At The Pointy End Of Things: 744 First Class SIN-NRT-LAX-NRT-SIN

[9V-SIA]

This has to be the friendliest town in America. And special because the townsfolk have banned big chain stores within the town limits which has allowed small businesses to thrive

The Waitress

Azu, an old haunt on previous trips. We had a late lunch here after shopping the whole day at Camarillo.

Nice waitress took our order. When her shift ended, she came over to say goodbye and introduced her replacement. Wow...



Really nice decor.



I love beetroot salad and ordered it whenever it was on the menu



Shrimps



Ribeye steak



Home made strawberry ice cream for dessert




Nice shopkeeper

After our late lunch at Azu, I was taking pictures outside the cinema when the shop keeper came out and told me to wait a few minutes to take a picture of the mountains.

They turn pink in the sunset..



Human Arts

Arcade Shopping Centre has our favourite store...



...Human Arts, an eclectic mix of art and craft.

Every year the owners go to fairs around the country commissioning work for their store



The stuff in the background is pretty nice to browse too

[9V-SIA]

The Botanist

Behind the Arcade is this park...





.. and more cute shops



The mountains we saw in the distance driving to Ojai tower over the town



Hang glider overhead while we had lunch...



... of pulled pork sandwich..



.. chocolate fondant



The Botanist saw me snapping and pointed out the various trees in the park! I can't remember what's what but here they are.. one is a sycamore tree



Close-up of flower



Chestnut?



Sycamore?



Star of Ice Age, acorn the squirrel was carrying...

[9V-SIA]

Santa Barbara

Although we spent 3 nights in Santa Barbara, we didn't get to explore much of the city.

That's because we woke up late... almost lunchtime and got back to SYR by nightfall ( I didn't fancy driving at night ) so effectively only had half day to "do things"

It was only on our last day did we venture into Santa Barbara, and even then, just a drive along the waterfront to Hope Ranch. I'd recommend it. Very scenic drive. Jaw dropping homes along Hope Ranch

Unfortunately the sun was in the wrong position so the pictures didn't turn out well

Drive along the waterfront...




Four Seasons Biltmore is also owned by Ty Warner and we had cocktails there while watching the sunset

Entrance to the hotel..



Views of the Lobby

From the entrance..



From the "living room"



From the bar...



The "living room"



The bar...



Nice to sit on the patio to watch the sunset...



... but the better views are across the road...



...by the dog-friendly beach



Beach front house across the road from Four Seasons Biltmore..



Very romantic moment! XXX




We will stay here on our next visit as it is closer to Santa Barbara than SYR... and cheaper

[9V-SIA]

Los Angeles

After 3 days in Santa Barbara, it was time to move back to LA for 3 more days before our flight home.

I wanted to take the coast road to Santa Monica to enjoy the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

These are some of the pics I took...



Nice ( expensive, I'm sure ) homes...



Even if you can't afford to own one of the beachfront properties, there is a stretch where you can park your home!



We took the faster I-101 after losing time on our 3rd visit to Camarillo Premium Outlets

Along Santa Monica Boulevard, I found a former contributor to SQTalk...



.. prophetic pic. Hope he comes back to play in our sandbox.

The original plan was a mattress run at Hyatt Century City and Andaz West Hollywood.

But I find moving hotels a hassle, not to mention tiring, and decided on this hotel for a more relaxing time in LA.

Shutters On The Beach

Also gives easier access to LAX than the Hyatts I considered..

Santa Monica

Shutters is expensive so wait for "special offers". I like it for its location.

By the beach..



A stone's throw from Santa Monica Pier



A short walk along the beach..



.. or road to...



Third Street Promenade



And a new mall - Santa Monica Place - at the south end of 3rd Street Promenade



All this within walking distance to Shutters, sparing us negotiating LA traffic

[9V-SIA]

Driving In LA

The furthest we drove was to return to a favourite haunt in LA..



