Round The World and other travels

Flight Log 8 : TG478

Sydney (SYD) - Bangkok (BKK)

As I settled into 2A, I was welcomed - just for  change - with the offer of a cold towel. I could see that this would be a good idea at the airline's home base of Bangkok, but even here, with winter just around the corner, it still proved to be a refreshing experience. As I took stock of my surroundings, I noticed that my headset, washbag, slippers and menu were already in place in the seat area. I was offered a welcome drink and decided to be content with apple juice for now. We managed an early pushback and, as we taxied towards the runway, the captain announced the expected flight time as 8hrs 45mins. We took off heading away from the city at 1537 and I temporarily took my leave of Australia via Botany Bay.

Of course a left turn as we climbed out over the ocean soon had us back over land again and heading in a north-westerly direction towards the Equator. Drinks orders were taken as soon as the cabin crew had been released from their seats. Before my champagne arrived, I nipped into the washroom to change into the rather garish lilac-coloured pyjamas. It wasn't as though I had any intention of sleeping on this flight; it was simply a case of taking the opportunity to spend some of the time in alternative clothes. It was going to be a very long journey, after all!

Soon thereafter, I was enjoying my bubbly, first with some nuts and then with the canapés. The menu for the main meal was as follows:

FIRST MEAL		WINES
CANAPES & CAVIAR		CHAMPAGNE
Canapés		Dom Perignon Vintage 2000
Oscietra Caviar with Garnitures		Bollinger 1999
FIRST COURSE		WHITE WINE
Duck Liver Terrine, Grilled Sea Scallop, Grilled Marinated Vegetables		Motzenbäcker Dem Himmel So Nah 2008
		Pouilly Fuissé Cuvée Armand Cottin 2008
SALAD
Mixed Green Salad with Thousand Island Dressing		RED WINE
		Chateau Dauzac Margaux Grand Cru Classe 2003
MAIN COURSE		Nuits-Saint-Georges 2003
Pan-fried Barramundi Fish Fillet with Lobster Sauce, Vegetable Ratatouille, Steamed Potatoes and Asparagus
		COGNAC
Chicken Piccata, Pasta with Pomodoro Sauce, Sautéed Mushroom and Broccoli		Otard 1795 Extra
Stir-fried Prawns with Oriental Pepper Sauce, Stir-fried Hokkien Noodles, Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables
Beef Fillet with Eggplant in Green Curry "Kiew-wan", Steamed Thai Hom Mali Rice, Mixed Vegetables
Assorted Bread, Butter
Assorted Cheese, Fresh Fruit
DESSERT
Chocolate Mousse Cake
Tea, Coffee, Espresso, Cappuccino

My table was set properly after I finished the canapés and I was offered a choice of bread types, including some nicely done slices of garlic baguette. I had the caviar and accompaniments which, while perhaps not served with quite the sense of style that Lufthansa manages to conjure up so successfully, was nevertheless a fine and relatively rare treat. The other assorted starters were also tasty, while the salad was a little on the plain side, the Thousand Island dressing somehow not seeming entirely appropriate in First. The fish main course was again enjoyable, without being outstanding. (I sometimes have to remind myself how spoiled I can sound when saying things like that, knowing full well that hundreds of people are sitting a few yards behind me with their foil- and cling film-wrapped morsels on a plastic tray. I remember doing so on this occasion, as I wrote down my notes. )

I finished off with some cheese and fresh fruit, followed by a cappuccino. Some passengers appeared to be experiencing IFE problems, but they weren't affecting me. I settled down to watch Jurassic Park, not for the first time on board a flight, followed by a selection of TV programmes that included a recent Dr Who adventure and, most interestingly, the pilot episode of The Flintstones. It was fascinating to see how many snippets from the latter were instantly recognisable, having been incorporated into the titles sequence for the main series.

With 1hr 40mins of flying time remaining, a round of hot towels announced that the second meal service was imminent.

SECOND MEAL
Sichuan Soup
Har-kao and Sui-mai, Chinese Vinegar Soy Sauce
or
Chicken Brochette and Lamb Samosa, Mixed Vegetables
Chocolate Tart Brulee, Pistachio Sauce
Tea, Coffee
Chocolate

I had the Chinese soup and the chicken & lamb combo with some salad, rounding off with a coffee. It seemed just about right for this stage in the flight and the time of day. There was very little time left once the second meal had been cleared away. We touched down at Suvarnabhumi at 2127 local time and were on-stand by 2135, well ahead of the published schedule.

Date: Mon 31 May 2010
Aircraft: Airbus A340-600
Scheduled dep: 1525
Actual departure: 1521
Scheduled arrival: 2155
Actual arrival: 2135
Cabin: Royal First
Seat: 2A



Next Flight

Previous Flight

Home | Major Trips | Short Trips | About this site | Index