and headed off to Nihombashi. We were accompanied by our new buddy - Kikuchi-san - one of the most helpful "PRs" in the world. We arrived at the Honcho Building where I spent two hours learning the art of Kempo (removing a sword from a sheath) and Iaido (sword from sheath to striking). It’s a martial art that uses VERY sharp swords. It’s not kendo where you bash the hell out of your opponent, its subtle and is all about "sword and Zen are one truth"... You practise on bundles of wet fine bamboo - as it's the closest to limbs, bones & flesh. I sweated oodles but had enormous fun watching and participating. Only after watching the show can you mark me on my effort and effectiveness! The "Master" at the dojo is "whispering death"... quiet & lethal.  At the end of the session, Gyokudo-san gave me my own sword to take home! By the time we got home, I was pooped, but I managed to make it up to the 24th floor of the hotel in the Seven Seas Lounge - sister to the helicopter Clipper Lounge of the Pen in Hong Kong. Here I supped my "special" cocktail and smoked a cigar for the show. The evening was rounded off by a dinner at the hotel's top floor restaurant "Peter"- with GM - Malcolm Thompson. Tomorrow is the LAST day of filming for this part of the series! I am SOOO excited that I am going home! Song of the Day: Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes) Weather: Fab-a-dab-a-doo Weight: Less Robusto, more short perfecto...
Today's entry is dedicated to my Pimlico/Hong Kong buddy Shevaun who has retired.. at some ludicrous young age - good on you girl!
What a day!
0430 - Up & about before the sun has even thought about coffee. Last night, housekeeping dropped off a Tempur pillow so I slept like a baby...
0600 - Arrive at The Grand Hyatt - hotel number 20 in 4 weeks. Last time I was here, I was amazed and astounded by the greatest art exhibition ever. Mr Mori - who owns the hotel building - created exact scale models of all the major cities that you could then zoom into via baby cameras to see where you lived. It was awesome.
The hotel has 390 rooms - so quite large. We filmed,,filmed and filmed! It looks excellent on camera. The Presidential Suite has the only "n suite" swimming pool in Tokyo. The GM - Xavier Destribats - is an excellent Frenchman who smokes cigars. This morning was all about cigars as Alex tried one for the first time and quite enjoyed it! Now, if I get her to play golf, we will be buddies for life!  The hotel is in Roppongi - once the "red light" district of Tokyo - now very hip, swish and cool - mostly down to The Mori Building and the hotel...
1430 - Jumped into one of The Pen's Rolls-Royce Phantoms and headed off to Nihombashi. We were accompanied by our new buddy - Kikuchi-san - one the most helpful PRs in the world. We arrived at the Honcho Building where I spent two hours learning the art of Kempo (removing a sword from a sheath) and Iaido (sword from sheath to striking). It’s a martial art that uses VERY sharp swords. It’s not kendo where you bash the hell out of your opponent, its subtle and is all about "sword and Zen are one truth".... You practise on bundles of wet fine bamboo - as it’s the closest to limbs...bones & flesh. I sweated oodles but had enormous fun watching and participating. Only after watching the show can you mark me on my effort and effectiveness!
The “Master” at the dojo is “whispering death” … quiet & lethal …
At the end of the session, Gyokudo-san gave me my own sword to take home … !
By the time we got home, I was pooped … but I managed to make it up to the 24th floor of the hotel in the Seven Seas Lounge – sister to the helicopter Clipper Lounge of the Pen in Hong Kong. Here I supped my “special” cocktail and smoked a cigar for the show …
The evening was rounded off by a dinner at the hotel’s top floor restaurant “Peter” – with GM – Malcolm Thompson. Tomorrow is the LAST day of filming for this part of the series! I am SOOO excited that I am going home! Song of the Day: Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes)
Weather: Fab-a-dab-a-doo
Weight: Less Robusto, more short perfecto …
.jpg) The Peninsula is by far the most technologically advanced hotel in the world: 1) Humidity control in bedroom
2) Internet radio
3) Climate meter for outside – including wind speed & direction
4) Nail dryer
5) "Mobile phone" for use in Suite, in Hotel & in Tokyo
6) VOIP phone as part of standard handset (that lights up when you go near it!)
7) Mood control lighting in all rooms
8) A "spa" light & sounds system in the bathroom
9) A Hi-def tv system
10) A FULLY automated toilet system - it even lifts the seat up when you enter the cubicle!