..Farmer's Market



I was tempted to try this place...



But settled for my usual outlet



Lamb on pitta bread



With doughnuts to follow



After lunch, we strolled over to the Grove next door



1950s style mall reminds me of "Back To The Future"



Nice feature pond in the middle. Note the "Boy Fishing" statue



They were filming the day we were there.. but this is Hollywood after all.

We were shopped out and didn't buy anything there..



.. but Abbot Kinney near the hotel was another matter. Good shopping here



Near the hotel too is this house. Lovely architecture. Features in a favourite drama



Next, the flight home

[9V-SIA]

LAX

Haven't been to LAX since 2004.

I don't remember it being a nasty airport to use but having read the mostly negative comments posted here and other websites, I gave myself plenty of time to get airside.

I left Shutters at 9am, traffic was light.

The drop off at Hertz couldn't have been faster.

Check in was a breeze. And I'm glad the priority lane at security was empty.

The airport layout reminds me of Changi but bigger.

T1 Changi = LAX TBIT
T2 Changi = LAX T1, 2 & 3
T3 Changi = LAX T4, 5, 6, 7 & 8

Traffic flows in a counter clockwise direction.

And in place of Changi's control tower is LAX's iconic Encounter restaurant.

The one complaint I have is that there is little retail therapy or food outlets airside....



TBIT is currently being upgraded and these are pictures I snapped of the future TBIT



And the work in progress can be seen from the *Alliance F Lounge



We had plenty of time to spare so I took a walk along the entire length of TBIT

The "Asian Wave" is about to leave south terminal of TBIT.. This is 777 territory

NH 777-300ER to NRT..



OZ 777-200ER to ICN..



JL 777-300ER to NRT..



Odd plane out.. LA 767-300ER to LIM.

In background, Control Tower & Encounter restaurant

[9V-SIA]

Dance of the Jumbos

At the northern end of TBIT, I caught sight of my 744 landing.

Took me by surprise and I missed getting a picture. Rats!

At my gate though was this QF A380. I stretched to get this shot..



Push back from gate..



And then it stops to wait..



.. while my SQ 744 taxis...



.. to occupy the gate vacated..







Blind shot. Maximum stretch to take this pic from high placed window



Once clear, A380 is escorted to its parking bay..



.. right in front of me ( northern most end of TBIT )..



.. to bask in the California sunshine before it is called to fly home ( seen on push back & taken from seat 4F )



Next, LAX-NRT

[9V-SIA]

Last Glimpses Of LA

Boarding the plane for the long flight home.

On these midday departures from USA ( SFO-ICN-SIN or LAX-NRT-SIN ) I expect to be awake till after the refueling stop



I choose 4F thinking you will only get to see the Pacific Ocean from 4A

Notice that centre seats 1B and 2D have access to one aisle only. Unlike the single seaters at the back of a A345 ( 37F & 38F ) which have both aisles



We taxi past Encounter Restaurant on our way to the runway



Marina del Rey



Venice Beach



Santa Monica & Pier. Shutters can just be made out to left of red building by the beachfront



J is a better place to get both PW4062 engines

[9V-SIA]

En Route To SF

The 744 flies in an arc over the Pacific. The initial part to SF is over land



My after take off drink..



Camarillo Airport & Premium Outlets, the swiggly line at the end of the runway.



Lake Casitas, around which I had put the C300 to the test



Ojai lies on the eastern end of the lake



I moved to 2A to hopefully catch Carmel / Monterey & the Golden Gate Bridge.



Monterey is bay on the right and Carmel on the left. That's Monterey Peninsula Airport



The captain informed us that we will be flying over the Golden Gate Bridge

At first I thought I "got" SFO. It's actually OAK on the other side of San Francisco Bay. We were probably over SFO

[9V-SIA]

Lunch is served..

