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WE ARE IN YOKOHAMA

 It was a pleasant flight on ANA from Honolulu to Narita Airport in Tokyo.  Here is our plane, an Airbus 380.

But first, the ANA Lounge, which is probably the best in Honolulu.

Curry/rice, udon, salad, Bloody Mary and beer.

Diamond Head and our departure.

The cuisine on the plane was fancier, but not as good as that served in the ANA Lounge.

Watched two films and an Elton John concert.
  • The Old Woman with the Knife, a new 2025 film from South Korea which earned a rating of 92 from Rotten Tomatoes reviewers.
    • Follows the life of a female assassin who is now in her 60s.
    • A bit tough to follow because the film keeps returning to a different past.
    • There is a mystery younger assassin, which is someone from her past.
    • A surprise that a movie like this with all those bloody killings is shown in a commercial flight.
  • The second movie, Black Dog, was lethargic, poetic, vicious, and heart-warming.  Made in China and secured 98/92 ratings from Rotten Tomatoes.  Reviewers said a redemptive journey of two lonely souls, with a touching ending.
  • The most enjoyable of the three was a two-hour concert by Elton John, The Million Dollar Piano.  
  • Got an 80 rating from Rotten Tomatoes.  
  • Sang all his popular songs.
  • Took place at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2012.
  • Had played The Red Piano in 243 concerts at the Colosseum over a three year period.
  • The Million Dollar Piano, made especially for him by Yamaha, first appeared in 2011, and took four years to build.
  • Elton has performed in Las Vegas 469 times, the farewell being his Yellow Brick Road tour in 2022.  First in 1971.
Approach to Narita with Mount Fujii in the background.

The New York Times featured Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi today.  No, not about her relations with China, but her Hamano tote.  This bag costs around $900.  The company was founded in 1880, and built a reputation with high quality leather.

UK's first female PM, served from 1979 to 1990.  Gerald Bodmer, CEO of Launer London, gave her two bags, their Bellini and the Adagio, each costing around $1200.  

Queen Elizabeth II had a number of expensive ones, too.  Her favorite appeared to be a Launer London Traviata.  Price depends.  From $2000 to $3500.  The Queen supposedly owned 200 of just this Traviata bag.

Want some really expensive totes?  From Google AI, all in dollars.

  • Hermes Chaine'd Ancre Bag Usd 1.4 Million. ...
  • Lana Marks' Cleopatra Clutch Usd 400,000. ...
  • Niloticus Crocodile Himalaya Birkin Usd 379,000. ...
  • Chanel "Diamond Forever" Handbag Usd 261,000. ...
  • Louis Vuitton Kusama Pumpkin Minaudiere Bag $133,430

However, here is a video indicating that a Debbie Wingham Emu Egg bag sells for $6.7 million, partly because it is made of an actual emu egg. 

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