The Start of Our 2018 Adventures and Daily Pics - Korea

LittleBear and I riding the limo bus to Incheon Airport Jan 28 (Taken Feb 4 2018)

I'm sitting in our amazing hotel suite in Beitou at Radium Kagaya, dressed in a traditional Yukata, and sipping hot tea pretty much loving life. I can hear Kitsune sleeping in the next room while I type away in the living area. The sounds of the park outside filter up to our room, mixing with the sound of rain and distant traffic.

It's incredibly soothing.

However, our 2018 adventure did not start here.

Cold and cloudy Thursday in Duluth Jan 29 (Taken Feb 1 2018)

I made sure to make an extensive list of the things I wanted to pack, and finished our last minute prep Thursday so we would be ready to go early Friday to the airport.

Since we are flying Business once again this year, we are allowed up to 40lbs in our carry-on. I have since learned that just because you can...doesn't mean you should XD We have always packed just a backpack each for our monthly trip, and normally we are able to cull it down to ~ 18lbs or below. This year however, I took no precautions and just packed whatever I wanted. We ended up weighing ~27lbs.

No big thing if you aren't going to be walking a ton.

We ended up walking a TON.

Learned that lesson! hahaha Less is more.

Delta Lounge Atlanta Airport Jan30 (Taken Feb 2 2018)

Littlebear and Fae are chilling with us in the Delta Lounge Jan 31 (Taken Feb 2 2018)

We booked Korean Air for the first time, which means we were able to fly directly out of Atlanta! This has never happened before, we have always needed to make a connection elsewhere before starting the long leg of the journey.

Korean Air is partnered with Delta, so we were able to chill in the Delta Lounge and munch on some light fare while we waited for boarding to start.

Littlebear and Fae peeking out of my purse while waiting to board the Airport Express Rail Feb 1 (Taken Feb 3 2018)

Cars in front of us on the Airport Express Train

Tired, but super excited to be here!

The flight was pretty much uneventful, was able to sleep for a bit on the lie flat seat and thoroughly enjoyed being able to keep my legs elevated the entire trip. Kitsune slept most of the flight!

After 15 hours in the air, we touched down in frigid Seoul, Korea. It was in the teens!!! We were not remotely prepared for that weather. I had made sure to pack 2 light jackets, but oh man!

We figured out how to get from the Airport to Seoul, then from there to Gangnam. We touched down around 5:30pm, and arrived at our hotel at around 8:30pm.

IHG Grand Parnas Hotel Junior Suite Feb 2 (Taken Feb 3 2018) 

Fae and Littlebear were super happy to vacate my cramped purse Feb 3 (Taken Feb 3 2018)

Kitsune is a Platinum member with IHG so we were super lucky to get a free upgrade to our room! The lobby of the hotel was beautiful. It's connected to Parnas Mall, so we dropped our luggage off and wandered around the shops for a bit. Unfortunately it was late, so most stores were closed or closing. Also, since it was so cold, our plans to wander outside were dashed.

Because of the late hour we ended up dashing across the freezing courtyard to Mcdonalds (>.<') since it was open late. That did allow me to pick up a Limited Edition PyeongChang Olympics Coke glass XD hahah Score!

Forlorn Round Brown Bear wishing for a home Feb 4 (Taken Feb 3 2018)

While we wandered around the shops, we found a place called Butter, the U spelled with a smiley face. They had so much cool stuff, and then I saw this bear.

Ohhh this bear. Kitsune really really wanted to buy him right then, but I was actually being practical for once. I couldn't figure out how we would be able to carry him since our packs were maxed out and we had no checked luggage. We went back to our room that night empty handed, with only this lonely picture to remember him by.

New bear friends have joined our AWESOME bear family Feb 5 (Taken Feb 4 2018)

Yeah....that didn't last long XD hahah

Kitsune convinced me that I would be able to figure out a way to transport the new additions and after our breakfast we zoomed to Butter, waited for it to open, and dashed in to adopt our new bear friends. :D

I had packed grocery bags luckily, and was able to stuff both bears and our Coke glass into it. Since we are Business class we are each allowed 2 carry-on items so it all worked out!!!

 Anyways...this post has gotten quite long, and Kitsune needs his laptop. I shall continue our story later!