First Leg - I Can't Believe We've Come This Far

Patti and I are sitting in the United Airlines International Travelers Lounge at Tokyo's Narita airport. We left DFW this morning at 8:07 and flew to San Francisco to change planes and head for Tokyo. We landed in Tokyo at 2AM Dallas time, so including the San Francisco leg and time between flights it was a total of 18 hours. Arrrrgh! We have a three hour layover here before heading on to Bangkok. Notes from the trip:

It was raining in Dallas when we left. It was raining in Tokyo when we arrived. Hmmmm. The flight was incredibly long, but business class really takes the edge off. The seats fully recline and the food was great! I can't remember the last time I got something more than peanuts on a flight. We had a great Japanese meal including smoked salmon, green salad, some tasty things I didn't recognize and some really wonderful sesame chicken with noodles and mixed vegetables. Coffee, soft drinks, water snacks and lots of fruit filled out the rest of the time. By the way, I know that United Airlines is not the snazziest airline around, but the service, food and flight attendants were great. Patti has been handled with kid gloves and wonderful courtesy the whole way.

There was a choice of nine movies on board. The only one I watched was Wild Hogs for the second time. Otherwise listening to music, reading and sleeping.

Here is Patti in Business Class:

Here is a look at the upper deck, all business class, on the 747:

Here is the plane:

Narita Airport is a pretty interesting place. For one thing, the lounge we are in is very delux. If you've ever been in an airline club like the American Admiral's Club, you know they are nice. This is like an Admiral's club on steroids. Lots of room, showers if you need one, free food, drink and even direct telephone lines to the U.S., Canada, China, Singapore, Korea and Thailand. This is just one section.

When you walk outside the lounge you are absolutely assaulted with Duty Free stores selling all kinds of cosmetics, electronics, jewelry, watches, clothing, you name it! Here's a sample:

I mean, what airport could possibly be complete without a Tiffany's!!

Finally, one of the more popular pastimes at Narita is enjoying a relaxing, vibrating recliner while waiting for your flight. These guys all looked like they were having the time of their lives right here!!

Please pray for me (Mike). I managed, wouldn't you know it, to develop a rollicking head cold just before we left. It would really be nice to get over it in the next day and not infect any family members!!!

Forever in Him,

Mike and Patti