ANA flight to Tokyo

This is my first flight on ANA - Japan's best airline (according to a Japanese friend). I have to say I'm impressed. The stewardesses are super nice and polite (and wear cute outfits). The entertainment selection is excellent. They don't nickel and dime you on food. In fact, it's really good for airline food. They even finish off the meal with personal Hagan-daaz ice cream. The seats are comfortable enough. I slept through the second meal service - I usually find they serve too much food on flights since you're sitting still or sleeping the whole time. It was really nice though that the stewardess knew that I slept through food service and offered me a tray when I awoke.

Overall, a fantastic option. I wonder where else I can go on ANA.

 Japanese meal on flight including miso soup finishing with ice cream

 Crossing the international date line

 View of NYC

View approaching Tokyo

Thailand, here I come!!

I'm about to board my flight to Tokyo and then transfer to Bangkok. I designed the layover to be in Tokyo so I can enjoy Japanese food in Japan! Yes, it's airport food but it's Japanese airport food (though nowadays there's some pretty decent airport options).

I'm packed. Luggage under 44lbs, check, camera with plenty of memory, check, sense of adventure and unbridled enthusiasm, check and check. Ready for take off.

I should have WiFi throughout my trip so I will be able to post throughout. However, I'm not bringing my laptop so I'll only be posting cellphone pictures during the trip. Nicer photos will follow when I get back. This year I have a DSLR camera for the first time. Hopefully, there will be an improvement in the photography quality. (My previous camera was an Olympus point and shoot from 2002.)

Next post week be from Asia...

Thailand and Cambodia

I'm heading to Thailand and Cambodia for 2 weeks this Saturday. I can't wait! I'll be having layovers in Tokyo so that should be fun too.

Weekend near San Francisco

I arrived at SFO around 10:30 and was on the road by 11 enjoying winding roads flanked by lush forests and passing shimmering blue lakes.  I passed Half Moon Bay and drove down CA-1 along the coast.  I was trying to make it to Ano Nuevo State Reserve by noon so I could only enjoy the rocky shores and glimmering waters under blue skies in my rear view mirror but I knew I'd come back to enjoy the views.  When I finally arrived at the reserve, it was close to 12:30 but they still had tickets left for guided tours to the elephant seals.  I bought my ticket ($10 for entry to the reserve and $7 for the tour) and stopped by the highway Brewery to pick up a take-out lunch to enjoy by the coast as I waited for my tour.

Elephant Seals
The tour lasted about 2.5 hours. A volunteer of the reserve led the tour and told us all about otters, sea lions,the island offshore and its history as a lighthouse but now is inhabited by the sea lions, the stories of rescue and conservation of the elephant seals, and of course about the elephant seals and their mating and molting seasons.

elephant seals chilling

more elephant seals chilling

large male elephant seal

There were many beaches along CA-1.

The next day I went horseback riding with the Sea Horse Ranch - 8AM morning 2hr ride along trail and beach.  It was really nice riding along the beach, though a bit chilly.  The sky was misty/foggy but the bluffs along the beach were impressive.

After the horseback ride, I visited the beach by the Ritz-Carlton where there is a public beach with overlook from the golf course.

After getting some Artichoke garlic bread from the Arcangeli Grocery/Norm's Market in Pescadero, I went to Big Basin Redwood State Park for a hike through the redwood forests.  This is the first state park in California.

Banana Slug

from inside a hollowed out tree

redwood bark