RTW 22. Solo soul in Seoul

Monday, 24 May 2010

Seoul, South Korea

Farewell Russia. It’s been oblast (that was a joke, dear reader).

Flying to Seoul with Korean Airways.

The bowing starts.

Air stewardesses bow after giving the safety briefing. Bow after presenting my in flight meal. Chief Steward comes over to all of us in Business Class to thank us personally for flying Korean Airways. And bows.

Driver of the bus taking me to downtown stands at the front, asks us to fasten seatbelts and bows. The two baggage handlers loading the bus bow as we depart.

Ninety minute journey to downtown from Incheon airport through low cloud and rain. Reminds me of the first time in Hong Kong. Except it’s not 35C and 100% humidity. Thankfully.

Arrive at the Ibis Myeongdong (http://ibis-styles-ambassador-myeongdong.seoul-hotels-kr.com/en/). There’s some thought gone into this. The bus stop is right outside the hotel entrance. There’s research. And there’s research.

Greeted on the 19^th floor reception by two beautiful and beaming young girls. More bowing ensues as I leave to find my room.

And then. For the first time. Having to deal with those snazzy toilets. You know. The ones that are like the flight deck of the Spaceship Enterprise. The toilet massages your bum. Sprays your bum. Warms your bum. Dries your bum.

Love your bum.

Quite extraordinary.

I was using outside long drop toilets a few days ago in Siberia. Now this.

In need of a leg stretch after dinner wander the very busy streets surrounding the hotel. What a buzz. Bus stops are impressive. They have interactive graphics denoting the next ten or so buses due at that stop and how far away they are.

All the shops are open, even late at night. Quite a few of which have scantily clad, beautiful young girls outside with microphones trying to entice people in.

Last time I had scantily clad girls trying to entice me in was Hong Kong.

But that anecdote is for a few beers with the lads.

Not for you delicate readers.