My very 1^st First Class flight happens to be on one of the best airlines in the world. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has the reputation of having the high standards of Japan which really shows in their service and food. I flew on this flight with my girlfriend on September 12, 2018, which also happens to be my birthday so that added extra excitement. I redeemed the flight with Aeroplan costing 105,000 points per person for a one way ticket. It costs a lot of points but considering this was a $15k ticket per person, it was well worth it!

We came from a connecting flight from Toronto and only had 1.5 hrs layover at the Houston airport. We decided to quickly visit the Amex Centurion Lounge as we had access from our Amex Platinum cards and the lounge was also close to the boarding gates. After spending some time there, we headed to the gates to get ready to board. We ended up having minor issues with our boarding passes and had to show our IDs before getting them re-issued. After the minor inconvenience, we finally made our way to the plane where we were greeted by an air stewardess and pointed us to the left side of the cabin where our seats were waiting.

My first impression was WOW, the cabin was spacious and the seats were huge and comfortable, it was like sitting in a throne. We were welcomed with champagne and an amenity kit as we settled into our comfortable seats and got familiar with the entertainment system and the various compartments around the seat.

There was a lot of storage everywhere – the foot well under the entertainment system had plenty of space, there were small compartments where you can put your passport and other small items, and there was even a closet on the side of the seat to put your jacket.

After take off, the flight attendant came back and took some drink orders. I ordered the famous Krug champagne as that was a popular choice in First Class. Afterwards, she came back to take the food order which I was looking forward to.

Food: Japanese Perfection

Most Asian airlines put more effort into their food compared to their Western counterparts. ANA is no exception and I had high expectations coming onto the flight, especially in First Class. About an hour into the flight, the flight attendants came to take our order for food. There were two choices on the menu, Japanese or International cuisine – I chose the Japanese cuisine since I was on a Japanese airline. However, I did hear the International cuisine was pretty good as well so you can’t go wrong with either choice. Throughout the meal, the service was outstanding as the flight attendants paid close attention to detail making sure each course arrived perfectly as well as catering to any special requests you had. I found some items on the International menu appealing which I ordered as a special request later on and to my surprise, they did not mind serving that as well. Overall, the meal was by far one of the best food I ever had on a plane, but since it was my first time on First Class, it was hard to compare with anything else. I was completely full from the meal and needed to take a break from all the eating to make space for the light dishes later on in the flight.

After the Japanese cuisine meal, I saw there was cheesecake on the International menu and I really wanted to try it. While ordering my latte, I asked if I could also try the cheesecake as well, and without hesitation, she returned with one.

Throughout the flight, there were a lot of light dishes we can order any time. After my nap, I woke up to another passenger slurping ramen and the aroma it gave off smelled really good. I asked for one along with some green tea. The ramen was amazing and I have to say it was the best item on the menu.

Conclusion

My expectations were high since this was my first time flying on First Class and ANA did not disappoint. Their service was top notch and their food was one of the best I ever had. The seats were big and comfortable, I literally felt like a king especially with the service the Japanese airlines are well known for. This was one of my bucket list items and I’m glad I was able to cross this off my list, especially on my birthday. Even though this was my first time flying First Class, I can definitely say it won’t be my last.

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How to get to Kjeragbolten

As soon as we finished our Pulpit Rock hike, we went back to Stavangar to rest up and stocked up on supplies as we were on the road for the next few days. The closest town to the Kjeragbolten hike is Lysebotn, a small town that is nested right at the end of the Lysefjord. The drive from Stavangar to Lysebotn took about 2.5 hours but the despite the long drive, the views were gorgeous. Be prepared to stop many times as every turn provides a new scenic view that is postcard worthy. The drive will take you up the mountains as you snake your way driving by round shaped rocks that is iconic for this area. On the way to the campsite, we drove by the parking lot of Kjeragbolten and decided to check it out while the day was sunny and bright.

Accomodation

We stayed at Kjerag Lysebotn Camping, a campsite located 15 minutes drive away from the Kjerag parking lot. It has full facilities including wifi, showers, bathrooms, and a small kitchen. This campground is one of the most scenic ones I stayed at, it’s located between two mountains right next to the water’s edge of Lysefjord with a waterfall in the background. We enjoyed this campsite so much that we decided to stay two nights, especially after the exhausting Kjeragbolten hike.

