Before the alarm clock struck 6:30 A.M. I was fully awake. The early morning sun sifted through the window blinds and dappled the carpet with warmth. My mind was full of expectation, looking forward to traversing in the middle of a wide expanse of snow. Swiftly I got up and washed. For the seventh times since the night before I looked over the luggage, making sure no documents were missing. It was still early when I closed the door of my residence. The whole neighborhood exuded a Saturday sleepiness.

By the time I took care of long-term parking for my car and arrived at the international departure terminal by shutter bus, the check-in area was filled to the brim with people of every imaginable nationalities. Everyone was going somewhere, and I was one of them: I felt relieved at the change. As usual the security procedure for check-in luggage took longer than was necessary. I then proceeded to the Japan Airline counter, hoping for a business upgrade by showing my oratorial flash. Despite suggestions from colleagues and newspaper articles, which I tried them all, it went no where. Worse, the ticketing agent, perhaps getting annoyed at my futile persistence, issued a seat in the middle, neither aisle nor window, 47 E. "Sorry, this flight is full. That is the best I can do," said the agent. So much for my business aspiration. But my spirit was still high as I went through the security hoopla of taking off my shoes, jacket, open and power up my laptop, taking off the belt and put everything back. I walked a short distance in the corridor leading to the gate for JAL 061. When the boarding time came I boarded with a slight unbelief.

If there is one thing to complain about this trip, it is been stuck in the middle seating. My legs had practically no room to stretch, and going to the lavatory is just a hassle, much like asking for a bestowal from the fellow seat holder to excuse my bladder for functioning. Finally when the plane reached Narita I was elated at the prospect of a long walk to the domestic departure counter. I took a short JAL flight to Chitose near Sapporo. For the night I was housed in a business hotel in Tomakomai (苫小牧市), a sleepy, small paper-manufacturing port city near the sea. Hardly a soul was walking on the street. I felt too tired to venture out. After a simple nabemono (鍋物) dinner I went to sleep as soon as my head touched the pillow. Thus concludes Day 1.

Tags: Hokkaido, 北海道, Japan, travel, JAL,