First Stop Tokyo

As is always the case, no news is good news for a trans-oceanic flight. And in this case there is even less to report because thanks to the synergistic effect of bad movies, an extra seat and Ambien, I was able to sleep for half the flight, albeit in a rather cramped but yet horizontal position. The high point of the flight was discovering the flight attendant had thoughtfully left me my mid-flight ice cream sandwich while I slept, the low point was being subjected to an American talking incessantly across his seat-mate to chat up the Japanese girl sitting behind me, and also behind me, a whining two year old girl who was not enjoying the flight. But such is the price we pay to travel.

Upon arrival in Narita, I followed Stu's very good directions, found my bus, found a taxi and then let the taxi driver figure out how to get to the house - apparently maps orienteering was not his strong point. But find it we did, and I spent a wonderful evening reminiscing and catching up with Stu and getting to know his wife Kayo and six-year old daughter Mana.

Perhaps I had jinxed myself by sleeping on the plane, but jetlag hit hard and with a vengance. Thus I have been awake, and cursing the lack of central heating in Japan, since 4am. It is now 7am and I will be starting the trip back to the airport in a couple hours for the second leg of this trek to Sri Lanka. Here's hoping for better movies or at least an extra seat or two.