SK Knights vs Sonic Boom

---

For months now all Shauna has wanted to do is attend a Korean Basketball League game. Over the past couple of days we've lounged around the apartment putting photographs together, reading, talking and traveling a bit around where we live. Nothing to big for the one-week Lunar New Year but relaxation. Then I started talking about Chinatown out near Incheon International Airport. How I wanted to go see it, How I needed something to write about and then she opted for a trip to Dandemun Market area instead.

One just doesn't pass up a chance to hang out around dandemun market. There is just too much activity going on for someone to pass up on this opportunity. We decided if the day we awoke to was cloudy then we'd go to the market instead of Incheon's Chinatown because we would want great light for great pictures.

It turns out Friday was as cloudy and hazy as Thursday. We opted for the market. And since we were going to the market I opted that we catch the basketball game. All I knew, was there was a game at 15:00 hours. And I knew it should have the SK Knights playing. I also knew the stadium's capacity was something around 12,000 people. It was sure to be less than exciting as a high school football game back home! But nonetheless it would be basketball and Shauna would finally get to see a game.

Thirty-three minutes on loop line #2 heading for the Sports Complex after not shopping in Dandemun because the building was all locked up! "They said the last time I was here, the floor I want to visit is only open on Saturdays. I thought they were lying to me. I guess they weren't?" she says to me as we approached the building. "Seriously, they told you its open on Saturdays and you dragged me down here on a Friday afternoon?" I wasn't about to explain what was really flowing through my head.

Instead we crossed the street and grabbed a take out coffee from "take out coffee." Yep, that's the name of the place. With our eight-ounces of caramel latte in our hands we crossed another pedestrian walkway heading east. Then up the short hill to a gazebo all painted in orange-reds, yellow, blues and yellow-greens. We stopped gazing at the haze covering the area and decided to climb the length of wall, surrounding the area.

I read a plaque at some point about the Gate; Seoul's Eastern Fortress Gate; dates back to the 14th century. But the existing structure was built in 1869. And has been renovated during the korean war, when Seoul changed hands four times. Originally called Heung-injimun ("Gate of Uplifting Mercy"), it once served as the main eastern gate in the wall surrounding Seoul. First built in 1397, it was rebuilt in 1869 which still stands today.

Somehow with all the other writing I am doing, I have lacked time to write thorough on travel blog.
SO, I am going to try to shorten what I write here and upload pics.

Shauna and I hung out in Dandemun then caught the train to Jamsil area. We grabbed two standing only tickets. That's right, for 4,000 won. Less than a hamburger combo at McDonald's! Once inside the 7,500 seat stadium we found two seats in the "nosebleed" section. It wasn't. They were thirty rows up off the court! Not a bad seat in the place.

The downside was there were NO beer vendors inside.? huh? Yep. No beer. But they had squid packets! And caramel popcorn, too! Although this disappointed Shauna. Not salty enough for her. Ha ha.

The game wasn't too bad.
It reminded me of some collegiate games I had been to. Definitely not NBA, caliber. Yet, both teams had American players mainly centers and power forwards. The game turned out to be more of a blowout then anything. Although Korean fans still get into their basketball with chanting, cheering and songs!

Enjoy the pictures.

---

Photos

Snack Shack
BBQ Squid, Caramel Corn, Soda, Beefsteer Hot Dogs, Nachos...