How the other half live

I've flown business class before. Many, many years ago when it basically meant a bit of extra leg room and a glass of bubbly. Nowadays it's something completely different.

Proper glass, china and cutlery for meals makes dining an exceptionally civilised affair when all about you are disposable containers housing near-plastic food. Only the incongruous plastic knives spoil it, a nonsense, as apparently no one ever used a broken glass or fork to injure and maim.

14 inch personal TV screens, armchair that convert to beds, sockets to charge ipads and mobile phones and supplied slippers, bedding and headphones complete the ensemble on an Asiana flight.

But best of all, and the reason I am dreading going back to cattle class, is that my nearest neighbour is four feet away. Socialising is all well and good, but I'll pay the loss of that price to gain space where I don't have to share spit, overhanging flesh and/or body odour.

Sleeping in a pod bed is not the most comfortable in the world, but with the help of the supplied earplugs and eye mask, I actually slept about four hours. I might have slept more if it hadn't been for the turbulence announcements.

It was also very dehydrating, but I cannot fault the attentiveness of our stewardesses. Around one stewardess for every ten people, maybe less as a few seats were empty. The moment I decided to wake up and watch a movie, coffee arrived just for me.

For most of the flight it was either dark, or above cloud. One of the few gaps in the clouds showed mountains in the region of Ulan-Ude, Mongolia.

Watched the Theory of Everything. It was good. Imitation Game was better, but I totally understand why Eddie Redmayne got his Oscar. Also Night At the Museum 3. Popcorn movie, but I love the first one. Also enjoyed breakfast in bed. Hee!

Arrived at the hotel - Intercontinental, very nice - just in time for dinner. Had some lovely people from Malaysia and Korea for company, and learned that Myanmar is apparently the best place in the world to visit.

The rooms here are lovely, and the loos are technologically baffling.

Off to bed now, so I'm hopefully bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning.