Reunited [Seoul - Day 1] 12-3-10

On the 11-3-10, I leave my home around 6AM to go to Heathrow airport at terminal 4. It's the first time I've ever traveled by myself outside Europe so the feeling is quite daunting for me, as I barely speak any Korean nor do I have a solid plan for this trip. To be honest, I don't have that usual exciting feeling and have doubts as to if I'll enjoy my holiday.

I'm flying to S. Korea with Air France. I have to transfer from London -> Paris -> Incheon, taking 2 planes instead of a direct flight to reach S. Korea because it saves me over £100 and help pays for my trip to Jeju Island. Before sitting on the plane, I was hoping I would sit next to a English speaking Korean so that I could practice my Korean and ask for recommendations for my itinerary. Wishes don't always come true, as I end up sitting next to 2 Japanese girls whom barely speak any English. Sitting on the plane for 13 hours I had to keep busy so I watched the movie "A Beautiful Mind." which is about a genius whom suffers from schizophrenia. The movie is really intriguing which is no wonder why it won 4 Oscars. After the movie and dinner I tried to sleep but my mind won't switch off so I spend time designing and writing in Rosalie's Birthday card.

I arrive at Incheon airport on 12-3-10 in the early morning feeling tired from a sleepless night. Rosalie has to go to university so I have to make my own way to her house. I will be staying at her home with her family during my time in Seoul. At the exit, I get bombarded by taxi drivers offering me a lift but I refuse because Rosalie recommended me taking the bus which is cheaper. I wait for the 6020 shuttle bus which goes to Yeoksam station near her home. The bus arrives and I ask a Korean lady how much it costs and she tells me I have to get a ticket from the office so I quickly run and purchase one. Sitting on the bus I overhear the Korean lady teaching Korean to her language exchange partner which makes me regretfully feel like I should have studied Korean before I left London.

I go to the station to get a T- money card which is like an oyster card to travel around Seoul using public transport. I have to take another bus to reach Rosalie's house but have trouble finding it and then realise I walked passed it after calling Rosalie. I was feel hungry so I ate at KFC for lunch before boarding the bus. The waitress speaks Korean to me and I don't have slightest idea what she said so I point to the menu and order a box master and a grape flavoured Fanta which I've never tried before. I feel like I shouldn't be eating KFC because I'm on holiday but I'm not brave enough to eat at a Korean restaurant by myself.

I follow Rosalie's map that she drew for me and search a long time walking back and fourths for her home and luckily bump into her mum. I go to my room and have 2 choices which is either (a) go exploring or (b) wait for 4 hours for Rosalie. I quickly decide to choose option (a) because I don't want to waste half a day resting. I decide to go to COEX shopping mall because I remember Rosalie said it's not too far from her home. Her mum left early for work so I only wave goodbye to her dad. I go to the bus stop and have no idea how to get to COEX. I look at the bus stop and all the information is in Korean so I ask a man where COEX is and he points at the name of the bus stop that I have to get off. COEX shopping mall is huge and has many shops and restaurants. To be honest I didn't come to S. Korea for shopping. I find shopping a waste of time because I prefer to spend time sight seeing, experiencing and learning about the culture and of course, eating the best food.

I remember my friend Sinmei from London said there is a Kimchi Museum in COEX so I go and hunt for it. I walk around the mall and finally find it after searching for over 1 hour.

I always thought that there is only one type of kimchi but after visiting this museum, I quickly realise I'm wrong. The museum is quite small so you can easily explore it within 30 minutes.

Here is a kimchi lady feeding me kimchi. I like kimchi but I'm not sure if I can eat it everyday as Korean's even it eat for breakfast, which I find is too early for spicy food. After visiting the museum, I begin to make my way back to Rosalie's house. I try to look for my bus stop but have no idea where it is and get lost trying to find it, so I walk on the direction to Yeoksam station. I walk half-way and then find the bus stop and get on the 146 and then realise I'm got on the wrong bus because I'm suppose to take the 147. Anyway, I eventually reach Rosalie's house and she opens the door for me. It feels unreal to see her again because it's been over half a year since she left London. I'm happy to see her again and happy to hear that Lime can meet us for dinner later.

I brought Rosalie's parent's an English teapot, traditional tea and biscuits as a gift for allowing me to stay at their home. Rosalie's mum made some tea and said the teapot would remind her of me every time she uses it. After, we leave to go meet Lime. I wave goodbye to the parents again and I ask Rosalie why she is laughing and she tells me it's rude to wave goodbye to your elders and that your suppose to bow. Now I realise why her dad gave me a weird reaction when I waved goodbye to him in the morning. I like learning about different cultures but to be able to put it into practice is even better.

We went to Lime's company to wait for her. She work's at POSCO, the world's leading steel maker. Outside her company is a piece of art designed by Frank Stella, costing over $1.8million. When I went inside her company, I was amazed by the video art near the entrance and was shocked that they even have their own art gallery. We sat down near the cafe and then she arrives by hitting me on my back. To reunite with my friends is an amazing feeling. I felt mentally and physically tired but Lime seems to have a special charm that brings a smile on everyone's face.

