Seoul Tower

With Rick home from his five week Temporary Duty Assignment, we decided to visit Seoul for date night, and go up in the Seoul Tower. Seoul Tower is is a communication and observation tower located in Namsan Mountain, central Seoul, South Korea. The tower has been a symbol of Seoul since 1980 and measures 777 ft in height. I equate it to the Saint Louis Arch. You can take an elevator up to the observatory deck, and there are gift shops..etc. We had been talking about checking this out since my first visit to Korea, and now we are down to less than a month, so we decided to check the box. I was thinking if we went at night, it wouldn't be as crowded as during the day. I was completely wrong.

When we arrived at Seoul, we jumped in a taxi and asked that he take us to Seoul Tower. Our cab driver was extremely friendly, and when I commented on how good his English was, he responded, "Muchas Gracious"

What a ham. He dropped us off, and we were informed we would have to walk up the rest. The incline was ridiculous, but we finally made it to the ticket booth. We purchased our tickets, and followed the arrows. We enter the base of the Tower, and attempted to peruse the gift shops as we waited for our block of numbers to be called. I quickly noted that everyone and their sister had decided to visit the tower with their significant other. Public displays of affection is not prevalent in Korea, but I guess the Seoul Tower really brings the romance out. Nearly every couple had their arms draped over each other, giggling, and oblivious to any legitidiment tourist that was trying to maneuver around their love-fest. We found a spot close to where the numbers were announced, and waited for our number to be called.

When our number came up, the herd of folks waiting nervously at the entrance GALLOPED to get in. I though, "Holy, MOSES, there must be something REMARKABLE around that corner" This mob looked like flesh-eating zombies that just found an opening in the warehouse that the last people on Earth were huddled in. They were wide-eyed and frantic. I tugged on Rick's jacket, and we stepped forward to be swept into the mob. I peered over all the zombie heads to try to see what was around this glorious corner. We turned down the hall, and there stood.....the same crazy zombies huddled in a group, radar-locked on the elevators. The doors opened, and everyone rushed in. We counted 24 people in the elevator. I glared at all the zombies that were smashed against me for getting my hopes up that there was something awesome around that corner. We reached the top, and exited the elevator. The observation deck is pretty cool. It's round, all glass, and has landmarks noted on the glass. It also lists major cities and how far away they are. The only disappointing thing was the glass was so dirty, on the outside, you couldn't see very well, much less get a good picture. We then stood in line to take the elevator down to the plaza. Here, there are GOBS of padlocks on a fence surrounding the plaza. The tradition is for a couple to place a lock on the fence, throw away the key, and their love is locked in forever. Who doesn't want that?! We placed a lock on the fence, but as we shut the clasp, there was not any mystical music, violins, or vaccume suction sound as I expected. I mean, if you lock your love in forever, shouldn't there be a sound involved?

We left the tower to find our favorite Greek Restaurant, Santorini. We had a wonderful meal, and then braved the Subway home. It's great to have Rick home!

-> Here are the zombies fighting to get to the Elevator

-> View from the top

->Oodles of locks

Locked in!

->Tree of locks

This is Thailand

My new partner in crime, Amy, and I arrived at the Osan passenger terminal after calling about flights to Japan. As we were instructed, we had a letter from the commander to allow us to travel being non command-sponsored, and were very excited to begin the adventure. We went to the desk to sign up for the flight, and our fun bus came to a screeching halt when we were informed our letter (that his office provided) was incorrect. The wording was supposed to state that we could fly to where our husbands were stationed, or back to the US. Capt. Fun-hater explained we could not just fly to Japan or Thailand for a vacation. I spoke up at that point and explained our husbands were actually temporarily stationed in Thailand. This comment was not appreciated nor did it get us the green light for the flight. We left the passenger terminal with our heads hung low; visions of our exotic vacation fading. The weather actually felt colder now that we weren't heading South.

