gcmapMANLHRICN
Date: 21/03/13
Manchester to London Heathrow to Seoul Incheon - that's the plan! No "Top Gear Challenge" rules this time - it's First Class All the way!
Virgin Voyager
Date: 22/03/13
Well, this isn't a bad start! Nice seat, first class and an on-time departure, now, where's my glass of champagne?
Virgin snow
Date: 22/03/13
No champagne on Virgin Trains, it appears (but how can they call it First Class??) and it looks aufully snowy out there.....
Wigan blizzard
Date: 22/03/13
Missed not one but two connections, and it's blowing a blizzard here in Wigan! Beeker has decided to go and hide, and I'm beginning to regret my decision to pack my anorak and change into a polo shirt! Even through my fur, this is cold!
Train to MAN
Date: 23/03/13
I think I look really smart in my Kilt and dress shirt, so I've decided that should be my outfit for my first BA First - but to get there we've got a train ride to start with!
The long, long tunnel from T1 to T2
Date: 23/03/13
It's a long walk from the station to the terminal (not our terminal, but a terminal nethertheless) even longer when two of the travelators don't work!
BA Premium Check-In
Date: 23/03/13
So, one queue for BA First, Club, Gold, Silver and Bronze (Bronze?! isn't that anyone who has joined the BAEC and even thought of boarding a flight?!) So, a delay of over 25 minutes to get to check-in, whilst we had the entertainment of watching all of the non-premium, non-status passengers breeze by in the other queue. I don't know what was so interesting on the computer screen of the person at the entrance to the queue who was supposed to be managing it, but it did seem riveting enough that they didn't actually attempt any queue management whilst I was there. I do hate to be a DYKWBIA, but really, this is insanely bad!
MAN BA Terraces
Date: 23/03/13
Well, that really was a LONG check-in, and whilst I'm used to being carried everywhere, being bumped up the stairs because the lift doesn't work isn't exactly my usual stylish entrance to a lounge, but here I am in the BA Terraces at Manchester T3 (Ken says "actually, what's left of them, this is only a shadow of what it was when it opened!") delays at check-in, and the unprecedented loss of our baggage (before we even took off!) has meant I've had to give up on visiting my old favourite haunt - the bmi Diamond lounge, but perhaps it's for the best, some things are fonder as memories, especially the friendly service from all of my fans on the desk there.
Terraces Bar
Date: 24/03/13
Trying to decide what to have from the bar - if you ask very nicely, they will even bring you a glass of Champagne!
Terraces Busines Centre
Date: 24/03/13
I've got to check on my new website - being a frequent travelling bear isn't all fun and Champers you know! I have a responsibility to my readers!
BA Domestic MAN-LHR
Date: 24/03/13
Long, long delay, but at least they did announce and honour priority boarding when they finally started. Unfortunately this was a full flight (no doubt there have been passengers less fortunate than us rolled over from earlier cancelled flights) so I didn't have this seat for long, as 1E turned up, though graciously (and not entirely surprisingly) accepted 1D in lieu. Twas a good gamble (booking 1D,F), but you can't expect it to pay off every time!
Hilton LHR T4
Date: 24/03/13
Well, they've given me a nice bed (not exactly my idea of a Diamond upgrade mind, but I'm not here that long!) now, I wonder where Pat and Ken are sleeping....
Hilton LHR T4 Oasis
Date: 23/03/13
After a delayed flight, a manic bus ride, I'm ready for a quick dinner in the Oasis cafe in the Hilton....
BA Zone J
Date: 24/03/13
It's a shame that the bus drops you off at the other end of the terminal from the First Class check-in, and what a huge terminal it is! For those used to flying in First with other airlines, I'd better explain, as you may never have seen one of these before, here in England we call it A Queue.....
Queuing to Check-In
Date: 24/03/13
...and once you've got to the head of the queue and confirmed you are actually booked in First, you get directed to.....another queue. I'd never thought I'd be using those two phrases in the same sentence: "First Class" and "Queue"....
