luvFclass

Brilliant & Bravo! Always a great read during lunch at the office. Your trip reports are just another reason for me to brown bag my lunches on occasion.

^^
Best LFC

SFO777

The final hour of our tour was spent at the beautiful Swedagon Pagoda. My driver Yem passed me off to Pagoda guide Ko Ko.
For $15, Ko Ko guided my through this fascinating home to 4,000 Buddhas.

SFO777

OK, those of you that know me know that my camera has an eye for the ladies in any place I visit.
IMO... Hong Kong, Sydney and Stockholm are solid contenders for the "most beautiful women in the world" title.

Hong Kong...



Sydney...



Stockholm...



Siena (meh, not so much)...



Well, now that Myanmar has opened its doors to the world and is even promoting a modeling contest, why not The Girls of Yangon?

Short hair Francis

Glad to see you had a blast in Rangoon, seems like you did the same thing as my parent's a couple weeks ago with the 30 bucks cab tour.

You in Y, I can't imagine it

I actually kinda like that Siena photo, maybe college still rubs off me
and Hey, Where is that mystery photo???

will2288

and I'm off to book my BOS-ARN-SYD-BOS trip . . .

SFO777

Lounge hopping at RGN

I arrived back at the airport around 5:15PM and navigated my way to the departures check-in counters. Just to be safe, I checked with the counter agent, showed him my BKK generated BP for the RGN-BKK and asked if I needed to do anything else. Apparently confused by the different (then RGN-issued BPs) color on the BP, he asked me to wait for the manager. Ten minutes later, manager shows up, takes one look and says "no problem".

Passport control was a breeze as there must have been 10 open stations. Everyone I met today was smiling and very friendly. Other countries could learn a lesson. The spacious passport control area from beyond...



First stop was the Royal Jade Business Class Lounge. I wasn't in Business, but flashed my UA *G card which seemed to be sufficient for the agent to allow entrance. This lounge is not Priority Pass lounge as the person entering right after me as denied entry trying to use her PP.

The Royal Jade lounge is by far the nicest of the two lounges here. (There is another Royal Jade lounge near the CIP lounge, but it was closed) Comfortable seating areas and a reasonable selection of drinks, snacks and finger foods. Complimentary Wifi was reasonable fast, much better than I expected from earlier reports.



















After half hour here, I decided to check out the CIP lounge. Shops along the way.





At the far end of the corridor is the CIP lounge, although it is actually the MAI lounge. No PP accepted here as well, but a day pass was available for USD$15. I thought is was a little steep for RGN but I paid it anyway, letting the agents select the best of my $20 bills. I got 5 crisp new $1 bills as change.

This lounge is pretty gross. Both seating and food significantly inferior to the Royal Jade.





Nice. LOL.











The Business Centre. LOL2.

SFO777

I only stayed 15 minutes and then decided to go to the gate and wait.
Apparently missing a press conference for Condor, which is starting service today.



TG 306
RGN-BKK
A330-300
November 6, 2012
7:40p-9:45p (sked)
7:40p-9:15p (actual)
30 minute time difference in Myanmar
Seat 33B

I actually don't recall much about this flight as I slept most of the way.
More fun with my BKK-generated BP as none of the RGN GAs had ever seen anything other than RGN issued colors.
Am I the only one to think of getting my return BP in BKK?









Early arrival at BKK but we were banished to the tarmac position. Both 1L and 2L were used so I was the first one off at 2L and got the 1st bus to the terminal. Was in the terminal just before 10PM, nearly two before my scheduled departure. More confusion on the lounges as there are seemingly dozens of CIP lounges at BKK. The one with the KE First sign didn't have showers so I move on the one that did.

Virtually deserted and comfy seating areas on two levels, but pathetic food options on both. Showers worked and it was conveniently located overlooking my gate.







Up Next: Breakfast at midnight

SFO777

Thanks again lewende. Indeed Y but it was the bulkhead, only one row from J.

