Return Trip (see my previous trip JFK-NRT-HKG, please!)
HKG-NRT
7/28/2001
NW18 Seat 42K
0825 Hong Kong Time

The night before departure we (my family) stayed at the Airport Regal Hotel, so timing is not a problem. We checked in at 6am that morning with about 4 luggages and two hand-carry. At 7:45, we cleared immigration & security check quickly and headed toward gate 61 by underground trains. Those trains are automated but no seat at all. About 2 minutes after train arrival. We heard our flight was on Final Call. We rushed toward the gate and we’re almost the last party to check-in.
After doors are closed, our 747-200 (N627US/6627) taxi to runway 25L via taxiway W2, W, H & J10. After a MNG A300 Cargo landed, we line up and start our take off roll. We lifted off at about 8,000 feet on the runway and immediately start our TUNNA 2 departure.
About 20 minutes after departure, NW18 level off at 31,000 feet, our flight takes us over Western Taiwan and Pacific Ocean. There was only some occasional light turbulence over Taiwan. We almost have a near miss with a China Airlines 747-400, I saw it just about 1-2nm and 2,000 feet below us. At 1315 Tokyo Time (1215 HKT), we start our descent via Venus North arrival. We have to enter the COSMO holding at 14nm from Narita for 10 minutes. Tokyo was under scattered low clouds, but we’re able to see the coastal beach facing Pacific Ocean.
Our flight used ILS 34 to land. The deceleration was slow, we almost used the whole runway to stop our plane. We taxi to remote spot 709 via taxiway A4, A, K & U. I requested the flight attendant for a cockpit visit and she let me in. The captain even let me take a photograph with his hat on! After leaving the plane, we have to take a bus to the terminal. The bus took us to the UA concourse and we require another security check. The walk from UA concourse to NW concourse was long. Our next flight was just 45 minutes away.

NRT-JFK
7/28/2001
NW18
Seat 39C
1525 Tokyo Time 1425 HKT

Before boarding our flight, I did take some picture with my new camera, Nikon F-61. Luckily, I got JALways Resocha in my negatives. At 1510 Tokyo time we board our 747-400 (N661US/6301). I have seat 39-C again! Same seat where I got in the previous trip (JFK-HKG). Our flight leaves the gate 10 minutes late due to luggage. We taxi to runway 34 via O, T-N, R and A. The takeoff roll was long and slow, and we have to level off at 3,000 feet for 3 minutes, then continue climb to 35,000 feet.
We used Choshi 6 SID for departure and directed to KAGIS. The flight was ok all the way, not too much turbulence. Our dinner was Glazed meatloaf with Oriental vegetables or Chicken in sweet miso sauce with shrimp with cauliflower salad, cold udon vegetables, soft roll with butter, fruit, chocolate, water and tea. The flight played three movies which is very very boring. Most passengers take a sleep all the way.
In the middle of the flight, Flight Attendants require us to close the window shades again, but my shade got stuck in the middle. I have to push hard to get it moving, I was afraid I’m going to break it! The sun was setting outside the plane, it was gorgeous outside, and the sky was blue, yellow, and red.
Our flight takes us over Seattle in dawn and Sault St. Marie in mid-morning (told by captain). We have our breakfast at about 1:30 hour before arrival. The breakfast was Broccoli cheese frittata or Fried noodles with fruit, croissant & orange juice. Later our flight starts our descent over the Finger Lakes of New York State. We have been directed toward Kingston VOR. Our flight use Kingston 6 arrival, we fly over New Jersey, Manhattan, Queens county (my home!) and Kennedy VOR, then we turned South toward the Atlantic ocean for the VOR/DME 13L approach. This approach makes me feel like back to Kai Tak, which you need to make a steep turn over residential area in order to land. We arrived JFK at 15:35, 20 minutes late and we parked at the exact gate where we departed three weeks ago, gate 26.
In conclusion, there is some special guest on our flight. They are schoolgirl from Japan. At least 100 of them, they are sitting at the back of the plane, what make passengers surprise is that they are dressed in full school uniform, which make you feel…strange. Anyway, our luggage came out last and we ended our magical trip to Hong Kong.

Please drop a few words, any suggestions, complains, questions are welcome! 
Thanks for reading!
Check my previous reports!
Mike