Picking up the pieces in Japan.

[drron]

After unpacking it was back to the terminal for dinner.lots of shops and restaurants.set up nicely.

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And an outdoor viewing area before you go through security.watched samurai blue arrive.
We decided to eat at the sukiyaki restaurant.We had the special with matsutake mushrooms.Japan's answer to truffles.good specimens can fetch $200 each.Ours were obviously quite inferior.

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We then had a wander around the shops.found the chocolates and immediately thought of cove.

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But there is a product from Royce that to us totally misses the mark.

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[drron]

And first the bad.Two new flavours of Kit kat-sweet potato and roasted tea.

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Then corn chocolate.Who are they kidding.

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Now coins and Hokkaido are more like it.

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But we are in Tokyo.

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[drron]

Easy checkout.just drop keys at desk.Not a long walk to JAL premium checkin having reached OWE again.Soon through security and immigration and to the JAL premium lounge.Really quite nice.light and spacious.Plus an interesting egg station.
The fellow first makes a pancake then puts a lightly poached egg on top.

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Puts some cheese around the egg then 2 slices of ham.

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Then folds the pancake.

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Plated,seasoning added and ready to eat.

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I liked it.

 

[drron]

More of the food available.

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And of course you could have your morning brew.

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The lounge.

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Good for watching planes and the extensions to Terminal 2.

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[Captain Halliday]

HND Ron?

The NRT F lounge wasn’t serving up cooked to order meals. They were offering buffet or rolling sushi on request.

 

[drron]

No remote stand for this flight so nice and relaxed.though no pre take off beverage either.A regional B772 this time so a more comfortable J seat.

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Though lucky it is a day flight.The area for your feet is really narrow and i can only fit 1 foot into the space.
We had to have the divider up for take off.

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So to the menus.

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[drron]

HND Ron?

The NRT F lounge wasn’t serving up cooked to order meals. They were offering buffet or rolling sushi on request.

Yes this time was out of HND.The government is encouraging International flights to be switched from NRT.

 

[drron]

Now to the wines etc.

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[love_the_life]

After unpacking it was back to the terminal for dinner.lots of shops and restaurants.set up nicely.

.

.

.
And an outdoor viewing area before you go through security.watched samurai blue arrive.
We decided to eat at the sukiyaki restaurant.We had the special with matsutake mushrooms.Japan's answer to truffles.good specimens can fetch $200 each.Ours were obviously quite inferior.

.

.

We then had a wander around the shops.found the chocolates and immediately thought of cove.

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But there is a product from Royce that to us totally misses the mark.

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Love Royce Nama chocolates!

 

[k_sheep]

Do you at least get J status credits on JAL? There seem to be conflicting reports. Gotta have something to make up for that catering!

 

[drron]

Do you at least get J status credits on JAL? There seem to be conflicting reports. Gotta have something to make up for that catering!

No problem on International legs that QF doesn't fly.So reduced SCs on JAL between Australia and Asia.
Domestic is different.On our domestic sectors mrsdrron got Y SCs for our flights.BA gave me J TPs.

 

[drron]

After takeoff Mt Fuji aimed one more blow at my derriere.The Captain announced that there was a great view of Mt.fuji on the right.Now we were in the middle seats but the middle doorway separated the larger forward J cabin and the mini J cabin behind so I got up and turned to go to the doorway.As I did a fellow burst through the curtain separating PE from J and ran to the doorway and took out his phone and took a photograph,then kept tajing photos.the FA was trying to get him to let others have a look but he didn't move.So after he did move this was the view.

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He then went to the J loo.I did consider waiting in the doorway and trip him on the way back to PE but he was much younger than me.

Not long afterwards lunch was served.I ordered the Japanese meal.As usual it was great on presentation but also really good eating.

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Yes some caviar in J.

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Then the FA asked me if I wanted the Japanese dessert or if I wanted to switch to ice cream.I had some misgivings about the dessert-rice wafers stuffed with matcha milk flavoured white kidney bean jam.I am not a fan of matcha flavoured anything but I felt adventurous and decided on the Japanese dessert.I certainly had second thoughts when it was delivered.

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And third thoughts when I squeezed it out of it's wrapping.

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But it tasted nice!

Mrsdrron had the western option.The appetiser was nice but she did have to remove some small bits of chilli.

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For mains she had the wagyu steak.It was very good.

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[Captain Halliday]

After takeoff Mt Fuji aimed one more blow at my derriere.The Captain announced that there was a great view of Mt.fuji on the right.Now we were in the middle seats but the middle doorway separated the larger forward J cabin and the mini J cabin behind so I got up and turned to go to the doorway.As I did a fellow burst through the curtain separating PE from J and ran to the doorway and took out his phone and took a photograph,then kept tajing photos.the FA was trying to get him to let others have a look but he didn't move.So after he did move this was the view.

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He then went to the J loo.I did consider waiting in the doorway and trip him on the way back to PE but he was much younger than me.

