I’ve finally found a lounge as miserable as the Priority Pass one in Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 5. And it’s the Nagoya Centrair Airline Lounge (click to skip ahead)… in Japan? First, a smidgen of background about today’s Nagoya aviation. After another recent trip to the country, this time was a little different in that I was […]
Asia (Non-Middle East)
Review: Domestic Sakura Lounge at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)
To sum up the Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge at Terminal 1 of Tokyo Haneda International Airport a very simple one, the place sucked. There was barely a distinction between the lounge and the rest of the terminal, unless you appreciate an espresso buffet. But before I delve into that stuff, let’s start with check-in. I […]
How Awecool: China is Reopening to Tourism
After nearly three years, China will be reopening to tourism. Starting from 15 March, you can once again dust off those Chinese tourist visas. Better yet, if you had a Chinese tourism visa issued before 28 March 2020 — that is, the date China sealed itself off from the world — those will return to […]
Japan’s ANA Restarting Two Nonstop Flights to Europe
I try not to make it a habit of flying through Brussels International Airport (BRU). For being located in a wealthy part of the world, it’s complete rubbish. (But hey, at least they have a supermarket on-site). Nevertheless, while flying through the Belgian capital in 2015, I coincidentally noticed the following advertisement: With leisure travel […]
Saudia Starting Flights to At Least Four Destinations in 2023
The SkyTeam airline alliance — of which Delta, KLM/Air France, and ITA Airways form a part — has my two favorite underrated airlines in the industry (thus far; I haven’t flown every airline in the world, not by a long shot). China Airlines is one of those carriers, and the other? Saudia. Since my first […]
Singapore Airlines Trialing Paper Utensils
One of these days, I’m hoping to read that airlines will start introducing “Turkish food” as an option, but until then, I have some news about how your next in-flight meal might be presented. Per CNA (formerly Channel NewsAsia), since last month Singapore Airlines has been trialing paper wares on select flights in Economy Class […]
Language Lunes: Just a Spoonful of Salt Makes the Sushi Go Down
Years ago, before I set off to work in Shenzhen, China, I happened upon a satirical video about the traditions of eating in a Japanese restaurant. What can one do, besides wax famished about those daily searches for good eats? More importantly, what does Shenzhen have to do with this?… Once settled in there, in […]
Japanese Convenience Stores: Oh, The Flavors You’ll Try
I didn’t grow up going to convenience stores in the United States, in part because they weren’t really a thing. Then, once I started visiting other parts of the country, I found them to be torturous for the five senses. Aromas didn’t seem human — or edible — and whatever “food” that was sold was […]
