Many American Soldiers N Parks N Markets
Trip Start
Dec 01, 1999
1
69
103
Trip End
Aug 31, 2000
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Itaewon,
Korea Rep.
Monday, March 20, 2000
Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,
Well, I think I'm all Seouled out and it's time to move on.
Tomorrow I am leaving beautiful Seoul and heading south to a little city/town called Mokpo which is on the coast. Cool, I get to see the beach again. If not a beach at least I'll get to see the water!
The last few days have been pretty full on as usual.
On Saturday I rose late due to the lack of air in the dorm room. There is actually no window and the door cuts off any chance of fresh air coming into the room. The mornings aren't too bad until you return to the room and smell the mixed 'morning bad breath'. Not a good thing! So due to lack of fresh air we are all finding that we are sleeping in much longer than most of us usually do.
We've tried to keep the door open a little but someone keeps shutting it.
I do love this little Yionsuk/Hostel but they really do have to do something about the plumbing and maybe add another bathroom. There is only one shower and toilet for the entire hostel and the plumbing sometimes is sickening as it is right in the dorm sitting, eating and TV area. I must say we all get a bit of a giggle from some of the sounds coming from behind the door across the little court yard.
I spent most of the morning and some of the afternoon doing my washing. The only thing I hate about Asia is the total lack of washing machines! Hate hand washing...Hate Hate HATE!
The afternoon was pretty laid back. A few of us hung out at the hostel for a few hours playing chess and cards and then ventured out for a bit of a walk. We headed down to the City Hall and across from there we found the Deoksu-Gung which is another palace. This one was real strange as it was very European along with being Asian.
We then grabbed a bus and headed down to the Olympic Park which was built for the 1986 Asian Games and then used in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It was huge and had about five or six huge stadiums. The lake area was a beautiful walk. The only problem was it was packed with people so that took away any peaceful atmosphere that could have been felt.
Not much of a night, we all grabbed some noodles and beer and sat at the hostel playing chess and cards. But sometimes a quiet night can be a memorable night. I even won several games of Chess! Oh yeah, when we got home with our noodles and beer a guy from France named Syl and a German girl we've named Wellah were there. It was great to see some Western faces again. Oh yeah, we named her Wellah because she works for Wellah Ballasm or what ever the company is named. All the Japanese knew the name as well.
So yesterday was spent with Syl and Wellah and we had a huge day walking around Seoul and we then grabbed a cab to Itaewon. Our first stop was Mt Namsan Park which is found right smack bang in the middle of Seoul. We spent hours walking amongst all the happy pine trees on the mountain and sat for an awesome lunch of 'cheap dried noodles' at the top. Yippee!
We then took a cable car to Seoul Tower which used to be the tallest tower in Asia. Pretty impressive views I thought, probably the tallest tower I've ever been even if it isn't the tallest tower in Asia anymore.
We then decided to grab a cab and head over to what was supposed to be a hip and happening place. It sure looked modern but as the day became night we really didn't find anything too hip about it. What we did find was heaps of Americans. I know most are soldiers in fact I think there are something like thirty thousand American soldiers in Seoul but we witnessed a lot of drunk Americans all with not so 'nice' Korean girls in arm also just as drunk. Along with drunken Americans were American soldiers. They were everywhere and I mean everywhere.
We decided to move on and grabbed a cab back to Seoul.
We found a bar and sat for a few beers before moving on to a trendy little night club. I think we were the least trendy think in the place. Compared to the retro chairs and couches we looked like..um..back packers! We met up with a few people I had said G'Day to over the past many days and we all had a fantastic night. I really have no idea what time we got home but we made a bit of a racket and the owner came out to shoosh us a few times as we for some reason decided we wanted to watch TV and play chess.
I doubt anyone of us could see the chess board let alone remember what colour we were!
So today it was another late rise with stomachs and heads that really didn't feel that great. Blaa! After noodles and fresh fruit from the little market around the corner from the hostel we decided to make it a big market day and walk to and see as many markets as possible. Even if it was only going to be one or two we decided it was a great way to get rid of our hangover.
So began the Wellah, Syl and Aussie 'Grand Market Adventure'.
We went underground, above ground, floors above ground, around the ground and became the bloody ground. We went here there and every bloody where on our market adventure. We ate everything and anything as long as it came from a little stall on the side of the road or some where within the market place.
We had a most awesome Grand Market Adventure!
Beers N Cheers toya.....shane
Accommodation:
Inn Daewon
26 Tongju - Dong
Chongnu - Gu
KWANGHWAMUN AREA
Ph: 735 7891
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The soundtrack to this entry was Teenage Fanclub
The album was 'Thirteen'
I don't know if they are still around but if they are, try understanding anything they say between songs. It's like it used to be sitting at my Grandparents kitchen table. Just say yes Shane!