My excitement could not be contained, however, and I suggested we go to the travel agency on the Base, and see if we could find any inexpensive vacations to a tropical location. We sat down at THAT office and explained what we wanted. We probably sounded like criminals trying to 'get out of dodge' as we just told them we wanted to go somewhere warm and leave as soon as possible. This was Tuesday. Thursday morning, we left for Thailand. I had not even had time to learn how to say the basic Thai phrases. I wrote them down, and put them in my backpack, just in case. It had snowed in Korea, and when we touched down in Thailand it was in the 90s. We practically sprinted off the plane, and towards our adventure. Part of our package included free transportation from the airport to the hotel. Unfortunately, there was not a kind Thai person holding a sign with our names on it. Hmmm.... We don't have cell phones, and they wouldn't do any good as we don't speak Thai. Luckily, Amy snagged a fella with the travel logo, and explained our situation. He looked over our flight information, and he got a driver there very quickly. They loaded up our bags, and we jumped into this large van. I fumbled with my seatbelt, and the driver hit the gas. I never saw any speed limit signs posted as we were driving too fast and all scenery was a blur. We careened around corners, dodged the millions of people on scooters with toddlers squished between two adults, and tried to not scream. We were, in fact, crazy world travelers, we shouldn't be fazed by this. We arrived at our resort, checked in, and were helped to our room. The bellhop explained all our room functions, which was surprisingly complicated. The door closed, and Amy and I exchanged 'WOW' looks. I unzipped my suitcase, and the phone rang. It was the front desk, and the conversation quickly got lost in translation, but she kept mentioning my flight. I told her I would be right down, picked up my travel documents, and reported to the front desk. It seems, the travel agent booked the wrong month for our stay at the resort. THIS explains why there was not a driver at the airport. For a brief moment, I thought about having to find a hotel room at 8 o'clock at night, in a foreign country in which I didn't speak one word of the language. I quickly decided that would put a crimp in our awesome vacation. I explained I would contact the travel agency tomorrow, but we would go ahead and stay. Then I stood there, not blinking, but smiling. We all agreed that would be the best plan.

The following day, we took full advantage of the breakfast buffet, and hit the pool. Glorious.

That evening, we walked downtown to find a Thai restaurant. We ate a wonderful meal for about four dollars.

Our trip consisted of the pool or the ocean during the day, finding a good restaurant at night, and some form of entertainment. Some nights we would take advantage of the excellent shopping district, or get an hour massage for six dollars. One night, we sat at an outside bar and watched the 'lady-boys' strut around the street taking pictures with tourists. We generally found a bar with a live band, requested Bon Jovi and soaked up the insane atmosphere. One night, we managed to sing AC/DC on a revolving stage with the band. I was so lucky to have found a gal that can travel in the same tsunami fashion as me.

Overall, we had an excellent trip. We went back to Korea with great tans, some crazy memories, and souvenirs (purses). Korea welcomed us home with a snowstorm. Not even that could damper the pride we felt in managing a spontaneous trip to Thailand.

>Matching temporary tats - we are so wild!

> Thai Boxing advertising

Update from the ROK

I am proud to report Rick has added another title to his impressive collection. Yesterday, he took his final certification flight for INSTRUCTOR PILOT! The process to accomplish this is long, and has been very stressful. On several occasions, after HOURS of preparation, creating maps, and requesting airspace, many flights were cancelled due to weather, maintenance (broken plane), or health (Head cold - cannot risk blowing out an eardrum) Then, preparation would start ALL over. This was all in addition to his regular duties. So, you may be thinking, 'Great, now they may get to see each other more than an hour a day'

Nope.

Rick left this morning for a two week mission in Thailand, and then will go to the Philippines for another two weeks. We have been married nearly two years, and have yet to spend 4 consecutive months together. I have to admit, a perpetual honeymoon is really not that bad.

