The butterflies are flying. This is it!
After packing the odd titbit I'm out the door and on my way to Liverpool. There, after a quick stop at Costa's for my espresso fix, I jump into the Virgin train to London.
In keeping with Japanese theme I head to Misato for another great lunch - and one more chance to practice my chopstick'ing abilities. Misato is my kind of restaurant – simple and unpretentious, with excellent value for money and where the focus is on awesome food. Highly recommended.
Refuelled, I catch the tube to Heathrow. When I arrive, check-in is already open and without any queues. Good start!
I’m assigned seat 36A at the very back of the plane, in the row before last and one of the few 2+2 rows.
After security and the shoes-off rigmarole, I quickly make my way to gate 31 at the (very distant!) end of Terminal 3 – only to find out there’s no internet coverage over there… great stuff…
Not up for the trek back to the terminal’s main lobby, I decide to endure the no-mans-land and take refuge in this tiny kiosk serving surprisingly decent coffee.
Soon after the entertainment starts… I couldn’t make out the airline but 3 french-speaking ground crew setup camp at a neighbouring table. Almost immediately a bitchin’ match ensues!
Ground and air crew colleagues are gossiped about. Such and such is a wh*re, some guy is a pig and, of course, passengers are morons and an utter nuisance! Always good to know what the lot across the counter thinks, right? ;-)
After a while, the gate opens and boarding quickly follows. Just a handful of westerners – the vast majority are Japanese going home. Back rows are called first so I end up being on the first group inside the cool Boeing 777 and the crew works its way frontwards for the rest of the passengers. Japanese efficiency at its best.
My seat is quite comfy with lots of legroom which is absolutely brilliant. On the flight back I’ll be changing my seat assignment to 36A again. It gets better, the seat next to me is vacant! Plenty of space for all my stuff then… ;-)
We take off ahead of schedule and soon after the seatbelt’s sign is switched off the crew starts distributing snacks and beverages. After a short while the main meal is served. I chose the Japanese option, of course. I had no idea what I was eating but is tasted really good! ;-)
After dinner I quickly went into sleep mode. Seat pushed back, blanket in hand, pillows in place and, crucially, ear plugs in – I was ready.
Quite a few hours later, I woke up. Pretty much everyone else was still fast asleep. Where were we anyway? Turned the flight info on and it said we were somewhere over Russia. Opened the window cover and could clearly see three(!) refinery flame towers – spewing HUGE flames. No, I was not flying over Kazakhstan! ;-) I could see the sunrise in the distance.
Despite several attempts I could not go back to sleep so I ended up watching movies.
Hours later, the lights were turned back on and soon after breakfast is being served. Good timing too as I was getting quite bored.
By this time we were leaving Russia behind, clearing it just north of Vladivostok. There was snow everywhere – and lots of it too! Found it weird that the heavy snow went right up to the seashore and, for quite a while, couldn’t locate a single village or town, even when the flight map said we were going past one.
Suddenly, Japan comes into view… at loooonnngg last! Lots of mountains, even more snow. I was getting impatient, anxious to arrive – 11+ hours flights are not easy.
Another meal was served. The service was very good throughout the whole flight with the cabin crew being very attentive, prompt and always extremely courteous.
We finally land at Narita. As usual, I’m the last one out of the plane. I make it to immigration. Just a couple of basic questions, picture and finger prints taken and I’m in – Welcome to Japan!
By the time I get to the luggage carrousel my bag is already waiting for me. I make my way to the Japan Rail centre and sort out my rail pass and get my Suica card (similar to London’s Oyster).
Next task, getting to Tokyo itself. Best option for me was the Narita Express into Tokyo station. Once there, I’d need to change to the urban train on the Yamanote line.
Narita airport is quite far from Tokyo. The Narita Express takes a whole hour just to get there! Changing to the Yamanote line was quite interesting. I had to move up 4 or 5 levels to reach the right platform and the station was still in rush hour mode – people everywhere!
I finally reach the hotel and sort out check-in. Over 25 hours after setting off from home, I’m here… exhausted but here. I don’t even unpack, I just crash out.
Looking forward to tomorrow.
Tags: japan, tokyo, ANA
