September 27, 2003
So last week I went to Seoul, Korea for a 4 day trip. I flew from Fukuoka International Airport into Incheon International Airport, crossing the sea of Japan, for a total air time of 55 minutes...it is actually closer and cheaper than going to Tokyo.
When I was in junior high, I made friends with a boy from Korea, and that was the first time I was really exposed to Korea and Korean culture. For me, Korean culture was basically spicy noodles and a hip hop group called Seo Taiji Boys. I listened to these guys day and nite...watched a videotape of their concert backwards and forwards, tried to mimic their fashions and became enthralled in this new world that I had never knew about. From there my imagination bloomed of what this place on the other side of the globe might be like. I envisioned a huge metropolis-like city...bustling with trains, people, sounds and lights...and I wanted to be there so bad. I was an 8th grader in junior high, and Korea was calling me.
I never did go though...it remained a yearning that survived in my fantasy and imagination and eventually faded down to an afterthought and a reminiscent patch in my memory bank.
I think it's been about 10 years since I was first introduced to this land which struck such curiosity within me, and last week I finally made it.
Firstly, everyone thought I was Japanese and I was spoken to in Japanese. Before leaving for Korea I tried to learn as much Korean as I could. I memorized some phrases like, "Hello", "This Please", "I arrived in Korea today", etc. Using those phrases, along with plucking through a little phrase book I brought along, I tried to speak as much as possible. It was a challenge, which was fun. Many people did speak Japanese, so after trying some Korean, I appreciated that we could find a language to communicate with.
Korea is definitely a unique country. I really felt a strong national pride and comraderie amongst the peoples. I also felt that they were a little disinterested as well as skeptical of foreigners. I was puzzled as to why, but a guy who is studying there as a graduate student told us that since Korea really has had a hard time historically being bullied and pushed around by China, Japan, and the U.S., they naturally had a bit of once bitten, twice shy type of mindset. Nonetheless, store clerks and restaurant staff where friendly, helpful and down to earth.
The food was excellent. Alot of the diet consists of very flavorful and spicy dishes...so rich in taste, it truly was an adventure for the tastebuds. People who love to eat, I highly recommend this place as it is really inexpensive and so delicious. There is a lot of barbecued beef, noodles, spiced vegetables like cabbage, peppers, daikon...and many more. It really pops with a vibrant taste-sensation.
I'd like you all to take a tour of Korea with several shots I have from the trip. It doesn't do justice to the real thing, but please enjoy. (Click on pictures below)
