Safely in Seoul

We have officially arrived in Seoul, South Korea! The flight here was, thankfully, hitch-free, although as always, I’ve found things to write about.

As I was packing my carry-on luggage, I was comforted by the thought that there was no possible chance of me being mistaken for a terrorist, or at the very least, needing my bags inspected, because my quart-sized ziplock container for liquids and gels was filled with copious supplies of asthma medication and acne cream. I think there were old ladies present that managed to appear more threatening than I.

I have to say that Korean Air is, quite simply, the bees’ knees. We flew on a Boeing 777, which was also the bees’ knees. In addition to a fairly generous amount of personal space (at least compared with domestic flights), we were also supplied with ‘refreshing towels’ and pouches containing socks, blinders, a keychain, and a toothbrush. Each seat came with a pillow, blanket and bottle of water on it, and in the back of every seat was a 12-or-so-inch touchscreen filled with TV shows, movies and games, all of which were complimentary. Yes. All seemed well. They even had the baggage handlers on the ground wave to the plane as we taxied down the runway, and fed us two complete meals with snacks in-between.

And yet, for all they’ve gotten right and for how far airplane technology has come, I’m appalled that the air conditioning on this brand-new Boeing 777 aircraft works about as well as the A/C in my 1991 Ford Escort (which is to say, not at all). I don’t usually mind sweating too terribly much, but I dunno, there’s just something helpless and unpleasant (and foul) about sweating for 10 hours straight because the thermostat’s broken. I should fly with sponges in my armpits.

But I digress, because the flight was, for the most part, fantastic. People generally had their sunshades down because it was sunny for the entire flight. All told, by the time we landed at sunset in Seoul, I had experienced roughly 18 hours of daylight, which was a bit disconcerting, I’ll be honest. Also, more disconcerting is that the time as I’m writing this is 8:30 pm and it feels like...not surprisingly...3:30 am, the local time in Seattle, despite all my daylight exposure.

The hotel we’re staying in is also, for the most part, very pleasant, although the careful observer will note, with some amusement, the subtle signs of general cost-cutting as well as various...eccentricities, if you will. For example, to the left of my bed is a set of double-doors, suggesting an opening to a lovely balcony with an equally lovely view. As you open the doors, you realize they were only mocking you as you are greeted with a fairly unsightly bit of wall and some a modestly-sized window, behind which lies a view composed of cement and brick not five feet away.

Also, this being the sixth floor, our room is naturally equipped with an escape device meant for use out the window. More disturbing, though, is the realization that this is a double room, with only one escape device that can only be used by one person at a time. Oh well. I’m not sure which is more frightening, a fiery death, or climbing out of a sixth floor window suspended by a length of rope attached to a garish hook in the wall.

I’ve posted a few photos of interest, mainly of signs in the hotel, and the captions shall explain why they amuse me.

Seoul Signs

In case you can’t tell, I’m actually enjoying myself immensely! I love to travel, and even more than I love to travel, I love things of some interest to happen to me while I travel. So yeah. While it may seem to some like these posts are really just rants and complaints, just understand that’s pretty much how I write, and it’s all in a (hopefully successful) attempt at some degree of humor.

-Carey