I swear that I didn't pray to get offloaded in Narita.
As illegitimate as how the contents of this trip may sound, the trip to Narita (Japan) was never meant to be a 24-hour layover; it was supposed to be an 1-hour (only) transit stop along my long journey to Seattle (via Los Angeles) on a business trip. Although I was duly warned at check-in that I may be bumped off (an airline slang denoted someone getting offloaded), I really didn't expect it to happen. I don't have much choices; I had a domestic flight to catch. So after a 6-hour trip on economy, I saw the following on the white board after I alighted at Narita.
Mr Wyatt Wang.Com
Please contact customer service for assistance
I went up to the Customer Service Officer (CSO) obediently like a guilty boy and was still quietly hoping that the Narita station staff is giving me an upgrade. Shit happens when the CSO tinkled (sort off) when she knew that I was the person that they were looking for. Disclaimer: The conversation below was changed to increase its entertainment value (if there was any).
"Good evening, Mr. Wang. Can you enter into Japan
and claim your luggage? The flight is very full."
"Can you check again if there are any seats to Los Angeles? I really got to board the flight as I got an onward domestic flight to catch. If not, I will miss my meeting in Seattle!", I said frantically.
"The flight is really full. Thank you for your help." She replied with a sweet smile.
That is how I found myself to ALONE and stuck in Narita.
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Alone in Narita International Airport, 29 Jul 07 (Sun). It was colder I had expected of a Japanese summer. Defintelyt not 25 degrees. |
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The complicated network map of the Keisei Line. I was told by my friend that this is only one of the many metro services in Tokyo. My destination was the Narita Keisei Station (2 stations away from the airport) and it cost me ¥200 (S$2.50).
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After a downpour at 10pm, I stood nearby to observe tired executives walking out hastily from Narita Train station.
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This was the BEST Tokyo Shoyu Ramen (soup base is made from soya sauce not miso) that I ever had (¥470 or S$5.80) - Narita Town, 3 mins walk from the Narita Keisei train station. |
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My first experience in an authentic Japanese Restaurant (where I had my Ramen - see above). Although the restaurant was small, it gave a cozy feeling. |
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wyattwang.com doing it at Mericure Hotel Narita (¥6800 or S$85/night). This is probably what happens when you watched all the free minutes of the pay-per-view channels in your hotel room telly.
I stared at the celling and fell asleep.
My colleagues thought that it (the room rate, not the pay-per-view rate) was cheap. |
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Not sure what this has to do with my Narita layover. But the "overflowing" mailbox just caught my attention when I was strolling around in Narita early in the morning.
p.s.: The colour of the mailbox looks weird because it was doctored in Photoshop. |
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The rear view of a cleaner along a pavement just outside of Narita station. |
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Seperated by a glass pane, I observed the chef preparing Unagi (i.e. freshwater eel) for the day while 2 men were having a chat across the street. |
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Ok, I just can't leave Japan without doing a "Been There Done That" shot right?
p.s.: This was taken
along the street that leads to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.
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