In 1997 I flew Japan Airlines (JAL) to Manila with an overnight layover at Narita International, Tokyo. Their flight attendants are lovely and wear stylish, but conservative uniforms.
The plane got in around 4pm. I went through customs and got outside just as the Hotel Nikko’s bus pulled up. I grabbed a seat near the front.
At the time, JAL had a subsidiary called JALways Reso’cha with tropically painted 747s. Their flight attendants had very beautiful uniforms with big, colorful tropical hats. While I was waiting, teams of girls started boarding the bus as their flights came in. Every single one of them walked past me to get to the back of the bus.
The ride to the hotel was paradise. I could hear them happily chattering away behind me. That was the day I decided female Japanese is the most beautiful language on the planet.
Fatal error #1: Always sit at the back of the bus. I would have had a longer view as they came up the aisle and I could have observed them during the 15 minute ride to the Hotel. Optimistically, I decided there was no way I would miss paying a visit to the hotel bar that evening.
I got off the bus and checked in. Fatal error #2. Don’t be in a hurry to check in at a hotel. The line of JAL girls behind you should be in front of you.
I put my stuff up in the room and came down, had dinner and went back up to my room. It was still early, so I showered and fell asleep (fatal error #3) watching the Japanese news. When I woke up it was well after 11pm and I got up to the bar as fast as I could.
It was empty except for an old Australian having a whisky. I joined him and ordered a coke. The Australian had been there all night. “Nothing much happening up here,” he said.
These are the events that shape my life.
