A short trip to Japan - Hokkaido

[cosi]

Anyone is welcome to tell me what I've done wrong or could do better - in any aspect. Need to learn for next time.

You did nothing wrong and each time is a new experience, with many great encounters and others time it can be sometimes poor.

Sake is normally very smooth, extremely drinkable and guaranteed no headache next morning, served either hot or cold.

Choice is normally dry or sweet.

Kanpai (cheers)

Golden rule in Japan is always be extremely patient, never argumentative, rude or loud.

As you have experienced, the majority of Japanese are friendly, caring and helpful, but, some like the occasional dragon lady, can be difficult with a dislike for gaijin.

 

[cosi]

Friend of mine who speaks Japanese fluently found herself facing a lady in Miyagima who refused to talk to her face no matter what language she used, instead only speaking into a translator...

So unusual but the clearly the local lady had a issue with your friend or anybody else who was/is a foreigner and spoke fluent Japanese.

 

[rbjhan]

So unusual but the clearly the local lady had a issue with your friend or anybody else who was/is a foreigner and spoke fluent Japanese.

She had a theory that Miyajima is just so overrun by tourists that people simply can't be bothered anymore...apparently that was not the only bad service there but the worst.

 

[RooFlyer]

I had planned to go out and have a look round some more but decided to just relax at the resort until it was time to head back to the airport via returning the car.

View this morning



My car was pleased. I did over 1,400km.



Very efficient car return - all details looked at, then you go to the counter where they tell you there and then if any extra charges. Nothing for me, so I hopped on the shuttle to the international terminal. TKWIA



The Royal Lounge used by China Airlines (I'm off to HKG via TPS) was pretty good. In fact, much better than the one they sent me to at TPE. Had a shower and thought this was amusing





I mean by the time you go over and read that, you are probably going to take your shoes off anyway, right?

Lounge views

 

[Seat0B]

bizarrely, an omelette and tomato sauce

I’ve had this many times in Japan. It seems like it’s a thing! I don’t mind it.

 

[RooFlyer]

My first flight on China Airways and I had heard good things about their business class. We were on a B777ER and the seat was very good. A good deep and wide footwell; plenty of storage space. I didn't use the IFE system, used my own netflix pre downloads.







Guava juice as PDB. Really nice - I was offered, and took another.



The flight was quite bumpy all the way and the seat belt sign stayed on the whole time (4 hr flight). After a couple of hours I needed to 'go' and then I noticed that there was a toilets sign that had X through it, going on and off. Seems like that operated separately from the seat belt sign, as I asked a FA if I could use the toilet and she said 'no problem'.

We seemed to be climbing up and down relative to the cloud tops, I thought as they tried to find calmer air, but FR25 shows that we were level.



Menus





I had eaten some very yummy fried rice in the lounge, so just had the dessert fruits and ice cream.

A good flight; will remember to use CI again.

 

[RooFlyer]

At TPE, I went to the Air China lounge (or at least the one I was directed to). Very strange. I'm sure there was a door off at entry level for CI status etc pax, but the rest of us are sent down these stairs. And up again if you want to go out; then back down etc, with carry-on etc. Bizarre.



The lounge itself was just OK. No natural light, plenty of power points, a noodle bar and OK selection of buffet stuff and booze. But underwhelming at the airlines base airport. Maybe like QR they have a separate, lower quality business lounge for passengers not CI elites/Skyteam?





I got some braised beef noodles.



I had four hours to kill and the place was pretty empty when I arrived at about 6pm, but was packed to the gills by the time I left at 10pm. Lots of Aussies!

My flight TPE-HKG was on a CI A321neo an again, I liked the seat and service a lot. A 2-2 arrangement in J, with each seat in the pair angled slightly toward each other. Footwell a bit awkward; I didn't try bed mode for this approx 75 min flight.





An OK amount of storage space; USB, universal power point and wireless charging. Allowed to use USB charging during takeoff and landing which I think is unusual.



More guava



And the menu; again, I had dinner in the lounge so just had dessert again, plus a G&T.

