Korea. Day 1/2.

      FLYING OFF TO THE START OF MY NEW LIFE.

I guess that saying “practice what you preach” was said for a reason…and I should’ve kept it in mind.  If you go to my archives,  I think it’s the 2^nd post I ever made [Travelling Tips]  about a year ago, I  gave some tips on how to pack, but unfortunately didn’t read up on it before packing this time.  I learned a few more things in addition to those tips, though.  Having to pack my entire life into suitcases was a bit of a challenge, especially with how many shoes I never realized I had.  Anything I left behind, I probably wouldn’t see again so prioritizing the importance of certain items took about 14 consecutive hours.  By the end of it, I had 4 suitcases packed up and ready to go…one ENTIRE suitcase of shoes, each pair packed into its own separate zip-lock bag.  (The freezer ones are the perfect size)

[MORE] tips for travelling

Tip #1a:  Airlines have weight limits.  Weigh your stuff before you get to the airport to make sure EACH bag is the right weight.   DON’T think you can get away with a few extra pounds…the check-in po po will catch you.

Tip #1b: They weigh your carry-ons too.  So that whole “put all the heavy stuff in your carry-on so you don’t go over weight in your checked baggage” doesn’t work.  For a flight to Korea, you get 12 kilos for carry-on total.

Tip #1c:  If you know you’re going to be over in terms of weight, just pack as much stuff into one of your check-ins as much as you can and pay the extra 50 bucks…. because if you don’t, you’re going to end up paying $130 for an additional checked bag. 

Tip #2:   BRING A NECK PILLOW!!  I felt so bad for the halmoni (grandma) sitting next to me in the aisle seat…she couldn’t sleep the entire 14 hour plane ride because her head kept bobbing.

Other reminders:  Don’t go out and buy a brand new bottle of perfume and expect to take it in your carry-on unless it’s under 3 fl. Oz.  It WILL get taken away…even if it’s 3.2 fl. Oz. 

And

Keep your laptop handy where it can be taken out and put back in easily…you have to send it through to be scanned out and separate from the rest of your bags.

I watched about 5 or 6 movies…most of them pretty new, which made time fly pretty quickly but man I should’ve done some squats to prepare for the butt-flattening 14 hours of sitting! 

FINALLY ARRIVED.  Say hello to a new shade of life.