I've got a second glass of sake on the way and I'm thinking I could get used to traveling this way. We splurged a bit on the tickets home. Used some miles - and some cash - for an upgrade to business class. Because I don't fly well. Because I'm big and awkward in coach. Because I tend to carry my stress in my spine like a lead pipe for days. A three-hour flight I can handle. But twenty hours of travel - it sort of puts me over the edge. The flight out taught me that. I've had a funny strut for most of my time in Japan as a result. As if I didn't stand out enough already. (Not many tall white guys there, you know.) Anyway: the walk. 'Waddle' is probably the best word to describe it. It was a sort of hunched over, stiff-legged affair, as embarrassing to perform as it is hard to describe properly. Occasionally I'd catch my reflection in a hotel lobby mirror and think, Who is that poor sod? And why the hell does he look so constipated? I'm not sure when it was that my body developed such a cruel sense of humor. I'd like to say, the way I've been walking, I've maybe looked a little like John Wayne. But evoking the image of his famous swagger might be stretching it a bit. In reality, it's nowhere near as manly. Now, let's say the Duke just spent a few nights in a Mexican prison. Now you get the picture.

I've been dreading the flight home. The last couple of days I've been standing a bit more straight. And I've been afraid I would go back to square one. But the wonders of business class have made all the difference. I've got so much room in front of me I can actually sit on the floor and do some simple stretches whenever the mood strikes me. And my seat - wonderful, roomy seat - is large enough that I can shift this way and that, achieving several different positions effortlessly. Not just the single position I maintained on the way out. My shoes are off, feet slightly elevated by the foot rest . . . I'm downright comfy. And damnit, I really wish somebody would bring me a vine of fresh grapes already and hand feed them to me!

Speaking of food, let's walk through the lunch menu, shall we? We started out with warm nuts, followed by a salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing and a few sushi rolls on the side. I ordered a glass of Gekkeikan Horin Daiginjo Sake to wet the palette. Then came the main course, Madeira Chicken with linguine in a basil cream sauce, followed by desert: vanilla ice cream in a strawberry sauce and walnut cookie crumble topping. Delicious. It's been kind of like traveling in a restaurant. I won't even tell you what I had when I was in coach. It kind of brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

Oh, hold on just a second . . . I see the waiter - I mean flight attendant - now.

Eh hem. Yes, excuse me. Be a dear and hurry up with that second glass of sake, would you? I'm feeling a bit parched.

I think I'll have a nap now. I'll get back to you in a bit.

link to this | comments (0) | File:  Japan  Travel