Korea sans Bust…
So I thought for sure I was going to expire on this trip. But alas, I am still alive!
I left Minot 1100 Monday 7 April, and I got to Korea 1200 (KST) 9 April. Everything stated swell with the departure from Minot - complete with the Spock-Kirk departure. The segment to MSP was non eventful. A brisk walk to gate G4 - thats international for those not in the know - placed me at the Lenkinsomething bar with full view of the gate of my departure. “Get a shot for another $3″ the ‘tender says. I must oblige!
A little more than an hour later, and I was on my way to Japan! I read the April 08 issue of Maximum PC in between the multiple naps I enjoyed (those little blow up neck pillows are the shiznit!) About 12 hours later, we were told to prepare for landing at Narita Int Airport Tokyo Japan! Yay… that crap was over. Time to deflate the neck pillow.
Of course, a trip of this magnitude would be remiss without some good old fashion drama. Enter weather. It was just a little too windy and wet for the Japanese folk. We initiated a circling pattern which soon - and I mean very soon - led to us running out of fuel. Southern bound we were… to the other airport that starts with an E. We landed there straight away and refueled. About an hour on the ground, then to the air again en route to our original destination.
Of course, by this time I had missed my connecting flight to the ROK. Have you ever seen Asian shows where people are going back and forth, speaking very fast (or what appears fast to us, not knowing the language) and kind of hyper. Almost as in a mass state of confusion…
That was the scene from this point on. We (those of us needing to continue our journey from Tokyo to other destinations) were herded around the airport like cattle. We spent about an hour making sure we were going the right direction and finally making it through customs onward to a nice stroll outside - in the side blowing rain - to a bus that could have come ’round and picked us up from the front door!
Once on the bus, it was revealed that we would have an hour drive to the hotel, which by now, due to the mass influx of patrons, was not able to honor the availability. Apparently the Tokyo Bay Hotel Tokyu was up to the task, and all of us had been rerouted to that hostile.
A nice place to be sure. Disnyland Japan a mere stones throw from my room. Literally. I waved at the conductor of the monorail and received an eager response! Provided by Northwest was a free dinner, free breakfast - that I and about 40 others could not take advantage of due to our departure time - a coupon for miles, $25 off next fare (haha), and an in flight cocktail - as long as i use it before September 2008… right.
Next day I am up at the break of dawn. Literally. LLLLLiiiterally… En-route back to the airport for the final leg of my journey. I managed to call my sponsor whom had been waiting at the airport until midnight. The parking area closes at midnight, which is of course 2 minutes before they realize I am not coming in until the next afternoon. So their journey to Incheon of an hour each way was in vein, causing him to return to base, after finding someone to let them out of the parking area, around 0145 am. Well after curfew.
Needless to say they were tired by time they came back to pick me up the next afternoon. The drive to CRC was uneventful. Grab a bite to eat, unload to my temporary quarters - the shirt is moving out the next night, and I will be getting his old rooms - and off to meet the people that will be working for me the next 12 months or so.
As hard as I tried, I still can’t tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Korean. And this is really bothering me. I hope to be able to before I leave here. Not getting a good vibe from the people that have been here 8-10 months saying they can’t tell the difference at all. Maybe I can fare better?
The first night here is interesting, no doubt. I look forward to see what the next 12 months have to offer. One point of concern lingers in my mind. The fact that I made it to my destination without a passport. At various locations it was requested, I only pulled out my orders twice and, of course, they were met with bewildered looks. Other times, my military ID is all that was required. Remember, I was in Japan - free and clear so to speak - for a good 12 hours. See, normally we would have never left the airport. But in this instance, I had to “enter the country” and “leave the country”. Another fellow on this trip did the same with nothing more than leave paperwork. Just food for thought I guess…
Pictures forth coming…
There was some random dip on the fridge and around the trash can which I mistook for puke at first. But upon closer examination I noticed that the tomatoes and peppers had not been digested at all yet 