Seoul Man

Posted on September 6, 2013 by CaseyT

Last week, I was finally able to go to Seoul! We frequently port in Incheon, but taking the train from there to Seoul takes more time than I usually have available. Since we had an overnight in Incheon last cruise, I decided to make the trek.

Seoul skyline

I set out with a large group of friends, unsure of what exactly we wanted to do. We got directions at a tourist information booth in Incheon, then hopped on the train. Compared to Bart in San Francisco and the subway in New York, the trains in Korea are impeccable!

Palace #1

We got off the train downtown and quickly found a palace. We weren’t able to go inside, but the exterior of the building and the ceiling of the bridge it sat on were beautiful. Next, we wandered through a market before stopping at a café to refuel.

Bridge ceiling

When we hit the street again, we came across a lovely fountain. We then set out to find another palace. On the way, we had to go underground to cross the street. We had an unfortunate encounter with a screaming Korean woman. I am still not sure why, but the woman was shouting, at no one in particular at first, then she started directing her anger towards us. She came dangerously close to slapping me, but luckily my dance captain came to my rescue. We quickly went upstairs, and luckily were not followed. My heart was beating so fast!

Market

Fountain

We saw a very tranquil looking area nearby, and decided that would be a great place to calm our nerves. The area was actually a palace built in the Joseon Dynasty called Deoksugong. The grounds have temples and beautiful gardens, as well as Western style building that is now an art museum. The sun was setting while we were walking around, and the soft light and gentle breeze were wonderfully refreshing!

Temple at Deoksugong

East meets West

Upon leaving, we heard music. Following the sound, we came across an outdoor children’s concert. We watched a little boy play the harmonica and heard a group sing a folk song before we moved on.

Open Night

Our final stop was dinner! We found a delicious Italian restaurant near a shopping mall. I’ve been surprised how good Italian food is in Korea! I was grateful for the walk back to the train station, after stuffing my face with pasta and bread. The train ride home seemed extra long, but wasn’t too difficult. We got a shuttle back to the ship when we got to Incheon, and were “home” shortly after midnight.

I don’t know if I will have another opportunity to go to Seoul this contract, but I enjoyed my day there, and would love to see more!

Inching through Incheon

Posted on July 22, 2013 by CaseyT

Land, Ho!

Even though the Voyager is a large ship, I’ve felt like a caged bird for the past week or so. Getting off the ship and setting foot on land was just what I needed to settle my anxious spirit. Luckily, my first opportunity to disembark was at an overnight port, so I had plenty of time to wander. I was able to get off Saturday evening and again Sunday morning to take in the sights of Incheon, South Korea.

Chinatown in Incheon

Originally, I had planned to take the train into Seoul, but I ended up staying closer to the port and exploring the smaller city with some friends. Saturday afternoon, we wandered through Chinatown, and found a lovely wall of murals.

Mural wall

We proceeded into Jayu Park, where we found a multitude of diversions. The first point of interest (for me at least) was a tasty little coffee shop on the outskirts of the park. The coffee on the ship leaves much to be desired, so I thoroughly enjoyed my latte. Outside the café, there was a giant teddy bear and random sculptures. I couldn’t resist jumping on the unicorn statue!

Unicorn!

Walking deeper into the park, we came across what appeared to be a Jazzercise class working out to “Gangnam Style”. The class was thoroughly amusing, as was the crowd. There was an adorable little boy driving around in a toy Mercedes, an old woman secretly participating in the class while hiding in some bushes, and kids of all ages chasing giant dragonflies.

Gangnam Style Jazzercise

Baby Boi

Near the stage, we came across the statue of General MaxArthur and an outdoor gym. Why there were weight machines in the park is beyond me, but there were a few women that were very thankful for their existence. I briefly hopped on a weight machine for a minute of my required daily workout.

General MacArthur

I’m a beast!

We continued wandering, and ended up running into more of our cast mates near some of the shops. The 9 of us found a Korean barbecue restaurant to stop at for dinner. We sat on the floor in a private room and enjoyed a massive feast for just $16 each! I have no idea what some of the condiments were, but it was very tasty!

Dinner time!

After dinner, we stopped in another the many cafes for gelato and wifi! Once we had all reconnected with the outside world, we took the bus back to the ship.

Hitting the streets

It is now late Sunday morning, and I am enjoying another latte in Incheon. Next on the agenda is a walk through Sinpo Market and a bit of shopping! We have to be back on board around 2pm for a tech run, and tonight are performing the Broadway show again.

Rhythm and Rhyme

Check back soon for details about my trip to the Great Wall of China. It’s just 2 days away!

Set the Stage

Posted on July 21, 2013 by CaseyT

Since we signed on, we’ve been in “install”, meaning we are installing the productions in the theater. Transferring the shows we learned in Florida to the stage is quite a process! Due to long tech rehearsals, performances, and trainings, we’ve been unable to exit the ship for over two weeks. Today our rehearsal director is signing off, officially marking the end of our install period. Trainings and rehearsals will continue, though with less intensity.

La Scala Theater on the Voyager of the Seas. My home theater!

The evening of the 19^th we opened our second show, “Music in Pictures”. In terms of stamina, this show is much easier for me! I was less nervous than I was for the opening of the Broadway show, so I was able to really enjoy my time on the stage.

The “talls” and our leading lady

After the second show of the night, we celebrated the opening with a champagne toast and snacks. It was nice to be able to chat more with the band and production team. It turns out my Production Manager sometimes works with Texas Ballet Theater! We have a number of mutual friends/acquaintances in Fort Worth. What a small world!

Champagne toast

The following morning, we had to set the Welcome and Farewell numbers on the stage. Waking up was rather challenging, so I appreciated that the rehearsal wasn’t too long. In the afternoon, I completed my Safety Training. I learned how to properly jump into the water in case of an emergency, how to climb into a life raft from the water, and how to flip a life raft. After that, I was finally able to get off the ship!

Private tour of the bridge

Check back tomorrow for tales of my escapades in Incheon!

Happy thoughts!

waltzing on water

Tag Archives: Incheon

Seoul Man

Inching through Incheon

Set the Stage