Seoul Airport

Can’t believe we slept for 12 hours… I guess we were bushed. After hot showers we headed downstairs to the 24-hour restaurant here in the Incheon Guest House’s World Gate Building. But… everything shut, dark, and it’s draughty, too, in the broad corridors. Back to our room, we finish packing & try to catch the 8:50 hourly shuttle to airport. Nada. A chilly blast awaits from the B2 parking lot: brrr! No driver. Back up to the office on 9th floor where the guest house rep advises that despite what their info booklet states, the shuttle only operates on schedule if there are sufficient guests.

Helpfully, he leads us to the window, showing us where to catch the airport shuttle bus which stops across the road every 10 minutes… So off we go, remaining in the guest house’s shelter prior to dashing across the street to catch the shuttle at 9:06. Within 8 mins we’re at the airport. After using the self-serve check-in monitors to print our boarding passes, we uneventfully pass through security to try to find coffee and breakfast.

Starbucks awaits – there is no sit-down restaurant we can find for a North American breakfast, although MacDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway are here, as are various Korean/Japanese/Italian eateries. Wax models of dishes depict not only their price but also their preparation time. Starbucks coffee tastes the same but the scones are very sweet, unlike at home.

We visit the Korean Cultural Experience where we enjoy participating in the daily Free Event which, today, is making a traditional scholar’s table called a “kyungsang”. Not only is the replica’s wooden structure supplied, also we find access to glue, red and black ink, plus two diamond-shaped gold decorations for the desk’s front.

As we work, we are serenaded by a serene performance of traditional Korean music, given by three women in costume.

Then we’re up to the 4th floor to check out the Korean Traditional Craftworks Gallery to take in videos and exhibits of Life and Dream Through Desire, an exhibit of traditional paintings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Hot tip for layovers at Seoul’s Incheon Airport

For 22,050 Korean won each (~USD$21), we were able to stay in the Hub Lounge on the 4th floor for up to 5 hours. Inside, it is quiet, with a buffet, wine, beer, coffee, Internet access (both at terminals + wireless) and comfortable seating.

Why is it a good deal? A Big Mac costs 5,400 won; a Dolsot Bibimbap—a Korean rice/veggie stone pot dish—is 9,000 won, and our Starbuck’s coffee and scone was 6,900 won each.

Incheon Airport Guest House: Surprise!

Korean Air flight KE72 arrived as scheduled 17:15 January 10. It is –6C and snowy outside.

Because we’ll retrieve our backpacks in Bangkok, we go through customs, then ask the Information kiosk agent to call Incheon Airport Guest House (free call). (English is understood here by officials.) We are asked to go to exit 8 & await car #1517… The shuttle-van arrives within 5 minutes and we’re off, through snow-clad streets to the hotel.

Surprise! It’s not what we expect… The van parks in a sub-basement of a bleak high-rise. The driver whisks up to room 927, the office. Eric takes off his shoes to enter, gets the key to room 331 and confirms airport shuttle for 11:50 tomorrow. Our driver gives me 2 towels & I ask for a third, plus one bedsheet.

Our room is spartan but surprisingly large: a double bed with two pillows & folded duvet, mattress pad and cover; tv; bathroom with shower plus laundry; kitchenette; fridge with two bottles of water. Once again, we take off our shoes and use slippers provided before stepping onto hardwood floor.

After finding English news channel we watch the 19h news then crash.