Greetings from Seoul!

Hi everyone. I am writing to you from Seoul, South Korea!


Man...it takes a REALLY long time to get to South Korea. Kristin, Keith and Sean met the group of journalists traveling to Korea at 6:00pm on Friday in Los Angeles (November 2). Everyone in the group is very nice.

We left for the airport around 9:30pm and our flight left just after 1:00AM on Saturday (November 3). The flight, on Korean Air, was almost 13 hours long. Can you believe it?

The airplane was very nice, but Kristin didn't get an upgrade. That means no comfortable seat for Kristin this time. :( But Kristin did have her own "TV" screen. It had a really cool map that I could watch during the flight.


If you look really closely at the photo above, you will see our plane had just finished crossing the Pacific Ocean.

Kristin and I also got to watch movies, listen to music, and play video games! Well, I played video games when Kristin was sleeping (shh...don't tell her).


Kristin told me I needed to rest on the flight because we are going to be busy for the next two weeks. I was so excited about going on another trip with Kristin that it was hard to sleep. But I think I slept for half of the flight.

Our plane landed at Incheon International Airport. It is a newer airport. Everyone's suitcases arrived (yeah!) and Kristin didn't have any problems in customs. I was really worried because I still don't have a passport like Kristin's. But Kristin told me not to worry. She made special arrangements for me to travel with her. Whew!

Once everyone in the group passed through customs, we got on a Hyundai bus. I know that Hyundai makes cars because I have seen some in Muscatine. But I didn't know Hyundai makes buses. Kristin says Hyundai makes LOTS of things. She also told me that Hyundai is based here in South Korea. I had NO idea!

It took us about an hour to get to our hotel in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. It is called the Somerset Palace. It is VERY nice. In fact, I think this might be the best hotel room I have been in yet on my many trips with Kristin. That's because our room is more like an apartment than a hotel room. How cool is that?



Kristin's room has TWO TVs and a full kitchen complete with a large (but empty) refrigerator.




There is even a washer/dryer in the room! Can you believe it?!


This is strangest washer/dryer I've ever seen. At my house we have a washer and a separate dryer. But Kristin says this machine does both! Who knew?

Well I think that's all for now. Kristin says I need to take a nap because I am going to have that jet-lag stuff later today if I don't rest. So I am headed to bed.

Until next time.....bye!

Greetings from Los Angeles!

Hi everyone!

We finally made it to Los Angeles last night. Whew! I was really worried Kristin's entire trip would get canceled.

As soon as we got to the hotel, Kristin put her bags in her room and we left with Keith to go to dinner. I wasn't really hungry but Kristin told me that I would really like dinner. Kristin was driving last night and pretty soon I started to recognize some of the buildings. I asked Kristin if we were going to see Rima and her dog Willa. Rima helps Kristin "mix" her radio programs. Kristin just smiled, so I knew I was right!

It was really cool to see Rima and her husband Norb.


I also got to see Willa. She was so excited to see me that she kept barking and jumping up and down! I wanted to play with Willa but Kristin said we were going out to eat. :( Kristin told me not to be sad. She says I'll probably get the chance to play with Willa again someday.

We went to a Mexican restaurant called El Cholo. Rima says it is a very famous place here in Los Angeles. The menu even said that "nachos" were invented at El Cholo. I had no idea!

We had LOTS of food. A waitress handmade guacamole right at our table! Then Keith ordered a dish called, "A Taste of History." I have NO idea how history is supposed to taste, but this sure tasted good.


My big dinner must have made me really tired because I fell asleep in the car on the way back to the hotel. Kristin kindly tucked me into bed.


We are getting ready to leave Los Angeles. I'll write more once we get to Korea.

Until next time....

My Next Adventure Begins...When King Tut Isn't Mad!

Hi everyone!

I hope your day is going well. Mine isn't going according to plan.

I would have thought King Tut would no longer be mad at Kristin for taking my picture in his tomb last year. I am WRONG!

King Tut must still be mad because our flight to Chicago was delayed this morning and then canceled. It is a good thing that Kristin knows how to deal with the airlines. She was able to get us tickets on a flight to Denver. We will then take another plane to Los Angeles.

By the way....I learned this morning that my friend Keith from the Stanley Foundation is going with us to Los Angeles. So is Kristin's new co-worker. His name is Sean. He is very nice. Kristin says Sean is also going with us to Korea. Cool!

Our new flight doesn't leave until 1:50pm...so Kristin is letting me use her computer while we wait at the airport in Cedar Rapids. Keith and Sean are also busy on their computers.


Keep your fingers crossed our flight to Denver is on time!

Bye for now.....

My Next Adventure Begins Tomorrow

Hi everyone. I hope you had a good Halloween. I did!

After I finished trick-or-treat, I went to Kristin's house to help her finishing packing for our trip to Korea. Kristin has a new bag. But don't worry, there is still plenty of space for me.

Kristin says we will leave tomorrow morning and drive to Cedar Rapids where we will get on a plane and fly to Chicago. We will take a second plane to Los Angeles. We will spend the night in Los Angeles and then Kristin will meet the rest of the group going with us to Korea. She says our flight to Seoul, South Korea leaves just after 1:00 AM on Saturday morning. WOW! That is WAY past my bedtime.

Speaking of bedtime, I better get to bed. I know I need to rest before the trip.

Until next time....