All times are in US/Pacific unless noted. We start on Korean Air flight KE002 LAX to Tokyo.
12:53pm: just finished a delicious bibimbop, spicy Korean pickles, clear seaweed soup, and orange wedges. Used all the gochujong. Soo good! Two glasses of red wine in so far, and having some genmaicha. There’s both a regular outlet and a USB outlet, handily can charge two things at once, especially now that most devices charge via USB anyway. Movie selection is awesome, includes current Oscar winners the kings speech, true grit, black swan. Watching Never Let Me Go first.
1:17pm: just discovered disposable slippers and single use toothbrush/paste. Shoes are off now, seat is back, nicely wined and dined, pillow behind my back, blanket so soft, movie on…I may never fly another airline again.
4:35pm: just had two hot tasty beef buns. More than halfway through The King’s Speech.starting to get confused by time. It’s eternal night within the plane, but opening a window reveals eternal day. 6hrs, 35mins to destination.
12:20am: Starbucks at airport. Have cash and jr pass. Use citibank ATM.
1:24am: been on the train a little bit now, passing Sakura. Need to transfer at second stop past Tokyo. Sun is finally starting to set and turn golden. The breeze is cool when the train doors open. When they close, there’s a cool whirring sound followed by lots of squeaking as the train picks up speed. We’ve been passing what look like fallow drained rice paddies punctuated by small hills topped with bamboo and pine groves. The giant towers holding up the powerlines out here are reminiscent of the Oakland port cranes or the windmills in the east bay hills; they look like they could lift their feet out of the ground and go for a walk if they so pleased. I can’t imagine watching them sway in an earthquake.
3:30am: caught the hikari 485 to shin-Osaka. The lady back at Narita JR service desk was nice enough to reserve us seats on this one, which just means we’re in an emptier car – really, this car is more than two thirds empty. If there’s a rush from Tokyo to Osaka going on now, I can’t see it. These seats lean waay back, which is good, because I probably won’t be able to stay awake for the entire three hour trip to Osaka. Once we get there, I think we have to transfer to a local subway and then do a little walking to Hotel Dotonbori. It’ll be around 7:30 or 8am SF time, or around midnight local time before we’re checked in. That makes it something like 26 hours door to door today. I’m pooped. Set a prophylactic alarm so we don’t miss our stop. Thankful this train has most of the amenities of most planes, unlike the subway-like train that made up our last leg. All those dried squid snacks are gonna send me to the bathroom, I’m sure. It’s quite cold out. We both put on second layers and I pulled out my new gloves. Glad for them.
7:46am Sunday Osaka: it’s 3:46pm Saturday in SF, but I need to try to run on local time. I’m waking up with a headache after five hours of sleep. Drank some delicious barley shochu last night from the corner store to help me sleep, since my body thought it was 10/11am. Had my first real Japanese takoyaki and ramen last night. Showered in our miniature bathroom – when I stand on the balls of my feet, my head hits the ceiling. Ok, time to get up. There’s so much to see and eat out there.
Stephanie 11:44 am on Sunday, September 18, 2011 Permalink
That punch was soooo good! And there’s a little bit left in the fridge for post interview comfort :) So great to see you guys!