The Hike

The Kjerag trail head was only 15 minutes from our campsite, just up the mountain following the snake-like roads and a long tunnel. This road was one of the most fun I had driving in Norway.

As I mentioned earlier, this hike was one of the hardest hikes I did in Norway. It was physically demanding and also extremely steep in certain areas. Combine this with the random weather in Norway and you may have yourself a windy and rainy hike escalating the difficulty level even more. We always seem to have the worst luck with the weather as it was raining heavily as we pulled into the empty parking lot. We talked to the owner there and he said due to the weather, it will be windy, foggy, and extremely wet up in the mountains and warned us it will be very challenging. Typically there are around 200 hikers in the morning by now but today there were only 10 hikers ahead of us. We were really close to calling the hike off but knowing we won’t have time to return the next day, we decided to try anyways and see how far we can get, worst case was we would turn around and go back down the mountain.

The first part of the hike was not too hard, it was solid rock with some areas that were steep and required chains to hold on. The wet conditions also made the rocks extremely slippery and we had to slow down our climb to prevent any serious injuries.

As soon as we got to the top of the first mountain, we felt the full blast of the wind as the mountain was no longer blocking it. Luckily this section of the hike was not too difficulty as it was descending the other side of the mountain to a valley that connects to the next mountain. The descent was fairly easy and the valley was also flat which made this area one of the easiest sections of the hike.

After the valley, climbing the other mountain was not too difficulty either as there were rocks set up in a staircase fashion with chains to hold on to. After this climb, you reach the next section which was a rocky valley with a safe-house nearby. There was also a river that was running a lot faster than normal due to the rain and wind.

The next area was climbing the third and final mountain, which was the hardest climb as there were long steep sections with a chain to hold on to. Especially with the rain, it made it very difficulty as the rocks were slippery and we had to use the chains to pull ourselves up as we couldn’t get much grip with our shoes.

After this climb, you’ll be on top of the Kjerag mountain and it’s a fairly flat hike to the final destination. This was the second most easiest section as you just follow the red trail markers to the floating boulder, but with the fog surrounding us, we did lose track of the trail markers a few times.

Near the end, you’ll go down a trench where a stream runs down the mountain. Be extra cautious as you climb over slippery rocks as you traverse through this narrow trench, it’s easy to slip and lose your footing. At the end of the trench is where the Kjeragbolten stands, we finally made it!

Next to the boulder is a viewpoint that is right next to the edge of the mountain. The view is amazing as you look down upon the Lysefjord below with a waterfall running along the side of the mountain.

However the prize for me is getting a picture of myself on top of the boulder. Usually there is a line up to get on top of the boulder but with the poor weather today, there was only a handful of hikers up here with zero wait time. I found getting on top of the boulder fairly tricky with the wet conditions and many thoughts crossed my mind where I could slip and fall to my death if I made a mistake. I saw one person do a hop across the gap to the boulder but knowing how wet it is, I quickly ruled that out. Then I saw another person crouch down into the gap and slowly climbed up the side of the boulder which was also the same method I decided to use as it was the safest. As I stood on the boulder, I have to admit my legs were trembling while my pictures were getting taken. Afterwards I quickly hopped across back to safety and never looked back.

We spent some time here to rest up and enjoy the view before we had to back track and head back down the mountain. During this time, the rain stopped and some fog rolled in which made it a little tricky to navigate through the flat rocky trail. Eventually the fog lifted and we quickly took more pictures that we missed out on during the morning hike as it was just too windy and rainy to take pictures. As hard of a climb the hike was, I found the climb down was even more tricky as the rocks were still slippery from the rain and a lot of care had to be taken going down. There were many times where I slipped on the steep sections back down but luckily there were chains to hold on to that stopped me from sliding down the mountain.

Near the bottom of the hike, there were random goats grazing right next to the trail, with one getting close enough for me to pet it. We eventually made it back down with only a scrapped elbow to show for it and went straight to the restaurant to eat some hot Norwegian food to warm us back up. Although the food was overpriced, it was surprisingly delicious. The view was amazing too as the restaurant sits on the edge of the mountain and you get a nice 180 degree view of the landscape.

