Korea's a funny place. The people are obsessively polite, fastidiously clean and have a unquenchable thirst for duty free shopping. Incheon Airport reins supreme as a duty free Mecca. Singapore probably comes in a close second in its' duty free mania. Walking around Incheon Airport it is hard to believe that Vladivostok is only 2 hours flight away. The only evidence of Russian proximity lies in the Cyrillic "Please Do Not Touch" (Руками Не Трогать) signs above the Cognac sections in each duty free shop. However, the Russian experience was to finally show itself as we walked to our departure gate. Dressed to kill with tans that put any bronzed Aussie to shame, the Russians stood out! Where the hell were we, a beauty pageant or an airport. No we were definitely in an airport because everyone was lining up to board the plane 30min before the first boarding call. Nowhere else is this unique habit seen, but in Russia or in airports with Russian departure. My wife can not explain this phenomena of strange anticipation. It is like some sort of competition to see who can get on the plane first. One guy even tried to hand over his boarding pass to a Korean Air attendant setting up the velvet roping. "Hold your horses mate", I thought. "Why bother all the stress when we all have seats allocated". The funny thing is, I started to join the game and push for my spot in the queue. The game did not finish just there, for when landing it as if the referee has just blown a whistle for time on again. Half a second after the wheels have hit the tarmac the Russians proceeded to stand, unload their bags from the overhead compartments, and begin the queueing process all over again.
I know that during communist times queues were almost like full time employment, however, this was ridiculous!!! Sure enough the Korean Air flight attendants came bolting down the aisle yelling at everyone to sit down. It was only when the attendants' backs were turned did the game continue. This time the unusual technique of opening overheard lockers while sitting down was implemented.
Finally we arrived at Vladivostok and after racing to get off the plane momentum was cut short as we waited for over an hour for our luggage to be put on the carousel. It obviously takes awhile to check out whats in every ones luggage?! (Mind you this is not a customs check)
Once the conveyor kicked into action the race game started all over again to see who can get out from the airport the fastest. The scene reminded me of a National Geographic documentary showing antelopes race towards water through a bottle neck. At least unlike Brisbane, there were checks to make sure that you have taken the right bag.
At long last we were greeted by Anatoly and Nadia, Anastasia's parents, and their friend Igor. 40 mins later, after risking life and limb through Vladivostok's out off control traffic, we were feasting on a dinner which comprised of 7 or 8 different dishes.
RUSSIA - A FOOD LOVERS PARADISE!!!