Korea Trip - Day 1

It took 10 months since the day I bought the ticket, but the day I went to Korea finally came and pass. I can't believe 6 days pass just like that, it feels like a dream now. Day 1 Mama sent me to the airport, and after eating a home-packed nuggets at the airport and waiting for fellow members of the trip to come we were finally ready to go to the boarding hall. Hugging Mama for the last time I had tears in my eyes. Next time it will be the two of us to Korea. Once in the boarding hall, we did our Zuhr + Asr prayers and by the time we finished it was already the last call for the flight to Incheon. Our plane departed on time, and the journey from LCCT to Incheon took around 6 hours.

Inside the plane. I had the window seat. Our lunch, which surprisingly was very good. Killing time by playing Scrabble. Leaving something of us on the plane's window. That first exciting glimpse of lights, and Korea. Train from our exit to the main arrival hall.

There is free WIFI here, so while waiting for Rahah, Kaifa and Azie to reach the train station I called Mama using my iPod informing that I've arrived safely. And though I can receive sms and calls to my phone, I am barred from sending sms/calling out. Apparently because I use prepaid. Huh.

I was assigned the strictest immigration officer in the whole Incheon Airport so I was the last one to get out. The other members were already there and excitedly telling me "Leen, look at this!" Hahaha I already knew the taxi driver will be holding a sign with my name, but the sight still filled me with so much glee.

Outside the airport building. We are finally here!

Once we exited the airport building, we were greeted by the most wonderful weather ever, pleasantly cold and comfortable and finally it sank: We are in Korea.

The taxi driver speaks passable English, but some words are still lost on him. I sat at the front and we chatted the whole journey through. He pointed some of the most significant buildings to us, chatted about Muslims, chatted about family, (he didn't believe me when I said I am 27 years old, 28 Korean age), insisted on us calling him oppa instead of ahjusshi/uncle, said that his son looks like Hyun Bin and he will give his son to me. Ahahaha.

Hyun Bin. :D

The journey from Incheon Airport to downtown Seoul where we stayed was 70km, around one and a half hours. There was a bit of confusion because the GPS pointed our taxi driver to a location that was below the correct location (our guesthouse was on a bit of a high terrain), but we arrived safely. The owner of the guesthouse Mr Ko speaks simple English and showed us our room. We fell in love with the room and how clean it is. We had to pay the accommodation fee for the whole six days we book upfront (30,000 KRW /day = 180,000 KRW) and then Mr Ko said we can use everything in the room without additional charge except for the phone. I shared the room with Rahah, Anis and Nadia. We each got our own bed, and the room is equipped with heater, washing machine, kitchen, TV, WIFI, etc.

The living room. Unfortunately this is the only picture I took of our room. Rahah is already testing the internet connection.

Once everything was settled, we went down to the nearest GS25 which is a chain of 24hours convenience stores and bought T-Money for everyone in the group, and load the card with 40,000 KRW. T-Money is similiar to our Touch N' Go and it costs 2,500 KRW without any value stored inside. We also had our first taste of the famous 'Banana Uyu' and I would grow to LOVE this milk.

Girls' Generation's Seohyun endorsing the Banana Milk.

Back from the stores (we also took a sneak peek of Myeongdong at 1 AM), we were faced with the excruciating task of climbing up the upward path, and the steep stairs back to our guesthouse. I will really recommend Seoul Tower Ville for everyone because of its reasonable price, room's condition and equipments but the high stairs are really difficult to climb and not suitable for legs not suited to it. We then took a shower in deliciously hot water, and winded down, preparing to sleep for our day tomorrow.