After SF, we fly over water till we reach Alaska, time to enjoy my lunch & watch some movies



Lunch FROM LOS ANGELES TO TOKYO

APPETISERS
Chilled malossol caviar
With melba toast and condiments

Steamed Maine lobster served with choice of cocktail sauce or Thai sweet chilli sauce



SOUPS

Chinese style sweetcorn soup with chicken and crabmeat



Cream of celeriac with caramelized pear and goat cheese

SALAD I passed

Salad of red oak, frisee, coral lettuces garnished with endive, toasted walnut and dried cranberry

MAIN COURSES

Singapore chicken curry
Chicken in spicy coconut gravy and potatoes with bread rolls or..



..steamed rice



Seared beef fillet in madiera jus, cream corn, French beans and baked potato cakewith pancetta

Roasted herb crusted lamb chops served with rosemary jus, goat cheese and cauliflower timbale, baby carrot and lyonnaise potato

Fetticcine with creamy assorted mushroom, ragout, arugula lettuce and shaved parmesan cheese

DESSERTS

Warm frangipane pear tart served with vanilla ice cream



CHEESES I passed

Rouge et noir triple creme brie, rouge et noir le petit bleu, purple moon and California goat cheese served with apricot paste, seasonal fruit, and walnut biscuit

FRUITS I passed

Fresh fruits in season

FINALE

A selection of gourmet coffees and fine teas served with pralines



Good lunch

[sabian]

At the northern end of TBIT, I caught sight of my 744 landing.

Missed getting a picture. Rats!

At my gate though was this QF A380. I stretched to get this shot..



.. right in front of me ( northern most end of TBIT )..



.. to bask in the California sunshine before it is called to fly home ( seen on push back & taken from seat 4F )

The lighting reflected on the glass panels makes it look like a Martian invasion. Then again, it's LA. We all know aliens love to make the USA their first port of call.

But as with all your TRs, it feels like a short movie rather than a TR. Love it.

[9V-SIA]

The lighting reflected on the glass panels makes it look like a Martian invasion. Then again, it's LA. We all know aliens love to make the USA their first port of call.

But as with all your TRs, it feels like a short movie rather than a TR. Love it.

Thanks

At the end of TBIT's north terminal are these "bussing" gates.

The guilty lights and tall windows I had to tip toe to take my pictures from

[9V-SIA]

Alaska

I can see Russia from Alaska



All the window shades are down and the cabin is dark.

It's dinner time in LA and I'm feeling peckish.

The light bites menu.

I have to mention the Japanese LSS at this point. She saw me taking pictures of the menus and, without me asking, presented one to me to take home. Robotic? NOT!!



I order up my favourite treat... Ice Milo & Walkers biscuits



But seeing my wife seated in 4D enjoying her bowl of Gyu soba, I couldn't resist and ordered one too



Pull up the shades and you are rewarded with some of the most spectacular scenery.

Many friends have been on Alaskan cruises and looking at the desolate beauty passing below us makes me one to follow in their footsteps









We're on our final leg...

[9V-SIA]

List Of Movies I Watched: SIN-NRT-LAX-NRT-SIN. In order of merit..

1. Sleeper movie. If you like 30 Rock, you'll enjoy this



2. Nice to see aging actors still got it



3. I like Denzel



4. Nespresso Man trying to play a serious role. Fail!



5. Something to watch when you are nearing the end of your journey. No need to think too much



As we approach Hokkaido, a light meal is served



The Menu



Surprisingly pleasant appetiser



My main course



I read somewhere that they used to serve dinner before arrival but that was replaced by a light meal because of cost cutting

Well it's very late ( LA time ) so I imagine no one was eating much and a lot of food got wasted

I know I didn't finish my seafood chowder and declined dessert..... and I'm a dessert person!

We were asked to fasten our seat belts as turbulence was expected.

As it turned out, the landing was smooth. The turbulence came when we left NRT

[Kyo]

As we approach Hokkaido, a light meal is served

The Menu

Not very halal-friendly/what a swine-averse diner will find appealing, for sure!