Ticking along, a couple of weeks to go

I'm not sure I have any actual (interesting) updates.  But that's never stopped me so here goes. 

I have been concentrating more on our 8 hour Seoul, Korea layover than Borneo.  I was manning a very unpopular drop in desk across from Gaeun who works in a different department and who happens to be from Korea.  I am not above shamelessly pumping innocent stand-byers for travel information.  

I had heard from somewhere (?) that one can book a free tour of Seoul out of the Incheon Airport.  For the life of me, I could not find a working link.  Gaeun, who was busier than me at her table, managed to find it and then gave me some tips on which tour might be best.  

https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/1471/subview.do

We only have 8 hours on a Saturday (Feb 22). The tours I am particularly interested in are not offered in the morning on a Saturday.  I mean, do I want to go 'seagull feeding'? I can do that in a McDonald's parking lot at home!  

Here are the two best options: 

1. Gu-eup Ferry Terminal, Wolmi Park

Enjoy a fun time with seagulls

2. Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong

Royal Heritage and Charm

I would prefer #2 but reservations are full.  So, do I take the bird in the hand (or the seagull in the hair) or do I risk getting one of the open spots, bookable the day of, for # 2, the one I want.  I think I am going with #2.  If we can't go, we'll take the train into town and have lunch.  (I just checked, even the seagulls are full now!)

Last time I had a layover in Korea, I took the train and got very lost.  I'll download a map just in case (let's be honest, I'll print a paper map).  

I have started packing.  By which I mean I put my backpack and four shirts, socks and undies on the spare bed.  It will progress as we get closer to. 

I also bought a new day pack during boxing week but it had this stupid foam back in it.  It made it too bulky so I got out my seam ripper and performed a foamectomy.  

I'm just noticing it has purple accents on the outside and orange on the inside.  Someone is the design department is colour blind! Fortunately, I like random colours together. Or at least I have come to accept weird colour combos when I pack without any planning for outfits.  

Joe and I had a trip 'meeting'/breakfast. He is wondering if we can save backpack space by sharing some things. He suggested binoculars. I may have stared at him for several minutes while I tried to come up with a 'reasonable person' response.  I was unsuccessful.  I don't like to share my binoculars.  What if there is a cool bird while someone else is holding my binos?! Hm, as I write that I am even more sure I am not being a team player.  But cool birds!  Nice person?  Cool birds? Nice person?  Cool birds? Dental Plan?  Free Beer?  Dental Plan?  Free Beer?  I may have digressed.  

I did agree to share my laptop though.  Does that count? 

That's probably a good place to stop.  

It's a new year but Air Canada is the same airline.

I've been neglecting this blog but that is because I am neglecting this trip.  But some things have happened since we last spoke. 

Air Canada never lets me down when I need a blog post!  I got an email from them that my flight itinerary had changed.  They send these all of the time but if it is anything other than minor, there is usually a red banner across the top.  So, I didn't look for a day or two.  When I did look, they had done some shenanigans to put it mildly. 

To go back a bit.  My flight out of Vancouver to Seoul, Korea leaves at 10 am.  It is high winter so the first ferry out is 7am.  Not enough time to make it to the airport for an international flight.  So, despite my better judgement and my friend Rob's sage advise to never fly out of Victoria, I booked a 5:45am flight as the first leg of my journey.  So, Air Canada, Victoria->Vancouver->Seoul->Kota Kinabalu Borneo.  

Air Canada cancelled that Victoria->Vancouver flight and 'adjusted' my itinerary.  They had me leaving at 7 pm the same day instead of 5:45 am, flying out of Vancouver the next morning (staying overnight in Vancouver on my own dime!) and into Kota Kinabalu the day after my tour starts.  Umm, no.  

So, I called them.  The company is terrible but the people are generally very nice.  The person on the phone gave me some options.  I chose to move the whole kit and caboodle to the day before which gives me an extra day in Borneo.  If I have to pay for an extra night in a hotel, Borneo is way better than Vancouver (no offence Vancouver but you know you are expensive and also kinda suck).  I sent Joe my new itinerary and I assume he has changed his flight too.  I should probably confirm that.  

Now I just have to figure out hotel for Borneo.  Just book with G into the same hotel as the starting point?  I should probably confirm that.  

a few minutes later:  Update, I booked two rooms, the last two according to booking.com, for our extra day there.  I should probably confirm that this is ok with Joe.  Hotel Shangri-la!  Fancy!  Breakfast included.  

Now we get to figure out what to do with our extra day.  Joe has requested a Jazz Bar.  Not something one would immediately think of for Borneo but Joe does love his jazz music.  I got very excited when I discovered one on google.  Until I then discovered it closed in 2020.  

Goodbye Sully's Bar.
This picture really makes me sorry to have missed you

I'm sure we can find some live music somewhere.  Depending on the level of jetlag of course.  Although Starbucks is in the top ten for live music?  That doesn't bode well.  

I bought some Malaysian Ringgits for me and Joe.  It's nice to have some cash upon arrival, just in case. 

That's it for now.  Packing will commence at least no later than 12 hours before departure.