Bangkok airport.
I got a good nights sleep and was wakened by the alarm I set on my iPhone. After breakfast, we packed up our bags one last time and made the subterranean trek back to the airport terminal. Having checked in, cleared security and passport control, we're sitting in the very modern terminal not far from our gate for the flight to Seoul.
The five hour flight to Seoul was uneventful. I did take few iPhone snaps out the airplane window. One was of the long narrow field patterns in Thailand as we climbed to cruising altitude. Another was the Mekong River as seen from ~11,000 meters altitude — very wide and very muddy. And a few setting sun shots as we descended into Incheon. I think I managed to doze a few times on the flight.
Exiting the plane, the transfer security station was right there so we got into line with a bunch of people, but the line moved fairly quickly as all lanes were open. There was no repeat of the dissection of my backpack, so I got through without any mishaps. The biggest risk for a mishap at security has been a wardrobe malfunction. Because I've lost 40 lbs, taking off my belt leaves the trousers in dire danger of dropping. I've been clutching them with one or both of my hands when walking through the metal detectors. The couple times I've been "wanded" or patted down has been a bit more nervous than usual. Hopefully with only one more security checkpoint to cross at LAX, I'll make it home without inadvertently exposing myself.
We found a Starbucks on the concourse of the terminal and picked up a coffee to sustain us as we wait for our LAX-bound flight to board in ~45 minutes.
Bangkok airport.
I took this shot for the field pattern - the long and narrow fields were new to me.
The Mekong River from 35,000 feet - still very impressive and very muddy.
The flight tracker as we approach Seoul.
Sunset as we descend for our landing.
This is our trans-Pacific bird.
The Seoul airport.
Jonathan at the gate.
Jonathan set up in the aisle seat across from mine.
The flight tracker as we approach LAX.
Coming down to the final entry, it is always great enjoyment for me to relive the vacation by assembling this travelogue. The last entry in my journal was in the Seoul airport, so I'll fill in what little remains now.
The trans-Pacific flight was uneventful, and upon arrival at LAX we were able to navigate through immigration (newly automated) and customs although it seemed to take more time than when it was a 'manual' process. The inter-terminal busses did not seem to be running, so we schlepped our bags from the international terminal over to the United terminals. We got through security and to Terminal 8 in time to have dinner before boarding our direct flight back to the Twin Cities.
We've been processing our photos and videos since, interrupted by trips: to Blacksburg VA for Thanksgiving with my parents, sister and brother-in-law, and my daughters and their Moms; to Greene RI to make Christmas ornaments with my daughters; and to Oakland CA for Christmas with Jonathan's brother and family. As usual, I'm way ahead on my travelogue because I use template and set formats which move me along in processing the information. I describe Jonathan's site as 'artisanal' because he is crafting each page and block of photos down in the html code. I'm guessing he'll be done by, say, June maybe? That assumes he doesn't get distracted by another project in his wood shop in the basement.
We're contemplating a trip to Tasmania as our next adventure, but as of this writing, nothing is planned. Only some initial research into tour companies that would help us explore the temperate rain forest there.