I hate this wake up at 5:30AM and rush to the airport mornings. However, all went beautifully, as I was able to honor my morning constitution, caught a tiny breakfast in the Executive Lounge (which opened at 6AM) and boarded the limousine bus to Narita Airport at 6:30. It was raining, but the falling Sakura petals can be seen on the road.
Check-in was quick, and I found my way to the ANA Business Class Lounge, the best of its type in the world. They have a special section where you can order things, so got a pork ramen bowl and beef curry rice dish, put together a salad, and had them with...:
So how was my first 16 days in Japan? Wonderful. Caught a cold. Terrible. But the overall experience with cherry blossoms, wagyu beef, etc., was memorable. Wish you all could have been here.
A few bits of info about this region:
- At one time there were 54 active nuclear reactors in Japan, producing almost a third of the electricity generated for the country. Latest reviews show that 42 can be operated, but only 9 reactors in 5 power plants are in operation. However, the leading industry lobbyist, Keidanren, will ask the government to consider extending the maximum life from 40 years to 60 years. Really not worthy of headline news, for companies can already use a nuclear reactor for up to 20 years beyond the original serviceable life of 40 years just by asking for this extension. In any case, this is Horoaki Nakanishi, chairman of Hitachi making this pitch as chairman of the Japan Business Federation, the American name of this organization. How would you like to live next to a 60-year old nuclear power plant?
- Yesterday the The Japan Times mentioned the Incredible Whopper, invented in Silicon Valley and made from vegetable matter and lab-produced protein. Scroll down to my next article, for I swear I last night might have actually consumed this future option. The burger just did not chew right, and I thought it was because they had merely screwed it up by inserting two large onion rings smothered with BBQ sauce.
- The seventh Asia's 50 Best Restaurant awards were recently announced, at the Wynn Palace complex in Macao, and Japan continues to dominate. However, Odette (right) from Singapore replaced my friend Gaggan (Bangkok) as #1. The others
- No.3. Den. Tokyo, Japan.
- No.4. Sühring. Bangkok, Thailand.
- No.5. Florilège. Tokyo, Japan.
- No.6. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet. Shanghai, China.
- No.7. Mume. Taipei, Taiwan.
- No.8. Narisawa. Tokyo, Japan.
Maybe I'll try Suhring when I'm in Bangkok, said to be German inspired:
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