Text 33961, 81 rader
Skriven 2015-12-04 07:19:24 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: tail between legs 618
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I decided to take an early Expres and check out how the airport
has changed, as it always does between visits. The changes are
as I can see minimal this time, except that whoever was in charge
of doing the signage has made a proper mess of things.

Based on poor reviews of the Plaza Premium Lounge and the
Silver Kris, I took the Royal Silk for a whirl. Last time, the
place was kind of nice, with Thai food and TG staff - now the
thing is run by Plaza Premium, and I was informed that if I
wanted breakfast, I'd have to go there. I said that I didn't
need breakfast, and the Plaza was too crowded. It took fifteen
minutes to get in, during which time I saw a half dozen people
being turned away (from what I overheard, several were deserving
of being turned away) and nobody admitted.

Pyrrhic victory, as not only was there no breakfast, the only
alcohol on offer was Heineken. I had a Seasons Nutri Soy, which
was utterly nasty.

It was a snap getting to the plane once I figured out that the sign 
saying Gates 1-31 meant Gates 1-31 except 21-27.

NH 816 KUL NRT 0810 1550 788 14H

My seatmate had 4 carryons.

Breakfast was salmon flake and hard-scrambled egg congee, which
I figure you had to grow up with, either that or have been on
the edge of starvation, to appreciate. Luckily the noodles, this
time green, were much better than on the flight out.

On the side assorted weird things, plum pickle cold omelet and the 
like, with a slice of papaya and some kind of tasteless melon for
dessert. Also Yakult orange-flavored yogurt liquid, which is
supposed to promote healthy intestinal flora.

Featured on the entertainment was a show called World Explore or 
something like that featuring sites and sights from around the
world; I was pleased to have taken Lilli to about half of them
over the last decade, including the top few, and missing mostly 
horridly fascinating things like going to the Antarctic to watch 
killer whales eating seals and stuff like that.

90 minutes before landing we got an ice-cold pain au chocolate 
and choice of juice - I had yuzu lemonade, very intense but a 
little oversweetened.

We came in 15 or 20 late, to a bus gate, which meant
deplaning by stairs, so my seatmate had her hands full.
I helped her with her heaviest bag.

I hurried off to the subterranean ANA lounge, which was
reasonably close to my gate, and presented myself at the
noodle station, which in due time emitted a respectable but
very salty tonkotsu ramen topped with way too much way too
old ginger (it was bitter). The kitchen had also cheated
and enriched the broth with a dash of milk, which saddened
my intestines.

Kanazawa meatballs are like what you'd get out of a can but 
with mirin added.

I was glad to spy more of that potato salad with pork, this
tray with extra cracklings on top.

Paid the obligatory visit to the Amazing Beer Machine and
decided instead to sample the Camus Ile de Re Cognac, which
was as it turns out substantially nasty - though of decent
aroma, it was harsh and strange tasting. Ech.

I finished with an intermediate-strength liquor called
Arawaza, made with and somewhat scented of sweet potatoes.
Okay plus.

There were fruit candies to clean the palate with; I got
one with a bizarrely true to life peach flavor.

All too soon it was time to put myself in the hands of
United Airlines.
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