11) Baby Espresso machine as standard
12) In bath hands-free phone system
13) Free high-speed (100 Mb) internet
14) Internet radio
15) Electronic valet pickup service
Is that enough for you??
Thankfully, its quite easy to use; I reckon even Gemima the Dog could use it!
0700 - Film exteriors of the hotel. Malcolm Thompson (GM) arrives in time to see me fall out of one of the hotel’s 3 x Rolls Royce Phantom 4’s... The Pen signature bell-boys and giant lion statues are all there!
0800 -Lobby - complete with "dragon flying over cosmos" art work is impressive.
0900 - Into the Spa. Pool superb... E’Spa again though... hmmmm... :(
1000 - Interview MT in Suite. The hotel was opened on 1st September - it's VERY new! He was with Park Hyatt (Lost in Translation etc) and is back with a HUGE bang!
1100 - Up on roof/helipad ... like in Hong Kong, the hotel hopes to get a heli-licence...
1200 - Lunch – fabulous. Made better by a visit to the cigar shop which sells lovely Cuelebras...bought some. Can’t wait to smoke those.
1400 - Film rest of hotel including my suite on the 20th floor that has SUPERB views of The Imperial Palace, Gardens and Ginza.
This hotel is not part of another building... it's a hotel from top to bottom which is quite refreshing. I need a couple more days to find the "heart & soul" which I am sure I will... it does serve a traditional afternoon tea - a la The Pen HK - and the queues stretch literally round the block.
Now where is that light-switch?
Song of the Day: The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News)
Weather: Soo-poib (Bart Simpson)
Weight: Doing well... and BP is down too!
 Very little to report today except that it rained. We filmed most of the day at The Hilton in Shinjuku, the highlight being a visit to the world famous Teppan Grill where I was prepared teppanyaki by Chef Konuma - one of the most celebrated chefs in Japan. He has cooked for Audrey Hepburn and Roger Moore so I am in good company. Sadly left dear Lloyd at the Seiyo Ginza but have landed in a Suite at The Peninsula that opened on September 1st... The General Manager - Malcolm Thompson - is an old buddy. Tomorrow is investigation day - let’s see what happens! What I can report is that my suite has an integrated Lavazza coffee machine, a mobile phone that I can use in the hotel as "my phone" plus use it outside the hotel too and it has 2 sides of views including one of the whole of the Imperial Palace and Gardens!  The PM of Japan resigned today! It's bigger news than the size of Britney Spear’s tummy... but only just! Haha! Song of the Day: Goodbye (Yellow Brick Road) – Elton John Weather: Bloomin’ awful Weight: ???!!!
 0800- Breakfast for the first time in a few days. Lovely toast,dare I say it BUT nearly as good as the toast at The Peninsula in Hong Kong.
1030 - Jump in cab to the Conrad, sad but true. The cab driver got lost and apologised at least 15 times! I didn’t have a problem with it UNTIL he refused to take money for the journey. I forced it on him but the idea of a tip was too much. At one stage I was worried that he might start crying. Can you imagine that anywhere else in the world? Thought so!
The Conrad was opened on July 1st 2005. It is based in the Tokyo Shiodome Building next to the fabulous Dentsu building. It has 222 rooms & 68 suites from floors 28 to 37. All rooms have a view - either city or Sumida-gawa River, Tokyo Bay & Hamarikyu Gardens - a former Royal residence.
There is a SUPERB cigar room in the shop!! SUPERB!!!!
 I went up to the Mizuki Spa on the 29th floor and had a Bamboo Massage. Basically I was pounded on - by a lovely lady with two shorts of hollow bamboo. Erm - it was meant to calm me but it worried me. Yes... Erm - calm? Anyway - an experience...
There are 3 restaurants, a Gordon Ramsey, a delightful Chinese - China Blue and a Japanese.
This hotel has spectacular views and swimming pool. The cigar room is fabulous (am I repeating myself?).
1700 - Home in the pouring rain. Sad about Anita Roddick - I once interviewed her - lovely lady.
1800 - Visited the Sony Centre - HUGE! I actually won a pen and ball after beating the goalie three times in a row. It’s the most exercise I have done in weeks!
Move hotels tomorrow...BOOHOOHOO!
Song of the Day: Hey Hey We’re The Monkees (Inside Luxury Travel Ltd -limited release)
Weather: Kittens n’ puppies
Weight: ?!
