back in Cali

so just got back in from Asia
wonderful time
horrible flight home from Tokyo on United Airlines.
ugh!
after repeatedly trying to get on a proper ANA flight (since that's what i originally tried to book)
then repeatedly trying to reserve a seat on the UA NRT to SFO leg
i was told no luck.

then at the connections counter in Tokyo.
nice helpful lady told me that economy plus is just like premier economy on BA or Virgin
so i though, great deal and shelled out the extra 13000 Yen. (only about $109)
what a crock of shit.
you get 6" of leg room and that 's it. no computer plug in port. no extra pitch in the seat. no extra width. not even a personal monitor.
when i asked the attendants if they could close the curtain to the galley in order to keep the bright light out of the darkened cabin to see the movie better/sleep, she kind of gave me a disgusted look. when i asked about those little eye covers that those UK carries give you on long distance flights, I was told i should try a different class.
and the thing that made it all the more horrible is the flight i had from Shanghai on JAL earlier.
Wonderful service. then awful.

I really can't see how someone would fly ANA or JAL over to Japan, and then return on UA.
(unless they were flying in one of the upper cabin classes, of course).
But still. UGH!

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will write more about trip later.
couldn't blog in China. LJ was blocked.

MNL to PVG/Shanghai Day 1

well i think i already mentioned the long lay over in Manila.
arrived in Shanghai after midnight but my host aaron and his g/f muhan were there to meet me.
then we jumped into a cab and he took me to his pad and they left for hers.
big airport. lots of space.

the next day his roommate invited me to go meet up with friends for lunch and offered to help me with errands so i headed out with John.
he's spent quite a bit of time in Korea so he said any sort of outside expeditions was good for getting used to the city.

him n his buddy Martin at the Frenchy Bistro we ate at.


went and got keys made for the apt.
this guy ripped John off at least a few RMB


i like the taxi cab adverts that you can play with
(though after a couple of rides it's all about the mute button)./


sometimes laterns. sometimes laundry.
never know what you'll find hanging nearby



night time. dinner time.
started the night out at Red Beat. yummy steaks.
Me, Aaron, n John.

i really need to not drink JD so quickly. i will last the night much longer that way.
but then, i've never really been a club hopper.
this was the first planned stop.


atfter Red Beat, headed to Octopuxi at Sugar to meet up with syren666
i was pretty exhausted by that point so ended up heading back to the apt after one drink (juice!)



missed our 3rd planned stop: Attica
and didn't go with the others to the 4th planned stop: Mao.

passed out. sleep. rest.

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