August 24, 2015 -- the last day we would be in the United States until New Year's Eve. The day started early with a 6 AM wake-up, and by 7:15 AM we were on the way to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport with twelve pieces of luggage to check, eight carry-on pieces, and one box of Maggie's Donuts. We thought we were ready!
Buuuuut, any way you slice it, a twelve-hour flight is still tough. They make it as enjoyable as possible, with constant in-flight entertainment on the screen at your seat, three meals, numerous drink brinks, blankets and pillows, etc. But it is still tough on your body, especially since it is difficult to sleep on the plane. We took off 2 PM Detroit time and landed 3 PM Tokyo time the next day. Our bodies didn't what day or time it was, and several people fell asleep in the Tokyo airport waiting for our next flight:
Japanese Kit Kats. I was very tempted to buy these, but I couldn't find a smaller box, and at this point we were not that hungry:
We still had a five-and-a-half hour flight to Hanoi left. While Delta Airlines was nice, Japan Airlines was incredible. For starters, the flight crew and gate agent all arrived at the same time and lined up facing the waiting passengers, then the gate agent bowed to us. Almost ceremonial. The staff were amazingly generous. The flight attendants in the air would work together as a team, so much that the drink stations would go down both aisles at the same time. And the food was delicious and different. Here's a picture of my meal (eggplant, rice, sardines, vegetables with tofu, a creamy cabbage salad, etc):
And after 26 hours of travel, 3 flights, 5 meals, 1 visit to the cockpit, 2 bouts of a child's nausea, numerous catnaps and drink breaks, 1 Japanese bus ride, 1 train ride in Detroit, 1 dancing fountain, and 4 baggage carts for our luggage, we made it to Noi Bai Hanoi International Airport. Let the adventure begin.
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