JL 61 JAPAN AIRLINES FLIGHT FROM LOS ANGELES TO TOKYO

Morning has woken up in Narita, where the major airport of Tokyo is situated.
Yesterday I flew the 11 hour flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo. It went so smoothly (turbulence during the last part of the flight) and I was not bored. There was wi fi on board and thus I was able to keep in touch with people that keep in touch with me. (I am not on any social media)
The Flight Attendants were polite to a tee, extremely friendly but kept their distances. I had chosen the Japanese meal and it was served prompted and without any hurry or delay. 
here is a summary of photographs of this delightful trip from Los Angeles USA to Narita, Tokyo, Japan 

 The journey itself begins at the Qantas Airways Lounge at LAX, it is said to be one of the nicest lounges in all of USA.

 The security checking went quickly enough but cant say it was very efficient.

 I was happy that they were able to give me my favourite seat 1 K so that I can esconce myself for the next 11 hours.

 The photos of the food are not presented in any special order but they were given in a specific order which kind of tickled your tonsils like they say in Australia.

 I do not know much about Sake so the FA chose this one for me 

 As the flight was nearing Japan, I requested the appetizer plate from the Western menu and at any time of the day or night I am ready for a piece of salmon!

 The morning has broken over Narita and I shall get ready for my next flight, also on JL and I am sure I will choose a Japanese menu..

A DAY OF TRANQUILITY AMONG THE OMAHA INDIANS OF NEBRASKA

LOVE IN THE TIME OF THE INTERNET: CONNECTIONS WITH IRAN

Love in the time of Internet: Connections with Iran

MY love affair with Iran seems to have been born with me, as I can always remember a time when I felt fond of Iran. Stories told when I was a child perhaps helped it.

Seven years ago, a new friend entered my life and truly deposited so much knowledge about Iranian culture and I am truly grateful.

Lately there have been a flurry of communications and I am grateful for the Internet to facilitate this rapid communications with Iran

Just one example:

I was talking to a friend in southwestern part of Iran, when she mentioned the name of a novel, which she had loved very much. She had read it in translation. Sure enough within a week a copy arrived from Amazon.com.

A fraction of the whole by Steve Toltz had been short listed for Man Booker Prize. The author is Jewish and the setting is Australia, and there is a French element to it. I couldn’t believe the coincidence! And the author now lives in New York!

When I began reading the book, which I plan to carry with me on this forthcoming trip to Asia, I was fascinated with the various connections mentioned in the book, ethos of an era in Australia that I was also a part of, and I found it fascinating.

So when another friend of mine from Teheran asked for a recommendation for a book to read, I had no suggestion which book I should suggest and she sent me a cover photo of the book in its Persian translation.

The world is smaller; Internet has made it easier to communicate with Iran, the most intelligent of all nations in the Middle East outside of Israel.

We, the Jews and Israelis, would be your best friends, I tell my Iranian friends.

VOICES FROM CUBA 16 JUNE AND THE EMPTY BOTTLE THAT MAKES TOO MUCH NOISE

Trump announced some noises to the gracious changes by Obama to the failed Cuba policy of the previous presidents. In front of a group of the most conservative of Cuban Americans he shouted loudly about the changes but when you look at it, the only change, apart from the tone of Mr. Trump, is that American Citizens cannot visit Cuba as tourists, a prohibition which has been in place since 1962!

It might be of comfort to him to know that Raul Castro is far more popular among the Cubans than he is among Americans and that Cubans are extraordinarily patriotic about their countries, and this unwise move only strengthen their resolve.

Like an empty bottle, he made a lot of noise that is all.

I sent the following letter to my friends in Cuba.

Queridos amigos,

Es posible que hayas oído hablar de la retórica de Trump y sus amigos cubano-americanos en Miami acerca de la relación con Cuba.

En primer lugar, era todo ruido y muy poca sustancia. No mucho ha cambiado en la medida en que la mayoría de nosotros estamos preocupados y también las personas ahi  que están alquilando casas o tener paladares y restaurantes o cafés.