Checking In
Date: 24/03/13
After being called forward in error and then sent back, we finally get to check-in (one at a time for some reason, even though we're all on the same booking) and we have two less bags (more free hands for bears!) and the all important BA-F boarding passes in our hands!
The Scary Door
Date: 24/03/13
Security was busy, but Fast Track did improve things, and the wait did give us a chance to watch a steady stream of people try to get though this door and be turned back. For this Bear however, it is opened wide! To some it may be "The Scary Door", but for me it is the gateway to the Nirvana that is....
Concorde Dining
Date: 24/03/13
...the Concorde Room! Since we're running late, we make a bee-line to the Concorde Dining room for our breakfast, Quite a menu to browse through....
Concorde Breakfast
Date: 24/03/13
Croisants, Danish pastries, English Breakfast Tea and Eggs Benedict, I'm pretty sure this is better that what would have been on offer in the Executive Lounge at the Hilton!
Concorde Room
Date: 24/03/13
It's really busy (one of the busiest days of the year, so the staff say) so we grab ourselves a comfy chair near the Bar, and start off with a glass of LP Grand Siecle. I'm suitably impressed that BA serve the same Champagne in the lounge that they do onboard, many many others don't!
Elemis Spa Check-In
Date: 24/03/13
....but this bear can't hang around, I've got a schedule to keep to! As one of the favoured few who are allowed to pre-book in the Spa, I'd made an appointment to have my aching shoulders massaged, and I dutifully turn up 5 minutes before the alotted time as instructed.
Massage Chair
Date: 24/03/13
So, it's a 15 minute back and shoulder massage to get the knots out of the fur for this bear! The massage chair feels it's way around my back, whilst my therapist works on my shoulders and neck, it's so relaxing that I may....just.... dro.....ZZZzzzzzzzz
Elemis Spa Recovery
Date: 24/03/13
.....Uh? What?! Oh, right, my massage is over, and I can lounge in the recovery area and enjoy the relaxed feeling!
BA Galleries 1st Champagne Bar
Date: 24/03/13
So whilst my Human companions (I think you mean "the actual ticketed passengers" - Ken") are enjoying their massages, I can do a bit of lounge surfing, into the Galleries 1st Lounge, which has a Champagne Bar!
BA Galleries 1st - That Horse
Date: 24/03/13
I had to do it! I just Had to do it!!
(Actually, given current events in the UK, perhaps these two famous horses should have nicknames - how about "Tesco Lasagne" and "Findus Bolognese"?)
(Actually, given current events in the UK, perhaps these two famous horses should have nicknames - how about "Tesco Lasagne" and "Findus Bolognese"?)
Galleries 1st Business Centre
Date: 24/03/13
...and a business centre to check-in on my new Website...
Concorde Bar
Date: 24/03/13
But after everyone is suitably massaged and relaxed, it's back to the Concorde Room, and the Concorde Bar!
Concorde Boardroom
Date: 24/03/13
In lieu of a lowly "Business Centre" we have the "Concorde Boardroom"! I like these seats, how I wish I could have sat in them when they were still installed in Concorde (Like Ken and Pat did!) but sadly Concorde died before I was even born - so sad.....
Concorde Dining
Date: 24/03/13
Demand for lunch is high, so I get there and make sure we get a table!
Concorde Lunch
Date: 24/03/13
Lovely braised shoulder of Lamb! Suddenly a two hour delay to our flight doesn't seem too bad after all!
LHR T5 Satelite C - 777
Date: 24/03/13
But finally our expected boarding time approaches, and since we are in the C Satelite and that involves a trip on the underground transfer shuttle, it's time to move. I managed to find our BA 777 that we were (soon?) to board, and anyway, I have to include at least one plane photo in this to asuage our plane spotting contingent (Hi Jim!)
BA Fast Track Boarding
Date: 24/03/13
...but this is where I want to be! Head of the queue for Fast-Track boarding, if only they'd stop putting the boarding time back!
