I'm fine thank you and you?

Busy, hectic, organisied, polite – Kansai International is all the things you would expect and hope an airport to be. It is a good place to land. Beginning my journey in Heathrow showed another side of the aviation experience. Busy, hectic, disorganised, rude – London’s premier airport is everything you would hope it isn’t.

After saying goodbye to the folks – no tears this time – it was back up in the air and off to Japan. My first spell here had lasted 7 months (August 23rd 2006 – March 21st 2007). I arrived back in Japan on April 1st 2007.

Korean Air was my transporter and they did a commendable job. All the usuals were adequately provided; it was the in-flight food that was memorable. Bibimbap is a Korean dish of steamed rice topped with vegetables and beef. The ingredients are mixed together with sesame oil and gochujang – Korean red chilly paste.

It can be served hot or cold apparently. The Korean Air version was somewhere in between. Once mixed it forms a spicy, gloopy, flavoursome bowl of goodness (vegetarians options are available).

At 50,000 feet and ten hours from landing steamed chicken breast in tomato puree and powdered scrambled egg are a long way down my wish list. Airlines please take note. Wine, good. Asian food, good. Steamed imitation European cuisine, not good. And also more leg room for the six foot plusers.

It is a shame my choice of in-flight movie was not as palatable as the bibimbap. ‘Rocky Balboa’ is not delicious. In fact it is horrible. For a few seconds it even left a bad taste in the mouth, but then I fell asleep. I dreamt of leg room and Korean food.