Working visit to Tokyo, Japan - Homeward Bound - Part 6 End

Continuation from:

Working visit to Tokyo, Japan - Sightseeing in Tokyo - Part 5

It was a downcast day when I left Tokyo. On the way to the airport saw Tokyo Bay.

At the airport there were some interesting local custom exhibition.

The executive lounge for ANA airways.

The ANA terminal does not have the passenger gentry. You still need to take a bus and walk up into the plane from the tarmac.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Kuala Lumpur.

THE END.

Working visit to Tokyo, Japan - The flight out - Part 1

Had to make a working visit to Tokyo, Japan last week. The flight was via ANA at a very early time of 7:00 am on Sunday morning. Had to wake up early and travel by car and arrive at KLIA around 4:00 am.

The airport has some activity but barely.

Was fortunate enough to be entitled a business class ticket so I was able to use the ANA designated lounge. Not as impressive as MAS' Golden Lounge.

Out the window I can see the plane that will take me to Japan.

ANA 816 uses a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. My first on this type of aircraft. Three obvious unique thing about this plane is the much higher ceiling, the bigger window and the electrochemical powered window dimmer.

Look at the size of the window. Just below it is the control for the electrochemical dimmer.

The on-board entertainment is not as extensive as MAS but even then I was able to cram in 3 movies. When we arrived at Narita Airport, Terminal 1 South Wing, I had to exit the plane via stairs and use the airport bus as ferry to the terminal. Was very surprised we were not allocated an aero-bridge.

Immigration took about an hour (it could have been earlier if I knew the priority entitlement came with business class passengers). Anyway, took the luggage and booked a ticket for a limo bus to get to Tokyo and to the hotel.

It is just a quarter past 5:00 pm in Tokyo as I head towards the city.

On the road, I noticed how clean all their trucks were compared to what you'll find in Malaysia.

Tokyo Bay.

Tokyo City.

To be continued.

On assignment to Hainan Island, China - Part 05 - The flight back home (End)

Continuation from: On assignment to Hainan Island, China - Part 04 - The Le Meridien Resort

After a two hour bus ride from the resort we arrived at the Haikou Meilan International Airport, one of two airports for the island. After checking in with Dragon Air, we saw this advertisement in a restaurant - Hainan Chicken Rice!

However, it confirms the notion that such dish is not from Hainan Island but a creation from Malaysia. It is actually categorised as such at the airport.

Note the price. Very expensive.

Based on the exchange rate at that time, the dish is RM59.21!!!

The dish was crap. The rice was just plain rice and the chicken was just boiled. Yuck!

This airport is relatively small and has a nice garden in the centre of the terminal.

I took a video of the toilet system. How cool is that.

After a quick change in plane in Hong Kong, we took a Cathay Pacific and headed home for the final leg of the journey.

Bye-bye Hong Kong.

The end.

Langkawi April 2015 - Off to a beach holiday - Part 1

At the start of April we took a family holiday to Langkawi. A pure beach holiday with no itinerary whatsoever. As usual we took the first MAS flight out of KLIA to Langkawi. Before dawn we were already waiting for the ERL train at the Putrajaya station for the airport.

Despite the early morning, the train was already full and we had to stand.

At the airport it was straight to the departure hall as we did not have any luggage to put into the cargo hold.

This time when we flew MAS we took the advantage of the MH Upgrade programme. I put a bid for 5 business class tickets and we actually got it for just additional RM150 per person.

The kids had a whale of a time in MAS Golden Lounge. We started our holiday early (or should I say our eating binge early).

The plane to take us to Langkawi.

The kids have never flown business class before. So they are really happy to find the bigger sitting arrangement as well as the additional services provided.

In the flight, the five of us were the only one on Business Class. We felt special.

Taxi time.

Taking off to Langkawi. Hooray!

To be continued.

Disneyworld 2014: The second leg - Part 02

(See previous posting)

After a uneventful flight of 7 hours, we arrived at Dubai International Airport at 9:57 pm local time.

By this time, the kids were tired out and we had another 4 hours of transit time before we catch our next leg to New York. Instead of sleeping on the plane the kids (and I) watch the in-flight movies the whole way.

After just walking around for half and hour, the kids just found a chair and started snoozing. Before long, the announcement was made for us to catch the flight to New Your.

After quick trip to the washroom, we all assembled to the departure hall for the next trip. The flight to New York JFK Airport was EK203.

The plane that will take us on this leg of the journey is a Airbus A380. Quite excited as this would be the first time taking a A380. Luckily, the flight was not full. As you can see from the photo on the right, not a lot of passengers.

By this time, although we should be very sleepy, everyone was full of energy. The excitement of the trip is starting to get to us. This is despite the fact that this next leg is the real killer - 13 hours non-stop to New York. The time is 2:25 am local time.

Hopefully the in-flight entertainment and food would be interesting enough for that long journey. 

At this time, we were all discussing what we want to do first when we arrived there. Everyone has their own "first things first".......

The first my son did after sitting down was to get the headphones and immediately tuning on to the in-flight entertainment. However, in a few hours he'll be sleeping like a log.

The hours passed on rather quickly as we were able to catch some shuteye. When we woke up, we saw from the window a beautiful sight of the sun raising and finally the shores of continental United States of America.

Before long we were on the ground and taxing to the terminal. The local time was 7:15 am and the temperature was a cold zero degrees Celsius!

Surprisingly immigrations was very fast without any fuss whatsoever. We had another 4 hours of transit time to kill. It was cold to warrant us wearing jackets, even inside the terminal. The kids were real happy to find free wifi in the airport. While waiting for all of us to use the washroom, the kids had time to go online.


The first purchase we made on America soil was Dunkin' Donuts. This was the start to our less then healthy food binge for the next two weeks.

The terminal that we were in was very long. It was so long that you can see the other end if you stand at one end. In fact, it took us a good 15 minute walk to get from the start of the terminal to get to our gate.

Nevertheless, throughout the terminal there are many shops, restaurants and food/drink kiosks opened if you need anything. 

In JFK, there is no additional security checks at the gate before you board a plane.

While walking to our gate, we saw the A380 that took us to New York being taxied back to the apron for the return trip back to Dubai. A massive plane indeed.




Since the period we were traveling was near Christmas, decorations were either present or being put up. Festivities was in the air and we will be part of it. Cool!

To be continued.


Previous postings:

Disneyworld 2014: The first leg - Part 01