Not long afterwards lunch was served.I ordered the Japanese meal.As usual it was great on presentation but also really good eating.

.

.
Yes some caviar in J.

.

.
Then the FA asked me if I wanted the Japanese dessert or if I wanted to switch to ice cream.I had some misgivings about the dessert-rice wafers stuffed with matcha milk flavoured white kidney bean jam.I am not a fan of matcha flavoured anything but I felt adventurous and decided on the Japanese dessert.I certainly had second thoughts when it was delivered.

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And third thoughts when I squeezed it out of it's wrapping.

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But it tasted nice!

Mrsdrron had the western option.The appetiser was nice but she did have to remove some small bits of chilli.

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For mains she had the wagyu steak.It was very good.

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I’m not up to Fuji in my TR. But I’m happy to share a pic or two.

They could be pics of clouds or pics of mountains. I’m not telling just yet.

 

[drron]

Nothing much on the IFE that I wanted to watch,no queen in the music but there was Bob Marley who I listened to so mainly Sodoku and reading my kindle for the rest of the flight.A little late into BKK but a gate not far from Immigration and no queues at the priority lanes.baggage out not long after we got to the carousel and our bag amongst the first lot so less than 20 minutes from exiting the plane we were in the SGS limo heading into town.A lot of traffic so it took us ~ 90 minutes but there in time for Happy Hour.
No upgrade,in fact the smallest room we have had but still adequate and you still get all the benefits.Also a high floor-31 of 33.The problem is the SGS has always been popular with plats and was not uncommon to have 50 plats staying.With all the new MR plats now staying we were told it rarely now gets below 60 plats a night at popular times.

In time to see Bangkok's version of sunset.Never really spectacular.

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Then to Happy Hour listening to the jazz pianist.We virtually always have a couple of light dishes at the Living Room as our evening meal.Tonight was Pad Thai with prawns and mixed satays.

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Early to bed and a rather leisurely morning as on our first day in Bangkok it is usual for us to visit mrsdrron's jeweller and she only opens at midday.So our breakfast which is available to plats in Rossinis their italian restaurant.A buffet but a cooked to order main course.One of my favourites is the baked Mediterranean eggs.

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Mrsdrron has a sweeter tooth so the waffles with mango ia one of her go to dishes.

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[drron]

So Saturday and off to the jewellers in the River City complex.Undercover walk to Asoke station and the Skytrain down to the river.Hop on the ROS boat to the Sheraton and walk next door.
At present a large developement happening over the river from the ROS and nearly next door to the Millenium Hilton.Iconsiam.

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Going to be lots of shops including a Takashimaya and the first official Apple store in bangkok.Also an indoor floating market and lots of restaurants.They are building a monorail to connect it to the BTS and MRT.One of the tall towers is a Mandarin Oriental residences.Said to be opening early November.
But to the jewellers.Tried to sell mrsdrron a piece of bling with diamonds and opals.

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But mrsdrron isn't into bling.So agreed on the item to be made.Then a little look around River City.Basically it is dead.Bought a couple of items at Naraya as usual and checked out the Elephant Parade store.

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Back to the ROS boat for a different view of the new developement.

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Then back on the BTS to Asoke,up to the Terminal 21 food court and had our usual oyster omelette followed by coconut icecream.

 

[drron]

That night there was a special jazz performance.started at 8pm with 2 90 minute sets with a 30 minute break.Now normally that would mean we weren't going to see much.But these fellows were good so we stayed up.

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An Italian group.Now I know you are going to say-but there's only 3 of them.Just wait a while.First the bass guitarist-

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He was very short but the drummer was the opposite.

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[drron]

The leader of the group was the pianist in his natty little hat.

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Second set and voila-a quartet.

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Ever since this night I have been wondering whether Mr.Denali makes love to his guitars like this.

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[drron]

The last of the jazz.

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We really enjoyed the night.Free for us.

 

[drron]

OK time for some food cough.First brekkie at the SGS.Eggs bennie and egg soldiers.

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Omelet with river prawns and poached eggs with smoked salmon and bacon on toast with Avo.

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Sorry really don't get the avo toast craze.
Now the service.I always have tomato juice to start-freshly done.So the first 3 mornings i asked for a second glass so the next 3 mornings-

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Now to some of our night time snacks.King crab,fresh spring rolls.

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Then 2 of our favourites.gnocchi with truffle and foie gras with pumpkin foam.

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The foie gras was so good that on our last night instead of sharing we had one each.

 

[drron]

Realised I have not had a shot of the beer on tap in the Living Room.It does have jazz every night so just where would the beer come from?

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Back to the food cough.Over in Terminal 21 they have branches of a couple of Asian Michelin starred chefs.Tim Ho Wan we have tried but it really is disappointing.no need ever to return.But we love Chef chan.although he is famous for his chicken rice we go for his pork-BBQ,rib and roast with noodles,occasionally rice.

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Walking around after noted a few other crazy names.

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And why wouldn't you call your shoes-

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And did I just see Ronald McDonald in Mosburger?Bottom centre.