Thread: Photothread: 2019 Rugby World Cup Final.

Friday night, about to set of, decided to have a couple of drinks at home before starting out:



Living in Korea, my journeys always start by getting the KTX to Seoul; 1st class is only about 8$ extra, and they throw in some snacks and as many free bottles of water as you want; nice seats, lots of space, a bit of a no brainer as far as I can see...





Seoul Station:



It was late night, so needed some dinner.

Decided to look at the traditional Korean food.



Went for something delicious that many TDers would no doubt agree with:





Le2 2 of the journey: Down 9, yes NINE, levels from the KTX to the $8 airport express; decent train, lots of space for luggage.

Incheon airport has lots of late night and early morning flights, but the train/bus/other connections are not good (it's about an hour from Seoul), so I had five hours to kill.

Stayed in a traditional Korean place: shower, spa, sleep on the floor, various amenities, pay by the hour; I paid about $14 for my 5 hours:











(I didn't show pictures of the resting, sleeping, sauna or shower areas...)

They even give you some nice pajamas to wear...



Obviously used the opportunity to charge up my phone...



Decided to travel very light, this is the totality:



Even the top and hoody I was wearing were ones I don't like, so planned to throw them away and buy an England shirt at the stadium. No, I did not throw that England shirt away, I gave it away to a local in the early hours - before you ask...

Yes, I did also have a change of socks and pants which I stuffed in my pocket then threw the old ones away in the morning and went the next 30 hours in the same pair, imagaine that...

5am, time to get up. The airport wasn't busy although it still took 20 mins to get through immigration...





Some time before check in ...



There was gonna be plenty of drink today...





Time for a couple more before boarding...

Time to board, about 2 hours and 15 minutes to Narita.






My favourite short haul plane:



A few vodkas...



Actually, I had two rounds of 3 bottles - they are after all small bottles...

Arrived in Japan, not impressed with the airport - Incheon is far better...

Had a few coffees, as I knew the drinking would be starting before too long.



Nice information folks helped me with the train ticket, local sim, other bits and pieces...



This Japanese breakfast stuff was disgusting, especially the green drink.





Train tickets, and we're on the way to Yokohama.



Ok this wasn't the flash bullet train, but to my surprise all the trains I took in Japan were worse than Korean trains.



Got some more coffee at Yokohama: nice place, decent food and drink; all under $1. Very friendly people here too.

Mate, great thread, I'm sure there is more to come.

I can't see the images in your 2nd post, but the rest are fine.

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In the pic below, are the 2 gates on the left for Asians and the one on the right for Westerners?

Then got to Yokohama Arena for the complimentary food and drink for 3 hours before the game; some entertainment, video screens, etc...






Here's my priority pass for food and drink and lines into the stadium, entrance into certain areas, etc. And my game ticket:



Met and chatted to lots of people, didn't take many pictures - this SA gent and Aussie lady were very cool.







That Kirin IPA above was a really nice drink (they ran out of it, so I wasn't the only person to think so...).

Then the walk to the stadium:

& inside the stadium:

& more...

It was a very tense but friendly environment.

& it was time to leave the stadium and head out... About 10pm-ish, and my train back to the airport was 6am - that's some decent drinking time...

The stadium, before and after was pretty lovely looking - perhaps not so much during the game...





I had researched that over the other side of town was one of the best drinking places in Japan, by the old port, an area with many many small bars along the side of the sea inlet, so that's where I spent the next 8 or so hours.





On the way:




& there:

Two sides, one is the second floor along the river:



One on the road side:



The bars down low closed about 2am, but the highere bars which you got to via some stairs and walking along the river were open to 7am.

Met many nice people; drank a lot...

Every place has only a few seats, perhaps 4 - 8, so nowhere gets too busy.

I didn't take many pictures, certainly not enough to justify the night. Here are a few...













I met a lot of nice people from all over the place, including: New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Rhodesia, Japan, Australia and many other countries. Some of the nicest of all were English folk I met. Sorry to disappoint some of youse, but I didn't see any English yobs or inappropriate behaviour (not even from me, well, mostly.... ).

Finished at 6am-ish.



Somewhere, either in Japan or Korea had some breakfast. Got home about 8pm, so that was a 48 hour-er, and I feel utterly exhausted.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

Mate, great thread, I'm sure there is more to come.

I can't see the images in your 2nd post, but the rest are fine.

---

In the pic below, are the 2 gates on the left for Asians and the one on the right for Westerners?

I have redone the pictures, but I'll try again...

Wheelchair/pram access.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Great thread Betsy.

Who is the bloke in the All Black shirt?

He seems to be following you around!

Don't know but I couldn't get away from him; a right drunkard/dullard he was too...