090310 0713 local time (GMT -7)
Denver International Airport, Colorado, USA
Well I'm off on the next leg of this 2 and a half day long journey home, and I'm back in KDEN queueing fo security and looking at N927FR out the window. She has a dolphin on her tail, I think Jinjun would be happy, I know I am. The queue is quite long. No rush though, and I managed to get my bag checked through all the way home. What's the worst that cou... Oh crap I shouldn't be saying that.
0843 local time (GMT -7)
N791UA over Colorado
Channel 9 rocks. Had it all the way from the gate, and I made good use of it, listening into ATC. We took off at 0827 and are now headed for southern California. Incidentally we were followed by the dolphin plane I noticed earlier. Quite fun to hear Denver ground tell him to follow "the United heavy".
At the moment I'm listening to Monument again and enjoying the scenery it describes out the window, which is simply spectacular.
0902 local time (GMT -7)
N791UA over Utah
How poetic. The last notes of Monument ended just as we exited Colorado and left the Rockies behind.
0837 local time (GMT -8)
N791UA over Nevada
I just listened to a nice talk by the captain about the flight, the 777 and so on. I found it pretty informative, and it was a really nice personal touch by the captain.
We're flying near Las Vegas now, sadly it's too cloudy to see out. Should be over California soon. Whatever happens in Vegas stays there I guess.
0857 local time (GMT -8)
N791UA over California
Descending into KLAX now. Channel 9 is the best form of inflight entertainment ever. It's really fun to follow your flight and hear what's happening around you. Crossing over another beautiful mountain range now, the Sierra Nevada.
1000 local time (GMT -8)
Los Angeles International Airport, California, USA
Quote of the day:
"American 2099, light chop and heavy 777" (referring to our own 777)
On time was 0918, much earlier than I expected. Something interesting to note is that during the post-landing announcement, the flight attendant mentioned that we had members of the armed forces on board and thanked them for their service. I did notice earlier that a major in uniform was upgraded for no apparent reason. Now why can't Singapore Airlines do this?
I did want to find my way to the In-N-Out at LAX, but decided it was too difficult and that finding spotting places in the Tom Bradley International Terminal would be easier. I'm there now checking in for SQ11
1246 local time (GMT -8)
9V-SPO at Los Angeles International Airport, California, USA
Most of my time, other than a break for curry rice brunch at Hamada's, was spent photographing airliners from all over the world. My ride home is a new one, 9V-SPO. I'm finally back in Singapore, officially. Let's hope she's a great way to fly.
1518 local time (GMT -8)
9V-SPO over Oregon
We taxied out a little late, but not very. Amusingly during the taxi there was a little kid who kept going "bye bye plane!" I remember a story in the news once of a mother and a kid who got kicked off because the kid was saying exactly that.
Fortunately this didn't happen this time round, and the majestic 747-412 took to the skies at 1332. It felt good to be flying, better to be flying home, better still to be on Singapore Airlines, but the best part was really the 747.
We flew out over the Pacific for a while, then turned north to fly over California. The lunch was excellent. I had a really tough time choosing, reason being that one choice had smoked salmon for an appetizer and the other had soba, my two ultimate favourite SQ dishes. Eventually I went with the soba and teriyaki chicken, and as usual, it was superb.
For now the queen of the skies is over the third mountain range I'm flying over today, the Cascades. She's just about to cross the coast once more, and we expect to reach the Empire of the Rising Sun in 10 hours or so.
Interestingly, we're now flying close to Everett, Washington, the place where this magnificent airliner was born and first took to the skies.
100310 1718 local time (GMT +12)
9V-SPO over the Pacific Ocean
Hmm I pretty much concussed after we left the Alaskan coastline, so not much to say. 4 hours left to Tokyo and once again we're racing the sun. Doubt we'll win though.
1804 local time (GMT +11)
9V-SPO over the Pacific Ocean
Am I the only person who thinks that flying, especially oceanic flights, and Satoshi Yagisawa pieces, especially Hymn to the Infinite Sky and And Then the Ocean Glows, go extremely well together?
1756 local time (GMT +10)
9V-SPO over the Pacific Ocean
Just had the "light meal" which wasn't that light. It was good though, ham and potato salad followed by a really good barbequed chicken with mac and cheese.
Looks like we just came off the PACOT and I think we're passing GUPPY. Sapporo is just off to the right, so we should be reaching Tokyo soon. The clouds appear to be bathed in the light of the early stages of the sunset. Hopefully the sun doesn't set that fast.
1746 local time (GMT +9)
9V-SPO over the Pacific Ocean
Just felt the unmistakeable downward pull that means we've started our descent. The sun is well on its way down, I really hope we make it before it does.
1845
Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Japan
Touchdown was on the dot at 1816. Sadly we lost the race against the sun, and it was quite dark by the time we got to the gate. Still, I did manage to catch some planes. Interestingly I think I saw more United and Delta/Northwest airliners than JAL and ANA ones. Should be boarding soon for the last leg of the journey home.
2032 local time (GMT +9)
9V-SPO over the Pacific Ocean
We took off quite late, almost an hour after scheduled time. This was probably due to a long queue for the only long runway there, 34L. I wonder if we were routed via taxiways O U R A again.
Eventually we made it into the air at 1959. I'm dead tired and intend to conk out after dinner. Looking forward to wheels on at Changi.
2032 local time (GMT +9)
9V-SPO over the Pacific Ocean
The winds are really bad. Something close to 160kts headwind. I think we could hover if we wanted to. As it is we can't even hit 600km/h of groundspeed. This is going to be a long flight.
110310 0104 local time (GMT +8)
9V-SPO over the South China Sea
Wow. I've never seen so many stars out the window of an airliner before. It's simply epic.
It's nice to be back in my home time zone again, and we're just abeam of Kota Kinabalu. We took a far more westerly route than Japan flights usually do, for some reason, missing Taiwan completely as opposed to the usual overflying it.
Just over an hour to home.
0120 local time (GMT +8)
9V-SPO over the South China Sea
"Singapore 11, contact Singapore Center on 127.3, have a good night"
Just entered the Singapore FIR. Less than an hour.
0153 local time (GMT +8)
9V-SPO over the South China Sea
For the last time on this trip I feel the familiar lurch of an airliner starting its descent that in this case means we're near home.
0319 local time (GMT +8)
Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore
I'm home.
Touchdown at 0219 after flying past all the familiar sights of home and the 2L approach.
At the airport I found myself turned into an airport guide of sorts, helping a Texan guy find his way to T2 in the absence of a SkyTrain. There was also a Japanese student flying to Sydney who I met. She turned out to be a flautist with her high school band. I walked with her from the plane and helped her find a transit lounge to shower. On the way we talked in both English and Japanese, and turns out she was on an exchane program. Sounds way too familiar. Still, it was good talking to her, telling her about Singapore (her first time here) and of course, good to help people.
On the ECP headed home now, finally. It was a good trip, overall, especially the later half. I enjoyed visiting the United Kingdom, the United States of America and for a brief while, Japan. But really, there's just no place like home.
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