We also went to the hospital to see our patients from last week. They were all there except our first day patients, as they went home on Monday. We arrived and saw everyone. They were all smiles and sad to see us go. All the families were there as well and no interpreting was needed. We could see and feel how grateful they were for all the work we have done. Lots of hugs and tears and more photos. We did communicate for them to come back next year, when the team arrive again, so we can follow up and see how they are doing. It was so nice to see them all again and to say good-bye.
The next plan was for us (Jim, Vicky and Judy) to plan one last day of shopping and then a last shower before we depart for the airport. We managed to finish shopping around lunch time and then, where should we eat? I piped up with "please, no more asian food"! I really wanted a cheeseburger! Instead, we went to "Little Hanoi" for a wonderful baguette sandwich. It tasted so great!
Back to the hotel for a rest period and to finalize our packing. Two of the Vietnamese doctors were to pick us up at 8pm to transport us to the airport. I packed to full suitcases with my stuff plus the added souvenirs. I couldn't sleep, even though I desperately wanted to get some rest. I did shower and re-fresh and then met our doctors for our last drive to the airport.
The plane left on time for our 4 hour flight to Seoul, Korea. The flight left at 2250 and arrived in Seoul at 5 a.m. (Seoul is 2 hrs ahead). Seoul airport is massive, beautiful and spotless! They do have a Transit Hotel so we went to check it out, for hopefully, a room to sleep and a shower. They have a hotel but at a cost of $146.00 per person, we opted for the Asiana Airlines lounge area which consists of padded chaise lounges out in the open, for a much needed power nap. There is also a shower area and massage room for those in need of relaxation. It was early enough for a short nap, and then, the noise level increased as the airport got busier. OK, now I am hungry. I really want some pancakes and sausage! Us 3 girls were up and ready. Jim unfortunately leaves 2 hours earlier as he got on a different flight. Instead of flying to Seattle with us and then connecting to Eugene, OR, his flight goes into San Francisco and then to Eugene. He was bushed and exhuasted, so decided to sleep and told us to go on ahead.
OK...a big airport...where to find some pancakes! I see the Information Desk! I asked "where can we go to get some pancakes for breakfast"? We were pointed in the direction of a "cafe" for a breakfast with eggs, pancakes, bacon....yum! We walked down looking for our "cafe". Well, the cafe was "McCafe"! Really? McDonalds? After our fit of laughter, we looked further and found a piece of heaven AND home: Starbucks! Oh my gosh! My first latte in 2 weeks! We sprinted, stood in the long line (it was well worth it) and had my usual: at tall non-fat vanilla latte! It was soooo good. We all enjoyed our drinks and some starbucks fare for breakfast. I even bought a Starbucks "Seoul" mug for my husband as a souvenir.
OK...now to pursue a transit tour of Seoul since we have HOURS until our flight leaves for Seattle (13 hr layover to be exact). We found a brochure with the different offerings of tours. We settled on the tour of Seoul of the Royal Palace, lunch, shopping ( we need more souvenirs now that we are in Korea) and a water park, then back to the airport in time for our departure.
Well, it was work trying to find where to go. We had to actually leave the airport, go through immigration again and show our passport, and exit the airport to check on the tours. Is it worth it to go out, and then have to come back again through immigration and then security? You're darn right it is! The other thing that made our decision to go through immigration was I finally got a stamp in my passport. I didn't get one in Hanoi and I was bummed about that.
We signed up for our tour and there were only 4 of us. A gentleman named Dan, also from Seattle and on our same flight, and us girls. Dan works for Boeing and was in Uzbekitstahn for business. We had a very sweet tour guide named Min Kyong, who gave us a wonderful and informative tour of Seoul.
We left Incheon airport for the hour drive into Seoul. Incheon is on an island, so we crossed a bridge over the Yellow Sea into Seoul. What a modern and progressive city. After being in Hanoi for 2 weeks, this was quite a contrast of cultures. We had noticed while in the Incheon airport how the people were dressed well. the women with fashionable clothing and shoes and the men in suits or shirts with ties. Hanoi is old, a bit more primitive, and really strikes a cord of being a city undergoing a revival. Vicky was telling me when they first came to Hanoi 7 years ago, there were still remnants of bombed out buildings from the war. Hoan Kiem Lake, in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, had open toilets for squatting in public. She said the smell was horrendous, as you can imagine. All that is gone now and every year that they have come back, there have been new hotels, shopping centers, etc, built, to attract more tourism. Then you have the chaotic traffic with absolutely no rules to the road being enforced. Just plain chaos!
