Trapped at Narita

So, it appears that returning the U.S. eludes me. Here I sit at Tokyo Narita Airport.
After being rushed through security (you have to go through security even when just changing international flights??) to catch the plane I discovered that the flight was delayed. Actually, not just delayed scrapped. It turns out that upon landing the plane hit the ground with one of the engines and the plane had to be repaired. On one hand I am glad that they caught it before we were halfway over the Pacific. But on the other hand, here I sit. Ultimately, a 90 minute layover becomes a five hour one.

To top it off I am still a little woozy from being sick so I can't even go and have a couple of drinks to pass the time. There is a sushi place as well but do I dare? I guess it has to be better (and safer!) than the food on Air China. Unfortunately the thought of eating raw fish right about now doesn't seem pleasant. I bet it would be awesome but I'm not sure I want to sit on a twelve hour flight with that rumbling through my stomach. Instead I sit here with my bottle of water and blogging. Said bottle of water, a magazine, and a couple of cheap assed tchotckys set me back $25. Um, yea.

I think I am going to freak out if I don't get this journey on the road. I have now been up for about fifteen hours and running on four hours sleep. I am not pleased.
I just overheard United announce the cancellation of another flight due to mechanical issues. They aren't having a good day. Aren't they one of those companies where the employees own the stock? If so, they really need to work on getting their mechanics to get their sh*t together. Seriously.

The photo above was taken in front of some building in Beijing. Everyone seemed to be taking pictures of it and it was pretty heavily guarded so I thought I'd join in. I have no idea where I am.