Conclusion

Kjeragbolten was our second Norwegian hike and was one of the hardest hikes we ever did in Norway. Not only did the hike require a lot of physical endurance climbing up steep sections of the rock, but the weather was random as it was pouring rain in the morning, followed by fog that blanketed the top of the mountain before clearing up again to a sunny afternoon. However, to say you have stood on top of Kjeragbolten is an accomplishment on its own and definitely made this hike worth doing. As long as you come prepared with the right gear and take your time, anyone can eventually finish this challenging hike.

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How to get to Pulpit Rock

The most popular method to get to Pulpit Rock is taking a 40 minute ferry ride from Stavanger to Tau and then transferring to a bus which takes you directly to the Pulpit Rock trailhead. However, if you rented a car, it looks like the new Ryfast Tunnel opened up end of 2019 and you can drive your car all the way to Pulpit Rock parking avoiding the ferry altogether. Just keep in mind that this hike is one of the most popular ones in Norway so in order to beat the rush, I recommend getting there as early as possible. Stavanger is a cruise ship port and we saw at least 2 cruise ships docked before we left, which means hundreds of people will do this hike daily. The option we decided to do was to camp near Pulpit Rock so we can wake up early and hopefully catch the sunrise.

Accomodation

We stayed at Preikestolen Camping, a campsite located 6 minutes drive away from the Pulpit Rock trailhead. It has full facilities including showers, bathrooms, and a small kitchen. Luckily we arrived early, the campsite filled up quickly as it was the closest campground to Pulpit Rock. It also rained the entire day so finding a dry spot was high in demand, but with rain brings a surprise rainbow!

The Hike

Hiking the trail leading up to Pulpit Rock is not too difficult, it’s actually one of the easier hikes in Norway and we thought it was the best hike to warm up for our upcoming hikes. The hike takes about 3-4 hrs round trip depending on how fast you walk. It took us just a bit more than 3 hrs of walking as it was raining and we needed to be careful hiking the slippery rocks. There is some elevation involved but most of it are stair cases built out of rocks so no climbing is necessary. We woke up at 4am and spent the next 30 minutes packing up our wet tent as it rained the entire night. We wanted to try and catch the sunrise on pulpit rock so we had to at least get to the trailhead before 5am to start the hike. It was pitch dark but we came prepared with headlamps which made it a lot easier to hike. It eventually started drizzling which made walking on the rocks very slippery. We had proper hiking shoes and hiking poles which helped a lot in the wet conditions while keeping the pace to make it to Pulpit Rock in time.

Unfortunately by the time we got there, it was very foggy and we could not see much so there goes the perfect sunrise picture I imagined. We were one of the first few people at Pulpit Rock, there were around 5 others who beat us. It was also very eerie with the fog surrounding us as we could not see clearly but we knew we were very high up. We decided to wait hoping that the fog will lift but after an hour, it did not improve so we decided to leave before the real tourist crowd comes.

While leaving, we noticed that there is an off the trail rocky section right before Pulpit Rock so we decided to check it out. That’s when we noticed only Pulpit Rock had the fog and everything else was clear, we could even see the fjord at the bottom. We took a few pictures from here before we headed back. We noticed the first wave of the crowd started to arrive which means its time to leave as there will be line ups at some of the more narrow sections of the hike.

While hiking back down, the skies cleared up even more which was unfortunate but we had to stick to our schedule and keep moving. By the time we got to the half way mark, the crowd got more dense and it was a lot slower pace as we had to wait for the gaps between the incoming crowd so we can use the stone steps. It was like this until we got back to the trailhead and it was time to leave to head to our next stop.

Conclusion

Pulpit Rock was our first Norwegian hike and we enjoyed it a lot. The hike was not too long and it was not diffcult at all for our first hike. Unfortunately the morning weather prevented us to fully enjoy the view but it still gave us an amazing impression of how gorgeous the mountains are in Norway. Just make sure to get there early, otherwise Pulpit Rock gets too crowded and it will be very hard to take pictures.

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How to get to Himeji Castle

My plan was to arrive early to beat the crowd as I only had half a day to spend here before I have to leave to my lunch reservation in Kobe. I ensured I had a Shinkansen reservation made the day before as the seats could sell out on busy dates. The train ride only took 30 minutes from Shin-Osaka station to Himeji Station, and the walk to the entrance of Himeji Castle from the station was an easy straight path that took roughly 30 mins.

Leaving the station, you can already see the massive castle towering in the background of the busy street. You know you are close when you cross a bridge that runs over the outer moat of the castle.