No puedo pensar en ninguna de las personas que conozco afectadas por esto. Los vuelos y los cruceros se permitiría, así que habría más gente que va en cruceros que en vuelos, quizás.

Voy a seguir volando American Airlines, tomar el taxi de mi amigo Yodel, tienen mi mulata en el Café de David, tienen mi cena en La Dolce Vita y beber mi Pina Colada en CubaPasion, y alojarse en mi lugar favorito para alojarse en La Habana. Nada de esto es ilegal.

Las restricciones de Trump afectarían a la gente que viene para el turismo SOLAMENTE, será ilegal permanecer en los hoteles funcionados por el gobierno (son terribles de todos modos), comer en los restaurantes funcionados por el gobierno (puede usted pensar de cualquier que es bueno?) O alquilar un coche? (Para la mayoría de la gente no es un problema) o vuela Cubana (no es un gran problema que evitar, ya que no he volado Cubana desde 2006)

El envío de dinero a Cuba no se ve afectado, por lo que el Ron y los puros no se ven afectados, habría MAS Internet y telefonía, los turistas todavía pueden entrar en GRUPOS (es dos un grupo?)

Me preocupaba si detendría los vuelos o cerraría la embajada o detendría la transmisión de dinero o Permiten a los cubanos migrar ilegalmente.(ley de Injuste o ajuste?)  ha hecho más difícil que los cubanos emigren ahora.

En general, por favor, no se preocupe, nada de su vida va a cambiar de ninguna manera

Vamos a celebrar juntos, con una comidita, vinos, y conversaciones.. cosas que los norteamericanos no tienen y no poner BLOQUE de nuestros emociones tan lindos y puros y afectuosos..

Cuba tiene solo un enimigo  Los Cubano Americanos fascistas de Miami, ellos ahora tienen su presidente fascista!

Top of Form

Dear friends,
You may have heard of the rhetoric of Trump and his Cuban-American friends in Miami about the relationship with Cuba.
First, it was all noise and very little substance. Not much has changed to the extent that most of us are worried and also the people there who are renting houses or having private restaurants or cafes.
I can not think of any of the people I know affected by this. The flights and cruises would be allowed, so there would be more people going on cruises than on flights, maybe.
I will continue to fly American Airlines, take my friend Yodel's taxi, have my mulata at David's Cafe, have my dinner at La Dolce Vita and drink my Pina Colada at CubaPasion, and stay at my favorite place to stay in Havana . None of this is illegal.
Trump restrictions would affect people coming for tourism ONLY, it will be illegal to stay in government run hotels (they are terrible anyway), eat at restaurants run by the government (can you think of any that is good ?) Or rent a car? (For most people it's not a problem) or fly Cubana (not a big problem to avoid as I have not flown Cubana since 2006)
Sending money to Cuba is not affected, so the Rum and the cigars are not affected, there would be more Internet and telephone services, tourists can still enter into GROUPS (are two a group?)
I was worried if I would stop the flights or close the embassy or stop the money transmission or allow the Cubans to migrate illegally. (Injuste law or ajuste law?) Has made it more difficult for Cubans to migrate now.
In general, please do not worry, nothing in your life is going to change in any way
Let's celebrate together, with a little meal, wines, and conversations .. things that most Americans do not have and do not put EMBARGO of our emotions so strong and pure and affectionate ..

Cuba has only one enemy The Cuban American fascists of Miami, they now have their fascist representative!

Cuba has better public health services than for the non-rich Americans, an average American does not have access to education to the quality and level as in Cuba. Cuba is far more educated country than America, as a whole, with large proportion of people having university education and post graduate education.

When Bush Senior invaded Iraq he thought he would be welcomed by the Iraqi citizens that did not happen. The Cuban citizens did not welcome the announcements by Trump and his fascist allies. The failed mercenaries of the Playa Giron invasion and their descendants who lasted not even 3 days in Cuban soil, must be rocking in their chairs with mirth at the rebirth of this failed policy and looking for employment in the Anti-Cuba industry which is known to exist in Miami.

