9th December 2011

7:15am I was woken up by my iPhone alarm of "Hello" and kept snoozing till 7:30. Got up and got ready for a buffet breakfast, at the same place I had my 'late dinner' the night before. The restaurant was almost packed, that I had to find any spot to sit for breakfast. I had a bowl of coco-pop style cereal and then had noodles, scrambled eggs, pancake drizzled with maple syrup. My second round was a banana, apricots, grapes, rumbutan (similar taste to lychee on the inside, except it's exterior is spiky) and a croissant and a drink of very sweet Grape juice. During breakfast seeing the view of the harbour it started to snow. Making it feel all 'Christmassy' was Christmas music playing….such a festive season feel :D.

Now being all so touristy, just couldn't' resist taking photos. Afterwards went up to my room to finalise my packing before checking out and waiting for the bus to Incheon Airport.

While waiting, had some time to kill with going on the internet and then went outside..um 4degrees celsius! Cold much? Didn't stay too long and ended up going back inside. 10:30am bus arrived. A 30min drive from Harbor Park Hotel to Incheon and I had 2 hours to spare before my flight. Duty Free much?

Ventured to the Alcohol & Tobacco section and brought some Camel Cigarettes for Rémy and then I went to the Chanel store. Of course it was pricey (not going to mention how much it was) but I just had to get something from there…however that store (and every other designer store) are so posh in packing your items in their respective bags…and even the receipt is packed neatly in it's 'docket envelope' It's not the stuff-it-in-a-bag no, no. Okays lets just say its just über posh!

I was feeling rather peckish had KFC for lunch. Was contemplating on traditional Korean food, however I'll be getting it in the plane so KFC won over. Tasty and then headed back downstairs for more Duty Free. One hour before my flight went to buy some O.P.I nail polish and then went to the free internet to have my quick dose of Facebook and then boarding my flight at 13:30.

Another delay because of traffic. See I told you not just bad traffic in Brisbane, but also traffic at the airport tarmac. Finally jetted off.

The usual safety protocols and lucky for me listened to it 3 times in different language - Korean, English and then French. However during the safety procedure, it seems the French version was quick while the English was long. Strange.

I am glad I have my own headphones with thanks to Dr.Dre Beatport ones :D Even the guy next to me was asking the cabin crew why he didn't have headphones and I can see the cabin crew tell him that they will hand out the head phones and that some people have their own headphones (probably in Korean, yet I just sussed out what she was saying!)

Organised 'My Music' on my entertainment system from Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin to J-pop and dance. Tunes to make me dance while sitting down.

Trying to kill time I think I will either watch a movie, listen to more music and catch up on some ZZZzzzz. An eleven hour flight from Incheon - Paris, I'd probably get a pressure injury so it's time to do a pressure area care and some leg exercises and deep breathing exercise..Oo one of the perks of being a Nurse know what to do to help stop pressure injury…..XD

I find myself sitting bolt up-right and I see the cabin crew serving lunch…MMM now I wait till I get served.

Lunch time.

A bientôt.

Leaving Brisbane again....

I am sleep deprived. I have packed in the last minute..packing..unpacking, getting distracted then realise "oh shit I better keep packing…" Eventually I finally finished packing at 3am on the 8th of December. I had only 2hours sleep then it was back to Brisbane International Airport.

I felt a bit bummed because it felt rushed saying 'Goodbye' to my family, and prior to that it was a peak hour for passengers checking-in to their respective flights..and I was caught in a busy one as well. Oh well, that's the airport for you.

Never got the chance to go around at the duty free things after customs, yet managed to get an Australian flag tattoo for Australia Day. Boarded at Gate 81 KE124 Korean Air. A 9 hour and 45min flight from Brisbane to Incheon Airport. There was a 20min delay due to the plane in a 'queue..' See even airplanes are also caught in traffic!

The 9 hour flight was okay..I was aiming to sleep right through, but funnily enough I would suddenly wake up in time for food. Yup for food..no wake up due to the smell, but I think somewhere in my brain there is a little 'wake up for food' hidden in there so I wake up! First meal was chicken with vegetables and noodles and then the second meal was Korean bibimap food, which was yum. I did manage to sleep for at least 3hours and then in between watched The Lion King…ahh memories…How much the ' Lion King' is one of my favourite Disney movie and I admit I was teary. Then I watched 'Crazy.Stupid.Love' Damn! Ryan Gosling is hot in the movie.

My gosh it was very cold..0 degrees celsius..a wake up call for me that I ain't in the southern hemisphere LOL!

Touched down in Incheon round 17:55hours, headed to immigrations then to the Korean Air hotel transit section. Got my little sticker, food vouchers and the form for my layover stay in "Harbor Park Hotel." A 30minute bus ride out of Incheon Airport.

Further than the last time I was here in Incheon. As last time it was at the Korean AIr Hyatt Hotel which was a 10min drive.

Very nice with a nice evening view of the Harbour. On the 9th floor and seeing my window is the harbour view..not that you can see much during the night, but still looked pretty. My room is nice. Two beds and the bathroom a nice heated toilet seat..I am still to chicken to try the 'wash your bum' option. When I went past the TV, it automatically turned on to "Welcome to Harbor Park Hotel." That was pretty cool.

Still felt sleepy so set my alarm on at 20:15 so not to miss out on complimentary dinner courtesy of Korean Air…….Ended up getting up at 20:52 and went up to level 15 for the buffet dinner. The staff member said to me "you're very late..you have 10mins before it closed." Phew lucky she let me stuff my mouth with food..satisfied. The view too at the restaurant was wonderful as well. Afterwards went to the lobby to print out my itinerary for my hotel in Paris..and now in my room watching Donna Hay cooking, while just hearing the Australian accent a Korean voice over is translating what she is saying…(god! Why is it that I end up watching a food show while overseas?)

Channel surfing from Korean news, to soap opera, anime from an American in a Thailand jail as he insulted the King and Queen of Thailand…tough law if you insult or do any form of offence in relation to the Royal family in Thailand…2 - 15 years in jail. Best to bite your tongue.

Time for me to have a shower, watch more korean shows before having a snooze and be ready for another long haul all the way to Paris…. And that my friends is where my adventure begins….

A bientôt.

Packing again

You would think that I would be an expert in packing, since I am always travelling almost every year, or month or week!.... Trust me I am an epic fail when it comes to packing for an overseas trip!

I have to really think thoroughly as to what to bring because I know I am able to buy some things overseas. However the other option is to pack and then mail some clothes back home, which may prove to be a bit costly (and smelly if it wasn't washed before it was packed up!)

I would pack a 'I might wear this.,' which eventually turns out to as a NEVER! and feeling like a douchebag, packing it in the first place.

I could bring an extra 'check-in bag,' as long as it abides by the weighing guidelines...the downfall too much bags! I want just the minimal one check-in and one carry-on luggage!

I am one of those people who choses a suitcase over backpack - the fact that I like a bit of a 'luxury' side of travelling. I am glad I have up-graded my suitcase a beloved Samsonite one with 360degree wheels..ooh nice nice...save my back.

I am looking across the hallway my scruffy looking suitcase..still opened with piles of clothes and bags..might as well add a cherry on top.... . Then again I have to look at it again over and over to the point I have OCD, making sure I have packed the correct things.

Time to re-do my packing again..and again...

D'oh can't get it right! RAHHHHHHHH