Good Evening from Hanoi, Vietnam... or is it good night??? Either way, hello to my PH brothers and sisters.
Just got off the plane after a 14 hours flight from SFO to South Korea and another 4 hours flight from Korea to Hanoi... The flight from SF to Korea was exhausting and there was little time to explore Icheon once I landed because it was a mad dash to my next flight. With only a 1 hour and 20 minute layover in Seoul, I had to hurry just to make it to the transfer gate for my next flight, which was on the opposite side of the terminal. To top it off, we were order to go thru Security Check again... Dam, what a hassel! But through it all, I am still smiling and keeping my sense of humor.
This is my second time with Korean Airlines and I am still very happy with them. So, to start off, once you board the airplane, there is a bottle of cold water and a blanket already waiting for you in your seat. VERY NICE,! Boarding was orderly and the staff were very helpful and some can speak English, which is a big help. There was plenty of overhead storage for my laptop and carry-on. I found plenty of leg room for my small size, I am 5'5", 170lbs. \
Despite my best planning, I could not sleep on board, NOT very well or very long anyways. I guess I was just too excited and too anxious to sleep. But I did not let it bother me much. I passed the time watching people and listening to my IPOD... a little PINK, some Greenday and some Bruno Mars to waste the time away. While onboard, we had two meals on Korean Airlines, first was dinner... choice of Bimbim bap or beef stew. I choose the traditional Bimbim bap, it is was very good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BibimbapAfter dinner was about an hour of much needed sleep. I was exhausted, because I had the stupid idea of staying up the night before!!! Went to bathroon twice, one to go potty and the second time was mainly to stretch my poor tired legs. For breakfast, I have an egg omelet with fruits and a baguette, nothing special.
After my breakfast, I found my IPOD drained... but as luck would have it, there was a USB port charger in my seat, how cool is that for us geeks, THANK YOU Korean Airlines! While charging my IPOD, I browsed and watch a couple of free movies... Ratatoille and The Dark Knight Rises... then it was back to my IPOD again.
Finally and just when you think you're never going to land, the pilot comes on the PA and announces that we're making our final approach into Seoul! Just like that, Korea appeared ahead of us like an island jumping out of the vast Pacific Ocean. Just like that, there was land and trees, homes and factories, high rises and concrete freeways again. And just as fast, we were on the ground and everyone was scrambling to get their luggages down from the overhead bins.
The Airport in Seoul is HUGE and very busy... which reminded me of the Hmong funeral songs that the old Hmong people sing at the funeral places. This is what it must be like for the dead, a lost soul trying to navigate his way back home to his ancestors. For the final journey home, the soul will have to find the right gate and the right plane to board. It seemed like everyone had a purpose, an understanding of where they must go. Everyone was busy searching and waiting for their turn to board their plane and fly home, to their final destination. Some people ate their meals and others had none. Some people had many luggages and others only carried themselves. Some passengers were travelling with families and others were alone. I can only imagine to myself, this is what it must be like for a soul after death?! For a moment, I felt alone.
From Seoul, it was another 4 hours flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. A huge contrast by all comparisons, Hanoi is small and empty. Here there are no Gucci or Prada signs and the ever present noise has been replaced with an eerie silence. Perhaps it was late in the evening, but Hanoi only had a trickle of passengers. There are a few souvenir shops, but nothing high end like Seoul. Many of the seats in the waiting areas were empty and there was only 2 terminal, A and B. I found an empty area on the second floor next to a PHO Resturant with free wifi, and so I am here writing to my friends on PH.
I will be here until 9:00 AM tomorrow morning, at which time, I will board another plane for Vientiane, Laos. Until then, it seems like I have the entire airport to myself.
More to come...
Topic: Going to Laos... For Dummies (Like Me) (Read 227062 times)