BA New First
Date: 24/03/13
Fast track works! We're one of the first few on the plane, and I'm sat in a BA New First seat. Groovy mood lighting Man!
New First Footstool
Date: 24/03/13
...and this would be my seat for the next 11 hours (or so)! Not quite as palatial as the ottoman on Swiss First, or even Thai or Malaysian, but it seats two small bears nicely.
BA First pyjamas
Date: 25/03/13
My friends on the BA Flyertalk board had been saying that the new BA pyjamas were a little on the large side, and I must say I'd have to agree with them... I'm hoping mine might 'shrink to fit' in the wash....
BA First - Starter
Date: 25/03/13
..the long delay on the flight meant that our "dine at leisure" plans were somewhat altered, but, credit where credit is due, we were asked when we wanted to be served dinner, and dinner duly arrived right on schedule! Starting off with Lobster and Crab Timbale, and sampling the Bollinger Rose to go with it.
BA First - Main
Date: 25/03/13
...and start as you mean to go on! A full Korean set-up of Bibimbap with all the usual trimings. For those enquiring minds who would wish to know, I saw about three quarters of that red pasty stuff dissapear into the main dish... (You can also see Pat's more pedestrian Severn & Wye Cod fillet being enthusiastically consumed in the background!)
Pair Dining
Date: 25/03/13
Of course, since Ken and Pat had decided to eat together, my seat was taken, so I decided to move to Pat's. I get the idea that I had a lot more elbow room than Pat did in that little cubbyhole!
BA First - Time for bed
Date: 25/03/13
After resisting the desert menu, but failing to resist the XO Cognac, it was time for bed for this little bear....
BA First - Middle Seat Shutter
Date: 25/03/13
...and through the square window, I can see..... Beeker!
(Actually, we all need to be extra nice to Beeker at the moment, you see, these BA New First seats have no little cubbyholes at all, not a one, so Beeker has very little to do on this flight, poor bear..)
(Actually, we all need to be extra nice to Beeker at the moment, you see, these BA New First seats have no little cubbyholes at all, not a one, so Beeker has very little to do on this flight, poor bear..)
BA New First Seat - TeddyBear Style
Date: 25/03/13
Now that morning is here, I've decided to change from my Scottish formal attire into something more fitting for my arrival into Seoul for the first time - After all, I should be Gangnam Style!
BA LHR-ICN Landing
Date: 25/03/13
...and strapped in for landing (Yes, it's "Bears to manual and cross-check" time again!)
AREX Express
Date: 25/03/13
Whisked into Seoul Station in about 45 minutes, I think this is better than the bus, especially if your hotel is in sight of Seoul Station!
Hilton Executive Lounge
Date: 25/03/13
...after check-in and a little bit of a Bear-Nap, it's up to the Executive lounge (actually, we have a choice, there are two!) for Happy Hour! (Which is actually a very happy three hours long!)
Millenium Hilton ICN Breakfast
Date: 27/03/13
My Hilton Diamond status allows me to take breakfast in the lounge, of course, but since this hotel also allows you to take the full Americab Breakfast in the Cilantro Buffet restaurant, that seems to be a better option for a hungry (and still jet-lagged) Bear.
Seoul City Tour
Date: 27/03/13
Though I'm not a fan of organised tours per-se, when in a new city for the first time, a city tour does seem to be a good way of getting one's Bear-ings, so this two hour hop-on hop-off service seems to be a good way to get to know where the sights are.
N Seoul Tower
Date: 27/03/13
We stopped off the tour bus at the N Seoul Tower - on the top of Namsan Mountain, it is really tall, and gives a great view of the whole of Seoul, and a great place to mount microwave dishes and TV transmitters.
Korean Martial Arts Display
Date: 27/03/13
As we arrived, a display of Korean Martial Arts was in progress, how lucky was that? Those pikes really are sharp, as we saw later on!
And warrior women too!
Date: 27/03/13
Now that is lethal and beautiful! Two short swords and a whole new meaning to the phrase "dance of death!"
Teddy Bear Museun
Date: 27/03/13
How could I not visit the Teddy Bear Museum? I had to get a special "pass out" of course....
