Days go by and by and by. Since Seoul I have travelled to Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand. I have also just returned from New York City. The six day Auzzie trip, including three energy - testing layovers, is long and always fueled with excitement; plans are made and we're off experiencing all we can in the limited hours we have. Endurance is stretched and I am quite in awe, at times, as to how we perform so professionally, elegantly and with such patience on the flights. Like speed - dating, we are speed travelling, and then we put on our uniforms and act the part with sincerity and care for complete strangers. Once I return to my apartment in Dubai, I am torn between catching up with my friends, should they be in the city, and retreating to my pajamas or to the beach. One involves eventful escapades and the other a blissful near- coma experience. One entails make-up and fuss and the other, acceptable neglect! My friends usually win the "fight" and I thank them for their always exuberant energy and impossible- to- decline invitations! Have I mentioned how these friends are my family?
Tonight, however, I decline. Exhausted from a Saudi Arabia, five hour "turn- around" that turned into a fourteen hour day as we experienced delays on ground, and in the air, the latter due to trials and practices in Dubai airspace by aviators around the world preparing for "The Most Expensive Show in the World": The Duabi Airshow. Today's operational flight drafted me to find allowances in myself that I did not know existed. The Islamic peoples are currently conducting their pilgrimage to the Mecca, and full, demanding flights kept crew on their toes. Adherring to their culture and protecting their zam zam water onboard that they collected from the fountain located in the Mecca, careful not to touch men in passing after they have vowed to Miqat and are in their Ihram dressing after a long procedure of washing in the lavatories - picture men of all ages and shapes in nearly nothing, draped in white cloth and as one looks down the aircraft cabins there is a sea of white clothed passengers. I have spoken Arabic I didn't even know I knew! Dutifully, I informed passengers of the direction of the Qibla and gave space for prayer on the aircraft.
Presently, I am at a restless - rest now, rewarded with work -well done, but beaten. Fatigued, but gladly in a comfortable and familiar room. My bedroom. Not another hotel room with strange sounds and smells, where I worry to wake up in alarming wonder, initially, as to where I am. My bed, my few things, which are growing and I will never be able to take them home with me, my books, my music and my notes will comfort me to sleep tonight. Yes, my notes: I blog, I log and I keep notes in a somewhat nerdy fashion. It alights my lofty and analytical mind and it helps me get some grounded "down time". Quite honestly, to encourage before said, I have one Arabic television channel that interrupts old movies with prayer intermissions that are admittedly not welcome! (Earnestly, one minute you're watching "Top Gun", for instance, right before Tom Cruise and Kelli Gillis are about to have their infamous romantic encounter - finally, and the screen blanks out. Arabic prayer music erupts and graphics bazarely appear. The show returns and ...nothing. On with the plot minus the goods!) Where am I? I exagerrate only slightly. Further to that, comically, I have watched movies in the public cinema, such as Hangover II and the censorship is hilarious to be sure! Note to self - See blockbusters at Outstations!
Complaints aside - enough of my soul but onto SEOUL!
Perhaps, like a musician, just as any fitting music may move someone to sound, or the pull to study a specific area of interest or art: art of intellect, inspiration in sciences, kinetic movement, mathematics, philosophy, on and on, or a "layman" passionate to any subject of choice, for that matter, I am drawn lately, to words. Words are my beat. Inspiration to recount and interpret only moments. An avenue to share this journey. I find myself typing my keys in such a way as if I was hitting keys of some sort of synthysizer; profoundly wanting to express. As for beat, I still feel the beat of Seoul with all of its sights; day and night.
Excuse my lofty self: KOREA, bordered by eight mountains, is a stunningly technological, and a highly advanced structural metroplolis! The architecture is modern and exact. Bisected by the Han River, the city is spectacular - historically a trade route to China via the Yellow Sea. Seoul is the capital of South Korea and means "special city". The population in the heart of Seoul is 12 million and including the very near vacinity it is over 20 million! Vancouver, Canada - the population is 2.3 million. Imagine the comparison.
I ventured out into the streets, exiting my hotel which is centralized in the Yeongdong District. I am minutes away from downtown Seoul and the Itaewon District. The metro being the third largest in the enitre world, is simple, efficient and I feel safe day or night. The KTX Bullet train is impressive! Asking, periodically, for directions is easy in the business district as English speaking people are available after a few bashful attempts.
There is quite a presence of Christianity, surprisingly to me, who is admittedly ignorant of the structure and politics of South Korea. I happened across an impossibly massive and beautiful church that resembles that of the churches in Rome! How oddly it stood out.
The divide between North and South Korea is clear. So unbelievably clear that I require my passport to be taken when visiting the DMZ - De-militerized Zone. The Estuary is currently closed and is in the Transition Area - bordered by "Two Koreas," civil entry has been barred; no longer actively used for navigation.
The nightlife and food makes me wish I had more time! .. And I will return, so more personal experiences to follow.
Continuing this blog, I just returned from a beautiful vacation to my home, Vancouver. I immediately touched down, slept momentarily and travelled, once again, to Seoul. Home, just now, in Dubai - this girl should try very hard to sleep for more than a four hour interval! Business Class promotional course to follow in a day! I am prepared and excited for a whole new world in the upper deck of the A380 Airbus! You should see this place! Google it!
