In Tokyo

Arrived last night after a 14 hour plus flight from Detroit. We flew up over Canada's Alberta and British Columbia provinces, then over the Gulf of Alaska, out over the Bering Sea, down along the coast of Siberia, and down into Narita, Japan.

Had a fellow named Don Pond sit next to me on the flight. I've been flying for years and never talked to a seat mate as long as I did with Don. Don flew helicopters in Vietnam. He was on his way to Thailand to meet up with two other Americans that were in flight school with him back in 1968. They were going to ride bikes up into Vietnam once they all convened in Bangkok. Actually they were taking one more flight up into the upper regions of Thailand before they joined up with a bike tour group that were going into Vietnam on a 500-mile ride. I

expressed amazement and he likewise with me going to Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, and Taipei all in just over two weeks. We wished each other luck when we disembarked. We promised each other to email each other when we got back to make sure we both made it in good shape. It was a good flight.

To acclimate myself to the change in time zones,

I try to stay awake the whole flight. Even though you doze off on occasion, you can still keep

yourself awake much of the time. Since we landed in late afternoon of the next day, you could trick your mind into thinking it was just the end of the day of which you started out in the morning by getting on the plane in Boston. It worked, since I slept through the night and am up and feeling pretty good this morning.

It was a one hour and 45 minute bus ride from the airport to the Prince Park Tower Hotel in Tokyo. What was fun about the ride was the service from the very moment you bought your ticket to the time you got off the bus. Everyone smiles and bows at you. The level of detail the employees give to all aspects of their jobs is overwhelming. I'm talking about every level of employee from the guy who puts your bags in the undercarriage of the bus to the driver. They act like they've got the most important job in the world and that your life depends on them. This continued right into the hotel and to the waitstaff in the restaurant.

Joined up with Raylene Davis in a Yakitori restaurant at the hotel upon arrival. For those not familiar with the Brewster folks, Raylene is in charge of our Thai Scholar program and our Summer programs. She was previously director of our ESL program and had lived in Japan for a good number of years before having moved to the States. So she knows her way around and also knows the food. Good on, as she says. She's an Aussie. This Yakitori restaurant specializes in grilled chicken. OK, you all knew I was apprehensive about the food in Asia, not tonight. It was great! It was very nicely done in that the grilling is very light and the food very favorable. I'm off to a good start with my epicurean adventures.

Headed right to bed after an after dinner glass of wine. The night photo above was taken from my room just before I hit the sack. It is a landmark and I just don't know the name of it yet. It looks like a mini Effel Tower. The other shot was taken this morning.

More later.