Seoul day two- Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas from Seoul! We had a lazy morning cuddling in bed with the baby. After having lunch downstairs at the hotel we headed out for the day. We went to a large palace. It is done very similarly to the Chinese palaces. We watched a changing of the gaurds and saw a guard parade. 

It was very impressive. I am always so amazed at how well everything is maintained. 

There were a lot of people at the palace for it to be Christmas Day. 

We wondered around to the back side where the residence was located and proceeded through the park. 

The sun was warm and the scenery beautiful. 

We exited the back gate to get a glimpse of the presidential palace. The equivilant of the White House, only it is called the Blue house. Notice the police stand in the center of road. Cars are not allowed to slow down or stop in this area. There was a heavy police presence and a lot of men in black coats with ear pieces. I like to think they are the same as the secret service. 

We returned to the park around the old palace. We were headed out to find warm drinks. 

We exited the area and walked along embassy row. We hopped on the subway and headed towards a market area. We stopped to have a warm drink and snack. The baby stretched out and napped at the coffee shop. 

After coffee we walked along the river area in search of some food. We headed down into an underground market. Just as we got down there we were surrounded by little old Korean women. Theo was pitching a fit and the old grandmotherly types wanted to help calm him. I watched as they took Theo from Bill's arms. Turned Theo around and magically he stopped crying and flirted with the granny. I had been warned earlier that day that was normal and that they love to love on the babies. It was scary, but also nice to see our baby loved in another culture. 

They would not let us leave until I had Theo wrapped up in the sling and my coat zipped up around him. 

He really likes to look outward and see where we are going. He is noticing a lot more around him now. 

As well traveled and adventuresome as Bill and I are we are cautious about food. We walked through the market and never found a restaurant that looked safe enough or serving food we would eat. After entering three restaurants and being turned away becase they were not serving dinner. We finally settled on a curry place. The restaurant was deserted, but the food was good. After dinner we hopped back on the subway and headed for home. 

Here the Theo sleeping in the crib. We borrowed this awesome baby gear from some friends. We may have to look into one of these for ourselves. 

The next morning we work up early, packed all the suitcases and caught the shuttle to the airport. We skyped with our parents in Texas and hopped our flight from Seoul to Okinawa. 

Merry CHRISTMAS from the Morrison's!

Christmas Eve day one part two.

WAfter ending our tour to see the DMZ, we got on the subway to head out to see the city. First subway ride!

We excited near City Hall. There is an ice rink out front. 

And a beautiful Christmas tree of lights. 

We entered the Deoksugung Palace. It is still so striking to see old world buildings in the center of a modern city. 

Family photo the baby was wide awake. My gloves reflected the flash. Makes Theo look like he has head lights. 

We went into the museum and walked around. It was a Korean Modern art museum. They had a great collection. We found a nursing room. It was a nice quite place to change the baby and feed him. 

After touring the museum we walked back out to city hall. We rounded the corner and found anther lite up tree. Bill loves Christmas lights. 

As we were leaving this area we watched two sets of police with riot gear walk in the opposite direction we were headed. We had past a railroad protest earlier in the day. It could have been for that or something different. Bill wanted to follow, but I objected. 

We made it back to the City Hall area. 

We walked a few blocks to find dinner and finally settled on an Italian place. We had pizza with sweet potatoe and honey along with bacon and garlic. It was quite tastey and different. We took the metro home and were in bed by 10pm. A full day of touring. 

Day one DMZ tour

We got up at 6:30am- everyone slept very well and we were ready to start our day. We got dressed and grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel coffee shop and walked off base. We met a bus that was to take us to the DMZ area. The bus ride was an hour and a half to the border. The DMZ is the De-Militarized Zone, it is where the north and South Korean borders meet and the war has been at a standstill for the past 60 years. 

After a long bus ride we arrived at the peace line. Here is the peace bell. 

Bill is standing on the railroad that used to connect north to south. 

This is a memorial to the families who have people over in North Korea. 

This is a steam engine that broke down in during the Korean War and it has stayed there. It is full of bullet holes. 

Notice the barbed wire behind us. We look so happy in an austere place. 

These signs note cities on either side of the DMZ. There are three lines inbetween this area. A north boarder, the 2km the DML- demilitarized line and then 2km and the south border. 

This is on the wooden bridge. The bridge used to be walkable between north and south. 

Here is the freedom bridge. It connects north and south. During the war people would cross seeking their freedoms. 

This wall blocks the wooden bridge access. 

A peace memorial. 

Baby Theo is truly an ambassador. He slept through this tour stop, but we were greeted by many people from all over the world. A universal, "awe, baby!" Was the greeting no matter the language. It is nice to see a baby can breech a language barrier. Now as long as the people on the bus don't hate us when he cries. 

Next we went to the museum and tunnel to North Korea. 

