Picking up the pieces in Japan.

[drron]

Continuing the food.One day was lunch at Nara.A thai restaurant we like.This one was in the Paragon centre.Maybe it is the purple even dow to the orchid on the table.purple is one of mrsdrron's favourites.

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We always have their pomelo salad.A nice,refreshing dish.Today with garlic river prawns and mussels in a lemongrass broth.

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Next to the food court is an area of small food businesses.Quite a collection.

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And some big prawns.

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[drron]

A final attempt at a sunset by Bangkok.

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So to the last day and the most important job-going back to the jewellers.A smoggy morning-

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A rather large log in the Chao Praya-

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This building near the Saphan taksin BTS station has been unfinished for several years much like the Millenium Hilton.Today I noticed they have actually painted some of the lower floors but maybe only because it has become an apple billboard.

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Then a tall ship at berth not too far downstream from Saphin Taksin.

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[drron]

Time to leave.CX J to SIN on an A350.I really would not want to do an overnight in this set.just no room for my feet.Fine though for a daylight flight.

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No champagne pre departure but delivered when seat belt sign goes off.The wine list.

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And the menu.

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[drron]

One thing I enjoy about CX is their use of cameras and the ease of accessing them.I just love watching take offs and landings..One proviso-it must be in good conditions.Several years ago when JAL had a BNE-NRT service we were in row 1 with a tv screen in front of us which showed the nose camera images as we landed at NRT.....in a typhoon.Rather scary watching the plane being pushed around.Two go arounds but successful on the third attempt.That was one time the coughpit crew deserved the ovation.
No such dramas today.

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On to the runway.

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Rolling and lift off.

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[drron]

Now the meal.I had the beef mrsdrron the chicken.

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Didn't look like chicken but mrsdrron said it was OK.

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The fork bounced off the mashed potato and one bite of the beef and a bit of asparagus and it went back looking not much different to the way it was served.not good.
Back to the camera as we descended into SIN.

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[drron]

Unfortunately CX switched to T4 at SIN.not only that they come in at the gates furthest from the Transfer point.Quite a long walk.Then a wait to get the bus to [email protected] it is a reasonable walk to get to the Airtrain for the ride to T1 and another walk to the BA lounge.Even though we are flying BA in F we prefer to stay in the lounge proper.The concorde bar we find too dark,no windows and just stuffy.basically the food is the same as outside but served to you on a plate.We have found the main lounge doesn't get that busy.
We have a few satays and a couple of glasses of wine and as usual leave a little early for the gate to get through security.this time a longish walk to the gate as well.But BA do have a premium security line though unfortunately we arrived at the same time as the crew so had a little wait.
For the first time Priority boarding actually worked.A good crew and I had a glass in my hand quite quickly.Then I had the best FA on my side and mrsdrron the worst of the 3 on her side.Them's the breaks.The pilot came on and explained that BA have tried the SYD lotto-leave early from SIN and hope for permission to land from the ocean.however the forecast is for strong southerlies the next morning so they decided to wait a while so not needing to be in a hold pattern for too long if we had to land in the opposite direction.So time for a second glass of champers.
The feet shot.

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A comfortable seat though in reality a good J seat rather than F.So to the wine list and menu.

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[drron]

So to the meal.I was getting a bit tired which is my reason for the fuzzy pics.
The starter has ben the same each time and this is our 6th F experience on the run between SYD and SIN.

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The entree had a little finesse and tasted good.

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The main was the beef.Tender and tasty but more comfort food than anything special.I had it with a glass of the "Complicated"pinot noir.Too complicated for me and one of my least favourite pinots.So only 1 glass of wine with dinner.
Dessert again comfort food with the warm chocolate and plum cake.
Then I read my kindle for 20 minutes which then let me lie down and actually go to sleep.I was woken for breakfast as I had asked.
Of course the winds hadn't changed and we ended up in a 40 minute holding pattern near Singleton with a QF A380 2000 feet above us.0600 and we were the first into SYD.But typical Australia we were halted just short of the gate as the automatic guidance system had failed.fortunately only a couple of minutes delay.I was first off the plane and so the first Pax into SYD that day.Also the camera recognised me at the E-gate so no hold up.
When the carousel started they used both ends for the bags.As we only had 1 bag I was at one end and mrsdrron the other.Naturally it came out at her end so off to customs-we had already had our IPC checked,food inspected and form ticked before the carousel started.So straight through.only beaten by 1 fellow with HCO-obviously from Y as he only passed us just before Customs.

