Good morning from Icheon International Airport nearing the end of my 20 hour lay over. It hasn't been as adventurous as expected for a number of reasons (excuses?) but I have learnt a few things that I'm delighte dto be able to share with you.
First, the airport is pretty amazing. Big, clean and easy to get around. The flight took 20 minutes to taxi to the gate and then it was 10 minutes through customs. The first thing I learnt was that it was humid as I got hit by a sweat bomb. Lucky humidity sweat bombs don't smell but it's still uncomfortable. I wasn't alone.
After some orientation (walking around looking lost, getting cash) I headed to the railway to find the Seoul train and the 55 minute trip to Seoul Station. My intention was to head to Itaewon which is the ex-pat area for a look around. That changed when I exited the station to higher humidity and a downpour. Plan B, find the Siloam Fireport Sauna for a Korean experience. Lesson 2. Don't believe directions from a website or strangers. Ask a policeman, even if he starts laughing and points out his window. After about an hour of wandering around in a circular fashion (something I learnt at Scouts to help find yourself when temporarily disoriented) I headed for the big neon sign. Finally, Siloam Land!
For ~NZD15 you got showers, saunas, spas, play areas, cafe and a bed for the night. By that time (up for 20 hours) I was just happy to swap my wet and sweaty clothes for the shorts and t-shirt you had to wear in the Sauna. Now for the bit I misunderstood.You have to leave your clothes in a locker and stroll around naked. Now for my next quandary. Did people stare and want to talk to me because they wanted to practise their English or because my western manhood intrigued them. One guy latched on (figuratively) and his English was so bad (I didn't have the heart to disappoint him and just agreed and nodded) but he wouldn't let anyone else talk to me. I headed to bed which you help yourself to what are essentially XXL beach towels and pick a spot in a ~350 bunk sleeping room with a mat and a sleeping block; literally a chunk of wood with a leather cover. Thankfully, there were probably only 20 people overnight.
Lesson 3. Snorers don't necessarily know they snore because they're asleep so don't know they should be in the Snoring Room (yes, there was one). Maybe it should be the Quiet Room and the non-snorers move there. Nevertheless, it was a bed and I got some sleep.
I learned that if you get aircon runny nose in Seoul you can hoik on the pavement. Most people do so it might've helped me blend in.
6.30. Up, showered and thinking of heading to Incadong to some tourism. Humidity ... nah! Seoul Station. Bite to eat, look around, back on the Seoul train. Now, this is where it got tricky. You know sometimes you eat something and then 10-20 minutes later things start to get uncomfortable? Yep, just as the train arrived and I had a 55 minute ride ahead of me. By the time I got to the airport I wasn't sweating because of the humidity!
Lesson 4. Things aren't always what they seem. I needed fluid so thought I'd have an iced tea from the 7Up and bought something that was the approximate colur. No! It was a whisky tea. At 7.30am no! Into the bin. So, stick with the labels you know to be failsafe. Coke, Gatorade, etc.
Interesting observation at Seoul Station. Either it's built on a bloody great hill or I decended about 15-20 stories underground to get to the train.
Now things are comfortable as I changed into shorts as well (not because I had to!) and writing this post as I wait to go through immigration and onto Prague.
That's it for day 1. Never thought there's be so much to say. I need to work on my Tweet mastery.
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