Leaving Narita

The airport shuttle from the hotel (USD $37) as opposed to the taxi (USD $200) only leaves every hour, so I'm now at Narita much earlier than desired. Despite years of travel and knowing the mathematical incorrectness of it, I still run the hedge of doing post-check-in activities - security, passport control, monorail to correct section - much too early, just to get them out of the way. As a consequence, now as always, I'm in some stupid wing with lots of gates, a bookshop where I don't know how to read anything, the JAL First Class Sakura Lounge that I can't get into, and one bar.

Naturally, I'm at the bar. It's 9:00am and I have two options: 400 yen for a coffee or the Kirin liter special for 1000 yen. The four old Japanese guys behind me are going for the beer. I'm in disbelief until I remember that old people wake up at 4:00am, therefore this is just an afternoon brew for them. I order a coffee.

I'm only modestly tired for waking up at 6:30 after a night of both sake and wine. Perhaps my body healed stronger after the poison. Or maybe I'm just getting teased and will throw up all over the plane. I was 4.5 kg over the baggage weight limit because of the sake I'm bringing back to HK and got a mention. Fortunately, the lady at the check-in counter only asked me to make a ceremonial removal of items: 3 small books, and sent me on my way.

In the Japanese calendar, the year is HeiSei 23, referring to the current emperor's reign. My coffee tastes like it was brewed in Hirohito 1. Tired of writing, I board the plane early to secure overhead compartment space for my large-ish backpack and coat. It's a long walk back to 69H, and already I know this Cathay plane is a downgrade from the Cathay plane that I'd come to Japan on. It's older, and the movies play at pre-designated times, and there's no electrical outlet on the back of seats. I turn around to pee, but discover to my surprise, no bathroom at the back of the plane. As I walk up 20 rows of Asian people reading Asian newspapers, I realize one thing: Asian people love to read Asian newspapers.