The Country Mice

Arrived to Incheon Airport, at least.

During the twelve hour flight from Vancouver to Shanghai, the plane dropped a few thousand feet with some degree of suddenness, leaving my heart in my throat and wonder in my thoughts about China Eastern Airline safety checks.

But all was well.

Then some lolling about as we waited to board a Korean Air flight to Seoul. All the pretty and young flight attendants gracefully fed and watered us over the brief two hour flight. A slightly different experience, comrade.

Arriving in Seoul at 15 minutes past midnight was a serene experience, particularly after all were relatively rested from on-board naps and still on a daytime body clock schedule and, save for the cleaning staff and other nighttime travelers, the place was deserted.

We stretched out on flat wooden benches and promptly snoozed for the next four hours, waking refreshed again at 4.30 a.m. Amazing how invigorating the thrill of travel, particularly for the ten-year-old Princess. She danced, she sang, she collapsed, she slept.

At precisely 5.30 a.m. the subway system started rolling, so we slurped two bowls of udon for breakfast, hopped on a sparkling blue and glass subway car and 53 minutes later arrived at Seoul Station, the country’s main railway hub.

Realizing we’d still not been in real live air since leaving Vancouver we stepped outside the station, looked around, breathed deeply and decided all was good.

At this very moment we are now aboard a train bound for Gumi, a little town mid-way between Seoul and Daegu — the venue for the World Track and Field Championships. Same event that took us to Berlin in August 2009. Will be staying in Daegu the first two weeks as Gord goes about his official duties.

In fact, Gord is pbly already there right now. I’m traveling with my three dearest ones — The Princess, Homeboy and my dear father — the bravest 81-year-old on the planet.

It’s a lot like traveling solo — just with more hand baggage. In fact, when I woke from my nap on the airport bench to discover The Princess had climbed on top of me and was sleeping there!

Now meandering thru the mid-country countryside. Older concrete buildings in need of a coat of paint (shades of Cuba), green fields planted with rice, temples and churches spotting the hillsides.

Should arrive in Gumi just before noon, making for a perfect leisurely first day — a day that’s already on its third sunrise!

Thanks for dropping by and feel free to say hi!

xo Lois