A leisurely morning in Seoul - P and C played chess, S and D sat at the rooftop garden to admire the view and prepare for the long flight home. The city is huge - it expands between the mountains, along the tidal flats and is very clean. The water does have a certain smell but one quickly gets used to it and compared to some market scents we encountered- easy to handle.
Our transfer to the airport was arranged by the Somerset residences and we arrived at the airport in plenty of time for check in and security check. Security is much tighter here than seen what we have encountered before - then again this is a country still in ceasefire...with North Korea.
The flight from Seoul to Vancouver (10 hrs flying time) was a bit of a bumpy ride but with so many weather systems below not surprising. Vancouver airport is beautiful with magnificient Haida art all around - although very efficient at the security, customs, immigration and transit services - once out in the domestic terminal - the general flow and working of the airport are where things are simply chaotic - we were checked in all the way to Ottawa at this point - so no ill effects on us - but we did witness some very lost and weary travellers lined up for what looked like a km from the end of the queue to the AC desk and what looks like a couple of hrs wait. A lot of very discouraged families and frustrated people.
We did enjoy a real Subway sandwich and Timmy's for breakfast? or was it lunch or a midnight snack at this point for us? As we started to make our way to the next gate - we could not confirm local time anywhere - unless of course one asked and once we did pass our next security check - the clock didn't work - how confusing for travellers from overseas - who are not sure of the time zone differences. There was little staff positioned simply to confirm that everyone is going where they are supposed to go. P and C felt sad for the poor traveller from overseas, who barely speaks English or French - what impression they must have of Canadian airports.
After a 4 hr wait for the flight from Vancouver to Ottawa - we made our way to a waiting area serving two airbuses (one destined for Montreal, the other Ottawa) and only 50 seats in the combined double gate waiting area for what we estimated was 500 people waiting - poor gate planning on this day. But we made it through to Ottawa and although 45 min late we found ourselves in Ottawa with luggage in hand.
Thanks to De for meeting us and waiting and taking our weary trecking bones home. And thanks to L for providing all our favorite breakfast foods.
It is good to be home and in our own beds - but difficult as we miss SE Asia already.
Day 37 - Home sweet home!
A late late night and early alarm setting morning for D and S - we want to fight through the jetlag. P and C slept in but everyone is neither hungry, sleepy nor energetic today. Tomorrow should be better.
This was a day for laundry, unpacking, combing through bills and emails - reality bites!
We have had such an wonderful and memorable trip. We appreciate that we were able to explore this fascinating continent as a family, we have a different view of the world for sure and can reflect on how and where we live with a different eye now.
Today we are reminded of how vulnerable we all are - we heard of a severe tropical storm hitting Sapa - apparently 151 people are dead from landslides (likely our Tzao and Mong people) and how 50 foreign tourists are struck in between Hanoi and Sapa as the train tracks have been washed out... can't help thinking about our lovely hill tribe people and what they must be living and how those tourists are managing in the middle of no where...
We blogged our travels to remember the feeling and the details of our 5 weeks away. We were happy to share the experience with you and have you tag along on our adventures.
We want to thank all our loyal blog followers. Our statistics counted on average 20 regular followers - or returning visitors. Your comments and checking in kept us blogging. Merci!
As we sign off - a few last observations to share and notes for us to remember
1. The myths of SE Asia travel - debunked
- no need for so many One Step wipes - we encountered few squat toilets and usually there is an option for western style nearby - hotel lobbies are a personal family favorite.
- no need to pack tons of insect repellent - we used it once in Cambodia because the guide told us to put in on (our backyard in 100 times worse and because of all the rain - the front yard now as well)
- no need to use antibiotics for severe travellers diarrhea - if one is smart about selection - "if it looks like its still moving or has sat a while - move on and go to the next place" no matter how insistent -"buy form me" can be - better to be prepared however as recommended by travel clinics- we may just have been lucky
- no need for worry about finding Diet Coke in Asia - although its called Coca-Light... its everywhere - we saw KFC in every Asian city we visited but did not see McDonalds until Singapore - fortunately we only had to sample KFC once in an ER situation - only option and time constraints and belly growls dictated..
- except for Cambodia - WIFI is everywhere and reliable
- the heat is on in July but except for Central Vietnam where it was likely 45 degrees, otherwise the temp was no worse than a hot June/July day in Ottawa.
- The rainy or monsoon season - we had 2 days of rain out of 36 in total.
- Do prepare for beeping scooter noises, and bring your own napkins for meals - these are not provided - we had plenty of kleenex in prep for squat toilets so we managed fine.
2- The Asian touches, sights, and sounds we will miss
- the sight of orchids everywhere
- the scent of frangipani blossoms and night jasmine
- the bowing and the hands in prayer greetings
- the fragrants cool hand/face towels offered on each flight (except AC), at every meal, at every hotel check in
- the no tipping rule in Seoul and Club Med
- the rice terraces and fields of Vietnam, Cambodia and Bali
- the tranquil and serene settings everywhere
- the lovely Asian ladies updos and fashions (highheeled and ultra feminine wear)
- the sight of a distant temple roof in the mountain, from the beach, or right there in the city between highrises
- the mist in the mountains
3 - Cherished memories -
We did come up with some misnomers and mispelled or mispronounced places while exchanging with our hosts and guides whcih made us laugh from time to time. But as C suscinctly put it its funny but then again his English is better than my Vietnamese! Well said C! So we will keep them for ourselves and P is a perfect mimic of each one of our guides voices and style - so we can continue hearing them from time to time - as a treasured memory.
We will remember how hard people work in this part of the world, how little sleep they get, how they make a business out of a 4 by 4 space on a sidewalk, how they charge tourists more than locals (which is completely fair= we think) and how NGOs really are the way to really help those in need - given the politics, how they work together and how they respect each other and others.
So thanks again to all our loyal blog followers here is our parting shot and S's new desktop wallpaper to keep SE Asia near her heart.