 0430 - Awake and prepare for another day of FUN!
0530 - Jump into Lloyd's MPV and head off to Chiba and the Taiei Country Club for a round of golf. Japan is rather different from life back home; here the little things like golf (or later karaoke) are a luxury item as they require effort and are an escape from "life".
0715 - Arrive at Taiei. It's an AMAZING place with the hugest clubhouse I have ever seen with all you expect plus more. The men's changing area even has an onsen (hot spring bath etc) and I was totally amazed by the landscape gardening.
Anyway, we teed off at 10th so we had a chance to film. It was a 4-ball, with two of Lloyd's friends and we had fun! Even Tim enjoyed the sunshine and the golf! He hates sport so I was amazed. I wasn't bad. I wasn't good either! I miss Kingswood though (home course), no water and lovely bacon club sandwiches!
1300 - Head back to Tokyo.
1700 - Have a haircut. Even this is an "event"! Bowing, snipping, more bowing... sculpturing... followed by yet more BOWING; all for £15.
1730 - The FINAL of the Japanese rituals - (1) tea 2) golf 3) onsen) number 4 - karaoke - or clear orchestra. The CEOs of all the blue-chip firms here all take karaoke seriously - it's escapism from life. Lloyd hired a boat to take us down the river and with 7 friends we sang and sang and sang. Actually, in my case it was erm - well - talking/shouting/screeching... you will see! BUT it was fun! REAL fun! And to see corporate Japan cutting loose was just excellent!
Highlights of the evening - Tim & Alex leading dancing & singing The Monkees (hey hey) , us all doing Piano Man and erm - anything that I didn't sing! I was awful...
Lloyd - YOU THE MAN!
Song of the Day: Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)
Weather: Showers
Weight: Uh-oh!
 Incredibly, I managed to drag myself out of bed before 0700 today, the last few days have taken their toll and the thought of leaving this hotel... boohoo. Anyway, met up with the adorable Junko Arakawa; the "bike sightseeing concierge" for a Bianchi bike ride around the Imperial Palace Gardens. On Sunday, they close off areas of the city to cars and let people and bikes go crazy! So we freewheeled around & about until we arrived at the park where Jonathan & James were waiting with a picnic. No ordinary picnic though; apart from the Dom Perignon 1999 (Alex's favourite!) there were yummy Danish and the wonderful fruit juices they do. The Palace was built 100s of years ago (800 I think) as Edo Castle (Edo was pre-Tokyo) and was used as a proper castle until after WW2 when it became the residence for the Emperor. The public are allowed in for 2 days every year (Dec 22 and Jan 2 I think) otherwise, it's guarded from anyone & everyone. The current Emperor has a daughter but as his brother has a son, the boy will currently become the next Emperor! Equality? I think not! The bike trip is an EXCELLENT way of mooching about town and getting a history lesson as well - but somehow without Junko, I can imagine it would be rather unfulfilling! 1400 - My "Japanese Brother", Lloyd picks us up and checks us into The Seiyo Ginza. He's the longest serving GM of a luxury hotel in Tokyo and his reputation stretches far & wide. Over the next few days, Lloyd is going through the "rituals": Tea Ceremony, Golf, Onsen and finally Karaoke!
 Today it was the tea ceremony! Ours took three hours and its LOOOOOOOONG. All for a cup of tea! BUT there's a reason for it; to calm your mind and chill you out generally. First we dressed up in the kimono and then went through the ritual. Lloyd had never done this before so now he is TOTALLY Japanese! It was fun BUT strangely tiring. BTW, the green tea has twice the caffeine of the normal cup of PG Tips, phew! Bed - up early! Song of the Day: Modern Love (Bowie - live off the Glass Spider Tour) Weather: Looking dicey Weight: More svelte than toro!
0430 – Struggle out of bed for a visit to Tsukiji - one of the world’s largest fish markets. Billingsgate in London processes 25,000 tonnes of fish a year, here it’s that amount per month. Exec chef James & Yun (also from hotel) are with us on our tour as we see lots of erm - dead fish. And a few lives ones that are about to check-in to the ultimate journey.
The tour lasts 90 minutes – It's a must see/do here in Tokyo BUT be prepared for guts, blood, death and loads of fishy-things! More sushi anyone?
1000 – Head out shopping with concierge Nana … who takes me through Ginza and Mitsukoshi (equivalent of Harvey Nichols) and Natsuno (a chopstick shop!). It was rather hot and sticky but still great fun! I met some real characters.
