Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

NRT-SGN (6h 35m) Boeing 787-9 ETD:  7.10pm  (GMT + 9) ETA: 11.45pm (GMT + 7) A long-awaited first for me, flying with ANA in the Business Class cabin allowed me to receive a final dose of omotenashi (Japanese concept of wholehearted hospitality) as I left the country. The flight from to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam wasn't that long, but it offered the perfect introduction to the airline's refined service philosophy.

Near Gate 53 , Narita International Airport Terminal 1, Narita, Chiba, Japan Daily: 7.00am - 9.30pm I had about two hours to spend in ANA’s larger flagship lounge for Business Class passengers at Narita International Airport. As I stepped inside, I was welcomed by a faint, calming scent of ANA Original Aroma: a comforting blend of 12 natural fragrances, such as Japanese umbrella-pine, Yoshino cedar, rosemary and mint.

NGO-NRT (1h 20m) Boeing 737-800 ETD:  2.15pm  (GMT + 9) ETA: 3.35pm (GMT + 9) It's really been a while since I last flew with ANA domestically. The previous time was way back in 2013 from New Chitose Airport in Sapporo to Osaka Itami Airport. This time, I flew from Chubu Centrair International Airport to Narita International Airport aboard a Boeing 737-800, part of a fleet with an average age of 12.9 years at the point of writing.

1-1 Centrair, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Chubu Centrair International Airport, also known as Central Japan International Airport, is ocated on an artificial island off the coast of Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture. Opened in 2005, it was constructed to replace the former Nagoya Airport. It's since earned the reputation as one of the most efficient and passenger-friendly airports in the country.

1-1 Centrair, Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Daily: 10.00am - 5.00pm Flight of Dreams is an aviation-themed complex at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya, Japan. Whether you're an aviation enthusiast or simply passing time before your next flight, this immersive space offers a delightful blend of education and entertainment centred around the world's very first Boeing 787 aircraft, ZA001.

[Geku] 279 Toyokawacho, Ise, Mie, Japan Daily: 5.00am - 7.00pm Regarded as the most sacred Shinto shrine in the Land of the Rising Sun, Ise Shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu and Toyouke-hime, the goddess of the sun and agriculture respectively. Said to have been established in 4 BC, it comprises two main sections: Geku (lit. Outer Shrine) and Naiku (lit. Inner Shrine).

Ise City, Mie, Japan On one of the days, I headed out of Nagoya for a day trip to Mie Prefecture. My first stop was Ise City, which is home to the revered Ise Grand Shrine. After half a day of exploration and reflection, I made my way to Toba City where the evening promised a different kind of delight: feasting on the local specialty of Japanese spiny lobster.

11-15 Tsubakicho, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan I'd actually wanted to book a room at  Smile Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi  again for the last two nights after returning from Gifu City, but couldn't find any available rooms. As such, I decided on Nagoyaeki Access Hotel (3*). As the name suggests, the latter is also within easy walking distance from Nagoya station.

Gifu City, Gifu, Japan Away from the downtown area of Gifu City, the pace slows down further along the serene banks of Nagara River. Nearby lies the charming old townscape of Kawaramachi, once a bustling riverside merchant district. Just a short walk away, Gifu Park unfolds at the foot of  Mount Kinka , which is the starting point to  Gifu Castle .

Gifu City, Gifu, Japan Gifu City is the capital of the landlocked prefecture in central Honshu that shares its name. Playing a pivotal role during the Sengoku period from the 15th to the 16th century, it was once a stronghold of the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga. Compared to nearby Nagoya, the city embraces a more relaxed urban rhythm.

6-31 Yoshinomachi, Gifu City, Gifu, Japan After enjoying a refreshing morning at Mount Kinka, I made my way to the city centre for a change of pace. My next stop was Dormy Inn Gifu Ekimae (3*), a business hotel chain that offers a host of thoughtful touches from relaxing massage chairs to comforting supper, all included in the room rate.