Monday, October 27, 2008 - Ever had a 36 hour day? I’m not talking about one that “seemed” like 36 hours, an actual 36 hour day. It’s pretty fun. I left from the Bangkok airport (Suvarnabhumi) just before midnight on Saturday morning heading to Tokyo.

I arrived several hours later and settled in for an 8 hour layover. I wasn’t looking forward to just “hanging out” for 8 hours so I stretched out for a little catnap for awhile. That lasted about 10 minutes as there was a couple with their toddler that was in the mood for some vocal exercises in the form of screaming at the top of its lungs. So much for the nap.

After wandering around Narita airport for a while, and passing on a scrumptious breakfast at McDonald’s, I stumbled across a “Dayroom” facility. I had heard about these but thought they might be too good to be true. For about 4800 yen (about 420), I got a very clean, very quiet (no toddlers around) room that had a twin bed and a shower. After washing off the jet stream debris, I laid down for a 3 hour nap. Very nice and refreshing and money well spent.

Leg two of my day started a little while later and I got onboard for the almost 9 hour flight from Tokyo to PDX. I arrived here at 8 in the morning, and it was still Saturday!

Well, not being one for wasting a day, I went to the Oregon Coast for the day to see the other side of the ocean that I had been on earlier that same day.  I got home from the Coast late that afternoon and had a wonderful evening at home and finally got to bed ‘round midnight.

Then it hit me - It’s still only Saturday! Half way around the world in one day! Could Jules Verne wrap his head around that one? I can’t, so why should he?

~ Brad Dolbeer