Seoul Sister – Late, Lost & Numberless!

I caught a glimpse of Singapore, a glimpse from the sky, of lights, beautiful lights as we landed at 6 am.   I had an hour to catch my next flight, by the time I made it to the sky train the sun had come out to play.   I was delighted to see that the flight attendant who would be looking after my section was as glorious a specimen as the sun outside.  He had the most awe-inspiring eyes I had seen on a man in a long… long time.  I sunk into my seat enjoying  my view, I even forgot that arriving in South Korea would have to be “rush central”,  as I was  already 2 hours behind schedule and I literally had an hour and a bit to catch my flight to Suncheon at another airport!

Singapore airport from the sky train

Arriving in South Korea I was incredibly excited and in a hurry, I had a flight to catch. I had just made it through customs, about to sashay through the gates after having picked up my luggage when 2 officers singled me out and took me aside for questioning.  At this point I told myself “its ok this won’t take more than 5 minutes.” Little did I know that the officers spoke very little English and my 4 pairs of shoes would be cause for suspicion, who even asks a woman why do you have 4 pairs of shoes?     When they eventually let me go it was a mad dash to Gimpo International Airport but first I had to find the Expressway train that would get me there.

Incheon International Airport - Taken by Rehman

 as I ran through the airport I began to understand why this airport was voted Best airport worldwide for 7 years in a row. 

1.  Its huge.

2. It’s well organised for a place that always has so many people moving through it.

3. It has various entertainment facilities including an ice-rink. 

Train signs were my saving grace because if I had to ask people I would never have found it as quickly,   as my questions were often met with looks of deep confusion.

 I arrived at Gimpo International Airport only to find I had missed my flight and there were no more flights to Suncheon.  As I digested that bit of information I realized I had in transit lost my paper with all the numbers I should call if I miss my flight.  That’s when the real adventure began!

 I dragged my bright red suitcase back to the Expressway train heading back to Incheon International Airport it was so cumbersome that at times different men would help me by lifting it on to the escalators for me.   I was lost for 4 hours; I went from bus terminal to bus terminal asking for a bus to Sunchoen that I was pronouncing the same as Luncheon.  When it should have been pronounced Sunchon (soon-chon)!   Eventually someone was able to make sense of what I was looking for and helped me.  I arrived at Central City Station at 10pm.   I was still without numbers; luckly I had saved them in my Facebook & Gmail account because you never know when you might lose a piece of paper!  I just needed internet access.

 As I made my way around the station I saw signs to the Marriot Hotel, I knew they would have a business center so I made my way there.  I pretended to check-in but had to email home first to let them know I had arrived safely.  I used the computer and thanked the lady and left.  With very little money on me I was worried about using it and finding myself penniless in Suncheon.   My bus eventually left the station for Suncheon at 11:30pm, I was happy to be on my way but with no phone and just a piece of paper with numbers, I did not know how I was going to find my way to Janine. 

Finally on my way to Suncheon

 Eventually 30 minutes before we were due to arrive in Suncheon I started praying that the guy sitting next to me would offer me his phone to make a call.   We had not said a word to one another let alone shared a smile throughout the trip.   We sat side by side, I observed him, he was awfully busy on his laptop, pulling out 3 different electronic pieces that captured his attention.  I fell in and out of sleep and every time I looked over he was still busy with his laptop, phone and something that looked like a PS2.

 I didn’t dare say something just in case he didn’t want to be bothered and a part of me had given up on finding someone who spoke English.  As we entered Suncheon and the bus lights turned on this guy turned, looked at me and asked me in perfect English “are you coming off at the university or at the station?” Say what?  I almost fell out of my skin!    This whole time I had thought he could not speak a word of English and he was as fluent as most South Africans. A flood of relief washed over me and in excitement I said to him ”this whole time! You could speak English and didn’t say a word” and he responded “you didn’t say hello”  

Janine and I on my first day in Suncheon