Day Three

Dear friends,

I think with this day, i can say i am learning. I am learning to make sure i go down the right side of the subway otherwise i have to pay to go to the other side on some stations. And I’ve also learned if I’m looking for something and its not at eye level, it’s underground.

I woke up feeling rested, but still a bit tired, but it was fine i had slept enought that i knew there was nothing a coffee couldn’t fix as I’ve yet to find an energy drink here. I started the day with a bowl of Korean corn flakes/Frosties. It was rather nice with there milk only problem no big bowls for me to have a nice big bowl in. I then folllowed it up with some orange drink and i was good to go.

I didn’t want to get confused or lost about what i wanted to do, so i sat down with my guide and maps to find out where i wanted to go. I wanted to go on the tour on the Tuesday, but since i was up at 10 and it there was a thunderstorm I’d thought I’d wait till the next day. But i did find out there was the night tour i could take that evening, and since the website wouldn’t let me buy tickets i had to find my way to the ticket booth and by in person.

So I had my plan, so i got dressed and head out. I was heading towards city hall, which meant i had to change once, to line 1 and that was easy, and when i got to the station found the right exit, and was in the middle of a down town soul. With a beautiful view of one of the palaces, and the mountains behind it. I followed the app past all the fancy hotels to where the ticket station was.

First off i forgot to mention this, I did study Korean so that i would be able to say hello goodbye and thanks etc, but in the day i had been here i havent used a word of it. I bumped into people on the street, I’m sorry, go to the counter, hello. The Korean has simply just fallen out of my head. I was just naturally speaking English, which is fine. Because so far everyone could speak English, but i felt foolish for not remembering the basics, yet i can say them when around English people.

I got my ticket for the night tour and the tour the next day, and i had seven hours to kill before my night tour. There as a event going around the center, with some kind of protest. I so i took around took a couple pictures, found the American embrassy, and then decided to move on.

As i checked my map it said i had a place started across the road. This time not using a guide i just crossed the road with out getting run over (Seoul traffic rules are odd). And just walked till i was on the place. I couldn’t see it, so i thought it might be around the back, no it was just more officers. After i did a lap of the block i saw someone coming from the underground. That’s when I remembered the day before, if you can’t find something, its in the basement.

I found the store Hotracks, which this bookstore, hobbie store and electric store underground, as i looked around I didn’t know what i wanted. I knew this wasn’t my shopping day, but i thought while i was here why not. This where i learned that Seoul is cheap and expense. A lot the stuff was 2000 which is about £1.30 which was like cards and small stuff, but somethings were ridiculous. And of course I’m thinking about things in English money, so something like a BTS’ new album is like 16,000 which is about £10 which is right for a cd, but what I’m forgetting buying two CD’s comes to 36,000 which means that i have spent almost 40,000 of my dail spend on CD’s. In the end i just go myself a puzzle which is really freaking cool, and the K-pop.

I then decided i was off to itawon, which is the western town of Seoul. It’s basically the China Town of london. As soon as i got there I felt home, as there were shops i was familiar with, and saw a lot of black people. And when i say a lot, i saw at leat 6 before i even got the McDonald’s for lunch. So to say i felt like i was home was an understatement it just felt right.

After that i went around itawon, buying socks, and checking out the sites. I decided i would return for dinner, as i had a just an hour an a half to my tour. To i head back and got on the wrong train twice. This is where i found out that at a station i couldnt transfer to the other side othe subway, which is annoying because i had to pay fare twice, but meant that i learned.

The night time tour was nice, i got some great information and background about Seoul, but did it make me nervous. As the night time bus is only a driving tour of the city so you can see the lights, but the fact that it goes on the highway, and with its tight turns and there speed made me uneasy. The best part thought was the base of the N Seoul Tower. It was a great view to see Seoul with all the lights, just a shame my camera battery died before i could take a decent shot.

After the tour i went back to itawon, to find some dinner. What I forgot about Itawom it’s western town, there is no Korean food around. So there everything in the world, but not Korean. I was off a good start I’ve been here two days and i havent even had a Korean dinner or lunch. I mean what was the point. In the end i had some Pizza, which was nice and big, then i headed home, to get some sleep for the big double tour tomorrow.

I feel like today should have been what my Monday should have been, getting tickets getting lost and then ending up somewhere, but what’s done is done, only two real days left now and its time to make the most of it. Let’s see where I get to tomorrow.

XO FabEs.