RTW in 27 days on*A
 

*A RTW

Well… I’m setting off on my second RTW in 5 months. The last one is a distant, hazy memory, and so I’ve decided to record this one for my own sake (and perhaps the sake of someone else).

This is mostly a business trip. I live north of London, work for a US company based in New Jersey, and I handle the Asian distribution network for my company. My routing for this trip is as follows:

25-June STN-CPH Easjet 3561
25-June CPH-NRT SK983 (officially start *A RTW)
29-June NRT-HKG UA853
3-July HKG-Dongguan via train
5-July CAN-SHA China Southern3523
7-July PVG-SIN SQ835
9-July SIN-SYD SQ231
11-July SYD-MEL Virgin Blue DJ 852
16-July MEL-SYD-SFO-SBA UA840, UA870, UA6248
19-July LAX-LHR UA934 or NZ2
22-July LHR-CPH UA9384

I was originally resistant to purchase the ticket in somewhere other than the UK, but the £1200 price difference between purchasing in the UK vs. Denmark one me over. After minimal rigmarole, I found a very helpful woman at SAS in Denmark, Hanne. I faxed over the itinerary from the *A RTW Calculator, with preferred seats (thanks to seatguru, and all the various airline posts). All sorted. She even sorted out my Australia ETA (visa-like piece of paper), after I faxed through a copy of my passport. All in all very helpful.

Not sure what I was thinking going out last night. Started out as a civil meal at the local Chinese with a few friends. Well… had two pints b/f food came out. I’m a lightweight anyway so this didn’t help.

Glad I set two alarms. Predictably I shut off the first but roused myself after the second. After a not so early start on Saturday, 25th (convinced boyfriend to drive me- left at 4:30am). Stanstead so busier than I’ve ever seen it. Quick check in- I was a bit worried about my bag (4 weeks of clothing + samples up the ying yang)- but it sneaked under at 21.2kilos. after a very leisurely moisy around the terminal headed to gate 14. went to the very useful starbucks next door. Boarding was very efficient as the GA was very specific with regards to who could board when, etc. Spend the next 1 ½ hours on the last row of a 737-300 snoring softly. Landed 25 minutes early.

Arrived into CPH. First impressions of the airport- lovely wooden floors, calming atmosphere, bucket loads of shops. Had to go all the way out passport control, pick up bag etc. Terminal 2 was also a zoo… after eventually finding the SAS ticket counter (tucked away behind some stairs) I picked up my ticket. It was all packaged for me, ready to go. And- they miscalculated the taxes somehow so I get a bit of a refund. Nifty self-service check-in machines- they accept your paper ticket and print your baggage tags and everything. There were so many of them in the terminal- no one was using them. That morning the line for SAS flights to the USA was so long- I’m wondering if they couldn’t use them or just choose not to or didn’t know about them.

With a 5 hour layover I thought about going into Copenhagen. But you know what- I was still hungover, tired, and I had two mildly heavy carryons with me. So I decided I would make full used of the business lounge.

Then went through passport control/security again and had a proper look through a couple shops. Eventually found the SAS business lounge. Gas fire, nice views, yummy chocolate macaroons. Only 6 or so computers- but the two times I wanted to check email- no wait. The bathrooms I have to say were not as impressive as the rest of the lounge. A bit utilitarian. Sit and wait (into lounge 11am, flight not until 3:45).

Around 3pm I slowly meander to Gate C33. Go through passport control… sit for a minute then head off to board when called. I must admit I wasn’t expecting much. I knew that I wasn’t going to have a flat bed but the seat was large and pretty comfy. (oh- this is the A340) I liked the adjustable lumbar support and lots of pockets in the front seatback. Served champagne, managed to drop 1/3 on myself. Headed to bathroom (situated 2/3 down the business class cabin). Lovely bathroom- two windows, happy flower and all that. Got some towels, cleaned myself and my mess up. Soon after takeoff- these guys dressed as chefs appeared and handed out menus. They kind of made me laugh- thought- are they going to be hand cooking everyone’s meal? Nice enough though.

Next- drinks and a snack- a skewer with chorizo, cheese, and olives- with a glass of Australian shiraz. Next came the main meal- my only objection was all the cellophane over all the dishes- for some reason having to unwrap my butter, salmon lox, pate, salad was annoying. The napkin had this funny little clothes pin- I think to attach your napkin to your collar. Salad dressing was worth noting- tangy lemon vinaigrette, quite good. Next I choose the venison- it was well cooked- the roasted potatoes were a bit soggy (I like them crunchy) but the root veggie and wine reduction was lovely. Dessert- tiramisu and fresh fruit. More like a mascarpone cheesecake- lacking enough coffee flavour. During this settled into a Denis Quaid film- can’t remember the name of it for the life of me. Entertaining. All the above took 2 ½ hours or so.

Water bottles passed around- duvet tucked around me- earphones in- ½ melatonin working its magic. Slept in fits and starts for about 6 hours. Guy in the window seat jumped over me at one point- but I didn’t care- landed 25 minutes early (due to a strong tailwind which caused some pronounced turbulence about 250 miles from Tokyo. Arrived to find that our gate was occupied and proceeded to wait for 15 minutes until the jet got out of the way. Long walks through to immigration (no lines), picked up baggage, got some yen, and away on the Narita express to Tokyo Station. Then short taxi to hotel (Park Hotel)… here until Wednesday afternoon when I fly to Hong Kong. Cheers-

Good report, looking forward to reading more.