Teddy Bear History 1
Date: 27/03/13
I never knew we Teddy Bears had such a rich historical background!
Teddy Bear Museum Entrance
Date: 27/03/13
I had to skip back to the entrance and get Beeker to take this photo opportunity - I mean, how many chances like this do you have?
Bear Peasants
Date: 27/03/13
Beeker is a little worried about the working conditions of some of these bears, he's considering forming "KASSA" as we speak....
Bear Emperor
Date: 27/03/13
Now, that's the way Bears should be treated! How do I get a retinue like that? Why isn't BA First Class Check-in more like this??
Teddy Bear Style!
Date: 27/03/13
OK, perhaps I wasn't the first to think about it, but I'm happy to share the credit with Psy-Bear! Teddy Bear Style FTW!!
Bear Shopping
Date: 27/03/13
Bear designer stores - why wasn't I told? Here am I wearing Bear Factory when I could be wearing Armani! (And, obviously, "the Beeker wears Prada")
Bear Limo
Date: 27/03/13
I've never had quite that many security guards covering my limo - what gives? Am I not the most important bear here?
Bear Torture
Date: 27/03/13
Never mind Beeker, I am bothered about the working conditions of this bear! I asked him about it, but all he said was "MMMmmmm MmmmmMMmmmm MMMmmMMmm".....
Empty Case
Date: 27/03/13
No bear in this glass case - is it reserved for me? Is this my retirement plan? But where is the First Class seat?
N Seoul Tower 1
Date: 27/03/13
After a quick ride (and swallow) in the "Bullet Elevator" we are in the viewing ring of the tower, here is Seoul, layed out beneath us...... Hey, I think I can see our hotel from here!
N Seoul Tower 4
Date: 27/03/13
....and the TV Transmission tower, that's not quite as tall as this tower....
N Seoul Tower Binoculars
Date: 27/03/13
These binoculars are really good! - but everything seems upside down!
Back on the Tour Bus
Date: 27/03/13
..but I'm back on the tour bus going down the mountain to complete the course and return to Seoul Station where we boarded.
Grand Hyatt
Date: 27/03/13
...and a quick snap of the Grand Hyatt, yes, the Grand Hyatt, that's definitely what caught my eye, yessir, nothing else......
Gourmet Dinner
Date: 27/03/13
...and a Gourmet Dinner at one of Seouls premier restaurants! (left dinner a little late and so ended up at a Cajun Chicken Establishment..)
JSA Tour Bus
Date: 28/03/13
So today, we're off to the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone), including Panmunjom, where the North and South meet (literally)
Dorasan Station 1
Date: 28/03/13
Here I am at Dorasan Railway station, not quite the "Road to nowhere" but very close to it - in the hopes that one day there would be a rail service between South and North Korea (and thence the rest of the EurAsian Continent) this station was built, partially by public subscription, to serve as the bridge between the two sides of Korea. It descibes itself as "not the last station in the South, but the first station towards the North", sadly there are no trains to Pyongyang (or indeed anywhere else, at the moment) from here, but if they needed a picture in the dictionary under "Hope" I think this would be it....
Dorasan Station 2
Date: 28/03/13
Even though we had a very short 15 minutes here, I thought I ought to buy a platform ticket and go and see what was out there....
Dorasan Station 3
Date: 28/03/13
...yes, there really are platforms here, and rails, and every other facility you would expect of a mainline railway station. Except trains.
Dora Obervatory
Date: 28/03/13
Security restrictions (you can't see the yellow "No photos beyond this line" line because Ken has all of his toes on it taking this picture) mean that I've had to enlist the WillardKeeper as my assistant! This is Dora Observatory, where the South Korean Millitary watch (or perhaps watched, as I'd imagine satelite imagery is much more effective thesedays) North Korean Millitary, no doubt in turn, watching them....