We were a little early so went and had a cup of coffee.As I picked up the coffees mrsdrron realised she had picked up the wrong bag.Back to the arrivals,fellow there said go to the QF baggage area so off we went.No you have to go to the Meeting point and the QF Customs area.naturally back the other way and opposite the Coffee place.Handed over the bag to the staff and another couple arrived.Of course by now we knew who they were-so we confessed.they got their bag back quickly but ours was having a Customs inspection.

Off to the Avis counter.As I have said before in SYD Avis preferred rates are 50-100% dearer than the base rate.Before they have entered my preferred number as I have a code attached that gives me free insurances.Today the woman insisted she couldn't do that and I had to pay for insurance.I decided to gamble.But probably the last time I use Avis in SYD.
Weather was awful,all the family had the lurgi and as we had just got over our lot didn't want to risk it so went out to the DFO and wasted a bit of time.Got to the SOTP quite early.Was given the choice of waiting for my allocated room on a high floor or taking one on the 9th floor.Views were obviously not going to be important with the weather so we stayed on the 9th floor.

 

[drron]

The weather in Sydney was simply awful.Rain,wind and cold.We did a little shopping on Saturday but caught up on sleeping.As family was off limits with colds we got to experience the SOTP evening goodies.Can't believe how some from the USA over on FT say this is one of the worst lounges for food considering what is on offer back in the States.Here are some of the offerings.Not all as it was impossible to get every part of the selection free of people.First the oysters and prawns.Oysters were small but fresh and great tasting.Prawns were large and succulent.These trays were replenished every few minutes.

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And on the last night I was in heaven with NPPPs.

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For new members this refers to Neil Perry Party Pies which were a feature of the offerings in Qantas clubs a few years back.

 

[drron]

So all that was left to do was to fly back to BNE.This was part of our BA fare so J SYD-BNE.QF taking advantage of the Daylight saving difference.Flight left SYD at 1130 so arriving in BNE at 1330 SYD time but 1200 BNE time so only a snack flight.A ham and cheese sandwich for mrsdrron and the 3 little asian buns for me and of course no wine.
Limo back to the Sunshine Coast and finally a couple of beautiful days.The view from our home office.

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A couple of days later though it started raining and kept going for 4 days.

Just a couple of words on Japan.Despite having westernised and modernised it is still distinctly Japanese.The people are friendly and often go out of their way to help you.It is good to learn a few basic Japanese words as that does break the ice.However I have learnt that is quite helpful to murder a few Japanese words.You have lost face so it means they do not have to worry about their English being bad.Often it turns out to be very good.
Food is a standout.Even if you can't venture too far from western tastes there are things that are easy-tonkatsu comes to mind.Also the Japanese are very into some western cooking.Not hard to find an Italian restaurant for example.Other foods like yakiniku ,yakitori and tempurs shouldn't upset a western palate.

Getting around you can't beat rail.the system is very efficient and easy to use.if spending a while and needing more clothes don't forget the takubin system.Easy to use,reasonable cost and just makes travel days much easier.
Though on this trip I tried driving.No problems.An English GPS is a great help but with the numbering of roads was still OK to get around with a Japanese GPS.But remember in Japan you do need an International driving permit to rent a car.I found Toyota rental cars very good.

Always do a bit of research.Not sure of how often we have visited Tokyo but it is at least 30 times.We are still finding new things to do
So Sayonara.next new TR in February and not our usual adventures-a cruis SYD-AKL and a week driving the North Island of Kiwi land.However the Short Breaks for the drrons and Ronnie in Lonnie TRs will probably be resurrected before then.

 

[OATEK]

The one thing you haven't summarised Drron is whether after the change of plans when the cruise was cancelled, and the weather being less than perfect, whether you still really enjoyed your visit? Was it thoroughly worthwhile?

 

[drron]

We certainly enjoyed our trip.but the cruise had been a bucket list item for me since being a boy and that was a very long time ago.
SS are putting an Easter Island to Papeete cruise on the Explorer in 2020 and 2021 but virtually the same cost for 1 segment as for 2 segments on the cancelled cruise.

 

[love_the_life]

Thanks for the TR. A pity you weren't able to do the trip you wanted/booked but you made a pretty good second best recovery. Japan is an endlessly fascinating country and this time you visited some places I haven't been so that is real food for thought.

 

[OZDUCK]

I have just caught up with the last half of this after my own trip. Some really great photos and interesting food. Thanks