4 nights in Seoul

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This was our second trip to Seoul, and this time I was determined to get out of the metropolis and see the DMZ border zone and possibly a national park. Neither of those happened, for some reason. Regardless, it was a nice long weekend out of Taiwan, which is often needed. Speaking of Taiwan, this country (back in ROC now) is a sorry-looking backwater compared with South Korea these days. Once economic competitors, South Korea has left Taiwan -a.k.a. "Taibodia" in the dust. Formosa is literally out of the race. I fear that this place is going the way of the Philippines and Indonesia. Oh well, cha bu doah...

One thing I feel Taiwan still has on Korea is chicks. While there are, without question, some gorgeous women in Seoul, Taipei has got that city licked when it comes to girls.

Two complaints about Seoul: 1. people spit, 2. people litter.

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Photos

6:30am on Monday
one of the old 'gates to the city' near Dongdaemon Stadium, Seoul

Insadong
On our first day

Insadong shopping street
but even the trinket stores on this street were appealing

traditional masks for sale
...on that same quaint street

more Insadong scenery
lots of stuff like this around

the alley on our first visit
When we visited Seoul back in 2003, we stayed at a place on this alley called the Wongop Yeogwan, which has since gone out of business. Most of the yeogwan on this decrepit alley behind the YMCA in Insadong were shuttered up.

Bob and Mi-sung
Bob and his girlfriend, Mi-sung, riding the bus going to the Nandaemun market

Sharon and I on the bus
...

mounds of Army surplus
everything for sale here

hot chilli powder
love this stuff

first gate in the daytime
same gate as in the first photo on this blog, but from a different street

Bakusan National Park
...that's probably spelled wrong. I could see it every day, but I couldn't get up in it. A perfect reason to return someday.