This area was very educational and full of propaganda. They have found 4 tunnels from the north to the south. The north says that the south dug the tunnel but there is evidence, like TNT facing towards the south. The north also claimed that it was a coal mine, but there is no coal in Korea. Only granite, so these four tunnels were to try to infiltrate the south. We visited the 3rd tunnel. We couldn't take any pictures down in the tunnel. We walked 1km underground towards the North Korean line. It was very steep. The tunnel was only about 5ft tall in some areas, we wore yellow hard hats. I had to stoop to make it through. I wore Theo and hiked down and up. It was quite the physical activity. But I am very glad we did this part of the tour. 

After this stop we went to an observation area. It is where the military looks out on to the DMZ. I didn't take pictures because it was very hazy. Also you had to stand behind a yellow line about 30ft away from a 5ft wall. If you crossed the yellow line and took a photo, the soldiers would delete all your photos. 

You can see some of the military compounds from this outpost, but there are also what looks like a town. But it is just like a Hollywood studio lot, they are empty shells of buildings with painted on windows. The North Koreans want people to believe that it is a nice place to live and visit. 

The next stop was to the rail road. There is a working rail road connecting the two countries. This sign says, "Not the last station from the south, but the first station toward the North."

The stories were told makes it sound like they truly believe that there will be reunification and that the south will impart their government onto the north. 

Next we stopped at the Reunification Villiage. It was an area to purchase the DMZ barbed wire. We got back on the bus and headed back towards Seoul. The baby slept all the way home. 

Christmas in South Korea

The min we got Baby Theodore's passport we were hot planning our next trip. And all in one day Bill planned 3 trips all with in a month of each other- South Korea for Christmas, Nagano for New Years and Hiroshima for MLK day. 

Our winter break was starting off awesome. Our Christmas Eve dinner was a red, white and green affair. All left overs.

A candle light dinner- it was quite yummy! Then for our Christmas Day dinner we had flank steak, with asparagus and baked potatoe! Best home made dinner ever! So yummy!  

After dinner we opens presents and enjoyed family time. It was a great Christmas at home and the fun times were just beginning. 

On Monday Bill had to go into work before flying out that afternoon. So The baby and rested at home and got ready for our big trip. Full of firsts for Theo- first flight, first international flight, first Christmas, first snow, first vacation and first time away from home. 

We left Bill's office at 11:50am. We arrived at the international airport at 12:20pm. The flight was to leave at 1:55pm. Plenty of time right! 

Well there was a long line to go through check in, then we got behind a large youth soccer team from Korea. Finally we get to the ticket counter. We are feeling good, but as the ticket agent is flipping through Theo's passport I start to panic. We didn't get a sofa stamp, she asks for Bill's orders, baby's name is not on the orders, then she asks us for the birth certificate- shoot a monkey. I didn't think to bring a copy. It took about a half hour of negotiation with immigration and customs, but they were going to allow us to fly out of we could get a copy to show on our return. 

Next we stood in line to go through security. We have found Asian cultures to be ineffeciant travelers. They get to the conveyor belt and are surprised they have to take jackets off and put liquids on a tray. Finally the soccer team and their chaperones make it through. It is our turn. I had read I had to take the baby out of the carrier. He was sound asleep and content that I disnt really want to disturb him. They were good with the sleeping baby in a carrier. It is now 1:30pm- boarding started at 1:20pm. We have to clear customs and immigration. We get to the counter, they guy tells us what we already know, get a copy before returning, we get the stamps taken care of, and we are through. It was a stressful time. We board the transfer bus, get to the plane and get settled. We prayed the 3rd seat would be empty. And it was!!

Here is our first family picture on a plane. Theo slept through all the hassle of checking in, getting through security and clearing immigration and boarding. 

Once seated, I pulled him out of the carrier and prepared to nurse for take off. 

He did fantastic! Not a peep out of the baby during take off. 

As soon as the seat belt light went off, we had to change a diaper. Bill thought we were pushing it on how long it had been since he had a clean diaper. 

After a quick in air change. Bill brought the baby back to mean and I had a happy baby in flight. 

The flight was uneventful. Happy baby, sleepy baby, a tear free event. Here is our family picture at the end of the flight. 

First flight success! Next hurdle was clearing customs an collecting luggage. We sailed through with no problems. 

The Incheon is supposed to be one of the nicest airports in the world. And as we walked through the airport we passed an orchestra. 

What a lovely surprise. We found the Army info desk, checked in to get a free shuttle to the hotel. Baby and I changed a diaper, nursed and waited for the bus. 

We boarded our buss at 5pm. And this is how he rode on the bus. Passed out sound asleep. 

We arrive at the Dragon Hill Lodge. An army military hotel. Just as we were arriving Theo had a melt down. It was because he got too hot on the bus. Stripped him down. Dunked him in the carrier. Wrapped my sweater around him and I an walke from the bus to the hotel- cooled off, calmed down. We Checked in and took a breather. Finally after a short recoup we bundled up and set off for a nice cool walk to dinner. 

We headed off base and the baby had a total melt down. We returned to the hotel and regrouped and  caught a cab to the Itowan area. A near by shopping area. We had the best Mexican food since America. It was deliscious!! Fajitas, chips and salsa, some sangria and sopillas. Great dinner. Good first day.