3rd Infiltration Tunnel
Date: 28/03/13
No Bears Allowed! in the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel (or luggage, or cameras, or pretty much anything - so here is my home for 45 minutes...). However, my extremely acute bear-hearing allows me to hear the distinctive "CLUNK, ouch, swear" repeatedly as Ken bangs his head (thankfully wrapped in a compulsory hard hat) against the tunnel roof. The access tunnel is long and steep, the actual infiltration tunnel, dug by North Korean troops, is narrow and not very tall (like, we presume, the troops it was built for). It ends in an austere steel-plate with an observation hole and a rather machine-gun shaped slot (covered in "NO PHOTOGRAPH" stickers). I don't think I'd want to be a North Korean conscript coming down that tunnel thesedays....
Freedom Bridge
Date: 28/03/13
In the background you can see "Freedom Bridge" where POWs were exchanged after the Armistice in the Korean War (not the end, as we are acutely aware, here in the DMZ, surrounded by barbed wire and minefields, the Korean War is technically still "on" as there was only ever a ceasefire, and even that was technically nullified last week when Kim-Jong-Un decided to unilaterally withdraw from the Armistice agreement...)
DMZ Lunch
Date: 28/03/13
We are treated to a lunch of Korean Bibimbap as we move from our DMZ tour to the somewhat more sensitive JSA tour to Camp Bonifas and Panmunjom - what was that about condemned Bears and hearty meals?
JSA Tour Bus
Date: 28/03/13
Slightly more cramped seating on this tour bus, and much more restrictive on photo opportunities...
UN Bus
Date: 28/03/13
This is my seat for the actual Panmunjom part of the tour as it is most definitely No Bears Allowed, I'll be absent from the next few photos as I'll be here guarded by US (technically UN Millitary Police) Troops whilst my Human companions march in tightly controlled "two by two" formation out to Hut 3.
Inside the MAC Hut
Date: 28/03/13
So, this is the place where North and South meet, if you are on the right of the line of microphones on the conference table, you are technically in North Korea, I'm told both of my human travelling companions were. The figure at the end of the table is not a waxwork, he is a real, live, South Korean Soldier, though other than that fact, he behaved exactly like a wax model the entire time. No, you cannot sit on the chairs, under no circumstances must you touch anything on the North Korean side of the table, and, no, definitely no Bears
JSA & Panmungak
Date: 28/03/13
This is the tourist photo everyone comes here to take.... (tourist photo of a war zone, what am I saying?) This is the view from the steps of the South Korean Freedom House, of the various huts that straddle the MDL (Millitary Demarcation Line - the middle of the DMZ, the actual North/South Border) blue for UN buildings, grey for KPA, and beyond, the geographically close but totally inaccessible (from this side) Panmungak, the main North Korean building, on the site where the original armistice was signed, and the counterpart of Freedom House on the Northern Side (and indeed, where we would be standing if we had entered as tourists from the Northern side, instead of the Southern side). We're being watched by our US/UN guide, to make sure we don't do anything that may be interpreted as hostile by the cameras attached to Panmungak, or, indeed, anything that might look embarassing on the front page of a North Korean newspaper tommorow morning...
UN Tour Bus
Date: 28/03/13
Back on the bus (and I'm back in shot again!) we turn around and get a 'photo opportunity of the MDL compound, just to prove I was really here...
Checkpoint 3
Date: 28/03/13
Tensions are sufficiently high that the normal stop to get out and photograph Checkpoint 3 and the Bridge of No Return is reduced to a 2 minute stop of the Bus, but nethertheless, here we are, at "The Loneliest Outpost in the World"....
JSA Visitor Centre
Date: 28/03/13
Yay! We can take photos again! (Sort of, as long as we only face this way...) Mixed feelings about one of the last vestiges of the Cold War being reduced to something akin to a Disneyland Ride (but, to be clear, if the animatronics at "Pirates of the Carribean" start carrying real guns and live ammo, and there is any chance that they might start carrying off tourists, I'm switching to Legoland) with a gift shop, even! It is nethertheless a sobering place, and gives a feeling for the tension in the area....
