…and it was all down to my stupidity, sleepiness, and a bit of distraction on the side.
So this is what happened. It was a Tuesday morning and our flight to Jeju was scheduled at 2:55pm. We practically ran through the shops of Myeongdong to look for Basic House (but I didn’t find the clothes/collection I was looking for) and then to BSX, where much of my time was spent taking photos of G-Dragon‘s standees with my phone (I’m a fangirl, OK?) so we barely had enough time to get on the 12:55 airport limousine number 6002 (I think that was the number. Or was it 6004? Anyway.) Oh, and I’m tickled at how they used “airport limousine” as a fancy way of referring to a (very high-end, I must say) airport bus.
So we got on the bus, and there weren’t a lot of passengers, possibly only a couple apart from us three, and sat allll the way at the back. Removed my coat, my backpack, my bag, just rendered myself “UNENCUMBERED”, then parked myself by the window so I could check out the scenery outside and take pictures.
The empty bus. We literally had it all to ourselves.
Kept nodding on and off throughout the trip. Came fully awake when the driver said we are already at Gimpo Airport. So we grabbed our bags, rushed to the front of the bus, only to realize we’re at the International Airport. We were supposed to get off at the next stop, the Domestic Terminal.
So we sat back down close to the front. Minutes later, we arrived at the Domestic Terminal, with barely 20 minutes till boarding gates close. We said bye to the bus driver, and rushed off inside the airport…
…ran up to the second floor to check in at Jeju Air….
…Peach turned to me and asked for my passport….
F*ck f*ck f*ckity F*ck. “OMG I LEFT MY PURSE AT THE BUS!”
They went “Go! Run back, maybe the bus hadn’t left yet!”
I had my doubts about that, but I ran back down all the same, then went back to the bus stop.
Yep. The bus has already left.
At the stop, I spoke with these two old ahjussis (old Korean men who qualify as grandpas, really) who are in charge of the limousines. They spoke zero English, but I don’t know how I did it, I was somehow able to make them understand that I left my small bag at the very back of Bus 6002/4 from Myeongdong.
After much gesticulating and signs and halting Korean and Japanese, putting much emphasis on the word “kabang/kaban”, they told me (yes, I was able to understand) that the bus would STILL go to Incheon, then make another round to Seoul, then back to Gimpo.
That’s, like, an hour long.
“I…. have a flight… in twenty minutes!”
Old man shakes his head, No. Not possible.
“You…. alone?”
I say no, “I have two friends with me. Inside. Waiting.”
He shakes his head again (At that point, I was beginning to hate that gesture). “You… Move…. flight.”
Darn. I signaled that I will be right back. Ran back all the way up to the Jeju Air counter, where Peach and She and a young gentleman from Jeju Air were waiting.
No choice. I have to be left behind, and they would have to go ahead without me. Peach left me some 50,000KRW, “just in case”.
They were cutting it close as it is. I watched as they ran to the gates, with two Jeju Air people carrying our luggage. The young man turned to me and said, “Stay here, Miss. I will help you.”
HALLELUJAH. HE SPEAKS ENGLISH. (And very well, too!)
So I waited. He came back, then had to inform his boss that he’s assisting this stupid tourist (I’m not really sure he said that, but if I were in his position, I would.) then we went down to the kiosk where the management of the airport limousines are.
A Korean conversation ensued between them, and from what I gathered, the woman told him to talk to the old men at the stop (where I went the first time).
So we went there. More Korean conversation between them. I felt utterly left out. He turns to me (oh, he’s quite adorable, too. Adorable, not cute. Fangirls would know the diff.) and said, “Everything will be fine, but there’s a problem”.
O~kay. I braced myself.
“You have to wait here. I have to go back and work.”
Oh, is that all!? I didn’t expect you to hold my hand the entire time, you know, although that would’ve been sweet, although icky, considering you’re how old? Or, to be more precise, how younger than me? XDD
No, I didn’t actually say that. I just said, “Sure. Not a problem. I’m willing to wait.” I had no choice anyway.
So I sat there. Buses passing by. The old men pacing and walking around me. Telling me heaven-knows-what in Korean.
I was taking pictures with the camera, which I had in my backpack. Darn. Even my iPod with my ebooks are in my purse! My passport, all my money, my bloody phone, my ebooks, my cards!
