This is the official travelogue for my trip with my girlfriend (and soon-to-be-wife) to the land of the rising sun in the summer of 2005. It took an excruciating and exhaustive planning of 8 full months as well a small fortune which we painstakingly saved up for. For this detailed recollection account, I would use "KK" to describe yours truly, because I felt too ashamed to associate with that fat uncle carrying that potbelly which would put many pregnant mothers to shame. And just a warning, please brace yourselves for such stomach-churning visual treats.

The departure date was set on the 19th day of August on the year of 2005. As usual KK loves to fly to Japan on Friday evening and arrived on Saturday morning at Tokyo Narita(成田) International Airport for the 5th time running. After a full complete month of counting down to the faithful departure day, well documented in KK's personal web-blog. KK was accompanied by his parents while Corin had her beloved mother and an equally Japan-loving brother to send her off at the Terminal One of Changi International Airport.


Corin, with her mother and brother at a newly built foyer in the viewing gallery

Here once more with a personal shots with her　はは (left) & おとと(right)

Next you will see the beginning of the evident abdominal inflation of KK, even in a nice Top Shop checkered shirt, the tummy stole much of the limelight.... And he was more concerned of his hair-do while posing for a photograph in front of that mint monument...バカ...

By around 10 plus, the couple bided their loved ones farewell as they anticipate the flight on JL 711, a straight flight to Narita Airport, unlike the previous years which required a transit stop each. It was KK's first time on Japan Airlines, after tasted the likes of Singapore Airlines, ANA, Thai Airways and MAL along the way, and the No. 1 Japanese airline company did not disappoint in terms of hospitality and service, and it's probable that the air stewardess would differentiate between biru (beer) and miruku (milk).

The on-flight entertainment was well integrated with an assortment of blockbuster movies like "Kingdom of Heaven", "Fever Pitch", "Be Cool", "The Interrogator", "The Ring 2" and the box-office hit documentary "The Emperor's March" which the pair watched during the 6 hour flight across the South China Seas northwards. Once again, KK couldn't bring himself to sleep as the cramped leg space was not a bit cozy to begin with.

However as the plane was an hour before landing, the crew woke the soundly asleep passengers up for a nice and light breakfast as seen below:

Nice warm shrimps congee and cold soba to energise drowsy passengers

KK was well drunk with the apple juice provided, the lack of sleep is well evident with that pair of red-sodden eyes

Corin still doing last minute check-up of some words on the dictionary

But the cold soba could not be left untouched for long

Fluffy clouds well adored from the window seat Corin was sitting in

Birdseye view of Chiba landscape

Corin, with her mother and brother at a newly built foyer in the viewing gallery