Replies began arriving, and I will highlight the enthusiasm, patriotism and revolutionary fervor of a 22-year-old medical student.

.la envidia,mucho abarca,pero poco aprieta,es decir,que las personas que viven hablando y haciendo falsas acusaciones de la republica de Cuba,no obtendran nada,porque el amor y el carino que prevalece en nosotros los cubanos es mas fuerte que la fuerza negra que se nos opone.la clave esta en la unidad y en los buenos sentimientos,en la positividad,en la armonia,la paz,el patriotismo,la hermandad ,la fraternidad y la ayuda incondicional a los mas nesecitados.aquellas personas que apoyan el bloqueo a Cuba y que se hacen participes de las ideas mas absurdas propuestas e implantadas para desequilibrar nuestro gobierno,nada,pero nada podran contra nosotros porque somos un pueblo con un enorme corazon ,con una enorme fuerza ,con un enorme espiritu de patriotismo.en lo personal opino que no existe fuerza capaz de aplastar todo lo que hemos logrado,ni de ensuciar el legado que nos han dejado nuestros martires,nuestro eterno Fidel.Entre mas trabas ponen a nuestro territorio,mas crece mi sentimiento de joven revolucionaria,mas crece mi deseo de defender a mi patria,mas conviccion tengo de que a mi pais,a mi patria,no la abandono jamas,ni por nada ni por nadie.no se como aun existen personas tan ingratas que se prestan al juego de cambiar a la patria por solo un poco de dinero.nuestra patria no la cambiaria ni por todo el oro del mundo,porque le debo mucho,porque  estoy enormemente agradecida.sigo tus ideas,me encanto la carta que enviaste y te admiro porque aun sin ser cubano defiendes y abogas por cuba como si fueses parte de nuestrs patria,aunque para mi ,ya lo eres,bienvenido a esta revolucion forjada por hombres dignos,a esta revolucion donde se respira pureza,armonia,paz y buenos sentimientos.bienvenido a esta patria qu3 te estara agradecida por los buenos pensamientos que tienes sobre ella,por tu coraje al defenderla.Hoy ,no solo eres australiano,no eres estadounidense,para mi tienes un mejor nombre,una mejor nacionalidad.tu nacionalidad es y sera Cuba, nuestra isla rica.un beso enorme para ti.estoy feliz al escuchar tus sabias palabras.muy muy feliz

. Envy, much encompasses, but does not squeeze, that is, people who live speaking and making false accusations of the republic of Cuba, will not get anything, because the love and affection that prevails in us Cubans is stronger than The black force that opposes us. The key is unity and good feelings, positivity, harmony, peace, patriotism, brotherhood, brotherhood and unconditional support to the most needed. Who support the blockade of Cuba and who participate in the most absurd ideas proposed and implemented to unbalance our government, nothing, but nothing can be against us because we are a people with a huge heart, with enormous strength, with a huge spirit of Patriotism. In my personal opinion, there is no force capable of crushing all that we have achieved, or of messing up the legacy left to us by our martyrs, our eternal Fidel. The  more obstacles put our territory, but my sentiments, I am a young revolutionary, but my desire to defend my country grows, I have the conviction that my country, my country, I never abandon it, neither for anything nor for anyone. I do not know how there are still people who are so ungrateful. They lend to the game of changing the country for only a little money. Our country would not exchange it for all the gold in the world, because I owe a lot, because I am enormously grateful. I follow your ideas, I love the letter you sent and I  admire because even without being Cuban you defend and advocate for Cuba as if you were part of our country, although for me, you are already, welcome to this revolution forged by worthy men, to this revolution where you breathe purity, harmony, peace and good feelings Welcome to this homeland that will thank you for the good thoughts you have about her, for your courage in defending her. Today, you are not only an Australian, you are not an American, for me you have a better name, a better nationality. Will be Cuba, our richisland  A huge kiss for you.I'm happy to hear your wise words.very very happy

A businesswoman wrote:

Gracias por sus lindas palabras sobre nuestra Cuba y que pena por los que están ciegos y no ven la realidad del mundo actual.

