Back in the land of the K !!

Well team I am now back ! A little disappointed that I didnt get to travel on my Malaysian Airlines flight or get to meet beautiful Singapore girl on the plane, but I really can't complain I must say.   Yeh I eventually got to Korea this time by Qantas, and I must say that the service was pretty good.   Qantas did have a few little problems there a few years ago, but it looks like they have taken great strides to fix things and get things back into good working order again and it has shown up well I do so believe.   So, as a result of their good service and tiding, I am back here in the land of the K....

And its cold weather !!!

Like seriously team, its really really nippy here at the moment ! Its currently 7 degrees C ( 45F) and thats at 8 pm.   Trust me guys it didnt improve much in the day either ! And it was especially cold at 5.00 am this morning when I got off the plane.   I guess you could say I was getting the cold shoulder first up.  

Well from a weather standpoint anyway. 

Luckily, the airport itself was a little more welcoming.    As it should indeed be.   After all, an airport is the first port of call into a new life, a new country and a new existence for basically all travellers, and as the old adage goes, first impressions count. 

And if Incheon airport is anything to go by, they you could indeed be up for a good stay here in Korea.  

One of the first things you notice about Incheon airport when you enter the terminal is its space.   It nice and spacious and you really do have plenty of room to move should you wish to utilise it.   It may seem like quite a trivial thing, but if you have just come off a long flight and are generally tardy and looking for a decent stretch, then space is what you do need.   Its also pretty quiet in the arrivals area too.   Maybe its the space that does it, but whatever it is, its pretty good.   If you have had a long flight, then it might just be suffice to say that excessive noise when you get off the plane just might not be the first thing you wish to hear.   Its nice to gain ones bearings in quiet surrounds and Incheon certainly does provide this. 

The initial administration and entrance requirements into the country are also quite efficiently expedited also.  I think the only thing that slowed me up was just having to wait a little while to pick up my bags, but hey I was not the only one, so no real issues there I don't think. 

I think I will leave the whole arrivals thing there.   How about we go into some details about the actual airport itself.   Sounds good ?? Yes I think so. 

In Seoul, you generally have 2 major airports, Seoul Incheon and Seoul Gimpo.   Incheon is the younger one of the two, as it was opened in 2001.   Gimpo Airport was the original International Airport in Seoul, but this has now been reduced to largely domestic duties, with shuttle flights also occuring between Tokyo, Shanghai and Osaka.  

Korean Air and Asiana, the 2 major South Korean international airlines, are the major space holders at Incheon.  

Incheon airport is located to the west of Seoul, and is connected to the main CBD by the Incheon International Airport Expressway.   This expressway also connects to Gimpo domestic airport, and also allows easy access to the major connection points in Seoul itself, particularly Seoul railway station and CBD bus terminals.  

There are 2 main terminals in Seoul Airport, the main terminal and Concourse.  

The main terminal is one of the largest in the world.   You can board planes from 44 different locations in the terminal, and there are ample numbers of facilities available to accomodate the required movements, processings and other needs for travel.   

Heck, it also has a golf course, spa, indoor gardens and a sleeping area if you need them !!!!

I guess these are just some of the reasons why Seoul Airport has been voted the best in the world for the past couple of years lol.  
Pity I can't show it to you here though.   I seem to be be having issues with the Cut and paste function on the comp for the minute.  But I can direct you over to this sites here for you to have a look. 

http://www.airport.kr/eng/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incheon_Airport#A_Terminal

Seoul Incheon airport really is a nice place team.   You should come up here some time.    I am sure you will enjoy it and you will also find it as a really pleasant gateway and delightful little intro to your sojourn here in Korea.