Haneda Airport, Tokyo

10 hours of All Nippon Airways' precise and stylish service is preparation for the more intense Japanese reality you can begin to experience at Haneda.
The young couple in front of us on the plane were either married or celebrated same (lost in translation) while we flew over the International Date Line! A crowd of ANA stewardesses brought them champagne flutes and edible treats, and much happy smiling and bowing ensued. Now a 5 hour wait for our 4-hour flight to Bangkok, then a 1-hour flight to Chiang Mai, and finally an hour taxi ride to the Elephant Refuge north of the city at Mae Wang.