Sigh

[oyceter]

So I'm at Incheon Airport right now and leaving Seoul. I can't believe 6 weeks passed so quickly! Sadly, the last week has been rather disappointing—at least three different places I wanted to eat at ended up being closed on the precise day I chose, or didn't deliver even after confirming that they would with my friend. So the fooding hasn't been great. But oh, I will miss Seoul so much! I liked Busan and Gyeongju too, but didn't get to see them nearly as much as Seoul, which I think is now up there with Hong Kong as one of my favorite cities.

It's odd that both San Francisco and Taipei aren't among that number; rather, I love Bay Area and Taiwan. But Seoul is such a distinctive city to me, and I love all its neighborhoods and the old Joseon capital of Hanyang you still see in it, I love Insadong and Samcheongdong and Hongdae and Myeongdong and a billionty more places I didn't get the chance to explore. I love the subway and the buses and the way it is so easy finding anything next to a subway stop.

Things further from a subway is a different matter, contributing to my getting lost while attempting to find random tiny museums more times than I can count, but even that was mostly fun, despite the heat and humidity. Also, another thing that is slightly annoying is the lack of paper towels and air dryers in many bathrooms.

Still. I love that the subway bathrooms overall are clean and usable—there's actually a campaign with the slogan "Department store bathroom? No! It's the bathroom of Seoul Metro!" My friend said she was shocked when she saw some of the public bathrooms in the US and no wonder! In so many ways, it feels so much more civilized here in comparison with the US (please do not use "civilized" in the comments detrimentally comparing places to Western countries though).

It was just so big here, which I hadn't expected, and there is so much! For example, I knew Dongdaemun had a lot of clothes stores, but I didn't quite realize just how much until I spent who knows how much money and at least 2 and a half hours in a single building, only to realize there were at least 30 other buildings just as large in the area. This city just feels so big and it holds so much!

Anyway, I must board now, but hopefully more later (and hopefully a stable Internet connection too...).

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

Have a safe trip back!!

[oyceter]

Thanks!

[jonquil]

I'm glad you've had such a happy time. And yes, some cities just lift the heart and are *yours* in a deep, inexplicable way. San Francisco is *mine* and I think Paris may be too. I am glad you have more than one.

[oyceter]

I want to see Paris again! The only time I went, I was in high school and did all the touristy stuff instead of exploring. I remember really loving it though.

I don't quite remember Tokyo capturing my heart the same way, possibly because I never lived there for longer than a few days, but then, Hong Kong stole my heart the very first time during the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel! I am hoping I will fall for it this time though!

[rachelmanija]

"Department store bathroom? No! It's the bathroom of Seoul Metro!"

Heee! US public bathrooms can be really sad.

Now I want to go to Seoul. If you love it, I'm sure I would too.

[oyceter]

I think you would LOVE Seoul. I was actually thinking that the entire time I was there!

I love Taiwan, but I wanted to stay in Seoul for longer! There was still so much to eat and see and do! Also, after visiting, I do not understand at all why more people don't go there. Logistics wise, it's awesome and so easy to get around, and there is just SO MUCH there for everyone (shopping, fooding, markets, random street food, cheap food, expensive food, museums, culture, performances, etc. etc. etc.).

Also, even if it didn't have anything else, Seoul would have a special place in my heart just for having cafes with waffles everywhere!

[rachelmanija]

We should go there together some day. (JUST US.)

It's funny how some places get a lot of press as awesome tourist destinations and some fly under the radar - and sometimes those suddenly get tons of press and become popular. You even get that phenomena with cities in the same country.

[oyceter]

Haha, I was totally thinking "JUST US" too. And if we ever do that, we should go to Tokyo too. Because I want to try a butler cafe, but I'm pretty sure it won't be much fun by myself or with my sister. I need a compatriot in crime!

Also while I was in Seoul, I watched this sort of musical thing all about... bibimbap! They had a bibimbap song! And did fake martial arts with the power of bibimbap!

[(Anonymous)]

bibimbap musical? OMG!!!!

and yeah, dondaemun is enormous. they also have this particular street food that i don't see that often in other places- a sausage covered with breading covered with french fries!

- Katie

[oyceter]

OMG I had that in Myeongdong! Sadly, the batter was a bit too thick and also dry in the one I had, but I very much applaud the idea!