That lobby is not the actual immigration area. It's beyond the lobby, to the left of and past VOA area. C&I was actually organized and well staffed. Even with 200+ pax, the lines moved pretty quickly. I took a chance and used the Diplomatic lane, and friendly agent didn't seem to care.

OMG. I wouldn't never have tried such a trip with the Mrs. She'd have been on the phone with her lawyer long before we got home.

Thanks luvFclass. You just made my day. I appreciate your kind comments. It's feedback like yours that motivates me to keep writing and improving.

Thanks Francis! I wasn't even going to take that Siena shot until Mrs. SFO insisted I do. Now should I post the pic of the "Hello Kitty" girl in front of us in line for the sundae at HKG?

Sweet!

glennaa11

Shwedagon is even more spectacular when they turn all the lights on at dusk

SFO777

KE 654
BKK-ICN
777-300
November 7, 2012
12:15a-7:05a (sked)
12:15a-7:15a (actual)
Seat 1J

At about T-55, I decided to head down to the gate. In order to access the gate seating areas, you check in at the podium, where an agent scans the BP. When she saw my BP, GA escorted me to the roped-off SKY PRIORITY seating area, right in front of the door to the jetway, kicking out 4 scruffy Y pax who had taken it upon themselves to sit there. While we waited for boarding to commence, an elderly monk (older Dalai Lama type) in a wheelchair was escorted to the SKY PRIORITY area by a younger escort, who knelt and bowed down to him numerous times before taking his leave.

From the good side looking at the unwashed masses.



After the monk and 4 other wheel chair pax were pre-boarded, the two F pax were welcomed to board. KE regional 773 is a very tight 2-2-2. Fortunately, were only 3/6 tonight so each of us, including the monk, had two seats to ourselves. Wouldn't want to be in a full F cabin on this sucker.









Multiple FAs and the purser welcomed me on board and generally doted on all three of us until we went to sleep.
Multiple PD glasses and refills of Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose.











A word about KE FAs. On both of my flights, all FAs were female and under the age of 30. They were all incredibly polite and accommodating, meticulously groomed and dressed. Speaking of which, and this is by no means a bad thing... is it just me or do KE FAs wear skirts one or two sizes too small? Things that make you go hmmm.

In an amazing display of protocol and uniformity, our FAs positioned themselves at the front of each aisle (and cabin presumably) before the safety briefing and on cue, bowed in unison to the cabin.



I had been forewarned about the Breakfast only meal service and so it was...



But our FA recognized that some of us might be hungry and offered the option of "breakfast" immediately after take-off.
Since I had not eaten much this today, I requested an early breakfast.
Fortunately, breakfast was quite substantial and more like supper.







The chicken in pandan leaf with pandan chili sauce was outstanding.
After I gushed about the chicken, our FA brought a double order.



The egg noodle soup with squid and vegetable was sensational.





And fresh seasonal fruit was a great way to end the meal.

SFO777

After a couple hours of sleep, a beautiful sunrise above the clouds, prior to an on time arrival at Incheon.

ma91pmh

Sensational SFO777

Can't wait for the A380 but very interested to see the A330 which they just added to MLE joining EK in providing F service to my favorite place in the world

lewende

Thanks again for the fascinating live report. Quick question: is Royal Jade Business Class Lounge at RGN the lounge for all business class passengers? I have a round 2 ticket originating RGN-NRT in J, and this Royal Jade Business Class Lounge looks like a great place to kill several hours.

SFO777

Thanks very much ma91pmh! I should have parts of the A380 report up tomorrow. Will be lengthy as I have lots of pics.

Not all Business pax, but most of the airlines. I didn't see an NH logo but I'd be surprised if they didn't have an arrangement with one of the lounges. Hope it's Royal Jade.

These are the airlines on the window, plus KE and a couple other cardboard FAs on the other side.

lewende

Thanks! I researched a little bit and found NH's lounge is the gruesome "Sky Smile Lounge" operated by Myanmar Airways International, which happens to be the $15 admission gross lounge in your post...

http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/japan/e/asw...de/lounge/rgn/

However, if my round 3 ticket sticks, I will be able to visit Royal Jade Lounge because it's on MH J.