When I booked the trip it made the most sense to head east first to see my friends before heading on to the US where I knew I could relax for a full week. Another benefit was that I would cross the International Dateline heading east, and would gain close to a day of time when I did it. For example, I was leaving Seoul in the evening to fly directly to Seattle, but after a 10 hour flight I would arrive in Seattle 6 hours earlier than I had left Seoul.
In reality, the experience was 1) really cool, and 2) very tiring and quite confusing. Since I already understood that it was going to be confusing I decided to actually keep track every hour of where I was and what I was doing to be able to understand the time travel compared to what time my body thought it should be. Hope you enjoy.
Hour 1
1am Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
In bed sending an email for work.
Hour 2
2am Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
Trying to fall asleep
Hour 6
6am Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
Alarm went off
Hour 7
7am Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
In a taxi to the USO (United Service Organization) next to the Korean War Museum to meet my tour group for the Demilitirized Zone tour. The DMZ is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. Upon the creation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in 1948, it became a de facto international border and one of the most tense fronts in the Cold War.
Hour 8
8am Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
On a bus to tour the Demilitirized Zone, which is 160 miles long and 2.5 miles and acts as a buffer between the two countries. It is the most heavily militirized border in the world.
Hour 9
9am Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
Still on the bus towards North Korea. There are guard stations every few hundred feet along the highway manned by soldiers with guns drawn making sure nobody swims into South Korea.
Hour 10
10am Wednesday, August 8th, border between North Korea and South Korea
Looking into North Korea through binoculars from the observatory point in DMZ. I can see white tall buildings that look like warehouses or factories, and one farmer tending a field of something resembling soybeans. Behind that is mountains with all the trees cut down (so attackers have nowhere to hide).
Hour 11
11am Wednesday, August 8th, border between North Korea and South Korea
Walking into the 3rd tunnel at the DMZ, which is 5,100 feet long and 1,150 feet deep. Since 1974, South Korea has discovered four tunnels that cross the DMZ which were dug by North Korea. Upon their discovery, North Korea claimed that the tunnels were for coal mining; however, no coal has been found in the tunnels, because they were in fact dug through granite. Some of the tunnel walls had been painted black by the North Koreans to give the appearance of coal.
The tunnels are believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea. Each shaft is large enough to permit the passage of an entire infantry division in one hour, though the tunnels are not wide enough for tanks or vehicles.
Hour 12 12pm Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
Driving back from DMZ
Hour 13
1pm Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
Our tour took us on a pointless tour of the Ginseng Center in Seoul, a small office building that wanted to sell us pieces of ginseng for $200.
Hour 14
2pm Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
Ditched the tour and did a fast spin through one of the palaces before popping over to Seoul Station to get cash and buy a thank you present.
Hour 15
3pm Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
In a taxi back to Nick and Nicki's house.
Hour 16
4pm Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
Took the 2nd shower of the day and packed the last things.
Hour 17
5pm Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul
On a bus to the airport, realizing halfway there that my flight was an hour earlier than I thought, and I was about to miss the plane to Seattle
Hour 18
6pm Wednesday, August 8th, Seoul Airport
Leaping off the bus as it pulls into the airport and running like mad for the ticket counter. Apologized and cried and pleaded to be let on the flight.
Hour 19
7pm Wednesday, August 8th, over the Pacific Ocean
Taking off from Seoul Airport after being given a boarding pass and making it through check in, security, and immigration in 14 minutes. When I arrived out of breath at the gate there were still 50 people in line waiting to board. I wasn't even the last person onto the plane.
Hour 20
8pm Wednesday, August 8th, over the Pacific Ocean
Watching a Reese Witherspoon romantic comedy
Hour 21
9pm Wednesday, August 8th, over the Pacific Ocean
Eating dinner, semi decent plane food. No one in the seat next to me.
Hour 22
10pm Wednesday, August 8th, over the Pacific Ocean
Watching Footloose
Hour 23
11pm Wednesday, August 8th, over the Pacific Ocean
Watching Moneyball
Hour 24
8am Wednesday, August 8th / 12am Thursday, August 9th, over the Pacific Ocean
Crossing the International Dateline
Hour 25
9am Wednesday, August 8th / 1am Thursday, August 9th, over the Pacific Ocean
Trying to get some sleep
Hour 26
10am Wednesday, August 8th / 2am Thursday, August 9th, over the Pacific Ocean
Sleep
Hour 27
11am Wednesday, August 8th / 3am Thursday, August 9th, over the Pacific Ocean
Sleep
Hour 28
12 noon Wednesday, August 8th / 4am Thursday, August 9th, over the Pacific Ocean
Breakfast on the plane
Hour 29
1pm Wednesday, August 8th / 5am Thursday, August 9th, Seattle
Landing in Seattle
Hour 30
2pm Wednesday, August 8th / 6am Thursday, August 9th, Seattle
Karyn, my cousin, picked me up at the airport in Seattle
Hour 32
3pm Wednesday, August 8th / 7am Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
Going to a farmer's market in Olympia
Hour 33
4pm Wednesday, August 8th / 8am Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
Going to Trader Joe's to get food for dinner
Hour 34
5pm Wednesday, August 8th / 9am Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
Arriving at Karyn's house
Hour 35
6pm Wednesday, August 8th / 10am Thursday, August 9th, Olympica
Making appetizer of cheese and bread
Hour 36
7pm Wednesday, August 8th / 11am Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
Watching Big Bang Theory and cooking dinner
Hour 37
8pm Wednesday, August 8th / 12pm Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
Watching Olympics and eating dinner
Hour 38
9pm Wednesday, August 8th / 1pm Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
Watching Olympics and fighting sleep
Hour 39
10pm Wednesday, August 8th / 2pm Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
Watching Olympics and losing battle against sleep
Hour 40
11pm Wednesday, August 8th / 3pm Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
Watching Olympics and losing battle against sleep
Hour 41
11:59pm Wednesday August 8th / 3:59pm Thursday, August 9th, Olympia
In bed and can't sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment