2. One long day of travel

Don't let the cat
out of the bag!

The flight to Seoul is fairly uneventful. Cosmo meowed for a bit so I put the carrier in my lap and let him stick his head out for awhile as I petted him.

In the bathroom on the first flight

He also got very active trying to get out of the bag at one point and I thought maybe he had to go to the bathroom so I took him in his carrier and got his litter and box from the overhead compartment. With the assistance of the very helpful flight attendants (they really liked the gift bags BTW), they found me a bathroom with a baby changing station. After getting his litter box all set up, he had zero interest in it. Apparently he just wanted out of the bag, the little faker. We spent a few minutes hanging out in the bathroom then I put him back in his bag.

When we got to Seoul airport, he again declined the option to use the litterbox. We then stood in a crazy long line for security for transfers to connecting flights.

Lovely wall screens greet us in Seoul airport

Long line just for connecting
flights in Seoul Airport

At 5:30am I thought the line would be shorter but not so. We still made it to our gate on time and they were a bit late boarding so Cosmo got some time out of the bag to wander about. This second leg was only 5.5 hours, not nearly as long as the first 12-hour flight so I thought it would be easier. I think Cosmo was just sick of being in the bag so long. Plus this time the flight attendant caught me just as I was about to feed him his medicine and insisted I feed him through the holes in the side. She made me agree to not open his entrance, which I think contributed greatly to his almost constant meowing for the half of the flight. I definitely know how those moms with the crying baby on the plane feel. Thankfully he wasn't at his loudest, but I'm sure the people in front of me noticed.

I learned from our Istanbul flight that I need to clip the zippers together on his main opening. Unfortunately I forgot about the side zippers. So as I'm watching a movie, I see his little face peer out at me from the small space between the bulkhead and the seat in front of me. I haul him in by his leash and manage to stuff him back into his backpack and get it secured. This last indignity is the other major contributing factor to his bouts of crying at the end.

He was trying to get out so forcefully the last 30 minutes of the flight that I was sure he needed the litterbox. Luckily he made it and promptly used his litterbox when we deplaned. As usual, once we were off the plane so he was able to stick his head out of the bag, he was happy as a clam though perhaps a very tired little clam.

long immigration lines
at Ho Chi Minh City airport

The immigration line was even longer than the one in Seoul but we finally made it through, got my bag and went to exit. However first I was sent to talk to the import officials who didn't care about my US paperwork. He wanted an import permit. He showed me an example of one. After letting me sweat a bit, he said I could pay $50 and he would let me through. I had $55 set aside in my wallet in anticipation of possibly having to bargain down to that amount so I was happy to pay the $50 for "coffee money" (wink, wink). He took me behind the counter so I could pay him. I suspect even if I had the import permit (which is only needed if importing more than 2 animals) he would have found something else wrong. Luckily I was forewarned from internet comments so I was prepared.

Cosmo making friends

Exhausted we struggled out of the arrivals area and immediately a ride service asked if we wanted a taxi. I decided to get a price and was willing to pay a little more for the convenience as we had been on the road for over 24 hours counting travel time to SFO. The price was about $19 and I could pay with my credit card. Easiest decision I'd made all trip. I made have paid double what it might have been, but it was so easy and I was so tired. Plus her little girl was fascinated by Cosmo so I gave her some treats to feed him. He was starving so he ate them right out of her hand!

The hotel, Saigon Domaine Luxury Residences, is slightly worn but very clean and has a huge living area, full kitchen, spacious bedroom, and wonderful views overlooking the Mekong Delta. It also has a nice little garden that Cosmo loves. More about that next entry.

Living room at Saigon Domaine

Saigon Domain Luxury Residences

Cosmo checking out the bedroom