Que posición mas absurda, hegemonista y absolutamente irrespetuosa la de Trump y sus servidores cubanos americanos. Viva nuestra Cuba bella y revolucionaria.

Thank you for your nice words about our Cuba and what a pity for those who are blind and do not see the reality of the world today. What a most absurd, hegemonic and absolutely disrespectful position of Trump and his Cuban American servants. Long live our beautiful and revolutionary Cuba.

In an article published in the prestigious medical Journal, New England Journal of medicine, on 8 june 2017, it states:

The southern poverty law centre has documented an increase in incidents of harassment and hateful intimidation since Trump's election. It quotes: a large proportion of US adults are stressed by the current political environment. two thirds of all adults surveyed said they were stressed about the future of USA.

VOICES FROM CUBA JUNE 14 2017 HAPPY BIRTHDAY COMANDANTE CHE GUEVARA

VOICES FROM CUBA: 14 JUNE 2017 Happy Birthday Comandante CHE 

I left Havana on a night of that familiar downpours where the sky and the landscape become inseparable, my faithful friend and driver, guiding his 1958 Chevrolet Belair down to the arrivals at the International Airport Jose Marti in Havana, he didn’t want me to get wet, since the departures area had an open area exposed to the elements.

14^th June 2017

I was sitting in the living room of the Blue House, reminding me of the important parts of my itinerant life left behind in various countries and continents.

I am with the UmonHon Indians, from here I go to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Siem Reap in Cambodia and Doha in Qatar and then on to France: all places where pieces of my heart are in the care of various people, of course my absence away from Cuba is justified by the fact that I will be talking about Cuba to the people in those countries, who are not as closed minded as many in the country to the North.

Siem Reap Cambodia with my brother.

(at the Blue House among the Indians in the USA)

Today is the BIRTHDAY of Ernesto Che Guevara de la Sarna Lynch.

I sent the following letter to my friends in Cuba, those whom I was missing terribly even though I was with less than a few days ago!

Mi amor por Cuba había comenzado mucho antes de que estuviera en el hemisferio occidental, yo seguía asistiendo a la escuela en Australia cuando oí hablar de Fidel Castro y también del Che Guevara. El romance del Che permaneció conmigo, como lo fue el celo revolucionario de Fidel. Incluso en la Facultad de Medicina, solía tener un libro sobre el Che o un libro de poemas de Pablo Neruda con mi abrigo blanco!

El Che ha sido parte integrante de mi vida, ahora nos lamentamos y celebramos su muerte en Bolivia en 1967. Hice peregrinación a todos los lugares asociados con el Che en Argentina y Bolivia, y en este día saludo su coraje, su integridad , Su amor por el pueblo de Cuba, su fervor revolucionario y su eterno legado.

English Translation:

My love for Cuba had begun long before I was in the Western Hemisphere. I was still attending school in Australia when I heard about Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Che's romance remained with me, as was Fidel's revolutionary zeal. Even in the Faculty of Medicine, I used to have a book about Che or a book of poems by Pablo Neruda with my white coat!

Che was an integral part of my life; we now regret and celebrate his death in Bolivia in 1967. I made a pilgrimage to all the places associated with Che in Argentina and Bolivia, and on this day I greet his courage, his integrity, his love for the people of Cuba, its revolutionary fervor and its eternal legacy.

It was so lovely to get the responses:

Some examples:

My Cuban Mother

Gracias. Ha sido parte integrante de la vida de muchos en todo el mundo.

Bueno, querido hijo, el calor sigue siendo insoportable.

Un beso

…He was an integral part of the life of many people in the whole world…

A professional in Public Health

Qué bonitas palabras de reconocimiento a nuestro querido y universal Che.  Por aca también se le ha rendido merecido homenaje por su aniversario de natalicio y su basta e intensa obra revolucionaria.