Have a nap before heading out in Roppongi for the “best pizza in the world” – Salvatore. Apparently the chef is the current world champion of making pizza. I would give 8 out of 10 to be honest, the pizza at The Peninsula in Hong Kong is still my number 1.
So why is it James Viney Day? Well, after 3 weeks on the road (1 left), we were ALL desperate for a slice of home, so James rather kindly made us bacon & egg and toasted cheese sandwiches – with French fries and oodles of ketchup! It hit the spot and we all smiled (especially Alex) for the rest of the day!
Off for a bicycle ride!
Song of the Day: Desperado (The Eagles)
Weather: The sun has got his hat on; and possibly a kimono
Weight: great BUT I am now worrying about my blood pressure!
 Along with the word “betterer”, I would like to introduce “FourSeasonsTastic” to the Oxford English Dictionary. Its meaning would be “smothered in love, kindness, genuine hospitality” and in a thesaurus “marshmallow”. I have to say, country to country, city to city, I just find it hard to fault Four Seasons properties. It’s not always been that way for me though, last time I was filming in Tokyo, I visited the larger FS Chinzan-so and I hated everything about it. EVERYTHING! But after my visit today, well, FS Chinzan-so has ascended to the heavens. 0800 – Breakfast … lovely! 0930 – interview Nick Cheesman – concierge. He’s a long way from home (UK) but Japan is his bag of fish and he’s an adult tuna here. He talked me through the 3 must see/must do places in the City – which I will be sampling over the next couple of days! 1100 – review my suite – 308 – 1 bedroom with dining room, HUGE lounge, views of Marunouchi and a Bose system that plays Billy Joel all day; heaven! 1300 – Head to Chinzan-so, 20 minutes in a cab from Marunouchi. It’s much biggerer and betterer than ever! The typhoon from yesterday had knocked down just one tree in the ground. FSC has 259 rooms inc. 44 suites and is set in 17 acres of the most stunning gardens – filled with amazing shrubs & trees. Lunch and then a trip to the spa. Interview gorgeous Spa Director Hayley Dack, who looks after Tokyo’s largest spa. It’s HUGE but sadly I don’t have the time for a treatment or anything. Hayley has THE softest hands in the world! Wander round the gardens – complete with teahouse and pagoda. Just amazing. In April, fireflies buzz about. It must be amazing. At weekends, FSC hosts 14 weddings a day! 14! Interview hotel manager David Macklin in top suite – the Imperial. FSC is old school compared with FSM, more classic than contemporary. I am not sure which I prefer. Hmm … am confused why FSC is getting Bulgari products for the suite!?! AQUA di PARMA! 1800 – rush back to FSM for sad farewell to fabulous Nelson Hilton, Marketing chap at FSC, poor guy had to put with us all afternoon. 1930 – The FSM offers “Ginza in a Bento Box”: basically a bento box has wee compartments with different dishes in each, the premise of the evening is to eat three courses in different restaurants: - Kondo (home of tempura) - Seamon (home of sushi) - Misono (home of teppanyaki) – the “home” of Kobe beef Along with Mayumi and Jonathan (FS restaurant chappie) we travelled through Ginza eating and drinking!  My only problem was lots of live animals and deep fried prawn heads. 1200 – Home: early start tomorrow – a fish market! Song of the Day: Give Me Hope (Joanna) – Eddy Grant Weather: Back to the sunshine! Weight: “I feel like a cow in Japan” 
Last night was fabulous and scary at the same time. The typhoon hit between 3 – 6 am and the whole of Tokyo was rocking … literally. Everything was swaying and the wind was howling, the trains were stopped from running and the usually very busy Tokyo was empty …
Anyway – checked out of the Mandarin. Had a delightful stay … but as ever, was excited about my next stop – The Four Seasons, Marunouchi!
1200 – Meet up with FSM – PR – Mayumi who we have been liaising with for weeks! It’s all smiles!
1300 – After a brief lunch. Check-in to the 6th floor – a 1-bedroom suite with Ginza (district) views.
1400 – Interview General Manager – Michael Branham – and old hand here in Tokyo and indeed Asia. The hotel has ONLY 57 rooms inc. 9 suites … the second smallest FS in the world but the smallest City hotel. When it opened in 2002, it caused quite a stir as its just so small BUT set a new standard of service here and ever since, new openings have had to emulate the FS way ...
