Sooo counting all the transit time, I’ve been up for 24 hours and lost a day. Here’s how that works:
Up at 0500 on 9 November.
Flight to LAX at 0730
Flight to ICN (12 hours!)
Flight to HKG (3 hours)
Basi to Taikoo.
In bed at 0200, 11 November. That’s 26 hours of being awake and catnapping!
The flight was OK. Asiana’s 747s feel like UA’s. But the service was wonderful! The food was good too.
Makes me want to cause mischief in Seoul…
Anyway, I woke up with a nasty headache, probably because of all the airline food.
I discovered the best cure for that. Yum Cha along with a pot of tea (that I drank) and all is well. Yay.
Asiana Impressions
Sooo this is Asiana.
I read that their equipment varies. Their 777s and newer planes are kitted out so that it’s heaven (along with their service) for passengers. Nice seats, seatback movies, etc etc.
Unless you get their 747s. In which case it’s UA quality and amenities (no seatback movies on demand, big screen in the front of your seating section, etc etc).
Naturally, both my flights were on 747s. Despite that, the service was still magnificent (I’ll take some pix on the way back home) and the food was pretty good.
For lunchtime you got the choice of Korean or Western Style. Dinner was Western style or Western style.
But the absolute best thing about Asiana (besides the magnificent service!) was this. It’s a tube of sweet spicy sauce that they provide on request. It’s a more managable alternative than Tabasco. Mmmmmm!
Boarding
Saw this looming through the window of the gate next door to us as we were boarding.
A message, perhaps? Not likely, since I can’t make it over there on this trip! No roti prata and chili crab for me this time. =\
Not impressed with LAX
I�m flying out of LAX today. OZ201 to Seoul with a connection to HKG. I’m looking forward to experiencing the “great Asiana service”. But first, I’m cooling my heels in what passes for a lounge.
The Tom Bradley Int�l Terminal is where all the int�l flights depart. It�s an old building and it shows.
The business class/first class lounges are on the 4th and 5th floor of the terminal building. It looks like a depressing office block with small lounges with none of the usual amenities that one would associate with �Business Class Lounges�.
No showers. No food other than snacks and the Silver Kris lounge is a shared lounge with Varig.
LAX had better embark on an improvement scheme.
And the absolute worst thing? No Wi-Fi here!
Addendum: China Airlines has an open network that just reaches here. So that’s why I can post!
Pic of depressing hallway to come later.
House and Road
River
How about Reflections on a river?
It was cold when I took this…45 degrees or so. But it was soooo still that the river was still and it looked like a mirror.
Here is a tree
Here is a tree from New Hampshire.
Nice looking colours,eh?
Late
It took waaay too long to get here.
Flying to IAD was uneventful enough.
Getting to Manchester was all about delays and itsy-bitsy planes.
Even did some work tonight.
Time to sleep. Going to be up at 0630 later this AM!
Bleagh.
It’s Early
It’s early. It’s waaaay too early. I mean, look at the time on this post!
Woke up at 0430 this AM. To catch an oversold 0745 flight.
Somehow, this just doesn’t seem right.
Cuz it’s TOO EARLY! I mean, it’s still dark out!
More from IAD when I land.
What Causes Hangovers?
That question has been skillfully answered here (I hope).
I’ve known about the sports drink cure (Gatorade, Pocari Sweat) and the water cure (hydrate, hydrate!) for a while. I like the sports drink cure better because it tastes good and when it tastes good, you drink more.
Look at the success of Propel water here in the States for proof of that. Gulp. Gulp.
This is a travel tip because if you hang out in Japan, you will be drinking alcohol (A LOT) and you dun need a hangover to spoil your holiday!
Hangover link from Discombobulated Mia