What beautiful words of recognition to our beloved and universal Che. Here too, he has paid a well-deserved tribute for his birthday and his intense and intense revolutionary work.

A professor of Psychology

H YO TAMBIEN TENGO UN GRAN RECUERDO DEL CHE, UN RECUERDO TEMPRANO EN MIS 10 A DE EDAD A LOS PIES DE LA ESCALINATA DE LA UNIVRSIDAD LE VI, IBA YO CON MI MAMA REVOLOTEABAN PALOMAS, YO TENIA SOLO 9  O  10 A. Y VIVIA MUY CERCA, Y COINCIDIMOS, Y FUI A SALUDARLO Y YO ERA SOBREPESO QUIZAS X EL ASMA Y LAS MEDICINAS, ASMA COMO EL Y FUE RISUENO Y BROMISTA  Y ME DIJO> TU TIENES 2 LIBRETAS DE COMIDA? REIMOS Y LE DIJE Q NO. SOLO 4 A MAS TARDE LO MATARON Y FUE DE NOCHE LA VELADA SOLEMNE EN LA PLAZA, LLENA TOTALMENTE Y CUANDO UN CLARIN DIO EL TOQUE DE SILENCIO NADIE HABLO Y VI HOMBRONES QUE LAS LAGRIMAS CORRIAN POR SUS MEJILLAS, QUIZAS POR ESO ANOCHE SOLO PUDE VER LA PRESENTACION DE LA PELICULA QUE PUSO LA TV DONDE VINICIO DEL TORO HACE  DEL CHE, SE MEZCLARON MUCHAS COSA, EL RECUERDO DE MI PADRE QUE MURIO EN ESTAS FECHAS, Y QUE FUE DIA DE LOS PADRES , COMO SERA ESTE DOMINGO, SOLA, FRENTE A LA TV RECORDANDO AL CHE Y A MI PADRE , LLORE Y APAGE LA TV. ABRAZOS A TI

I ALSO HAVE A GREAT MEMORY OF THE CHE, AN EARLY MEMORIAL IN MY 10 YEARS OF AGE TO THE FOOTHILL OF THE UNIV LEVEL SCALINATE, I WAS WITH MY MOTHER RELEASED DOVES, I HAD ONLY 9 OR 10 YEARS. AND LIVED VERY CLOSE, AND AT TIMES RAN INTO EACH OTHER, AND I WENT TO GREET HIM AND I WAS OVERWEIGHT X ASTHMA AND MEDICINES, AS WAS HE AND HE WAS UP AND JOKES AND ASKED ME? DO YOU HAVE 2 FOOD RATION BOOKS? WE LAUGHED AND I TOLD HIM NO.  I HAVE 4 LATER HE WAS KILLED AND IT WAS A SUNNY SUNRISE ON THE PLAZA, FULLY FILLED AND WHEN A CLARIN GAVE THE TOUCH OF SILENCE NOBODY SAID ANYTHNG AND I SAW GROWN MEN WHO   TEARS RUNNING DOWN THEIR CHEEKS

IT WAS FATHERS DAY THAT YEAR…

An independent Business Woman (and rather good at it too!)

Buenos días. Con mucho cariño y amor hemos recibido sus bellas palabras sobre nuestro Che y Fidel. Para nosotros ellos son los que construyeron nuestro presente y la luz del futuro, y los que inspiraron e inspirarán moralmente a los pueblos a sus conquistas emancipadoras. Usted es nuestro amigo y familia, ahora lo confirmó, y nos establece lazos eternos

Good Morning. With much affection and love we have received your beautiful words about our Che and Fidel. For us they are the ones who built our present and the light of the future, and those who inspired and morally inspired the peoples to their emancipatory conquests. You are our friend and family, now confirmed it, and we establish eternal bonds.

I had written an earlier blog about my eternal remembrance of CHE

https://medicoanthropologist.blogspot.com/2017/02/eternal-love-for-che-guevara.html