 

[RooFlyer]

That was another excellent flight. Landed at HKG and then a 20+ mins taxi to gate. Immigration not bad, then a 10 min walk through the terminal to the Regal Hong Kong Airport. Seeing the weather was going to be bad, I me feeling very tired, I asked what the rate would be to extend my stay with a day use. Reception lady asked when I wanted the room until - I said about 3pm (thinking the Lounge Crawl would start about four ( )). She said she could offer me late check-out to 2pm, and will upgrade me. How's that - enquired about payingbut given late check-out!

I got to my room about 1am. Pretty big for Hong Kong!





And shouldn't every hotel have this - a bedside controller for everything, clearly labelled. They also have Velcro strips down the curtain edges so they can be closed properly.



Woke this morning about 8:30 to a drizzly day in Hong Kong. Good time to catch up on TR and prepare for lounge crawl, which I'm told will kick off at 1pm

 

[OZDUCK]

If only you could use your vehicle indicators!

The CI lounge we used in Taipei was the 'cave' one and also not very special. There was another entrance inside to what I assume is the equivalent of the Chairman's Lounge.

 

[RooFlyer]

If only you could use your vehicle indicators!

The CI lounge we used in Taipei was the 'cave' one and also not very special. There was another entrance inside to what I assume is the equivalent of the Chairman's Lounge.

Same one as above or do they have more than one cave?

 

[OZDUCK]

Same one as above or do they have more than one cave?

A different cave in Terminal 1. The best way is to show and tell (sorry to intrude photos onto your TR)

 

[Daver6]

Anyone is welcome to tell me what I've done wrong or could do better - in any aspect. Need to learn for next time.

Perhaps you made the mistake of mentioning you're an acquittance of @JohnM ?

 

[JohnM]

Perhaps you made the mistake of mentioning you're an acquittance of @JohnM ?

Time on your hands again, I see...

 

[Daver6]

Time on your hands again, I see...

Not at all. I prioritise the important things in life

 

[RooFlyer]

Like



Warming up for the HKG lounge crawl. I board in about six hours.

 

[rbjhan]

Ah, I remember having this conversation here with someone..... a few months ago maybe?
The one @OZDUCK posted above is in T1.
The one @RooFlyer went to was in T2 near Gate 4.
There are 3 CI lounges in TPE.

3rd one is in T2 upstairs near the EVA lounges.
This one usually is less crowded and have natural light.
No shower iirc?



But none of them is anything exciting, I'm afraid...(CX lounges in HKG they are not)
Neither are the EVA lounges I might add!

I do like the beef noodle soup!


Edit, IMHO, the best lounge is TPE is the CX lounge

 

[cosi]

She had a theory that Miyajima is just so overrun by tourists that people simply can't be bothered anymore...apparently that was not the only bad service there but the worst.

I can understand and appreciate the discomfort the locals experience from tourists especially those who are rude and fail to respect the way of life in Japan.

 

[Seat0B]

And shouldn't every hotel have this - a bedside controller for everything, clearly labelled. They also have Velcro strips down the curtain edges so they can be closed properly.

Well this hotel would pass my list of ‘petty things’ from the other thread !

 

[Flyfrequently]

That was another excellent flight. Landed at HKG and then a 20+ mins taxi to gate. Immigration not bad, then a 10 min walk through the terminal to the Regal Hong Kong Airport. Seeing the weather was going to be bad, I me feeling very tired, I asked what the rate would be to extend my stay with a day use. Reception lady asked when I wanted the room until - I said about 3pm (thinking the Lounge Crawl would start about four ( )). She said she could offer me late check-out to 2pm, and will upgrade me. How's that - enquired about payingbut given late check-out!

I got to my room about 1am. Pretty big for Hong Kong!

View attachment 389928

View attachment 389927

And shouldn't every hotel have this - a bedside controller for everything, clearly labelled. They also have Velcro strips down the curtain edges so they can be closed properly.

View attachment 389930

Woke this morning about 8:30 to a drizzly day in Hong Kong. Good time to catch up on TR and prepare for lounge crawl, which I'm told will kick off at 1pm

View attachment 389929

Think another AFFer posted this view - or was it you @RooFlyer ?

 

[RooFlyer]

Think another AFFer posted this view - or was it you @RooFlyer ?

No, my first time here. Will stay again.