Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

[drron]

Yes Irv we left Maitland in early 1992.
So Sunday and an easy day with a walk down to the DFO,Homebush.Nothing there to excite.Mrsdrron rolled her ankle on the way back so that put an end to any other plans.

Monday spent with Mrsdrron's sister.Dinner at the Bay Tinh restaurant at Marrickville.Very good Vietnamese.Only worry was that on both my Visa and MC it came up with incorrect pin.So immediately on reaching Rydges at the airport I got onto internet banking and changed my PIN.

Novotel Olympic Park.Quite reasonable and mostly slept well.Was expensive but it was always going to be during the Show.Especially as a major little athletics carnival over the weekend,NRL match on Friday and Madonna concerts on Saturday and Sunday.Pity about the Sydney weather.

Getting better at Rydges-top floor and an airport view even if only the Cargo Terminal-

.

.

So tomorrow off to the Flounge for brekkie and then on to BKK.

 

[drron]

So up early and able to check in just over 3 hours from flight.Up to the Flounge after Smart Gate once again refused to recognise me.Looking forward to a nice brekkie having forgone that at Rydges.Sadly we found ourselves in agreement with Tony Hancock.Fred Perry is fast going downhill-

.

.

My eggs benedict with basically hard boiled egg and mrsdrron's corn fritters having very little corn and the bacon inedible having been well and truly cremated.That $54 breakfast being mentioned in another thread certainly looking poor value.

At least we are on a refurbed 330 up to BKK.Hopefully Fred can do better for lunch.

 

[love_the_life]

The bacon is just the way I like it, but I must admit the rest of the meals don't look overly appetising.

 

[Pushka]

Clearly I have been distracted and missed the start of this TR.

Shoulda ordered one of these drron.
Off menu.

 

[love_the_life]

That looks more appetising Pushka.

 

[vetrade]

Just stumbled across this thread. Every time you put finger to keyboard there is more evidence of your interesting and varied life drron. You certainly don't seem to have wasted any of it!

 

[drron]

Clearly I have been distracted and missed the start of this TR.

Shoulda ordered one of these drron.
Off menu.
View attachment 67054

Pushka they actually had 4 of those sitting on a plate in the self serve area.Stone cold.

 

[Pushka]

Pushka they actually had 4 of those sitting on a plate in the self serve area.Stone cold.

What is self service?

 

[drron]

So now to Bangkok.A call was made for QF23 and the board said go to gate which we did.When we arrived there were already long lines for Y and also premium boarding.Unfortunately boarding didn't start until the time for departure had arrived.Eventually we boarded,put our carryons overhead,were seated and had a champagne in hand.Then waited some more.Apparently the paper work for the incoming flight had not been correct and there had been a report of oil fumes in the cabin.Eventually it was found everything was in order.No refill of the predeparture drink was offered.

QF 23. SYD-BKK. ETD-0955. Push back-1052. Take off-1111. Seats 2C,E.
ETA-1525. Landed-1624, At gate-1635.

After take off it was a pretty routine flight.Here is the menu-

.

.

.

.

.

Pretty uninspiring and left very little choice for mrsdrron who doesn't do spicy.She was originally told the chilli came separately to the linguini and mushrooms and they could hold the chilli.As everyone else was being served told sorry that was wrong so she had the beef brisket sandwhich that deserved only a couple of bites.So here is my selection-

.

.

.

The word to describe the first two dishes was bland.Not what I had anticipated.The custard was nice like my mother used to make-did Fred steal her recipe?
When it came to the snack before landing 2 of the 3 choices were spicy and the kibbeh did not appeal to mrsdrron so she had a fruit salad.I had the duck which at least was spicy but chopped into small pieces and served in an American type Asian food takeaway box.Not much duck and again that word-bland rice.
At least the Stonier Pinot Noir was nice and my glass was regularly topped up and did finish with a good muscat..

The entertainment options were good.I watched a documentary on the Australian Black Panthers.Interesting but I felt sorry for the woman whose talents were not encouraged.
Then the film Suffragettes.Another interesting film.Especially the end credits listing when women got the vote.New Zealand and then Australia were first and the other end was Qatar in 2004 and Saudi Arabia in December 2015.
Then some escapism-The Intern and Spectre.The Intern I liked.Spectre-well Bond is getting weirder as the series splutters on.

Finally lay down and listened to some music.Surprised that they had one of my favourites from Childhood-Harry Belafonte.Included my favourite-
[video=youtube_share;o4r5C6MUqO4]https://youtu.be/o4r5C6MUqO4[/video]

Hopefully one day we will get a QF 23 flight that is on time.

