Chaos @ Heathrow - Yours truly ignores request to take his original credit card that he made the booking with - with him to Heathrow - where I book in with KA (Korean Air). As we lift off from Glasgow - a voice in my head says weren't you supposed to take your cc (credit card) that you made the booking with. Another voice in my head says "Agh, it will be fine". It turned out not to be fine and when asked for it @ Heathrow I tell them I do not have it with me - they tell me no credit card = no boarding pass. I can be really charming at times - but this proves to be a problem - after attempting to login on cc account online to print a statement proving that this is my cc - I discover I do not have a clue what my login details are - never use the card - used it for protection purposes only - cc will refund you if somethign happens - more chance of getting your money back etc., Anyway to cut a long story short I have to phone credit card company. Here I am standing in Heathrow I don't even know the cc number - person at cc very efficient 123 they have me on their database - a few security questions later I am being verified as the owner of this card. KA want more though they want the actual amount and date etc., - cc details online only go back to May - I booked in April - I seize the moment - I want my boarding pass - I make out that I am repeating everything the cc person is saying to me (actually he is sitting their making notes) - He gives me (actually I give him - keep up now) the full amount, date etc., - once I am sure I have understood everything he has said (he has all the info KA will want) I hand it over to KA person - they are happy - everything confirmed = I get my boarding pass. (Phew!)
Now I admit (don't tell a soul) I am a wee bit frazzled by my encounter - it was touch and go there for a while - used to being able to reason / charm my way through these hiccups - my Korean is non existent though. I spontaneously decide to treat myself to a bottle of 18 yr old Glenmorangie - a damn fine whisky - if, I may say. Cost a few bob but what the hell I decide I deserve a treat.
Depart Heathrow - 20h30 - Arrive Incheon 11 hours later - but it is about midday Sunday in Korea. Damned if I don't get my Glenmorangie confiscated at Incheon airport - even although I am in transit - I am not allowed to take the bottle on board with me - ho hum! I'm thinking were off to a shaky start on our holiday here.
I went on powerboat trip in the harbour - 50 knots crazy stops and 360 degree turns - watch video adventure jet trip - end up quite wet and wondering if my internal organs were still roughly where they should be - as well as haing a somwhat red face - sunburn. Met up with Samantha after work and we all went for dinner.
Photos - 1) almost the first photo I take in Auckland - Auckland ferry teminal (although I don't really capture much of it) with Chinese scientific ship (so they say) in background
2) Colonial Ferry terminal - Samantha works in high rise to the right
3) balcony Sam & Huds place
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