Off to Thailand - Well, on the way at least!

So I left the apartment this afternoon, Saturday, at 1pm. In Korea the bus system is really great, and you can catch an express from almost any neighbourhood RIGHT out to the airport, it's awesome! My friend Jill is heading home to Ohio today, and her flight leaves the same time as mine so we caught the bus at the same time and chatted our way to the airport.

Though it isn't my preference, I was at the airport 2 1/2 hours before my flight... did some duty free shopping (which turned out to be window shopping because I couldn't be convinced I should buy anything on the way TO vacation!), bought myself a book, and went to hang out in the departures lounge. The Incheon airport is actually a pretty nice airport (I'm becoming a person who knows about airports, lol). There's lots of shopping, lots of restaurants and coffee shops, and even free wifi service while you hang out to depart.

My flight left right on schedule at 530pm, and I shared the flight with a very boisterous youth church group on their way back to Taiwan (my flight isn't direct to Bangkok). The food was fairly bad, though on a 2 1/2 hour flight I was just thankful to have food at all (Note: Stinky Air Canada and WestJet), but I had my MP3 player and my new book (The Interpretation of Murder (Jed Rubenfeld), I'd definitely recommend it!), that was really all I needed. Before I knew it we'd arrived in Taipei, Taiwan.

We had to get off the plane for 30 minutes, so I took the opportunity to go check out the duty-free shopping again, found a new perfume that I like (on the way back I'll worry about finding it!), and got myself a coffee. An hour later (rather than 30 minutes) I was back on the plane for the 3 hour flight into Bangkok. They played a Steve Carroll movie (not my thing), so I burned through my book and listened to music... once again, before I knew it we had arrived in Thailand!!

Getting off the plane the air was hot, but not the same as Korea, it seemed less heavy... it's still muggy as all get-out, but it felt fresher (maybe it was just the freedom from the forced air as we all boarded the airport transfer busses!). I finally got myself settled into the terminal around 11 after clearing customs and picking up my bag, and stumbled into free internet access with a camera and headset - score!!!  I was so happy that I got to call Mom to wish her a happy birthday (happy birthday, Mom!)... even got in a video chat, completely unexpected happiness!!  :)

I spent the night curled up on the cold concrete floor near a checkout area, me and hundreds of other passengers who rebuked the repeated temptings of the local hotel and tourism guides and their ever-decreasing room rates (which, I might add, started at $65 a night if you can friggin' believe it - in Thailand??!!). I had a blanket stowed in my bag, and the back of my pack is padded, so I actually got some sleep until around 4:30am Sunday when I could check in for my next flight to Koh Tao.

Now, I'm on my way again... I have 15 minutes to get me some coffee, have a quick snack, and get my butt onto the plane again for my short 1 1/2 hour flight to the island. I hope you are wonderful wherever you are, I'll keep you posted as I go so you know what I'm up to, so long as I can find myself some internet!! Wish me happy diving!!!