Postcard from Japan: Oct. 12, 2016 - On the Way

This plane is so big it needed 3 images to get the entire length.

I'm 3-1/2 hours out of Chicago on my JAL (Japan Airlines) flight to Tokyo (Narita Airport).  So, now I'm excited and not stressed as I was right up until the moment my neighbors, Mary and Paul Stroo, picked me up at my door to take me to the airport in Grand Rapids this morning.  They were so sweet and kind to deliver me to the airport.  I must say, I've never been in long lines at GR.  And they now have lots of food, restaurants and places to find things, and very nice people---- even the TSA workers!  I was worried about taking on my little scissors and lots of needles to do shibori stitching (even brought a padded envelope to mail them back home if TSA said NO) but nothing I had worried them.

Two hours out of Chicago we were given dinner.  Here's an image of my Chicken Teriyaki with rice (scallions and egg strips), plus green soba noodles, fresh fruit, crab salad, lettuce salad, and then Haagen Dazs ice cream!

There were only clouds for hours.  White "land" below and us flying 38,000 - 40,000 miles up.  It was so beautiful.  A different world up here.

Then the clouds pretty much disappeared and the land below is flat, no hills, but large square sections (of roads?) dusted with snow and long, old twisted winding rivers.

Everyone has closed their blinds on the windows and are going to sleep.  It's only 5:30 late afternoon for me Michigan time.  I chose a window seat so I could look out the entire flight and I'm not sleepy at all.  The large dinner may help with that later, though.  More soon--- thanks for tuning in.

Chicken Teriyaki dinner on board JAL.