Cheeers!

Well- after a morning of dashing to appointments through rain- I went back to my hotel to pick up my bag and head on the airport limousine. Off to Hong Kong. Although I think this method takes a bit more time than the taxi to Tokyo station, then narita express to the airport, it’s easier. Easy is good.

Oh course I get the airport with oodles of time to spare. There are always the longest lines at narita- they seem to process everyone very quickly- but I think the xraying of baggage b/f you check it adds to the delay. Anywho- shortish line in the United business line. Checked in- through immigration etc. trudged to the united lounge- miles of nothingness hallways. Lounge was pretty basic except for the free wireless. This fact more than made up for the lack of any decent snacks. Happily typed away for a bit- kept peering at the board and the flight was not showing as boarding so I wait. Finally I think- time to go regardless (getting ancy). Trudge to gate- and ½ way through boarding process. Up to upper deck. You know- this was my first time sitting on the upper deck. And I have to say I like it. Small little world all to yourself. United business seats- alright- although I might think differently after I sit on then for 13 hours SYD-SFO. I am normally an aisle all the way person- I drink a lot of water- so I get up to expel this water quite a bit- but I think I may cut back my drinking habits and sit window next time I’m on the upper deck. The storage boxes are nifty and are great toyou’re your feet up on. Starter was a nice salad with grilled shrimp- piece of salmon sushi. Dinner- acceptable chicken and noodle asian dish. Dessert- yummy trio of sorbets. Dosed in and out of the newish Woody Allen flick, Melinda & Melinda. I think. 45 minutes early arrival. Very long lines in immigration. Picked up bus to hotel and away I went to Park Lane hotel. Right in the middle of causeway bay. Our distributor choose the hotel for me, and I have to admit I’d choose a different location next time. I like shopping- but not that much. Cheers-.

Next location- Dongguan. Between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. As my first experience on Chinese trains I had no idea what to expect. I chickened out and purchased the ticket from the hotel desk- hefty service charge but oh well. Left myself oodles of time- train was to leave 3:36. Left hotel at 2pm via taxi to Hong Hum station on Kowloon. Fueled up with a double latte, orderly boarding, exactly ontime departure. Rolled into Dongguan about 10 minutes late and was greeted with a blast of hot smog. Lovely.


CAN-SHA. Southern China airlines CZ3523. After two really long nights, the last thing I wanted to do was get up at 6 am for a drive from Dongguan to Guangzhou Canton airport. Felt horrible, barely awake, almost puking. Lovely. Uneventful and traffic free taxi to airport. Oh course bag is over by 4 kilos, but after 110 RMB handed over, bag ok. Thinking grease would be good for me, I order scrambled eggs at a small restaurant past security. Bad idea. But the toast and strong Chinese tea does me some good. Boarding is orderly and on time. Take the longest bus ride of my life (10 solid minutes) to some far away and distant plane. All I want is to put the seat back, close my eyes and be in peace, but this is a domestic Chinese flight and isn’t going to happen. Huge tour group keeps changing seats, bumping seats. I’m sitting there grinding my teeth. And of course on this 1 ½ flight, bfast is served and so we can’t put our seats back. Am I bitter, yes. But it’s my own fault for being so drunk the night before. Arrive into Shanghai Domestic airport, and it’s even hotter and stickier. Finally find my bed, and take a shower and drift into two hours of blissful sleep.

Great report, keep it coming! :) I'm a fan of the SK J class bathrooms, too...

PVG – SIN. Singapore 853. This is a crazy departure time 12:40am. Technically on 7-July but really Wednesday, 06 July 2005. B/c I finish up my appointment very early, and it’s horribly sticky and rainy in Shanghai, I decide to head to the airport and camp out. Of course, Singapore airlines ticket counter isn’t open until 2 hours before the flight so I get a foot rub, write postcards, drink tea, hang out. Pudong airport is alright. The seats in the check in area leave much to be desires. Hard medal things, and there are very few of them to be had. Nowhere to plug in my computer, in fact ran all the way down. Promptly at 10:10 pm the Singapore Check-in opened and I was dealt with smoothly and swiftly. Went to the lounge and had a lovely curry dinner. Caught up on the news, call reports, etc. Boarding was orderly and smooth. Seat 17C, left hand side, aisle, last row of business. Very empty flight in J, I’d say 1/3 or ½. Given the option of a full dinner, but since I pigged out on rice and curry no need. The cradle sleep was alright, not as bad as I was thinking. Especially nice b/c the seat next to me was free, so I could recline it to just the right recline, so that I could lean my head against. I asked to be woken up just for the continental bfast portion, but after 3 hours, I didn’t feel like eating. So I slept some more. Was given tea about 45 minutes b/f the flight landed. Very early start to the day, arriving into Singapore at 5:45am (about 45 minutes early). The cabbie had no idea where my hotel was (just changed names), finally made it to the Novotel at Clarke Quay. Slept for a bit and then up again for 11am meeting.