Into the East: 2018

Sunday, December 16

Namaste India! My last trip during 2018

First time I flew straight from Narita to Mumbai. There is 1 daily flight that does this route and I haven't been aware of it before! Made the travel so much faster and easier. Fly time is almost exactly the same as to Helsinki at 10.5 hours with ANA Air.

Only stayed in Mumbai for 1 night before heading down to Goa for a symposium. Goa has long been on my list of places to India that I wanted to see so finally got to check it out. I still would prefer Thailand as a holiday resort. Maybe I spent too short time and didn't get the real Goa vibe. Gotta leave something for next time.

Late evening dinner after a long flights

Good morning Mumbai!

Here we go!

Not really the view I expected from the first hotel. Hello jungle

My medical team

Muumuu's at the beach

Le Meridien's pool was a lot nicer

Mumin huset?

Looks like some Finns been here...

Calangute beach

Plenty of Russian signs

After Goa I continues to Hyderbad to wrap up 2018 with the team and tried the newly opened ITC Hotel. Really nice and buffet there had everything one could ask for.

When you park your car upside down...

Pollution pretty bad in Hyderbad too

Hyderbad is called the city of bracelets sometimes and the hotel has taken this message very literally.

Last stop Delhi before heading back. Crazy polluted and jammed. Took me 1 hour to get to the hotel even though I arrived around midnight. Wonder why there was so much traffic this late. Air was so so bad, like a crap winter day in Shanghai or Beijing.

You can only imagine the honking. Poor tuktuk drivers breathing this air all day

2018 really took me far and to many new places. In India alone I spent about 50 days and went to 12 cities. Never thought I would see this much of the country! Got to meet so many amazing people here and the food is fantastic. I have barely eaten any meat during the 50 days spent here, and there really isn't any need for it when veggie food is so good.

Last leg....Goodbye India. I'll see you in February again next year!

Friday, December 14

Good to be home - Family reunion in Tokyo!

Last trip was super busy so it was great to come home for a week and relax with family! Whole Nummelin Finnish family came over to Tokyo for the week. We went to the happiest place on earth - Disney land and also took a train out to Mount Takaoyama.

Could not have chosen a better day for Disney. Almost 20 degrees warm and sunny! Must have been so cool for Kaj to first time be here. Or practically second time but last year he didn't really understand anything yet.

Takaoyama was a gorgeous during autumn when all leaves had tured yellow and red. The restaurant Ukaishima must be one of the most special places one can have lunch or dinner. The pictures don't really give it all the credit it deserves. It was old traditional Japanese houses build where you ate it. Each house had room for 10 people or so. They brought in a set lunch which had 8 dishes! So nice! This is a place you HAVE to come if you are in Tokyo for longer time.

The Emperors gardens is open twice per year. Just before Xmas and during golden week. This was the first time I entered, so well kept place. Really worthy of an emperor I must say!

Tokyo Station ahead, Emperors palace behind