The flight to Seoul

     So how is it that Seoul got into your New Zealand trip?

     Well, using Delta FF miles, they put us on their partner airline, Korean Air.  KAL goes to NZ through Seoul.  Right.  Not exactly the shortest route.  But FREE.  KAL offered us a layover in Seoul so we scheduled in 5 days to get a little taste of the city and to see where our good friend, Margaret Huyler, was born and raised by missionary parents.  Margaret recently passed away but she and her husband, Jack, have long regaled us with stories about her parents, grandparents, and life in Seoul growing up.  We were excited to have the opportunity to go there!

     Wednesday, January 11th, we took off from the Jackson airport, flying to SLC for a plane change and then on to LAX.  The Zions Bank at the airport in SLC held ready for our pickup Korean WON.  It was too fun to dash through security and get it!   In LA we lounged in the airport reading until our KAL plane departed that evening for Seoul.  Though we were to arrive in the early AM, we flew over the dateline, losing Thursday altogether and arriving Friday morning in the wee early hours.  So we lounged at the Incheon airport reading until we felt it was a decent hour to take to the streets.  We really mean lounged too -- no plastic upright seating there -- a very comfortable couch filled lounge area!

     KAL is a real pleasure with which to fly!  Denny will go on and on, if you let him, extoling the wonders of the space, cleanliness,  extras, and especially the service from the cute, young, and energetic attendants.  The food was excellent too!  Each meal they offered both a Korean and European choice.  Of course there was also the hot wet towels and to Denny's joy, a never ending supply of delicious fruit juices and water.  I drank HITE beer!  :)  We arrived in Seoul feeling quite wonderful considering the hours spent on the plane!