So, what has Rachel accomplished while Rick has been slaving away? I'm excited to announce I found another strain of bacteria. I got to spend another evening physically revisiting my prior meal. So, I have basically found the secret to how Koreans stay so thin: food poisoning. I'm now on a first name basis with the pilots' flight doctor. Thankfully, he takes very good care of pilots and their wives.

Another wife, Amy, and I are planning a trip to Japan. I am going to try my hand at flying 'space A'. There are military planes that fly several times a week from Osan Air Base in Korea to Kadena Air Base in Japan. So, when 'space is available' we will catch a ride. For anyone that knows me, you can imagine the challenge this will be for me. No guarantee of getting on a flight?! No seat assignment? No champagne?! GASP. I cannot imagine any other time in my life that I will be able to travel with such flexibility, so why not try it now?

A weekend in Korea

Many times we have called Korea the 'land of not quite right'. This is due to the differences in how Koreans does things, and how Americans have learned to do things. Some examples include; modes of transportation, driving, parking, forming a line,

making an appointment, construction safety, bathroom etiquette, basic etiquette, ET cetra.

Additionally, there is something about Korea that makes it much like Vegas. I have always heard that, in Vegas, you can go without sleep, and huge blocks of time are lost. We all know the saying, 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'. I have realized South Korea is alarmingly similar. Many of the pictures illustrate this. The things you see here, would never be done in the 'Real World' but they all

seem like fantastic ideas at the time. (Note the 'party suits' the fellas have made here.)

Take last weekend, for example,:

Friday night at the Officers' Club. Sounds innocent enough. We generally go to the 'O' club on Friday's and socialize. There is a D.J.

that plays most any requests, including my shrieks for Bon Jovi. Additionally, there is Karaoke. In the 'real world' karaoke should only be an activity if you possess some sort of musical

inclination.

Not in South Korea. I have been told I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, but in Korea, I'm cheered, and have a captive audience as Rick and I sing duets, and strum air instruments. We closed the Club down, and got home just after curfew, which is 3 A.M.!

The following day, we were up and on the 9:20 A.M. bus to Seoul. (Do the math on beauty sleep) We take an educational tour of the Korean War Museum, and we decide on dinner plans over cocktails with friends. We walk to a wonderful French Restaurant, have a nice meal, wine, and meet up with more friends at a local Pub. We walk back to our friend's house by 11:00 p.m., and are up until 2 A.M. discussing many worldly issues.

We catch the bus home in the morning, make lasagna, invite some friends over, persuade friend to be wedding photographer for our ceremony in November, wine, dessert, and we are off to bed by midnight. I don't know if it's all the preservatives in the milk, or the pollution in the air, but it is the closest to living in Vegas that I will ever be. It's a good thing we are only months away from being back in the 'Real World'.

Planning the wedding.....again....

As most of you may know, when we wed at the exotic Johnson County Courthouse, we had planned to have a 'real' ceremony and reception the following year, April 18, 2009.  Well, Rick was not granted the leave, houses didn't sell, and it became painfully clear that being together was much more important than anything.  It is still very important to us to celebrate the union with our family and friends.   (cue violins) We had such a wonderful whirlwind courtship and then the covert marriage, and we really want to 'do it right'.  We are planning a small, low-key reception the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 27th) in Kansas City.  We figured Kansas City would be easier than Georgia, and many folks get that Friday off from work.  We understand that is a big family weekend, but want to work around a holiday weekend as to ensure Rick's leave.  

So, that is the tentative 'plan'.

Mentsch tracht, Gott lacht

Hawaii

The day before we left the freezing cold peninsula, we spent the day with our good friends in Seoul.  We ate at a fabulous Greek restaurant, and actually found an AC/DC cover band!!  It was a very fun night, and I'm glad our flight didn't leave too early the following day.

On to Hawaii - 

Our flight was delayed due to SNOW, but we finally made it out and we were on our way to BEAUTIFUL Hawaii!  We vacationed with Tim and Hallie, Rick's brother and sister-in-law.

