Oct. 17, 2019
We’re off on another
adventure halfway around the world. South Korea is our destination. We arrived
a few hours ago, ate a bite, and went to an orientation meeting with our
heavily accented guide Jinny. There are only ten on this our second Road
Scholar trip, three couples and four singles. The oldest is 81, and I guess the
young couple is in their 50’s. Other than the two hour drive in from Inchon
Airport, we’ve seen modern skyscrapers and a cart full of oranges.
Neighborhoods seem to flow from metropolitan to quaint niches of color and
culture. The Japanese occupation must have left them with an affinity for
complex toilets. We half expected them in our hotel rooms, but having them in
the stalls of airport restrooms was novel.
As with all our
adventures, we seem to create or fall into unusual circumstances. First thing
this morning, after our 25-minute flight from Akron to Detroit, David
mistakenly used the ladies room. He has a new travel outfit with sweatpants and
no fly and had to use a stall. I don’t think he realized his mistake until he
was finished. He left the ladies room quickly and decided to wash his hands in
the men’s room.
For some reason flights
to South Korea have additional security checks. Passengers go through a facial
scan at the gate, then ICE is waiting at the end of the jetway for further
inspections. Today they removed an Asian family of four.
We flew premium economy
which meant we boarded after first class and before economy, had extra legroom,
wider seats, white dish towels thrown over our tray tables, ceramic dishes, and
stainless cutlery.
Most of you have
received these emails while we travel. You know that sometimes they are
opinionated, informational, or free association. I tend to include information
about meals since there are several readers who enjoy culinary details.
Reactions are welcome to any of my opinions.
Unfortunately, I have to
dictate the material or use the iPads built in keyboard now. My external
keyboard is malfunctioning. I hope to get It figured out, but three young
Korean women have failed. Perhaps a good charge will help. It seems to have
dead spots.
Tomorrow we’ll tour old
and new Seoul. The DMZ is closed indefinitely. It isn’t due to political
bickering. This time it’s because of an invasion of the African swine flu
brought in from China by way of N. Korea.
Toby
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