I am soooo doing it again!

Last week Michael-teacher says, “I think I am going to Seoul next weekend; anyone want to go?”

And me being me I said “why not?!”

Thusly, on Friday night we plan to meet-up at 8:15 pm so that we have time to taxi to the train station get tickets and make it on the last train to Seoul at 21:00. When I arrive at the Mini-Stop to meet-up Michael comes and says he is still not finished packing. So I wait while he packs and we finally get into taxi. At this point we have a little less than 20 minutes to make it to the train station; luckily we are in Korea. The taxi drivers, I am not sure if I have mentioned, as like any other Korean driver, follow no actual traffic laws. They run red lights by making it look like they are about to turn and change their minds; they will turn- on flashers and go into the left lane of oncoming traffic to get around a row of cars waiting for a light to change; and they will get you to the train station in 8 minutes when it should have taken 15. We purchase tickets, settle down on the train and play rummy (Unfortunately, he kicked my ass)

We were in Seoul sometime around midnight. A taxi took up to Itaewon; the international food hub of Korea. Brooke and Bill had given Michael the 411 on a little hotel above the Mickey-D’s there. After a few wrong turns and a wrong stairwell and sweet old gentleman led us right to where we needed to be. It was smaller than the motel I stayed at when I arrived, but basically the same style-heated bed and all.

Saturday morning we decided to meet up around 9:00 am. Breakfast/caffeine was top on the list and that lead us to a Starbucks next to the McDonalds. Afterwards we began walking. Itaewon is a kilometer long (maybe) and you name a type of food and it can be found. Indian, German, Thai, Arabic, American, Mexican, Italian, Belgian, Mediterranean, etc etc etc… it also had jewelry shops, custom made tailored suit shops, movies, cd’s (not always the legal kind) and clothing/shoes for all size people (which you definitely cannot find in Gwang-Ju). They just had a little of everything. On top of all the shops/restaurants, as you walked down the street you could hear people talking in English, Korean, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Chinese that we were able to identify.

Quick side story-early in the day before we really began hearing all the different dialects a gentleman began to pass us and said “Bonjour,” of course I had to respond in French, “Bonjour!”
His eyes were so surprised, and he began to ask me if I spoke French and I answered then he asked if I was from France or America. He then thanked me for speaking with him, said au-revoir and turned up a side road. It was absolutely one of those sweet exchanges that leave you in awe of the world.

Michael began to spend money when the shops began to open; he bought two pairs of custom made trousers and presents for his daughter and family back home. Around lunch time we decided that you really can’t pass up Mexican food if it is available to you; so that is where we went. It was fairly empty and the proprietor of the shop was talking to us when we walked in and began to order; told us a little about his shop and such. The food was excellent for being made by a Canadian who lived in Southern California and studied cooking in Mexico before moving to Korea and eventually opening a Mexican restaurant (some of the progression of how and such is fuzzy-time did not permit me to find out more-sorry to those of the nosy nature). Anyway, while we ate Michael texted a few people he knew in the area to see if they wanted to try to meet-up at some point during the day.

One answered, the “infamous Paul” according to him and others he is one of the black sheep of LCI, however, I don’t really know or care what went down and him and Michael are still “friends” so whatev. Paul took us to another shopping-like district Insa Dong. The way he explained it was that where we were was tourist area; where we were going was local area and it offered the same things at radically different prices. Itaewon catered to the foreigners. Insa Dong was geared towards Koreans. I really wish that I had had money to just spend; I found gifts and gift ideas to continue to look for and a thousand little things to be selfish about and get for myself. I, however, only bought postcards until I have money to be able to spend on those types of things.

Though in another side-note, I was admiring Kimonos that this one vendor had towards the end of the night and she comes-up to me and says “I have your size today, let me show you.” Grabbing my hand she lead me around the corner, “Black would look good with you skin…here black. Normally 85, 000 won-for you 75, 000 won.” Of course I was looking and admiring a silk kimono in my size. How neat would that be to have? But I knew I really couldn’t afford it right now; so I tried to explain to her no money. “You use credit I go down 70,000 won now/tonight I may not have again.” It was very sad day to walk away knowing that I could have gotten her down still further and walked away with a silk kimono…Maybe next time I am there…

Still, Paul knew what to show us in Insa Dong. We headed back to Itaewon to meet up with another friend of Michaels around 7 something pm. (Paul bought us Subway passes and that is how we got around to and from Itaewon/Insa dong.) Unfortunately, she cancelled on us; so Paul stayed with us and joined us for Indian food. It was delicious. Let me tell you about Paul for a minute: Paul grew up in Hollywood, a writer, has a doctorate in education and like to talk, a lot, also he believes that he knows and understands everyone/everything and etc. (Paul if you read this and it insults you I am sorry, but I did tell you that I think your full of yourself to your face)…But he is also fun to talk to because he talks a lot and we have different things in common and such. Afterward, to conserve money, we bought liquor and went back to the hotel to play Loaded Questions –adult version…It was an extremely fun day and night.

Sunday, Michael and I were going to go to see some other areas of Seoul, but decided to take an earlier/cheaper bus and not have to lug our stuff around all day. (he was also worried about being tired etc for school tomorrow…did I mention he is 47?) So, we came back here after a breakfast at Paris Baguette and a jaunt down the streets of Itaewon again.

I can-absolutely-not wait to go back to Seoul. I picked up some tourist maps and other English tourist literature and there is so much to see and buy and do. It will be a great way to spend another weekend; and Paul invited me to let him know when I’ll be around again to get in touch with him; I told him that he would be used, probably.

This weekend reminded me of why I am here and what one of my goals is/was: To see as much as possible, to learn something and to add an experience like no other to my life.