"Seat guru claims that model AB 346 has first class too, but according to Thai Air reservations, there is no first class on our flight, just economy & business, no Premium Economy."

Thai switches to the 340-600 when the 340-500's go in for maintenance. There is a First Class section on this flight. You can try and request it when you check in, but unless your a Thai Gold member, you probably won't get it. Service is still Business Class drinks/meal, but you get the better seat. You will also be stopping in Osaka (KIX) to refuel on the way to BKK.













[

Tim and Liz, have a wonderful holiday. It sounds like you've done a lot of research and planning...as you did for your New Zealand trip.
Good for you... have fun.

Jed- St. Martin is beautiful. I would love to teleport myself there today-- it's so cold in Minnesota!

Hi Liz! Yes, we did change our hotel in SR. I saw the HanumanAlaya referenced in a post written by KimJapan, and it seems like exactly what I've been looking for!
I forgot about the Yellow Door recommendation. I will definitely look into it!
As for Montserrat, GO! But wait for a clear day, and go early in the day. The views were absolutely beautiful. I don't think I have very many photos on my blog, but if you want to see hundreds more, send me an email and I can send you my shutterfly album.
Enjoy Barcelona!

Kodi- so nice to see you here on the Asia board! I've sent you an email.

Trip update: I did make a reservation with the Aqua Luna at 6:30pm and Aqua Roma/Tokyo at 7:45pm (a window table). The email reservations staff at Aqua is excellent!

Liz

Tim/Liz:

You have an exciting journey planned! I wish you the best of happy travels.

>>>Take bus to Park Hotel Tokyo and check in for two nights.
Dinner somewhere in Shiodome complex.<<<

As I said earlier, you will love the Park Hotel..very unique establishment...for dinner, suggest you go to the basement floor where there is a 7-11 type convenience store...and in the corridors next to the store there are about 6 different restaurant choices. We liked "Katsuretsu"...

I think I might've mentioned before that if you decide not to have the mediocre, expensive buffet breakfast at the hotel, or the $7.50 ala carte coffee, just go down to the building's entrance lobby and there is a fine little coffee shop with pastries, etc.

I would also recommend "Tsukiji Ichiban Sushi"(#1) in the Tsukiji market complex, excellent and reasonable, with a fun sushi chef.

Also, for lunch you may want to try that little hole in the wall I recommended to you, on upscale Omotesando Street...featuring the very tastiest okonomiyaki!

Also, try to get to the Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Ginza for the ceremonial 10:00 am opening, where you're officially greeted and every one of the employees bows to the customers as you enter.

Harujuku's "parade of the colorfully dressed young folk" is unfortunately only on the weekend. Doubt if you'll see much on a Friday. We caught in on a Sunday morning...an it was amazing, even for us jaded folks from "Hollyweird"...

Enjoy every minute...and we all will await your reports and pix!
Sayonara!


Stu T.

Thank you, Stu!
I have noted your recommendations and will definitely utilize at least some of them!

One question for those who have been to Siem Reap-- is it possible to easily find/purchase sunblock there? We want to avoid packing it if possible. Thanks!

Never looked for it there - I wear long pants and use an umbrella as a sunshade.

I second the sunset at Pre Rup. It was lovely. Dara also took us to Pre Rup in the morning and I got some really nice photos.

Bantey Srei was also worth the visit in my opinion. It is slightly different and MUCH smaller (building and the temple itself) compared to the rest of the temples (which are BIG). However, the carvings and the pinkish color of the stones was beautiful.

Sunscreen and mosquito repellant are both easy to find in Siem Reap, no worries.

Tokyo is getting ready for your arrival Liz !!! Sorry I'll be missing you both.

The weather is perfect today. It really feels like Spring is in the air. In fact, majority of the clothes I left to line dry during the night are quite dry. Although you are several weeks from the forecast of Cherry Blossoms blooming (the papers said several agencies have been vying to get the date on the dot- they have March 22-25 as their target dates here in TKY & Nagoya. You might be able to see the Plum trees starting to bloom here & there. My girlfriend told me her crocuses have started to say hello to her as well. As for me & my bulbs, all 50 of them are still in the plastic bags I bought them in .

Hope you bring all you have to bring & leave all you have to as well. Have fun !!!

Liz...I e-mailed your blog with concise directions to that great little, hard to find okonomiyaki joint on Omotesando Street in Tokyo....but in case you didn't get it, here it is :

...if you're into little holes in the wall, unique places, both wife and I heartily recommend, that while strolling tree-lined Omotesando Street treat yourself to lunch at a place whose name is only visible in Japanese...but you will find it...trust me! It's worth the search....directly across the street from Benneton (what better universal landmark!)..the resto is on the same side of the street as the famed Oriental Plaza Bazaar. It is located between the "Shu-uemura" make-up store, and Tod's shoes and bags store...in the very narrow little "Maryoshi Building" ...take iffy elevator to 3rd Floor...and there it is...seats about 15, and all the action takes place on the Benihana-type grill where three young guys are at work making their specialty "okonomiyaki"...a combination of some sort of pancake batter, egg, cabbage, shrimp and onion..all grilled and topped with a brushed teriyaki sauce. De-e-elicious. Cost a whopping 860Yen per (about $8).

stu t.

Thanks Stu-

I still have to find a restaurant that I can try in Omotesando with good recommendations. I'll give that a shot next time we're in the city. Too bad- we were just there a couple weeks ago- when we took a friend on a Walking Tour through the Meiji Temple. I must have gone past it since we were down shopping at Oriental Bazaar.

I make it here at home but it is never the same as the ones in the restaurants...........

bmtt

...it's only a few doors upstreet from the Bazaar, toward Omotesando subway station.
stu

Thanks Tower !