Korea

Well, I've successfully made my first venture into the "real" Asia.  I've been told India doesn't count, as it's a subcontinent.  The jet lag this time was MUCH more manageable than that coming to and from India and I attribute that to the fact that I was well-rested at the start of the trip and was able to relax once I got there and get on the right sleep schedule.  Our travel time was three days but it was really not that bad.  We left Chicago around four or five, right after James sprained his ankle trying to catch a spare frisbee.  We started out with him driving, but switched before we even left Cincy.  I drove the whole way, but I didn't mind- it's better than being bored.  We actually had a pretty good time talking, laughing, and playing catch phrase.  I usually enjoy time spent with my siblings although we don't hang out unless we're forced to by circumstances or our parents.  Anyway, we arrived in Chicago around midnight their time after stopping at BW3's because it's the only place Heather will eat.  The other two went to bed and I did too after watching a Mad About You marathon on Lifetime.

Our flight to Korea left at noon, so we made it to the airport in plenty of time.  Unfortunately, it was one of those where you have to eat before you pass through security, so I had to gulp down my coffee, but we really didn't have to wait much.  We boarded the plane and to my siblings' dismay, discovered that this 14 hour flight didn't have personal TV screens on the back of the seats!  I wasn't really too disappointed because I brought all the Harry Potter books, which served me well and I really wasn't all that bored.  It was also nice to sit next to James so I could lay on him.  As a sidenote, we saw Jumper on the plane: DON'T see it!  It was horrible!  We actually arrived in Korea 12 and a half hours later.  After a fiasco with the shuttle to the hotel, we finally arrived and decided to go out to eat before we slept.  We got a chance to tour Incheon while we looked for a restaurant my mom would approve of.  We settled upon a barbecue place where they brought out raw meat and grilled it on the table for us.  You put it in a leaf and wrapped it up with rice, somewhat like a burrito.  I thought it was pretty good, minus the rice, but Heather and Mom decided they don't like Korean food.  They had tons of side dishes, most of which where too hot, but I like the milder ones.  

We returned to the hotel and crashed.  Heather and I woke up around 5 am and watched the British Office on TV.  Way more awkward than its American counterpart!  James joined us around 7 and we hung out till breakfast at 9:30.  Our "American" breakfast that cost us $13 American per person consisted of two eggs over easy, two pieces of toast, room temperature yogurt, fatty bacon, lunchmeat ham, and a hot dog cut in half.  However, I was starving so I ate most of it.  Somewhere in between waking up and breakfast I also got a bath.  The bathroom had a clear door, marble floor and a huge jacuzzi bathtub with removable shower head thingie.  It also had a fixed shower with a clear partition covering only part of it- the water just flowed on the marble floor to the drain nearby.  I don't know how to explain it, but I'll post pictures later.  In a separate closet-sized room was the extremely high-tech toilet with buttons for a bidet or wash.  

After breakfast, we still had about an hour so we walked around Incheon.  The Seoul airport is actually on the island of Incheon.  There were a lot of skyscrapers and big signs that made it seem like a big city, but it was quiet and clean, which made it seem like a small town.  We passed a ton of restaurants with aquariums outside where we spotted fresh seafood, including squid, octopus, and eels.  I really enjoyed looking around and have identified a new hopeful travel destination!

We got back to the hotel in time to take the shuttle to the airport.  We spent our four hours there browsing stores and eating our last American meal- Burger King.  I saw Caribou Coffee, but unfortunately I'd already had coffee at Dunkin Donuts during our stroll through Incheon.

Next stop: Singapore!