Day Four

Dear Friends,

To sum up today I’d say busy. As I went on two tours todays, took 321 pictures, it’s going to be a lot going on this site. But hey if I took that many just on my camera must mean I did something right, if it died before I could even get back.

Because I am stupid I set my alarm for 8:20 so I could have breakfast and then go to the tour which started at 9:30. Since I took my time to get up and dressed I had to rush to make sure I left by nine to make the 20 minute journey to the bus. I made it just in time, and relax.

This tour was good, as I was whisked off down city hall to the one of the districts I’ve been meaning to go to, which I didn’t realise it was so close. Then we’re rushed off to the highways of Seoul to take us on the city tour. Then we stopped in Gangnam, where 90% of the tour got off to do the Gangnam tour.

Gangnam is a lovely place, it definitely where the money people live, and where a lot the big businesses have their buildings, like Samsung. But the shops were great, I even spotted a JD out here, which is something I would have never seen, but the Koreas do like there sportswear so why not.

As we went around I learned more about the city and learned that everything has meaning which is great, because I feel the same, a lot what I do have subtle meanings. I Went past the Korean Disneyland, and saw the Olympic stadium. I didn’t feel brave enough to get off the bus at any point though. I did because lot of the things were really far apart, and when the stop for the K-Pop district the stop was outside of a random building, when we had past SM entertainment building a couple streets ago. So I just got back to the last stop and waited for the bus to take me into main Seoul.

Since I realised that morning I had under packed, which was first for me. I need some more tops to wear. So I went to Uniqlo and got some basic tops (which fit) and then decided to get something to eat. However, the girl in the shop had no idea what I was asking for, as I couldn’t pronounce the sandwich I wanted, and me point at it didn't help. In the end I had cheesecake and coffee (still no Korean food). But the cheesecake was not like any cheesecake I’ve had before (#Bakesbyfabes).

I rode the tour to the end of the line, and waited to ride it again so it could stop me at the N Seoul tower cable car so I could and see the Seoul in day. The cable car made nervous, you have a bunch of people stuffed in a little car and you’re moving over a mountain with nothing but a cable. It was fine of course, but it made me nervous. Not the height thought, just the falling to my death is all that worried me.

Once I was at the N Seoul Town, I bought a ticket to go the observation deck, and boy was that view. 360 degree view of Seoul. I would have loved to have taken a panoramic picture, but with so many people it was impossible. I also kind of wanted to go back at night to see what it looks like, because I think it would make a great photo. Eventually I went down the cafe and got myself more cake, as it was that or more coffee, and enjoyed a red velvet and strawberry cream cake. Which were #yum!

I went back down in the cable car a little more relaxed this time as there’s were fewer people this time and I could move around, but I still panicked. I took a walk down a side street to get to the subway. It was interesting to see the side streets of Seoul. As many of the K-drams I’d seen had scenes on these kinds of streets it was good to see that they exist and not just made up.

As I got the subway I had found my way into a little underground mall. Which was amazing as I got more socks, which is like a big tourist and local sale. While at the same time found a K-pop store that sold nothing by K-pop merchandise, and that’s there TT birthday gift came into play and I got myself a new travel mug like I said I was going to, while at same time got things to show my K-pop love. I then made my way back to shower and then head to dinner.

Since Tuesday I had been taking to some guys on Grindr. I don't want to get into the whole experience yet, but I wasn’t looking to hook up or whatever, I was just hoping to find some friendly locals, or fellow travellers who might be up for a dinner coffee or something. You know I was using my resources to get me somewhere. I had been speaking to this one guy, who was a local and told me where I was going to travel was too far to get chicken & beer. So he offered to show me some where local.

We met and he took me on walk of the street where I’m staying, and it turns out, if I wanted Korean food all I had to do was just walk out of the apartment and down the street and find a bunch of Korean barbecue places, and a few other restaurants. Funny how me going in the same direct limited my knowledge of the local surroundings.

So he took me to this place, which for 18,000 gave us a use place of fried chicken. One was sweet almond chill or something and the other was original. I don't know remember the guy (Aidan) did the ordering in Korean and I left him to it. The chicken was made as we ordered so it took a while, but my good was it worth it. It was crispy juicy and yummy. I had finally had something Korean and it was great.

Okay let's talk about the other thing, beer. I had a beer with the chicken cos that what you do here. It was this Korean beer, and if can find it back home I will, but that bitch is being smuggled back with me. But it wasn’t so strong, it was nice and I liked it. I don't know if I liked it cos I was hungry or thirsty or because I wanted to like it, all I know am I liked to it.

After dinner, I asked Aidan to tell me about soju. Since I can’t read Korean properly I thought let me abuse this while I can. So we went and got some soju which is fucking cheap man. I got three bottles and a bottle for water for under 5,000. Which is insane as I paid 4,000 for the beer I had with dinner. Then I came home and sampled it and boy was it better than the stuff I’ve had restaurants back home. It wasn’t so strong the fruit flavour gave it a great taste, and it seems like I’ve found my drinks here (I fit right in).

Then the rest of my night consisted of me catching up on the blog cos I behind. But today was good, and tomorrow my last day is going to be good to. Tomorrow is my shopping day. It’s time to get bday gifts so if you have one next month it’s coming from here. I did want to do Xmas shopping, but there not even set up for it yet, so I’m not going to bother. But tomorrow is a busy day. Let me sleep now while I figure out what I want bring back to England.

Xo FabEs