PFC Spry
Date: 28/03/13
Our tour guide was happy (if a little bemused) to be photographed with me - being an overgrown nurse-maid to tourists is unlikely to be quite what he expected from his posting here, but he did a great job, and showed a sense of humour, which is probably the best weapon to deploy in this environment.
Hilton Bathroom
Date: 29/03/13
...and as our Tour Guide said after reaching Seoul "you can now take photos any time you want, stand up, point at anything, and don't need to walk in twos anywhere if you don't want to", so let's return to more typical Willard fare - let me give you a quick guided tour of our room here at the Millenium Hilton - Bathroom is compact but functional....
Hilton King Bed
Date: 29/03/13
Comfortable bed, enough space for two humans and a Bear (and what more could you really want?) and typical Hilton decor.
Hilton Bedroom
Date: 29/03/13
...and a nice LG LCD TV, with accessible VGA and HDMI inputs, so I can lie back and watch my favourite shows from my media player.
Hot Tub 1
Date: 29/03/13
After the tensions of the Cold War yesterday, a lazy day is called for, so I'm ready for a dip in the hot tub!
Hot Tub 2
Date: 29/03/13
Motion sensors detect my presence and the jets of the Whirlpool system come on, ready to massage away aches and pains - if only I was Tumble-dry.......
Hilton Exec Lounge
Date: 29/03/13
And after my trip to the pool, I can come up to one of the two Executive lounges, use the free Wifi, update my Website, and plan tommorows excursions....
Korean Dinner
Date: 29/03/13
....but I didn't come all this way to eat generic lounge food all the time! The street at the front of the Hilton has a small eco-system of local restaurants that all seem to have adapted to cater to a non-Korean speaking clientele. And with the usuriously high (even by Seoul standards!) prices of the eating establishments within the Hilton, they seem to get a good steady stream of business from hotel guests. This is a modestly priced meal of barbecued Pork, with all of the usual Korean trimmings...
Hilton View 1
Date: 30/03/13
Our last day at the Hilton, and I thought I'd better show you the view out of the window of Namsan Mountain together with the N Seoul Tower. Not a bad place to sit and compose these captions....
Hilton Matrix Reloaded 1
Date: 30/03/13
The Millenium Hilton, being at the foot of Namsam Mountain, is built on somewhat of a slope, and getting in an out of it on foot (or paw) is a bit of a hike. We found These Instructions on Flyertalk that describe a few alternative routes that avoid some of the climb, so, as a service to our fellow travellers, I thought I'd provide a few photos to help guide you through, as it is, let us say, a little convoluted as routes go, and yes, I fear if you take a wrong turn, you could end up in "The Matrix".
So, this is the door to the Car Park from the hotel on level P6 (accessible from the lift near the Casino entrance within the hotel).
So, this is the door to the Car Park from the hotel on level P6 (accessible from the lift near the Casino entrance within the hotel).
Hilton Matrix Reloaded 2
Date: 30/03/13
..cross the traffic flow, and you will see this door marked "Daewoo Foundation Building"...
Hilton Matrix Reloaded 4
Date: 30/03/13
....and across the car park you will, if you look very hard see this very well hidden door, which leads to a walkway to the Daewoo foundation building (closed at weekends, so this is where we stop!). Go across the walkway, and you will be on the 8th floor of the Daewoo building, and can take the lift to the 1st floor exit, and you will then be around the corner from Seoul station. Best to do it from the Hotel end first time around, as you would probably never find the carpark access from the Daewoo side (I'm sure it is very well signposted.....in Korean....)
Hilton Matrix Reloaded 5
Date: 30/03/13
....and finally, this is what the Daewoo Foundation Building looks like from the street - it can easily be recognised by the complete absence of the (English) word "Daewoo" or the Daewoo Logo we are used to recognising, but if you enter and go over to the lifts on the right hand side, you will be able to get the the 8th floor and the other end of the walkway to the Hilton. This has been a "Willard the Bear Public Information Presentation", and remember, Charlie Says - Always tell your Mummy where you are going.
