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Published: September 7th 2008
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Well let me tell you, I've managed to do the same thing over and over, just in a different area of the city. You see the way Seoul is designed you basically have shopping, bars, and street vendors in about 100 different areas of the city, but it all pretty much looks the same. So in the past few days I have visited several different areas of the city only to discover the same thing over and over again. I'm not much for doing the "touristy" thing. I like to explore the streets and see the way of life. Don't get me wrong the temples and palaces are great, but not my first choice if they are crowded with tourists. The other day I went to sort out my Chinese visa, and decided maybe I'll go check out the palace, it seems like it might be pretty cool. So I hop on the subway, which I have basically been living on...haha I use it to go everywhere naturally! As I was on the subway I had a man approach me, wanting to give me "the message". He spoke English quite well, which I've found is quite rare here, so I acknowledge
him. Bad choice I guess, but it was entertaining. He was telling me all about it as I stood on the subway with a big smile on my face. I actually had a Korean college student standing near by that also spoke English well enough to talk a bit, and he sort of saved me from the preaching man. I chatted with him about my travel plans, and about him wanting to go to America to learn better English until my stop came. I got to the palace and looked at my little map to get to the consular office only to discover I read it wrong and was by the Chinese embassy, which doen't handle the visa processing! Oh joy! So I had to put it off until Friday now! Well I figured I'll just check out the palace since I'm here and all. So I walk the short distance to the entrance to the palace and its crowded....and it just didn't feel like something I'd enjoy all that much. There were hundreds of little kids there, probably on a field trip of some kind. Not only that but you have to pay to get in, which I don't
mind because I understand supporting tourism and all, but seriously?! There was no way I was going to go into this place with hundreds of little kids running around, doing as kids do, yelling, screaming, blah blah blah. Hey I understand, been there, done that! So I chose to walk about instead. I wondered the streets aimlessly looking around for several hours.
On Friday I tried to go to the consular office and that was fun trying to find it in the back streets. Once I arrived I discovered what I'd been affraid of, they don't accept direct application, you have to go through a travel agency!!! Ugh! Once again I chose to wander about the streets. I also explored the underground mall, located in the subway. It was quite large actually. The stores themselves were tiny, but it was an endless maze!
When I go to a new place I like to observe the actions of others and make lists in my head of what I notice. So for Koreans I have found the following: 1. The like coffee...alot of coffee. 2. They smoke, alot. 3. Their are very few poorly dressed people. 4. You can count the number
Subways
...indeed of overweight people on one hand. 5. The city is definately big on nightlife. 6.They are crazy drivers(red lights are definately viewed as a suggestion).I'm still working on the list.
I'm currently staying with a English teacher from the states. I know that all of you crazy people are probably starting to freak out after hearing that, but its ok! I've been staying here for several nights, and I'm ok. So as a traveller, you learn about all kinds of networks composed of many other people that enjoy to travel. I recently joined a network called Couchsurfing. Basically there are people all over the world opening their homes to travellers to stay while in a place. You can read their profile and reviews of from other fellow travellers and make your own judgement. Its a great network because A-you stay with someone who knows the area better than you, and can even see the languages they speak so you know if you'll be able to communicate and B-its FREE!!!! Sooooo what I am trying to say is DON'T WORRY!! I'm an intelligent girl, and I am safe about it. I meet in a public place, and also there is communication
taking place before choosing to stay with anyone. My hostess has been great so far. She works all day, but has been very trusting. I even stayed at the apartment alone last night. The apartment, by the way, is great. For a Korean apartment it is quite large. It's out of the city a little bit, but still connected by subway...the subway is right by the entrance to the building, and the security is great. She has introduced me to her friends and on Friday we all went out to a really neat bar, which was mainly full of other foreigners, but that was a relief in a way because I was able to chat to people. We stayed out all night, until about 6am, before catching a taxi back to the apartment. Needless to say, we slept the entire day, Saturday was almost non-existant. Not only that but I was in bad shape when we did get going. We had a guacamole party to attend, and I felt like total and complete shite! Still, I tried to keep on trucking, but only lasted a short bit. Oh and I managed to make an idiot of myself in the subway....but
Thank Heaven
Can't escape from 7-eleven...though they lack the Slurpees! I'm just going to leave that tid bit out, it's somewhat unpleasant. So last night they went to watch an Irish friend play a gig in Itaewon, and I came to the apartment to crash...What a party pooper!
Today I plan on going and doing a little shopping around. Tomorrow I plan on talking to the ferry company about going to Tianjin, China, so hopefully that all goes well. 안녕히계세요 (annyeonghi kyeseyo)-goodbye in Korean!
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Michelle Wolfe
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I simply MUST hear the subway story..... Be well, little one! -Michelle