Up at 6AM for a long commute to Singapore... Today’s Configuration: Leica M9 with a Noctilux 21mm f/1.4 with an ND4 Filter. FujiFilm x100.

The friendly bus to Narita Airport...

Narita Airport was jam packed this morning...

One of the good things about traveling so much is the status you get on airline... no need to wait in lines. I checked my United account yesterday and I have 759,174 miles...

I always find it interesting that there are so many pay phones in Japan... Doesn't everyone have mobiles by now?

I can't keep up with all the mascots in Japan. Who is Kutan?

Time for my inspection...

Sushi sold out in Japan? Strange...

Ah my morning coffee... now I have been having a really hard time ordering coffee lately and it is really becoming frustrating. My issue is on two fronts... I have a Starbucks and non-Starbucks related issue.

Starbucks - They seem to fill their coffee cup 99.9% of the way. Every time I got to Starbucks I asked them only to fill it about 80% of the way so I can put milk in. They always say OK, sometimes a giggle probably because of the funny way I say it but I always seem to get the coffee cup back completely full. I end up having to dump out coffee so I can put milk in. It's very strange. Don't other people have this problem?

Non-Starbucks - Starbucks has real milk available for coffee while other shops in Japan have full cream (not half and half) which confusingly they also call 'miruku' in Japan. The conversation usually goes like (in Japanese);

Me: "Hi, can I have a large coffee, room for milk"

Coffee Shop Staff: "Here is your coffee"

Me: "Can I please have some cold milk?"

Coffee Shop Staff: "Over there" pointing to the pile of full cream containers

Me: "No, I would like to have real milk please"

Coffee Shop Staff: "That's 'miruku'.."

Me: "No, real milke please"

Coffee Shop Staff: "mi..ru..ku"

Me: "Real Milk, Cow's milk please"

Coffee Shop Staff: "Do you want a latte?"

After several more rounds I usually win them over and get a few drops of milk.

The massive Airbus A380. Sadly not my plane today. This thing is massive. Even with my 21mm lens I can't capture all of it.

...right.

Boarding Singapore Airlines at Narita Airport

A lot of people ask why Singapore Airlines is so great. It's hard to explain as it is a lot of little things. First off, the staff is very pleasant. They seem pretty happy that you are on the plane and flying with them. Second, hot hand towels when you take your seat...in economy...