Well, almost. We've started our journey to NZ. We left Sunday night on a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok. Flight was alright actually, although Bangkok airport is a pretty confusing place.
We're now en route to Auckland with about another 9 hours to go.
Red wine in hand, movie on, meal about to arrive...what's not to like?
Arrived yesterday. Took a while to get here as there was so much fog in the area. We were circling for an hour and a half before the pilot said we would "give it a try". Now, maybe it's just me but I prefer my pilots to be a little more positive than "trying" a landing...
Anyway, we made it...
Just on the bus to Incheon airport. It's actually called a limousine bus and its not bad. Wide, comfy leather seats...plenty of space...very nice.
My flight isn't for a few hours so I should have plenty of time to do the obligatory present buying!
Flight arrives back into uk around teatime although no doubt there will be some delays going into Heathrow.
Last business trip bar one this year. I've been to quite a few places though. Here's the ones I can think of...
Netherlands
Monaco
Belgium
Norway
France
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
China
Germany
Austria
Czech Republic
South Korea
And I've still yet to go to the Netherlands again, plus the holiday to New Zealand, Bali and Oz....clocking up some mileage!
There is a man made stream that runs through Seoul, which is pretty peaceful. When I went it was the light festival so at night it was full of lit paper lanterns.
From the tower I went round a couple of the palaces, however gave up on the Tourist bus as the traffic is so heavy, it's easier and faster to use the subway.
As it was autumn, I have to say that the colours in the trees were absolutely spectacular, truly magnificent.
One of the advantages of my job is that I do get to travel to quite a few varied locations around the world...it's not always pleasant but when you're able to spend an extra day or so visiting a country you've never been to, it definitely has an advantage. This year I had the opportunity to visit Seoul in South Korea.
I planned what I wanted to go see using the new Tripadvisor city guides - they're actually pretty useful. I took the (very) clean and efficient subway into town to pick up the Tourist bus. The first station made me laugh though...Gangnam...an area of the city famous for its socialites and now forever immortalised due to Sy's song. The subway itself is easy to use having signage in Korean, Chinese, Japanese and English.
I took the tourist bus up to the Seoul tower, and I have to say the weather was glorious...cold but sunny.
Well, here I am in Korea...South that is...another work trip. I haven't updated this in such a long time...I'm going to see if I can add the missing posts (18 months or so ) retrospectively. Of course, that means if you're reading this chronologically in a few months time, this really wont make sense...still can't help that.
On the way back from Deganwy, we stopped off at Betwys-y-coed for a walk around. We managed to buy a couple of new coats...Jack Wolfskin and really warm...
I also managed to get a good pic of the falls that run through the town. I've been playing around with SJ's SLR and I think am finally starting to get the hang of it!
For SJ's birthday, I decided to book us a weekend away...I had a look online and came up with The Quay Hotel in Deganwy in North Wales. I wanted somewhere that was a nice hotel, with spa facilities and decent surroundings so we could explore. SJ has always liked North Wales and so I picked Deganwy, just outside Conwy.
The Quay hotel is relatively new, being part of a redevelopment of the marina in Deganwy. It's quite an extensive development but I think is in keeping with the area...
I'd actually booked us a suite and it was fantastic...if anything, it was a little too big for the furniture contained within...still a minor complaint considering...
We had a meal at a beautiful fish restaurant in Llandudno followed by a few drinks in the Queen Vic pub (not the Eastenders one)...
Simply a great weekend...definitely would go back.
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