Finally there

Friday

It was a very short night, but three hours of sleep and a shower later, I feel like a human being again. Instead of having breakfast, I wash a few items of clothing in the sink and blow-dry them. This way, I can start the second leg of the journey feeling fresh.

There is a Turkish buffet for lunch, and in the dining room I meet Björn + girlfriend again. (And no, he is not related to my brother-in-law, I asked. 😅)

I sit in the foyer waiting for my shuttle and see almost all the familiar faces from last night again. A warm farewell - "we've become a group," says the Dutchman. It was also he who saved my spirits the night before with his unshakable optimism: "It's not so bad, it's vacation. It's a luxury either way."

As part of the avalanche of metal that moves in unpredictable paths past the pompous but run-down high-rises, we head out of the outskirts of Istanbul and back to the airport. The broom is blooming, the trees are green, the sun is shining. I'm optimistic that it will work out today.

The airport is packed. I have no choice but to use a squat toilet and almost fall in when I try to get up from the squat. Cramp!

I had just spread out my bags in a quiet place to sort everything out again when a group of about 20 Korean Ajumas (aunties) and Ajoschis (uncles) came along and chose this exact corner as their meeting point. And so I sat there and listened to the language. (Spoiler: I only understand every 5th word. Will it be different after my trip?)

Saturday

Luckily, the flight goes smoothly and we land in Incheon on time 9.5 hours later. Now we're almost there! 🙌 When I get through passport control, my suitcase is already doing its rounds on the carousel.

A Spanish couple guards my things while I put on something fresh(er). Then I quickly organize internet (which takes less than 5 minutes with Telekom South Korea, by the way), and off to the subway. Change once at the main station - and then after almost 48 hours I've finally arrived!