Our trip was OUTSTANDING.  Our condo was absurd!  The large glass doors opened to the balcony that overlooked the pool, and had a view of the ocean.  We enjoyed beautiful sunsets every night that were better than postcards.  Best yet, was that it was in the high 80s!  YES!

 - This is how happy I was to be on the beach!

Our activities:

Pearl Harbor:  We took a very educational tour that is a must-do of Oahu.  We got a very small taste of the cramped life on a submarine, and went aboard the Pearl Harbor memorial.   

Here is our fishing boat, but where is my coffee?!

I have just been strapped to the chair, and am receiving instructions on how to reel in fish, and more importantly, how to not lose the expensive reels.  You can tell by my face that I am worried about being pulled overboard, realizing this is way more complicated than I thought, and trying not to puke.
 - Daybreak 

Dinner! 

Deep Sea Fishing: One of our friends, who is stationed in Hawaii, set up a deep sea fishing adventure.  We would get up super early, go out catch fish, enjoy the day, and get to keep whatever we kept.  I bought some dramamine just in case my freak-of-nature body decided to turn against me in the high seas.  We boarded the vessel before the sun was even thinking of coming up, and watched a beautiful sunrise.  We got a quick crash coarse on how to fish, and I was surprised at all the maneuvers and rules I needed to remember.  There was actually a chair that you were STRAPPED to for reeling in a fish.  YIKES!  Visions of my line and violently yanking me off the boat and into the bottomless ocean swirled through my head.  My stomach started to feel uneasy so I popped a Dramamine.  Once the sun was up, the deck hand put these HUGE lures on the multiple lines, and we got started.  I was the first to be strapped in the seat as newcomers are supposed to be good luck.  After the briefing we got on how to reel in the fish, and the size of the lures, I  was secretly praying I didn't get a bite.  I sat ready to reel, and watching the water for any signs.  The scene was just beautiful, but my stomach felt every dip of the boat.  After about an hour in 'the chair' I offered it up to Hallie.  After we had been out for probably 3-4 hours, we saw a whale!  Then Rick pointed out Dolphins.  The captain and deck hand freaked out.  Asking where exactly he had seen them.  This is when I decided to skip on down to the bathroom before I puked all over the boat.  While taking deep breaths and trying to control my heaving stomach, I heard all this commotion.  I downed another Dramamine, and went back on Deck.  ALL five reels had a bite on them!  Everyone was yelling, and the captain and the deck hand were scrambling around and barking orders.  I tried to stay out of the way, and snap pictures.  Reeling these dang fish in, is not an easy task.  Everyone was sweating through their clothes, straining their muscles, popping veins out in their heads.  Geesh!  Looong story short, we reeled in one fish an hour and a half later, and when they hauled it into the boat, I was sure it was a world record, it was HUGE!  Turns out, it was a yellow-fin Tuna weighing about 150 pounds.  That was the last bite of the day.  Not even a nibble the rest of the afternoon!  I guess dolphins are messy eaters, so a lot of larger fish follow them around to eat their scraps.  This is why everyone was so excited when Rick pointed out the dolphins, and when we turned into them, we got FIVE bites.  We had our dinner, and I never puked on the boat.  A very successful trip that I would highly recommend.

The rest of our time in Hawaii was spent checking out other beaches around the island, Visiting the Dole Plantation, eating fantastic meals and spending time together.

Rick's birthday

Rick's big 3-0 birthday was complete with fireworks that we watched off our balcony.

 - Gotta pay respect to Starbucks.

The front of our resort.

This is the jellyfish that I saved Rick from.

Luau - You have to do this if you go to Hawaii.  They had Hula girls, dancers, fire guys, and very good food.

Snorkeling: We snorkeled in the coves of our Resort as well as beautiful Hanuama Bay.  We saw many fish, a turtle, and learned they don't joke around about the Rip Tide.  FOLLOW the signs. 

Asia welcoming us back with a wonderful meal of 'who knows what'