Snow, Onsen and Crab!

[Seat0B]

Today is my last full day in Japan.
Aaagghhh I'm not ready to go home!

I'm never ready to go home, no matter how long I stay there.

 

[elanshin]

I'm never ready to go home, no matter how long I stay there.

Haha only as a tourist. Live there a few years and that might change the perspective as you see the ugly side of Japanese social norms.

 

[Seat0B]

Haha only as a tourist. Live there a few years and that might change the perspective as you see the ugly side of Japanese social norms.

Yes I'm sure that is a very real issue.

 

[rbjhan]

Haha only as a tourist. Live there a few years and that might change the perspective as you see the ugly side of Japanese social norms.

Oh I have no intention of ever living there precisely....

 

[rbjhan]

SQ uses JAL Sakura lounge in KIX.
Damn it is FULL.
I do like their signature curry though.

 

[elanshin]

SQ uses JAL Sakura lounge in KIX.
Damn it is FULL.
I do like their signature curry though.

That's interesting, no NH lounge?

 

[rbjhan]

That's interesting, no NH lounge?

Not sure if you are familiar with KIX.
But basically JAL & ANA each is at one end of the terminal. SQ happens to depart from the JAL end....It would be a nightmare for people to go from the ANA lounge to gates, involving two trains....
More out of practicality I guess...

 

[rbjhan]

45 mins + before the seat belt sign is off. ..I see we are doing the SQ new usual again!

 

[rbjhan]

It's been 2 hours, so far I had satay and that's it.
Let me add that the flight is not bumpy at all.

 

[rbjhan]

Landed!
Very fast today, got onto uber in about 30 mins!

 

[rbjhan]

Okay guys, the TR proper will start soon. Let me see if I can post some pictures tonight...

 

[rbjhan]

Okay I'm still sorting through the pictures.

Here are a few:

Morning, Lake Suwa.



Nakabashi, Takayama.


Unatsukionsen, Toyama


Kenrokuen, Kanazawa


Kibune Light Up, Kyoto


Kiyomizudera, Kyoto.

 

[elanshin]

Okay I'm still sorting through the pictures.

Here are a few:

Morning, Lake Suwa.
View attachment 433441


Nakabashi, Takayama.
View attachment 433442

Unatsukionsen, Toyama
View attachment 433443

Kenrokuen, Kanazawa
View attachment 433446

Kibune Light Up, Kyoto
View attachment 433444

Kiyomizudera, Kyoto.
View attachment 433445

Damn the kiyomizu with the snow top.

 

[rbjhan]

Damn the kiyomizu with the snow top.

Oh I was very lucky, I know!

 

[rbjhan]

Alright, let's start back at MEL!

At check in I was told both Marhaba and The House were available.
There's even a print out in English & Chinese.



I went to The House again but not quite as good this time
For starters, there was a CX flight that was delayed so the place was very full....then the menu where you can only choose one item, main was chicken breast or cauliflower

So I went with an entree. It's called Smoked Salmon & Avocado....now you might ask where's the avo? My question exactly!
TBF it was there...just hidden under the greens, maybe 1/32 of an avo?


I dunno, might go back to Marhaba next time...

 

[rbjhan]

Since I had separate tickets MEL- TPE and TPE - NRT, I was not sure if I can throughcheck my luggage. Made plans for things to do in TPE in case I need to enter Taiwan.
Not to worry! CI check in staff was very good! Not only did they check my luggage all the way to NRT, they also printed the TPE-NRT boarding pass for me Full marks.

The amenity bag used to be The North Face(RIP), I'm not a fan of this new Moschino thingy...
However the eye mask was a silk one


Dinner, just what I needed after that pathetic entree in the lounge!


Seafood fried rice.


Dessert


I always like their Chinese breakfast.

 

[Justinf]

Okay I'm still sorting through the pictures.

Here are a few:

Morning, Lake Suwa.
View attachment 433441


Nakabashi, Takayama.
View attachment 433442

Unatsukionsen, Toyama
View attachment 433443

Kenrokuen, Kanazawa
View attachment 433446

Kibune Light Up, Kyoto
View attachment 433444

Kiyomizudera, Kyoto.
View attachment 433445

Gorgeous photos.

 

[rbjhan]

Gorgeous photos.

 

[rbjhan]

Landed in TPE T2, CX departs from T1 so I took the skytrain (or whatever the correct name should be) there.
I have been to a number of different lounges in TPE. IMHO the CX lounge is the best one.
However the one problem is there's no shower!
I mean, it makes sense since the CX flights from TPE are either going to HKG or Japan...



There's a free public shower right next to Plaza Premium though. Apart from towels, everything else is provided.

Fresh and clean, I'm ready for some beef noodle soup!


This was very early in the morning (7am-ish?), place was deserted.


After trying several seats, I settled on this one.


With coffee and Cathay Delight!

 

[rbjhan]

My flight was not boarding until about 12.20, so I went for some more food
Wonton soup I think?


And some rice dish...all delicious!


The next flight was a regional J....and it was full....sigh....


The pocket next to the screen was meant for your phone, but no phone in 2025 is gonna fit into it. Sigh, CX needs to get rid of them like yesterday.