Seoul Review

Back in Shanghai and into the mouth of the Dragon. I literally mean mouth because walking off the plane this evening was like walking into a steam room. Hot and humid and highly unpleasant. That's payment for living in a fairly exciting city, I suppose.

But 'nuff about Shanghai, let's see some Seoul!


Friday nights at Dongdaemun's multitudes of shopping complexes and food bizarres is an absolute must. Fridays also play host to pop rock performances left and right. These kids were pretty catchy with quite a hefty following of teeny-bopping admirers. Don't blame the girls though; these guys were pretty cute, and there's something for everyone! Check out Mr. Nerdy McNerdpants in the middle there.


Chowing down with Japanese tourists in one of the street food stalls in Dongdaemun. Yum, yum, yum, nosh, nosh, nosh.


Dongdaemun actually refers to this thing. The East (Dong--same as in Chinese) Gate (Mun, like men in Chinese).

But it's the all-night shopping that keeps people there until 5am (as Jess and I were). The seriously good shopping from the wholesalers located in off-the-strip warehouses is open from 10pm-5am Sunday nights through Friday nights. They take, to Jess's and my chagrin when we returned on the following night, Saturday nights off.


Staying there til the wee hours of the morning didn't pose too much of a problem as we were driven by the adrenalin rush of getting AWESOME clothes for CHEAP*. Also, the sugar in these tasty cream puffs will keep anyone awake for hours. Custard filling squeezed in upon order and purchased en masse in COEX. Delicious.

(*Compare $50 with £465. This, folks, is how luxury goods companies can rob a person blind)


Back on the first trains at 5am with the very, very tired. (This guy kept bouncing between Jess's and the other dude's shoulder/lap.)


And, apparently, the very, very drunk.

Alternative ways of passing the night: Walker Hills Casino and 24h bathhouses.

Walker Hills Casino for foreigners-only is the most peaceful, serene casino I've ever seen. We were intending not to gamble but to loiter and blend in with the crowd while ordering free booze from scantily clad waitresses. Unfortunately, due to the brightly-lit atmosphere where no one said a word and scarcely a ka-ching of the slots were heard, we were forced to part with our cash. Of course, smart betting and a little bit of luck meant hours of entertainment and booze and only $10. Totally worthwhile. By 10pm, people started filtering in to create a more lively atmosphere, but seriously, it was like a morgue in there with its white, flourescent lighting hehe.

Bathhouses are a Korean institution, or so I'm told. These apparently double as cheap hotels for thrifty travellers or drunk businessmen who need a place to sober up before the ensuing work day. And it's like a little mini-city in these bathhouses too! Everything from cafes to cinemas to internet bars to massages are available within the confines of the bathhouse and all charged back to your handy little key--your sole possession as you pass the hours in bathhouse-issued sweatsuits (akin to a convict's attire) with a little pink towel around your neck. And it's pretty hilarious, but everyone sleeps (or tries to sleep) on the tiled floor of an open area that doubles as a yoga-classroom in the daytime. Ah, Seoul. I miss it already.