Hilton Executive Lounge Checkout
Date: 30/03/13
The staff in the Executive Lounge are here to help Willard, and are happy to check out Exec level or Diamond guests - Willard will miss them, but it's time to move on to our next hotel in Seoul.....
Hilton Lobby
Date: 30/03/13
Whilst we wait for our "Jumbo Taxi" (you should see how many changes of clothes Willard brought!) we take a last look around the cavernous lobby of the Hilton, anyone would think it was a Casino! (Oh, wait...)
Bye Bye Hilton
Date: 30/03/13
And Willard poses outside the Hilton as the bags are loaded into the Taxi....
Taxi to Sheraton D-Cube
Date: 30/03/13
Comfy seat for Willard as we brave rush-hour traffic in Seoul for our trip across the river to the Sheraton D-Cube.
Sheraton D-Cube Check-in
Date: 30/03/13
As his Human companions check-in in the lounge, Willard enjoys the view from the 38th floor Club lounge.
D-Cube Bath
Date: 30/03/13
Booking was complicated as not all of the Club rooms at the D-Cube have a bath, and, whilst a walk-in steam shower sounds fun, a bath sounds better! This bath, with it's dimmable lighting, and elecronically controlled blind for the window into the bedroom, seems a lot better!
D-Cube Club Room View
Date: 30/03/13
So our room is actually two floors higher than the Club lounge, and we do seem to get a very nice view!
Namsangol Hanock Village 1
Date: 31/03/13
Having moved away from Namsan, it, of course, makes perfect sense that we choose to visit the Namsan Hanock village after we've left ("Don't try to make sense of it Willard, it is the way it is" - Ken), here we are at a traditional tradesmans house
Namsangol Hanock Village 3
Date: 31/03/13
This is a more affluent home, in fact, a home originally built for a relation of the Royal Family, this is the inner residence, where the (for the want of a better term) Bigwigs actually lived.
Namsangol Hanock Village Pond
Date: 31/03/13
Very nicely landscaped pond, very suitable for Bears of substance!
Sheraton Club Lounge Hors d'ourvres
Date: 31/03/13
After a hard day absorbing the Korean culture, I venture back for the Club lounge happy hour. Some lounges provide just a smattering of food, barely enough to feed a Teddy Bear, let alone a Human, some provide a luxurious spread that your could easily make a meal of - the Sheraton D-Cube definitely falls into the latter category, this is a meal should you so wish!
Sheraton Sunset
Date: 31/03/13
...and the sunset over Seoul is beautiful if you are lucky enough to catch it!
Korean BBQ 1
Date: 31/03/13
...but we still didn't come here to eat lounge food all the time, so we venture out to a Korean Barbeque restaurant. This is one order shared between two (and a Bear!) and it's major!. Steak, Pork Ribs and Beef Short ribs all marinaded in some amazing sauce that makes them, well, indescribably good!
Korean BBQ 2
Date: 31/03/13
....you didn't believe me about the Ribs, did you? That's a lot of beef, even for two (and a Bear!)
Han River Cruise 1
Date: 01/04/13
Another day dawns, and today we're starting off with a cruise around the Han River, letting the scenery pass us by whilst we relax. Weather is a little chilly today, but still somewhat better than the UK, we hear!
Han River Cruise 3
Date: 01/04/13
...the financial center, visible as we pass back around the City Hall.
Yongsan Market Lunch
Date: 01/04/13
Yongsan Electronics Market is amazing, truly where old computers/PAs/radios/phones etc go to die, but not a very good subject for Willard Style photography, so here we are in a Japanese Restaurant having a relaxing lunch halfway.
Sweet Shopping?
Date: 04/04/13
So, Willard appears to be shopping for bags of sweets - but why? Well, it just so happens that at Ken's current client, the tradition is that you have to bring back sweets for everyone if you go away - so, Willard is out shopping. The tradition doesn't specifically state that they have to be the most obscure and odd sweets possible, but that appears to be the implementation - shrimp and chilli flavour, anyone?
