The travel to Seoul was relatively painless...until we arrived at the subway stop for our guesthouse. The guidebook and Internet directions neglected to mention that our guesthouse is actually most of the way up a gigantic hill, Namsan ("san" means "mountain" in Korean). Let me tell you, lugging a 45-lb. suitcase up a small mountain is no easy task.
I'm definitely sick now. I'm all stopped up, and I sound like I have laryngitis. We decided to keep it low-key tonight. After descending from our mountain keep, we entered Myeong-dong, which is the area for college kids and adolescents.
...Yeah, "low key." Not so much. For anyone who has been the Quartier Latin/Latin Quarter in Paris, it's like that...but on crack. All the street vendors and restaurants remind me of New York too. There is a ridiculous amount of neon everywhere, advertising stores and restaurants. People solicit you to come buy or eat God-knows-what (perfume, shoes, socks, make-up shaped like fruit, etc.), and there are street vendors selling every kind of fried food imaginable. I can tell that I'm sick because a fried potato on a stick didn't sound all that appealing...
I can't really describe Myeong-dong on a Friday night, so instead, I'll just post pictures.
Dinner was dolsot bibimbap (rice and vegetables with spicy sauce in a freakin' hot stone bowl):
I look "like" everyone here (I actually don't think I do.), but I feel out of place:
Though I don't stand out as much as the boyfriend does:
Consumerism!
Why cars are allowed on these winding alleyways is beyond me....
A dog with a mohawk:
K-pop stuff. Who are these boys?
Roasted corn and chestnuts:
Even though my sickness is depressing my appetite (or maybe I was just stuffed full of bibimbap), I mustered the energy for ice cream. Hey, it was 1000 won (=under a dollar). Yes!
Time to go massage my keun peh ("big stomach") and hit the sack. I hope I can kick this illness tomorrow.
10 comments:
I hope you feel better. Feeling sick on vacation is the worst. That area seems exactly like Times Square to me, only in Asia. And yeah, Times Square gives me a panic attack, so I'm sure I'd be overwhelmed there. The dog with a mohawk is awesome, though!
Bibimbop is so delish! How spicy do you like yours? I love a little kick.
It's amazing to me that you're keeping up your running regime overseas--and on vacation, no less! Way to be proactive. I definitely haven't been running quite as much the past couple of weeks, and I'm not even on vacay.
The dog w/ the mohawk is extraordinary. Love it.
I'm LOVING your pics! mohawk dog is awesome, as is BF sticking out like a... white boy. hehe
I hate that you're feeling sick - hope you're better already!
And yeah... 45-pounds of your junk going up a mountain... not fun!!
Hope you get well soon! Drink a lot of vitamin C!! :)
i hope you feel better so so you can enjoy korea!
oh the neon lights...reminds me of the red light district in australia. hahaha. how sad.
Get well Mica!
ha, like you, I'm never too sick for ice cream! Feel better!!!
love the mohawk-ed dog.
we should try to make some dolsot bibimbap when you come back sometime!
cant wait to hear about the rest of the visit :)
That dog is so cute! Also, you look hilarious in that first photo--as in, you don't really look too happy...ha
I hope you feel better soon! I always crave ice cream when I am sick. I think it makes my throat feel better.
That dog pic is too funny!
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