We make a move to dinner and Lime suggests to eat intestines which apparently tastes delicious. I weren't too sure about eating it and make a weird facial impression so we end up eating Samgyupsal.

It's the first time I've tasted Samgyupsal which is fatty slices of pork belly meat. You wrap the pork with a cabbage leaf or perilla leaves and then add accompaniments. Lime told me your suppose to eat it in one bite which I had trouble doing and ate it quite messily. The Ajumma will cook the meat for you which is great because it saves me from burning it. The girls also ordered cold noodles and soju which is often consumed with meat. I didn't drink much because I wanted to sleep well tonight. Lime prepared a plan for my first to days and our next destination was the Han River Cruise. The last cruise is after 8PM so we quickly finish eating and made our way to the station.

Here we sit on the subway. Rosalie wanted to take a photo of me with Lime. The subway is great in Seoul and is a lot better than the tube in London. The subway is more spacious, modern, clean and the seats even warm up which is great when your feeling cold. We look at the time and it's not likely that we'll make it to the last cruise. Lime is always a positive thinking person and says that we can still make it but Rosalie said we can't. I remember Lime said to Rosalie that she's being negative and Rosalie made me laugh by replying "I'm not negative, I'm just being realistic."

We get off the subway and Lime leads the way to the cruise. Running, helps bring back funny memories when I had to run with Lime for the coach in Cambridge, England. We finally get inside the ticket office and the worker tells us that the last cruise is not running anymore because there isn't enough people. I wasn't that heart broken about missing the cruise because I can imagine it will be similar to the Thames River Cruise in London. Feeling breathless we all sit on the sofa and rest to recuperate our energy.

We end up walking along Han River as an alternative option. We walk past this boat and apparently couples will have weddings there which I can imagine would be lovely during the Summer. Lime said I was lucky that I could meet her because her mum was suppose to go to hospital as she might have a cancer lump, but luckily was okay at the end and didn't have to go. I just joked and said it was her destiny to meet me again and Rosalie joked and said Lime's mum should thank me. We don't walk for long  because it was really cold and the wind was blowing at me wildly so I jokingly walked behind Rosalie so that she can block the wind for me. After we make our way to the Jjimjilbang (찜질방) which is a public bath house where you can stay over for the night. I only went with Lime because Rosalie went the day before with her mum. I was given 2 choices, either (a) go to a smaller Jjimjilbang where there is less people and no foreigners or (b) the larger Jjimjilbang which is more modern and will have foreigners. I end up choosing option (a) because Rosalie said it's more quiet and less busy.

On our way, waiting for the subway we came across a poster advert of 2PM (Korean Boy Band). According to Lime, these guys are real hot, especially the guy in pink whose actually not Korean and from a Thai/Chinese background. Damn, I don't think I would attract any girls wearing his pink outfit. 

We get to the Jjimjilbang and I feel like an immigrant because I can't speak Korean and have no idea what I'm suppose to do. Lime has not been to this Jjimjilbang before so she can't explain clearly what I have to do. I enter the men's changing room and undress. Nobody speaks English and I have no idea which direction to go but luckily take the correct stairs down to a room where there are showers, hot tubs and saunas. I've been to one similar in Japan before so it's not much of a culture shock for me but I still feel uncomfortable because I'm not use to the environment. After I finish, I get change into some clothes that was given to me at the counter. I go to buy a toothbrush and toothpaste but the shop assistant don't understand English. I use sign language and he tells me the toothpaste is downstairs where the showers are so I have to get undress again just to brush my teeth and then get change again.

Anyway, after the long process to brush my teeth I meet Lime on the next floor up. I mentioned before that I was lucky about taking the correct stairs otherwise I would be experiencing a really embarrassing moment as I don't think a bunch of clothed people will want to see a naked guy. The room is mixed and there are different saunas rooms at different temperatures, sleeping mats, wide screen TV's and massage chairs. We go on the massage chair which only costs ₩1000 for 15 minutes and is highly relaxing. After we go to next floor up to the snack bar. Lime ordered me a Korean hot dog and green tea. She ordered hard boiled eggs and a traditional Korean drink called Sikhye which tastes really refreshing. She tried to crack the eggs on my head but it didn't quite work. The egg's are not your ordinary white colour and are eaten with salt. I go to get my camera so that I could take a photo of the egg and walk down 2 sets of stairs. I enter a room and see only women and a Ajumma tells me to get out of the room making me realise I'm in the women's changing room. Luckily, none of them were naked otherwise they would kill me. I guess this is what happens when you can't speak nor read Korean.

Anyway, after hanging out in the snack bar until around 12ish we went to the sleeping area to sleep. Lime felt uncomfortable sleeping in the room because there were a lot of men snoring so she went to the women's only room to sleep which is lucky for her. She would come and get me the next morning at 8AM. It's past 12AM so I try to sleep after a really long and exhausting first day.