The entrance gates is further in across a large field within the outer walls. This is a great time for a photo opportunity as you get a clear shot of the castle. This is also the nearest you can get to the castle without paying any money.

Himeji Castle

I decided to get the tickets that combine the Himeji Castle entrance and the Koko-en Garden right beside it, as it was only a little more money. As soon as you enter the castle, you are required to remove your shoes into provided plastic bags and wear “booties” on your feet. This makes sense as they do not want to dirty the inside of the castle as it’s one of the very few castles left in Japan that is still the original and not re-constructed like Osaka Castle. Be careful not to slip while you walk up the steep stairs!

The castle has multiple floors, with each floor serving a different purpose – I advise everyone to read the signs on each floor to learn the history of the castle and why each floor is special. I really enjoyed the authenticity while walking through the castle, you can really sense the history of the castle and how people lived back then. Also the view of Himeji city was beautiful from the highest floor of the castle.

Eventually you will go back down the stairs to the first floor, put on your shoes, and walk back outside to the courtyard where you can capture a very picturesque view of the castle

Koko-en Garden

After taking hundreds of pictures, we decided its time to head back out and go to the Koko-en Garden. The garden entrance is not connected to Himeji Castle, you will have to head back out to the main street and walk 5 minutes west.

Koko-en Garden is beauitful! One of the best maintained gardens that I have ever seen. You can take a picture from any angle and it will still end up being postcard worthy. We spent an hour in this garden as there are different areas to visit, each having it’s own unique theme. The best is still the first area with the big pond, but the other areas are worth checking out quickly if you have time.

Conclusion

In total, we spent around 4 hours of the morning visiting Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden. It was definitely worth the side trip and I highly suggest visiting Himeji Castle if you have half a day to spare.

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The hotel is very modern and the lobby is large and spacious.  The staff spoke proficient English which made our check-in process a lot easier.  After getting our room keys, we took the elevators across the concierge desk and went up to our floor.

Our room turned out to be much bigger than I expected for Asia standards and was also very clean and well organized.  The interior was plain and basic but it reminds me of living at a condo back in Toronto.

The washroom was surprisingly big and very modern looking.  The shower room was large but it did lack a bathtub in case you wanted to take a bath.  The best part of the washroom was that it was installed with a bidet toilet, I always enjoyed using them in Asia especially since we have none in Toronto.

The morning view was spectacular, it’s always great to wake up to a sunrise over the ocean.  I have to give this hotel credit for being located right at the edge of the ocean.

Overall, I had a great stay at the Nest Hotel even though it was only for one night.  The view was amazing and the bed was comfortable enough to recharge my energy for an early flight to Taipei.  Although the price per night is quite expensive for just an overnight layover, i would use my Marriott certificate to stay here again.

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At the trail head is a sign that reads “Elephant Mountain” in Chinese and next to it is a set of stone stairs.  Make sure you have proper shoes to climb these stairs as some steps could be wet since Taiwan gets a lot of periodic light rain depending on the season you go.  We happen to have gone during mid September which was during Typhoon season but we got lucky as it only rained a bit and eventually cleared up for us to ascend.

It will take about 20 minutes of climbing up the stairs to reach the main lookout point.  Take your time as some steps are steep and depending on the crowd level, you might have to wait for other travelers to pass.  There are various stops along the stairs where you can get a good view of Taipei 101 and the city.

Along the way up, I noticed a break in the trees that offer a clear shot of Taipei 101, so as a typical tourist I took the opportunity to take a picture.  As you can tell by the sky, it was a gloomy cloudy day from the morning rain but due to the weather, there were not a lot of tourists so we had all the time in the world to capture our pictures.

Around half way up the trail you will notice giant rocks around the path.  You are allowed to climb up it and take creative pictures with Taipei 101 in the background.  Even though the crowd level was low during our visit, there were still groups of tourists lining up to take their pictures.  We decided to skip it as we were tight on time and proceeded up towards the main lookout point instead.

Once you reach the main lookout area, you are rewarded with the gorgeous view of Taipei and the famous Taipei 101 in the background.  There are benches along the sides where you can finally rest and catch your breath while absorbing the amazing view around you.

Take a few minutes to rest up and remember to drink water to replenish your fluids after the exhausting hike, especially in Taipei’s humidity.  Once you are ready, it’s time to return back for the easier half of the hike, the descent down the mountain.

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