Seoul, on the other hand, was a modern, progressive city and impeccably clean! Many skyscrapers with electronic billboards (massive flat screen TV's) mounted on top of the buildings with the advertisements. There were few motorcycles, scooters and lots of nicer cars and actually staying in the lanes of the roads and no horns honking or lights flashing at other cars to move over. As a pedestrian, no dodging traffic to cross the road.
Anyway, our tour took us to the Palace of the Royal Family. They Royals no longer exist now. After the Korean War, the Royals were disbanded of their power and a "president" was elected and now serves the country. The Palace is a big tourist attraction with a museum. We toured the massive grounds, the museum and watched the hourly guard changing and got pictures taken. You will also see a picture of a woman with Korean characters on her cloak, standing in front of a government office. The guide told us she was in protest of the Korean government. Only one person can protest at a time, anymore people and they will be arrested. The guide told us the South is in fear of the North from takeover all the time. Scarry.
We then were taken to a shopping district for a fabulous lunch of stir-fried beef and rice and some appetizers of Kim Chee, seaweed, mushrooms. We then just had 30 minutes to shop, which was not enough, but the weather was about 65 degrees and sunny. It was beautiful to be outside without all the humidity of Hanoi. Back on the bus to a waterfall/artificial water promenade through the middle of the main drag in Seoul. Again, outside in the cool, sunny air was invigorating! Now, back on the bus back to the airport. I managed to get another nap on the bus ride home, to then go through immigration again, and another passport stamp, to then get ready to board the plane for our 10 hour flight home.
We missed getting back in time to see Jim off the San Francisco. I am sorry I didn't give him a big hug before he left. I am sure I will see him again. We boarded our flight, and bid a fond farewell the Asia.
I sat next to a man from Seattle were just spent 5 weeks in Delhi and hiking in the mountains of India. We exchanged our experiences of our trips, then put on our headphones to watch our movies for our flight home. The service on Asiana Air was excellent, both going to and returning from Asia. I would definitely recommend them to anyone going to the East. We were served 2 delicious meals plus a snack. The food was hot and delicious.
I really was hoping to sleep so took an Advil PM and turned of my screen monitor to get some much needed shut eye. I was so tired, but could not get comfortable. I got up a couple of times, walked to visit Vicky and Judy to see how they were doing. They were sleeping! Good for them, not so for me. I tried reading, doing a crossword, but I was so tired, I couldn't keep my eyes open. Good, maybe now I can sleep. No matter what I tried, I just was restless and antsy. It was the longest flight ever! On the monitors on the back of the seat in front of us, we can watch the travel route of the plane and see where you are. It wasn't moving nearly fast enough, but finally, we were making our descent.
Arrived in Seattle on time, retrieved our luggage, went through customs rather quickly and then sent our luggage on another converyor belt to be sent down to baggage claim in the main airport. I gave Vicky and Judy hugs good-bye as they went for another 5 hour layover before their flight to Eugene. Such a long day for us, but not quite over for them. They were great and we exhange emails. They were wonderful women and admire them for all their work they have done over the years in Hanoi.
On my mind now was seeing Bruce waiting for me at the baggage claim area. We came up the escalator from the International terminal and I scanned the crowd of greeters looking for Bruce. No Bruce. As I headed down to baggage claim #1, I saw him pacing and looking around, holding a red rose. It was so great to see him and hug him again. I missed him so much that I couldn't help but cry. I am tearing up as I type this too. He is such a great husband and being away just re-affirms how lucky I am to have him in my life.
The weather in Seattle was sunny with blue skies, just beautiful. So happy to round the corner and see our house and to see my 2 dogs and 2 cats. Buddy ran past me to Bruce, but as I was patting Ginger who was super excited, he came back and danced around me with his "welcome home" dance. I missed my animals too. I just took a deep breath and was grateful for all that I have in my life and to re-appreciate everyone and everything that I have.
I exchanged emails with my little Vietnames patient that I got close to. I do hope to keep in contact with her and see how her life turns out. It was a very amazing experience, that I will not forget. I do intend to go back and hope that I can follow through on my hope to return next year.
Thank you again to "Facial Harmony Vietnam" team for all they have done in the past and their future endeavors. I am proud to have partaken in this adventure with them and hope to give back again.
Thank you to my family and friends for all their support before I left for Vietnam and while in Vietnam. If anyone has an opportunity to do some volunteer work, act on it. You will be glad you did.
Good night all! Enjoy my pictures, for the last time...this year, at least!
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