Home » South Korea » I've Got Seoul....

Quite possibly the most overrused title for visitors to Seoul, yet I feel this title perfectly describes my experience in Korea. My 'soul' was rejuvenated a) because I got a break from the monotony of my job (all July and August I sit at my desk and do NOTHING- good way to spend my time...thank god for sudoku!) and b) I met up with some old friends from Berkeley, which was a nice slice of home. Given the short time I was alloted for summer vacation, it was a quick trip into Seoul and the DMZ, then back to Japan.

I've Got Seoul....

Casey Lary
2007-03-08 20:52:10

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with the Namdaemun outdoor market, only to discover that it is closed on Sundays. Apparently we didn't get the memo! Then, worse news, we found out the electronic market was closed that
one Sunday for the entire month! What timing! Still, we wandered the stalls that were out, thought about buying that fake Gucci wallet, yet decided we could haggle a better deal in China. Naomi informed us of the popular Korean movie stars (big deals in Japan) so we all bought socks with their faces on them, and a pair of socks rocking the Korean flag. For a dollar a pair, it was hard to turn down.

To start off the night Taz, Jen, and I decided to go to the Korean House and experience some traditional dancing and singing. After, we headed over to the foreigner district to meet up with Ben again. We went to dinner at Burger King. Since I have lived in Japan for so long, I had no qualms about eating dinner at Burger King. Cheap, greasy, wonderful comfort food. I NEVER eat Burger King in America, but I never eat McDonalds either and now it's my guilty pleasure (and cheap!) in Japan. The rest of the night was spent dodging sketchy guys hitting on Naomi, drinking, and dancing. If its one thing Taz and I have fun doing, it is dancing! Early the next day Jen and I headed back to Hiroshima, Taz and Naomi to Tokyo, and then Taz was heading back to SF.

The trip was so much fun. A quick break from Japan- being in a new country and around friends from home. I was amazed by the parallels between Japan and Korea due to Japan's occupation of Korea for such a long time. Yet, some things were clearly different- the way people acted, the cultural dancing was different, the clothes, the language (duh) and their temples/buidlings were unique in their own way. After the DMZ tour, the bombs, and now the recent nuclear testing, I doubt North and South Korea will be united any time soon. I learned don't mess with those Korean guards or they will karate chop your face off! Good memories, good food, and a whole lot of Korean beef in my belly!