Japan

The service on JAL is great. Being in Terminal 1 during the afternoon is to step into the jet age of Indiana Jones. The array of huge airplanes outside and uniformed employees from all walks of life is stunning. The Korean Airlines flight attendants were particularly interesting, dressed in slate blue and tan uniforms and pale makeup. Lining up to board the plane with matching luggage you could see that their scarves were tied just perfectly and were stiff enough that they extended over their left shoulders, as if the whole queue were in a stiff wind. Some of us were asked to fill in a survey on the JAL group service; all of the questions about greetings and appearance of the staff praised humility and modesty as the ideal for their employees.

At the airport baggage claim there is a stadium-ready monitor showing a video of kittens napping and curtains blowing in the breeze to calm the masses of international travelers waiting for their bags. This went over well with me.

Bikes are everywhere in the city and out of the hundreds I’ve seen, only 1 has been locked two anything and only 2 others had locks in their wheels to prevent them being ridden away without a key. Vending machines are also everywhere, offering a dozen varieties of tea, soda and coffee.

At a noodle restaurant last night, we were surrounded by the staff, who pointed and laughed as we tried to figure out the menu and navigate the 10 or so condiments available on the table. Among them were fresh garlic cloves and a press. When I used a couple of those on my dumplings, one of them managed to warn “don’t kiss him” to the girl across from me, which I guess goes with saying. When we left the money (about 30 dollars) and split, the guy chased us down on the street to return a single coin as change.