 

[amaroo]

Indeed. Spectre is atrocious ... Belafonte is first class!

[video=youtube;AQXVHITd1N4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQXVHITd1N4[/video]

 

[kermatu]

Pushka they actually had 4 of those sitting on a plate in the self serve area.Stone cold.

The other day I saw about a dozen of them in the self-serve area near the library - approx. 11:30 am. I don't mind room temp food but they looked absolutely terrible and I suspected they'd been there for quite some time.

 

[junbugging]

Where are you planning to see blossoms in Tokyo? My personal low-key pick is Harimazaka. Could not post a link, but easy to find via Google.

There's also an excellent ramen restaurant (Harimazaka Morizumi) near the bottom of the hill.

 

[Flying mermaid]

If you want a break from Blossoms, what about Snow Monkeys? Master FM and his partner are in Japan at the moment and sent me this photo. Apparently a day trip from Tokyo. I always prefer the furry things.

 

[drron]

Junbugging it will probably be a little late for the cherry blossoms when we are in Tokyo but we have been to Harimazaka and the nearby botanical gardens-really do love Japanese gardens.This time in Tokyo is a rest period with probably some nice restaurants.
Flying mermaid the snow monkeys are almost certainly down for another trip.

So back to Bangkok.Arriving late meant peak hour traffic into town.The parking lot started as soon as we exited the airport.Fortunately after about 30 minutes the traffic started to move again and so we were still able to enjoy happy hour in the Living Room of the SGS.Enjoyed some of our Thai favourites and warmly welcomed again by the staff.
The first day I established my SNAG credentials accompanying mrsdrron to Terminbal 21 where we both had manicures and pedicures.A thoroughly enjoyable time and at a very reasonable cost.Followed up with Pad Thai and oyster omelettes at the food court.A better exchange rate so the omelettes are back under $2.For exchange the Super Rich exchanges invariably have the best rates-26.25 baht to the AUD v 25.84 next best.There is one on Asoke station but they are becoming numerous.
That night back at the Living Room.tried a couple of dishes from Rossinis-the roast scallops and corn salsa was fantastic.The beef tartare with black truffle was also very good-

.

.

The second morning we checked out the new plat breakfast offerings at Rossinis.Really good.Much better eggs benedict than at the Flounge-

.

Then off shopping.Always some unusual things in Asia including this lipstick-

.

And who would go for wasabi or sweet potato Kit Kats-

.

.

Pandas had taken over the Central Embassy mall-

.

.

.

 

[drron]

So the next morning it was eggs Florentine-spinach and smoked salmon instead of ham-delicious.

.

Good to see Tassie beef in the supermarket-

.

Now spot the mistake-

.

It was Good Friday and time for the Bangkok meetup.Thanks JohnK and Happy Trails +1.Nice venue but staff not too organised.Mrsdrron and I were going to share an appetiser but her main and appetiser came together then my main a while after all other meals served.So the salmon carpaccio-a bit funny-and mrs drron's lobster linguine-

.

.

Ended ~ 2300.Much different crowd out at that time including a fairly inebriated Irishman telling us he was to meet his friends at 1900.missed by that much!Lights on Asoke station going back to the SGS-

.

Saturday and we looked at an apartment for a 3 week stay over Christmas and New Year.Then a suikiyaki lunch at Nabezo Premium at Central Embassy.Expensive for Bangkok but possibly the best suikiyaki we have had.You get a selection of appetisers,the suikiyaki,a noodle dish which we could not fit in and a sweet-

.

.

.

 

[drron]

So to our last day in Bangkok.Took it easy but visited Terminal 21 for the last oyster omelette for this trip.It had rained in the morning so this was the clearest day we had.The view from our room on the 33rd floor-

.

.

Would be a great view to the river if not for the smoke haze from northern Thailand,Laos and Burma.Then our last night in the Living Room.The food from the Italian restaurant,Rossinis,has been really good so we tried some more of their dishes with beef tartare +foie gras,crab timbale + beetroot granita and the scallop dish we loved.

.

.

All were great.We worried about the beetroot with crab but it was a sensational combination.Finall time to leave and this is why we feel at home at the SGS-

.

This morning an early breakfast at Rossinis and we are greeted by our first name.Go to checkout and as I arrive at the desk the agent says Good Morning Drron.We find the service here top class.
Off to BKK.Traffic not too bad.Do our VAT paperwork and to checkin.The CX flight has been open for ~ 30 minutes and no pax at all when we arrive.Soon through security and Immigration.When I am being processed the guy in the next lane was handed his departure card back with I presume some Thai words.The pax is indignant and says you're only doing this because I am muslim to which the agent says simply-you haven't filled in your departure card.

