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Published: February 19th 2012
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Good morning campers!
Well for the last week or so we have been in the unsung hero of the lesser spotted Gwang Ju and the giant that is Seoul. Gwang Ju stole us - or original 3 ays got somewhat extended following a fateful night in a Speakeasy and a small Chinese visa snafu.
As South Korea has decided to not issue onward visas to other countries unless you are in possession of an Alien Registration Card and wont issue an ARC unless you are registered as a student or foreign worker we found ourselves in a little Yossarian-eque situation, particularly when the helpful lady at immigration responded to my well intentioned question of "Then how do we leave Korea?" with "I dont know". Needless to say we stayed in Gwang Ju for longer, presented a radio show and are planing to flee to the safety of former British colonies to get our visa in Hong Kong.
Gwang Ju is fab with rows of shops enticing you in with ear pounding music and dressing up as large versions of their products our favourits being the new balance trainer dance. Started to feel like a true local following a
further peanut incident via hotdog sauce (go figure!) resulting in a rather eye watering rash for poor Mr W and a trip to A & E for bum jabs. Oh dear - but at least we got to experience Korean medial hospitality and a show and tell around the building.
Radio show was so brilliant! We spent an hour playing our favourite songs and talking about out musical influences. It was really nerve-racking at first and at one point I think I used the phrase "They are the band that changed my life" Jeez - I was THAT person!
Seoul is a total gem! Hongdae university district is full of both hustle and bustle. We have seen awesome graffiti, a Korean soap opera being filmed on the street, and eaten the spiciest noodles known to man. Spent one day sobbing with laughter when we hired a tandem both at Mr Winman's
reaction to me being in charge wobbling about, and the fact our 'scenic tour' to the World Cup stadium comprised a significant amount of time carrying the damn thing up steps and cycling along and under the equivalent of the M1.
Had a lesson in the national sport of taekwando with Master Ryan which was fantastic! I am so unfit that 30 kicks in a row almost killed me but I am now a registered assasin and the next Bruce Lee. Used my 'ass kick' to break wood in two and even had a go at a few (terrible) roundhouse kicks. I still cannot manage stairs unaided 2 days later.
Yesterday went to the DMZ boarder with North Korea which was an experience. Visited the freedom bridge where both sides exchanged POWs, the infiltration tunnel #3 that north Korea dug to access south korea after the ceasefire, an obervatory to see over the boarder and the Dojasan Station. Again too much to write here but two things stood out. North Korea built a 'Propaganda Village' over the DMZ which is a fascade of empty luxury buildings to demostrate their wealth and how heavenly the area was within which
they erected a mega flag which they made sure was bigger than the mega one of the south side at 160m making it the largest in the world (the south being the second biggest!). Just over the DMZ in South Korea is a brand spanking new fancy train station which is not yet used (other than tourists). The plan being that once an agreement is in place trade routes can open which Mongolia are particularly pushing for. Complete with unused scanners, X Ray machines and plastic on doors. A really hopeful scene I thought, but somewhat rumbled when we were told the bridge we passed under with an advertisement for Ginseng was actually a huge store of dynamite for any potential invasion.
Lots of other bits but this is already too long and I need to find us somewhere to stay in Honkers! Only thing left to say is try Ginseng Tea and listen to GFN 98.7Hz on 26th March time tbc- I hear there may be a familiar voice...!!
Anneseyou for now!!
A x x
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