Spadesy
December 28th, 2008, 11:59 AM
Spent 12 days in Seoul as a substitute for flying to the states for Christmas, had an awesome time there too.
A few things I've learned...Korean taxis are not likely to pick you up unless you are very proactive and sincere when you wave them down (palm facing down, hand straight out), mostly because many don't speak English and don't want to face the awkwardness of dealing with an English speaker. Before going anywhere, I decided to write down the name of the destination in Hangul on a piece of paper, and showed it to the driver when he asked me where I wanted to go. I tried to get to Changdeokgung palace, said "changdeokgung," but must've said it wrong because he didn't understand until I showed him. You have to be very careful with pronounciation in Hangul.
I found myself on Itaewon street a lot, which is the most foreigner-friendly place to hang out in Seoul if not all of Korea. Unlike what I have witnessed while being stationed out in Okinawa, Korean people typically don't mind coming to the bars and clubs of Itaewon to meet foreigners, practice English, and maybe pick a guy or girl up (in Okinawa, they generally want foreigners 'filtered' to certain streets like Kadena Gate 2, because of the huge amount of military personnel). So it's a pretty good mix of people out there...Europeans, Koreans, military personnel, and college students are all present.
Some U.S Army and Korean MPs patrol the popular places for night life, trying to kick out service members that have to obey the midnight curfew on weeknights and 1 o' clock curfew on weekends. Most of the time I lied and said I was a college student, other times I said I was a Marine from Okinawa on vacation and I was left alone. Sometimes they could be damn persistent though, going as far as asking for my leave papers (which I always keep on me anyway). Also, I have learned to be careful when trying to pick up a taxi from Itaewon street...many are aggressive and realize that there are a lot of army guys trying to beat feet back to base before the curfew expires, so many drivers will hike up the taxi fare as high as 30,000 won (about $30) when it's literally 10 times less than that to get back to Yongsan garrison. That's one con about being a foreigner with short hair on Itaewon.
The food, nothing short of Awesome. Best place in Asia I have been for food, although many times when ordering, you have to ask to adjust the spice level or it will be Lava-Hot by default. Kimchi (spicy aged cabbage) is good on occassion, one of the healthiest foods in the world you can eat, but I personally get tired of it after several pieces. And they serve like, 8 different dishes with different vegetables aside from the main dish. These can include bean sprouts, red bean paste, kimchi and others.
The people are usually nice by default as well. If you find yourself in some restaurant that never gets foreigners, the people will usually try their best to help you out with certain options by pointing and hand gestures. It always helps to know just enough Hangul to get what you want (know before you go), but the people will be flexible as well. In conversation, all you have to do is be nice and considerate, and you will be liked.
Seoul is an amazing city that I've been to before for work, now on vacation, and I hope to return in the future. I was surprised to hear some soldiers complaining about how there is a lack of anything to do here, one of the biggest cities in the world. I've done more here in 12 days than I have my first 6 months in Okinawa, if they want to know what real boredom is, I could show them the little island :lol: . Thanks for reading.
DISCLAIMER: Please ignore the dates on these pictures, I know my camera's time is wrong, but I don't give a damn.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4959/cheapasshotelhs3.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cheapasshotelhs3.jpg)
A picture of my cheap *** hotel room. It'll suffice.
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8967/itaewonatnightsnowaj9.th.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=itaewonatnightsnowaj9.jpg)
Itaewon at night, snowing. It gets pretty cold out here.
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6291/theloftpool1kv6.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=theloftpool1kv6.jpg)
Some homies playing pool at "The Loft," a pub usually filled with a lot of English teachers.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1220/clubunwe5.th.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clubunwe5.jpg)
Club UN at an early time.
A few things I've learned...Korean taxis are not likely to pick you up unless you are very proactive and sincere when you wave them down (palm facing down, hand straight out), mostly because many don't speak English and don't want to face the awkwardness of dealing with an English speaker. Before going anywhere, I decided to write down the name of the destination in Hangul on a piece of paper, and showed it to the driver when he asked me where I wanted to go. I tried to get to Changdeokgung palace, said "changdeokgung," but must've said it wrong because he didn't understand until I showed him. You have to be very careful with pronounciation in Hangul.
I found myself on Itaewon street a lot, which is the most foreigner-friendly place to hang out in Seoul if not all of Korea. Unlike what I have witnessed while being stationed out in Okinawa, Korean people typically don't mind coming to the bars and clubs of Itaewon to meet foreigners, practice English, and maybe pick a guy or girl up (in Okinawa, they generally want foreigners 'filtered' to certain streets like Kadena Gate 2, because of the huge amount of military personnel). So it's a pretty good mix of people out there...Europeans, Koreans, military personnel, and college students are all present.
Some U.S Army and Korean MPs patrol the popular places for night life, trying to kick out service members that have to obey the midnight curfew on weeknights and 1 o' clock curfew on weekends. Most of the time I lied and said I was a college student, other times I said I was a Marine from Okinawa on vacation and I was left alone. Sometimes they could be damn persistent though, going as far as asking for my leave papers (which I always keep on me anyway). Also, I have learned to be careful when trying to pick up a taxi from Itaewon street...many are aggressive and realize that there are a lot of army guys trying to beat feet back to base before the curfew expires, so many drivers will hike up the taxi fare as high as 30,000 won (about $30) when it's literally 10 times less than that to get back to Yongsan garrison. That's one con about being a foreigner with short hair on Itaewon.
The food, nothing short of Awesome. Best place in Asia I have been for food, although many times when ordering, you have to ask to adjust the spice level or it will be Lava-Hot by default. Kimchi (spicy aged cabbage) is good on occassion, one of the healthiest foods in the world you can eat, but I personally get tired of it after several pieces. And they serve like, 8 different dishes with different vegetables aside from the main dish. These can include bean sprouts, red bean paste, kimchi and others.
The people are usually nice by default as well. If you find yourself in some restaurant that never gets foreigners, the people will usually try their best to help you out with certain options by pointing and hand gestures. It always helps to know just enough Hangul to get what you want (know before you go), but the people will be flexible as well. In conversation, all you have to do is be nice and considerate, and you will be liked.
Seoul is an amazing city that I've been to before for work, now on vacation, and I hope to return in the future. I was surprised to hear some soldiers complaining about how there is a lack of anything to do here, one of the biggest cities in the world. I've done more here in 12 days than I have my first 6 months in Okinawa, if they want to know what real boredom is, I could show them the little island :lol: . Thanks for reading.
DISCLAIMER: Please ignore the dates on these pictures, I know my camera's time is wrong, but I don't give a damn.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4959/cheapasshotelhs3.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cheapasshotelhs3.jpg)
A picture of my cheap *** hotel room. It'll suffice.
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8967/itaewonatnightsnowaj9.th.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=itaewonatnightsnowaj9.jpg)
Itaewon at night, snowing. It gets pretty cold out here.
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6291/theloftpool1kv6.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=theloftpool1kv6.jpg)
Some homies playing pool at "The Loft," a pub usually filled with a lot of English teachers.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1220/clubunwe5.th.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clubunwe5.jpg)
Club UN at an early time.