MindSwap: S. Korea, the second time around

After I have gotten back from my fist trip to Seoul in 2006 I have dreamed of coming back to the chilly weather, the Buddhist temples, centuries old Korean architecture and colorful floral designs, fashionista Korean ladies who couldn't resist wearing mini skirts in freezing weather, drivers who follow traffic rules, hip stationeries and one of a kind journals that I couldn't order online, no thanks to the non-English websites. Then there's the FOOD! Ay, sya! Samgeopsal, bulgogi, bibimpap, kalbi! Let's just say EVERY thing. Except the kimchi. ;p

After more than a year of dreaming (of the food, mainly ;p) and hanging out at Korean online shops and this very tourist-friendly site, I got the chance to revisit end of April. In 4 days / nights, I

+ dragged my pinoy, taiwanese, and chinese workmates to e-mart for pasalubong shopping, where half of the time there was spent figuring out the correct price display;

+ spent 2 full days working, and trying to get connected to the company's wireless network, watched top level admins play kickball, got offered glasses after glasses of soju (kombei!), korean wine, and rice wine and whatever alcoholic drink was available, and got fascinated at the amount of Tagalog the Korean folks know. (Inuman tayo! Siyempre!);

+ spent one and a half days going around Seoul (& beyond). thanks to the efficient subway system, every corner of Seoul is accessible. Well, ok, the taiwanese engr had to teach me and gave me tips on how not to get lost and that somehow calmed me. That, and the tons of maps i carried and the tourist info centers. :)

+ took a lot of photos at Bongeunsa Temple, where strings after strings of lotus lanterns created a red sky in preparation for Buddha's birthday. If the day scene was lovely, I couldn't imagine the night scene I missed..

+ took the guided tour to Changdeokgung Palace, walked at Insadong (still one of my favorite places), passed Cheonggyecheon stream, then walked some more to Myeongdong - where my heart was broken to very tiny and sharp bits and pieces. The Kosney store - this one store where i was supposed to buy as much stationeries and journals as i can carry - has closed down. :( After that sad discovery i carried my heavy heart to the smaller Kosney store at Techno Mart and continued my search at COEX mall where I bought as much stationeries and journals as i can carry. It wasn't the same.

+ ate dinner at KFC, lunch at McDonald's, and had coffee at Starbucks. Whenever I'm overseas, fast food chains and convenience stores provide me a sense of comfort and security. Seriously? I was alone and I chickened out on ordering auth Korean food. So there. ;p