Arrival and Adventures at Incheon Airport
Departed from Manila at 1:10 PM.
Arrived in Korea!
It seems that some countries now allow registration and entry through kiosks.
I was surprised to see the long lines at the immigration area,
I didn’t expect so many flights arriving in the early morning at Incheon!
The queue was so long that I couldn’t see where it ended.
Even with automated immigration checks, it felt like a maze,
and it took quite a while to wait for my turn.
When I went to collect my luggage,
my bags were already out! Haha.
As soon as I boarded the plane in Manila, I fell asleep,
and when I woke up near the arrival time,
I remembered that I had left some items to pack until the last minute.
Things to do at Incheon Airport:
- European SIM card
- Sunscreen
- Postcards
- Copy of passport
- Update Aurora pickup address
I met my sister as if we were reuniting after a long time.
Since I had plenty of time, I decided to tackle one task at a time!
After going to a bookstore to buy the SIM card and postcards,
I also needed to go to Olive Young (in the basement) for sunscreen,
so I decided to store my luggage.
I found out that I could store my bags at the courier service,
using 'Hanjin Express'.
The base rate for large and extra-large suitcases is 5,000 won each,
applicable for up to 4 hours; after that, it’s 10,000 won.
There were many others using the service,
and wow, Incheon Airport is really big!
Thinking of dragging my luggage around made me feel exhausted before the trip even started.
I think the price is reasonable.
Then my sister mentioned she felt a bit under the weather,
so we stopped by a nearby pharmacy to buy some emergency medicine.
I love fixed pricing like this!
Next time I go to Korea, I want to organize my medicine better.
I took a screenshot of the list of essential medications.
At the bookstore, I bought the SIM card,
but I couldn’t find Christmas postcards.
I skipped preparing a copy of my passport.
I went down to the basement for shopping at Olive Young.
As soon as I entered, I spotted the skin cushion right away.
I only saw the brands I knew, haha.
I bought the Jung Saem Mool Essential Skin Nuder Cushion,
which I had previously tried at the duty-free shop, and liked it.
I took a photo to compare prices for buying it on my return flight.
I also bought a birch moisture sunscreen that I had used before.
Since I had tried it, I decided to purchase it,
and they provided a tax refund receipt at checkout.
I had searched for a moisturizing cream but hadn’t used it yet, so I noted it for price comparison.
I finished buying the essentials,
and while I decided to sit and rest,
I noticed some interesting sports bags and hard cases for bicycles!
I even saw a scene reminiscent of a drama,
with a cute dog in a large cage,
as if it were going for adoption abroad.
After exiting Incheon Airport, I took a moment to enjoy the fresh air,
and feeling hungry after finishing my errands,
I stopped by two CUs to find the longed-for triangle kimbap and fish cake.
I ended up feeling a bit full after loading up on carbs on an empty stomach, haha.
I remembered buying the SIM card at that bookstore when I went to Malta last year,
so I had no trouble buying it again.
I hope my phone supports dual SIM or eSIM soon.
I heard there’s an international driver’s license issuance center at Incheon Airport,
so if you plan to rent a car, you can sort everything out at the airport! (Closed on weekends)
I had once heard about the battery regulations,
and while I put mine in a ziplock bag, they allow tape at the airport.
Returning to the luggage storage, I retrieved my bags,
checked in, and sent my checked luggage.
Next time, I’ll avoid the weekend! Haha.
It’s been a while since I flew with Lufthansa!
On time boarding!
14-hour flight, and since it’s my first time in economy, I’m really nervous!
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