Chasing the Perfect Fuji shot.

[drron29]

Our flight on JAL BKK -HND.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rojaan found the Japanese white wine was rather nice.

 

Her appetiser and chicken main. she was happy with the food.

 

 

I once again as always enjoyed the Japanese menu.

 

 

 

And both menus had the Sakura dessert.

 

And before landing had their Chanpon de sky. cup noodles. it was nice.

 

 

And for the first time landing at HND Fuji appeared.

 

 

 

[drron29]

Next morning breakfast was at the Sakura business lounge at Haneda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's raining again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.picasa.ini

[UKCruiseJeff]

Safe and uneventful travels.  🙂

 

Jeff

[drron29]

This was 7 weeks ago. The real test comes on this weekend when we leave on a 6 week trip to Japan Spending a month in hokkaido including 3 weeks driving right around the island. hopefully we manage OK.

But now back to finish off this trip. The flight to Singapore. Seat 2A this time. And it was a 767 as well. have had this a few times on SIN services. Nice leg room.

 

The menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We departed about 30 minutes late so meal served fairly quickly. Rojaan again had the western meal. The Scallop and squid salad she enjoyed as a starer. Once again the beef but without wasabi butter.

 

And of course Japanese for me.

 

 

The matcha tiramasu was surprisingly nice.

 

Clouds all the way. Close to SIN put into a holding pattern. We did about 8 loops so lost nearly another hour. So instead of having an hour in the Crowne Plaza lounge we arrived after they cleared the buffet. But for the first time got a cookie each on check in.

 

And a fruit plate in the room.

 

And seeing tomorrow's flight was in the evening we could sleep in.

Breakfast at 1000 in the CP lounge. Not to bad at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had late checkout at 4pm but checked out at 1pm as they would let us stay in the lounge until we wished to leave.

We checked out in the lounge and stayed there until about 1500 before heading for Terminal 1 and BA early check in. No waiting and soon in the BA lounge.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 20 by drron29

[drron29]

Now we were flying in First class so were given the code for the Concorde bar. However both of us feel it is too dark, no windows and although you get your food served on a plate it actually comes from the buffet. There is absolutely no difference in quality. Besides Rojaan gets her food served to her at her seat anyway. So the buffet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spirits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

S to the wines. One thing I like about this lounge is that they post a description of the wines supplied. First the general lounge.

 

And the Concorde bar.

 

And seeing i had the code and we spent nearly 5 hours in the lounge I made several trips in there. You should have seen the looks I got coming in and taking a glass of wine out. but on the other hand there were only 5 F pax when we boarded and I recognised 2 of the other 3 had been in the general lounge as well. Can't remember the third one in either part.

So to the wines. I pretty definitely have them mixed up a bit having such a long stay and sampling all the reds. But definitely a step up in quality in the Concorde bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some decorative pieces.

 

 

 

[drron29]

Finally on board. The F seat is certanly dated but quite comfortable so able to sleep. It also has plenty of storage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Rojaan was comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My pre departure beverage was the red snapper which was fine. I also had the English sparkling which I quite like. Then the Tuscan and french reds also fine.

But then we came to the food. I will never complain about Silversea offerings again. The canapes were OK. But this is the side of vegetables.

 

I had ordered the fish as a main. took one bite and sent the rest back. After that only had a cheese plate.

 

Then we come to the service. normally I find the staff pleasant and efficient. This time there were 2 staff for the 5 of us in F. There was an older male who was just fantastic and one of the best FAs that we have had over the years. but then there was a younger female who would be oneof the worst if not the worst I have experienced. For example when I changed reds from the French to the tuscan red she came back to me after 10 minutes and asked me what I wanted. Just after that she was sent to the galley and stayed there. The fellow was quite capable of looking after the cabins needs by himself.

Unfortunately for the young lady I was selected by BA to do a survey on my experiences on the flight.

[drron29]

Arrival in SYD was a bit chaotic as we arrived after a QF A380 and another wasn't far behind. so a little wait for a kiosk but from there fine. Bags started coming out soon after we reached the carousel and our bag was in the first few out. So we were a little early to pick up our car so had a cappucino after exiting.

 

After picking up our car we drove to Centennial Park as usual to snooze before checking in to the IC Sydney. Told could check in from 1pm so arrived there just after 1pm. As I was walking in disaster struck. I got the sudden onset of right sided scitica. Previously had it on the left side but controlled for over 10 years with Amitriptyline. I couldn't walk very far.

Wasn't helped by an agent who said your assigned room isn't ready yet so I will look for another. Just standing was painful so I said we will wait for the assigned room but she took no notice so ended up with an entry level king room on a low floor. No welcome or amenity showed up for our 3 night stay. We are staying again towards the end of June so they better do a lot better or that will be our last stay there. The only thing going for the hotel in our view is the views from the lounges.
The view for the evening lounge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the view from the breakfast lounge one floor above.

 

 

 

 

Due to the sciatica I wasn't walking around taking photos. But I needer a shower as no way could I get in and out of a bath. A nice shower but why marble floors. They get extremely slippery and my balance isn't the best.

 

The view from our room though wasn't as good.

 

 

 

[drron29]

They had all the menus on the table the first evening so here they are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

n the evening the first 4 items are brought around by a waitperson. Unfortunately only 1 tray reached me before it was empty. i felt a real prawn.

 

The breakfast buffet. They saw me limping in so gave us the nearest table to the buffet. I didn't have to get out of my seat to take the first photo.

 

But I managed seeing most of it.

 

 

 

 

From the menu Rojaan ordered the bircher muesli.

 

I had the eggs Benedict.

 

The second morning poached eggs on avocado toast.

 

But the major reason for stopping in Sydney was to see the family. On Saturday night we took the grandkids to their favourite Pizza restaurant and on Sunday a family dinner at their home.

Early Monday morning we flew back home to the Sunshine Coast.

 

That's all folks. The only cruising on this next trip is a whale watching cruise. hoping for the perfect Orca shot.