I ran into sea777guy in the transit security line; he
was in the regular people line; I shouted over to him that
I'd be in the ANA 5 lounge, as there was going to be plenty
of time to enjoy the sake bar, the noodle bar, and the semi-
amazing beer machine (not so amazing as the United one, and
I can't put my finger on why).
At the end of security I didn't recognize him. Turns out he
has gained some weight; anyhow, I thought he must have gone
on to the lounge and walked right past him. I hung around
the United Club a couple minutes in the offchance someone I
knew might be there then hustled the kilometer or so to
ANA 5, where he eventually found me.
The food here is more elaborate than at United, and the
drink is of a generally higher order, focusing on Japanese
prestige brands.
Don't bother with the squid ink noodles is my considered
advice. They're sort of sweet and sour and flavorless.
Stick with the Asahi from the machine and maybe a glug of
the notably Scotchlike Hibiki whisky. There are abundant
sweets and assorted sushi (no inarizushi, though) if you
want that sort of thing.
sea777guy reported that there was curry (the famous yellow
S&B no doubt; the Japan Airlines clove-scented black stuff
is more interesting) coming out, but I was too full and too
lazy to seek it out. We sat in the back room like a couple
old guys, comparing notes about recent lengthy hospital
admissions, much fun. He had fallen and broken his wrist
a few months back - a complicated break, as it turns out,
requiring many procedures and much attention. He seems
upbeat about it, though.
An hour in, EsquireFlyer and zcat18 joined us for the usual
round of gabbing about the best fares to places one would
not normally go, the number of peas in the bottom of
business-class seat beds, air traffic control issues, you
know.
And time for the flight, a 10-minute walk past the duty free
shops and sushi bars and stuff.
UA 803 NRT SIN 1805 0045 772 6C Ch9
I found gvdIAD and upup&away in row 6 and 7 respectively.
We clogged the aisle chatting before the flight. It wasn't
like the good old days when we would fill the forward
business cabin, but there were pleasant resonances.
We took off an hour and change late. The captain was oddly
close-mouthed about this. He made one announcement about how
the airport was inspecting the runway, and he didn't know
exactly why. Consultation next day with friends who had been
on other flights yielded that there had been a bird strike
incident; this United being less than candid stuff only
encourages us to let our imaginations run wild.
Hope Estate (Hunter Valley) Shiraz was if anything more
objectionable than the Bourgogne had been. The purser had
poured my glass with the ironic "I hope you enjoy it."
I switched over to Courvoisier after half a glass, which
the guy acknowledged with a sly grin.
TO BEGIN
Fresh Seasonal Greens
Carrots and cucumber with balsamic vinaigrette
I actually ate a salad. It was salad.
MAIN COURSE
Thai-style Green Curry Chicken
Shredded chicken in green curry sauce, steamed rice
and vegetable and mushroom medley
Fillet of Sea Bass
Gin-an sauce, rice with black sesame seeds, enoki
mushrooms, mizuna and carrots
Pork Medallions
Wasabi cream sauce, potato croquettes, shiitake
mushroom and vegetable medley
The pork, two substantial, well, pack of card size, slices
from the loin, was lightly brined and tender enough, but
somebody had ladled the sauce from the wrong drum, and I got
a distinctive taste of putrefaction and mold blue cheese.
After the indicated cosmetic surgery, the meat tasted okay.
Potato croquettes were gummy and unpleasant, the vegetables
greasy but in a good way.
TO FINISH
Dessert
Orange cake
?
Not much headwind, so we shaved a few minutes off and landed
only an hour late.
I hustled as fast as possible to the transit hotel, where
lili awaited, her flight, though scheduled to come in later
and delayed by the same incident, having preceded ours by a
good quarter hour or more. I suspect the foreigner tax -
hers had been on Japan Airlines.
==