Now ensconced in the CX lounge awaiting CX 750.

 

[LadyC]

Enjoying your TR so far - looking forward to reading more.

 

[Princess Fiona]

So up early and able to check in just over 3 hours from flight.Up to the Flounge after Smart Gate once again refused to recognise me.Looking forward to a nice brekkie having forgone that at Rydges.Sadly we found ourselves in agreement with Tony Hancock.Fred Perry is fast going downhill-

.

.

My eggs benedict with basically hard boiled egg and mrsdrron's corn fritters having very little corn and the bacon inedible having been well and truly cremated.That $54 breakfast being mentioned in another thread certainly looking poor value.

At least we are on a refurbed 330 up to BKK.Hopefully Fred can do better for lunch.

Those eggs are terrible. There's no way Neil Perry would allow them to be served in any of his restaurants.
I've had eggs like that on more than one occasion in the F Lounge and the disinterested wait staff have taken the untouched plate away without comment.

 

[Princess Fiona]

So now to Bangkok.A call was made for QF23 and the board said go to gate which we did.When we arrived there were already long lines for Y and also premium boarding.Unfortunately boarding didn't start until the time for departure had arrived.Eventually we boarded,put our carryons overhead,were seated and had a champagne in hand.Then waited some more.Apparently the paper work for the incoming flight had not been correct and there had been a report of oil fumes in the cabin.Eventually it was found everything was in order.No refill of the predeparture drink was offered.

QF 23. SYD-BKK. ETD-0955. Push back-1052. Take off-1111. Seats 2C,E.
ETA-1525. Landed-1624, At gate-1635.

After take off it was a pretty routine flight.Here is the menu-

.

.

.

.

.

Pretty uninspiring and left very little choice for mrsdrron who doesn't do spicy.She was originally told the chilli came separately to the linguini and mushrooms and they could hold the chilli.As everyone else was being served told sorry that was wrong so she had the beef brisket sandwhich that deserved only a couple of bites.So here is my selection-

.

.

.

The word to describe the first two dishes was bland.Not what I had anticipated.The custard was nice like my mother used to make-did Fred steal her recipe?
When it came to the snack before landing 2 of the 3 choices were spicy and the kibbeh did not appeal to mrsdrron so she had a fruit salad.I had the duck which at least was spicy but chopped into small pieces and served in an American type Asian food takeaway box.Not much duck and again that word-bland rice.
At least the Stonier Pinot Noir was nice and my glass was regularly topped up and did finish with a good muscat..

The entertainment options were good.I watched a documentary on the Australian Black Panthers.Interesting but I felt sorry for the woman whose talents were not encouraged.
Then the film Suffragettes.Another interesting film.Especially the end credits listing when women got the vote.New Zealand and then Australia were first and the other end was Qatar in 2004 and Saudi Arabia in December 2015.
Then some escapism-The Intern and Spectre.The Intern I liked.Spectre-well Bond is getting weirder as the series splutters on.

Finally lay down and listened to some music.Surprised that they had one of my favourites from Childhood-Harry Belafonte.Included my favourite-
[video=youtube_share;o4r5C6MUqO4]https://youtu.be/o4r5C6MUqO4[/video]

Hopefully one day we will get a QF 23 flight that is on time.

Those choices are pretty identical to recent F menus.

 

[drron]

Those choices are pretty identical to recent F menus.

That's appalling.CX J was better.Which nicely introduces Monday's flights.

CX750. BKK-HKG. ETD-1105. Push back-1109. Take off-1134. A333. Seats 12A,C.
ETA-1500. Landed-1441. At Gate-1447.

So the seat + champagne-

.

Colourful planes now in Asia-

.

.

.

Anyone off to Expo 2017?
So to the lunch menu,sorry forgot to take pics of food-

.

.

.

I had the pork which was tasty and spicy.Mrsdrron the beef cheek-only satisfactory.She had the Kiwi SB and I the French red.We enjoyed our wines.
I watched the film Grandma.Dont bother.Then some of Monty Python's best bits.Doesn't matter how often I see those skits.
The CSM and FAs introduced themselves and service was reasonable.An early arrival into HKG which like BKK was covered in thick haze.Quickly through transit and to the Pier Flounge-sorry but this just doesn't impress us.Unfortunately we learn our flight to KIX has been delayed an hour.This throws our plans into disarray.More on that next.