1500 – High tea … was worried that it would be a later version of the Japanese breakfast BUT I am pleased to say that chef James Viney has developed his own version with cutsie little trays of “sandwiches” – i.e. smoked salmon baguette, Wagyu beef burger & pistachio & duck tortilla … with biscuits, cakes etc that are not as they seem. It’s all washed down with champagne and macha (string green tea). Inventive!
1600 – into the kitchen with James to make 1) mahi mahi – for a main 2) crème brûlée for dessert. 1) is fabulous 2) not a fan but Tim tells me it’s excellent. The whole afternoon swam as we supped fine champagne and had fun in the kitchen.
Put it down Bob!
1815 – headed up to the 31st floor (the hotel has the bottom 7 floors BUT the 31st is a hidden secret room) … for a drinks party to meet the hotel staff who are – without exception –lovely before settling down for dinner with GM for a James Viney surprise – pizza … (well for me anyway!) … a grand day methinx …
Song of the Day: King of the Road (Roger Miller)
Weather: Terrible x 10
Weight: still on downward curve
.jpg) Last night was fabulous and scary at the same time. The typhoon hit between 3 – 6 am and the whole of Tokyo was rocking … literally. Everything was swaying and the wind was howling, the trains were stopped from running and the usually very busy Tokyo was empty. Anyway – checked out of the Mandarin. Had a delightful stay … but as ever, was excited about my next stop – The Four Seasons, Marunouchi! 1200 – Meet up with FSM – PR – Mayumi who we have been liaising with for weeks! It’s all smiles! 1300 – After a brief lunch. Check-in to the 6th floor – a 1-bedroom suite with Ginza (district) views. 1400 – Interview General Manager – Michael Branham – and old hand here in Tokyo and indeed Asia. The hotel has ONLY 57 rooms inc. 9 suites … the second smallest FS in the world but the smallest City hotel. When it opened in 2002, it caused quite a stir as its just so small BUT set a new standard of service here and ever since, new openings have had to emulate the FS way. 1500 – High tea - was worried that it would be a later version of the Japanese breakfast BUT I am pleased to say that chef James Viney has developed his own version with cutsie little trays of “sandwiches” – i.e. smoked salmon baguette, Wagyu beef burger & pistachio & duck tortilla with biscuits, cakes etc that are not as they seem. It’s all washed down with champagne and macha (string green tea). Inventive! 1600 – into the kitchen with James to make 1) mahi mahi – for a main 2) crème brûlée for dessert. 1) is fabulous 2) not a fan but Tim tells me it’s excellent. The whole afternoon swam as we supped fine champagne and had fun in the kitchen.  1815 – headed up to the 31st floor (the hotel has the bottom 7 floors BUT the 31st is a hidden secret room) … for a drinks party to meet the hotel staff who are – without exception –lovely before settling down for dinner with GM for a James Viney surprise – pizza (well for me anyway!) a grand day methinx. Song of the Day: King of the Road (Roger Miller) Weather: Terrible x 10 Weight: still on downward curve
Grief! It’s been raining cats, dogs and other household pets ALL day! Apparently it may bet worse before it gets better. Last night I had a proper spa treatment (rather than the on-camera one!). This was called Chiatsu – and it’s ONLY available here at the MOHG in Tokyo. The therapist Meiko Ito is quite short BUT she has the strength of Samson! The treatment is ½ Chi, ½ Shiatsu … basically a pressure point massage thingy. It was very good!! I slept like a baby … 0800 – Cab over to the Seiyo Ginza to film with one of the dearest people on the planet – Lloyd Nakano. The hotel was opened in 1987, has only 77 rooms inc. 26 suites … but has been my home in Tokyo for years now. It’s just full of love!  Japanese Breakfast
We film there all day … and I even had a Japanese breakfast … erm … I am not a fan of this. It’s erm – an acquired taste … I did like the Japanese sushi I tried though!  Sushi and sake pre-10am
I love the Seiyo Ginza … more on this later in the week (also more about the toilets!) 1600 – Head home after saying hello to Maisy & Mittens  Maisey and Mittens1900 – Pizza (yum) in my hotel room – stunning views over the city … Tokyo IS amazing! Song of the Day: The Great Pretender (Freddie M) Weather: Terrible x 3 Weight: in need of a sushi diet!