A sure sign that I am bored…. I’m even taking photos of the luggage compartment of the buses that stopped. Sheesh.
After a while, the radio of one of the old men squawked. Then he turned to me and gave the thumbs up. They found my bag. A bus will come to deliver it within 30 minutes. HELL YES.
So one of them told me to follow him, and we made our way to this other bus stop at the very end of the airport, where there’s a sheet of paper with bus numbers and check-in times. I sat there, and one ahjussi pointed a bus no. 297 on the list to me, which will arrive at 2:43pm. It was still 2:28 but that’s ok. 🙂
FINALLY, the bus came. Out came the well-dressed driver, holding a brown purse. Incongruous, really, this huge, uniformed middle-aged man coming out holding a brown mini-satchel. 🙂 But they gave it to me, and I thanked them in the very few languages I know of.
Ran to the desk, Jeju Air Adorable Guy was busy with another client, so I went to the next counter, and I was booked for the 4:05 flight, and they gave me a window seat. 🙂
Adorable guy saw me and inquired if I got it. 🙂 And I said, “YES I GOT IT!” Another round of profuse gratitude followed.
Looking back, I’m kicking myself for not getting his name at least. I would have no qualms about thanking him and bandying his name about in the very few social networks I’m in, coz he’s THAT AWESOME.
Inside the boarding area. Why oh why can’t we have airports like these in my country?
There was even an exhibit of sorts and, to kill time, I just checked them out.
This is the Yong-Go, or the Dragon Drum. Transcribed from the tablet description beside it:
“A dragon that is about to soar up to the heaven, is painted on the body of the drum, and a Korean traditional design of Taegeuk, a swirling red and blue, is painted on the centre. A drummer, who is wearing a traditional yellow jacket called Gwaeja, a blue band around his/her waist, leggings called Haengjeon, hemp stones called Mituri, and short white sleeves called Hansam to hide his/her hands, beats the drum with sticks on both hands along the specific rhythm. It is one of the drums of Joseon Dynasty and it was usually used to celebrate big events. Since a dragon is painted on the drum, it is called Yong-go or dragon drum.”
This, on the other hand, is the Gama, or the Palanquin. You’ve probably seen this in those Korean period dramas where royalty is transported. The description beside it goes:
“A rider sits inside Gama and Gama is carried either by two carriers – one in the front and the other in the rear – or by four carriers – two on each side. The carriers hold the poles by hands or by shoulders with the straps tied to the poles. Usually a Gama is constructed of a cover, Gama (main frame), and poles. A cushion for the rider is placed on the floor inside Gama. This Gama is called Sain-gyo and was used for a bride in the common class.
Inside the Gama.
At the shuttle bus that will take us from the Boarding Area to the plane, this guy was seated across the aisle. I want that luggage tag.
My last glimpse of Seoul, and the long Han River.
And hello there, Jeju!
So I boarded solo. Landed, and when I got there, Peach and She were waiting, holding an A4-sized piece of paper saying: “WELCOME TO JEJU, JHING.”
Yes, we love some sense of humor.
So.
LESSONS LEARNED.
Not to bring down my country’s local carriers, but I doubt I would have gotten that much assistance if it were with them. Jeju Air and Gimpo Airport personnel totally rock. I appreciate that never did they make me feel stupid for leaving my bag. No looks of disdain, no tsk, tsk-ing. I was doing a fairly fantastic job of berating myself and calling myself all sorts of names and I’m thankful they didn’t add to it. They didn’t seem to expect any payment for helping me out, either. My faith in human nature is being restored gradually. So, thank you, Jeju Air. Thank you, Gimpo. Thank you, Korea. XDD
You know what’s funny? The whole time, I never felt afraid that I would never get my passport and other stuff back. At the back of my head, I knew they would be returned to me. I was more annoyed that I had to miss the flight, and lost about 2 hours waiting. Sadly, if I were in my homeland, my first concern would have been that I would have to have my cards cancelled and have everything replaced pronto. Sad, but true. Anyway, some pix of that time.
Since I’m in Kpop-land, naturally, I had to stick to the theme. (Oh, dear, I almost lost you~)
I’ll keep looking back to this as a very memorable and funny experience. 🙂
On another note, I will be taking off shortly for an “adventure in the mountains” over the Holy Week. How are you spending yours?