0500 – Leave the safe confines of MOHG and head to the Ritz-Carlton. It’s found in Midtown … it was open 30/3/2007 … not that long ago. It’s found on the top 9 floors of a 53 story building, the HIGHEST skyscraper in Tokyo.
Film all morning … it’s a very glossy hotel … films very well indeed.
Was VERY impressed by the pool/gym … there was even a heart monitor in the gym … as you can see, I am NOT dead!
1100 – Visit “45” – home to the most expensive burgers in town …
1) WOW burger – 100% Kobe beef
2) Boston lobster burger
Tim – Monsieur Le Camera chomped 1), I had 2)
The cost PER burger - £75.00!!!!!!!!!!  US$150 burger Phew…
p.m. lots of time to pre-plan stuff
Song of the Day: Don’t Worry Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin)
Weather: OK
Weight: More porky, less beefy …
 Sunday
Left The Peninsula in style. One of the 14 Rolls-Royces whisked us to the airport and we bundled ourselves into an ANA bound for Tokyo. I have never travelled ANA and I have to say that I was rather impressed from the free internet at the lounge to the wide bed-seats and the choice of fruit juices.
Arrived at Narita Airport where it took just 5 minutes to get through customs and only 1.5 hours to get from there to our first home in Tokyo – The Mandarin Oriental.
2300 – To bed
Monday
0600 – Meet with Chie the hotel PR. First stop the Main Entrance. It’s a 38 storey building and the MOHG lives on Floors 30 – 38 … I am on floor 34 – along with the gang … STUNNING views over the world below! The whole building is black glass – pretty amazing!
The hotel has 179 rooms inc. 22 suites … There’s a theme of forest and water running through it and the rooms have bamboo floors. The hotel opened 2/12/05 … its quite new!
0800 – Yummy breakfast
0900 – Head to spa and also film the two “signature” restaurants – one Cantonese and other other French.
1015 – head to Tapas Molecular Bar for an extremely inventive food piece with chef Jeff Ramsey … all microscope food – very yummy – bacon & eggs dessert and … well, you will have to come and try it out! FAB!
1100 – Meet with dear friend Sian who is from HK but is here to open the new Peninsula Hotel (opened yesterday).
1300 – Back in the Spa for a treatment – Kiatsu – a mixture of shiastsu (Japanese) and Chi (Chinese)
1500 – Film suites
1530 – Interview General manager – old friend – Christian Hassing! He’s a STAR!
Late: dinner and sleep
Tomorrow is our first real taste of Tokyo as we head into the unknown…first stop… The Ritz-Carlton Hotel!
p.s. we talk lavatories tomorrow!
Song of the Day: Happy Hour (Housemartins)
Weather: Not sure
Weight: Almost a wow!
 0800 – Arrive at Ocean Park … ½ an hour from The Peninsula. For the next two hours, I just smile because I have fun with two girls – Hatty & Maya. They are a couple of bottlenose dolphins … OP has a successful captive breeding programme and for those who think that zoos are “bad places”, if its not for the research scientists at places like OP, we would lose whole species … I was not in a class … it was just me and the two gorgeous ones. I am totally in love … and I think they love me too! .jpg) 1100 – Head down to near the airport to jump on Grand Cru – the Grand Hyatt’s yacht for a cruise back through the harbour to the hotel. The yacht has a Jacuzzi in the back and excellent staff … we cruise for 2 hours in the glorious sunshine! EXCELLENT 1430 – Arrive at the GH and jump into their “black cab” and head to Pier 9 for a crazy afternoon. It’s called Seafari … www.seafari.com.hk .. It’s a rib that can carry 12 passengers at great speeds executing whippy turns and amazing stunts while listening to loud music. Jake – the GREATEST concierge in Hong Kong – arranged for a full boat (of lovely ladies!) and we went crazy for a couple of hours. This IS a winner … better than a helicopter ride as you can see much more detail and have a “history & geography” as well from Clive the owner. It’s terrific fun… 1700 – End the day at The Peak for some great shots of Hong Kong…  WHAT A DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s a wrap …! Off to Tokyo tomorrow – armed with a fabulous show from HK and just fantastic memories… BIG, BIG, BIG “thank you” to Shevaun, Nicola, Gladis, Lamey and Jake … and everyone else who made the stay just so perfect… Song of the Day: Desperado (Eagles) Weather: Ruffffff!Weight: Doing well
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Ciao.
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