Sarah and I wrapped up our time in Seoul without much else to report. The weather on Friday was terrible - cold and rainy all day - so we spent our time doing laundry and walking around the War Memorial of Korea. It was good to get some additional perspective on the Korean War (and the other wars the country has endured over the years) and we'd recommend it if you're looking for an afternoon to spend indoors in Seoul. We also got to see my friend Mike again for dinner - and it's always good to catch up with old friends, especially on the other side of the world!
On Saturday we took the metro to the Gangnam district and had lunch at Vatos Urban Tacos. Rather than the Tex-Mex style of tacos we're used to back home, these tacos had some Korean flare - definitely a must-visit if you find yourself in Seoul. Plus we had fun walking around the neighborhood afterward. All in all, a great way to end our time in Seoul!
We flew to Hong Kong Saturday evening and have five days here before heading to Australia. Here are out top takeaways from South Korea.
Looking back at downtown Seoul from Gangnam.
1. A huge expat community lives in Seoul, largely due to the US military presence in South Korea. This has resulted in many Western-style bars and restaurants and is highlighted most in the Itaewon neighborhood. Alex and I weren't complaining though: we had some delicious food and a proper Thanksgiving meal!
2. Despite a larger number of expats here, we noticed far fewer tourists than in Japan. Maybe it's busier when the weather is warmer, but we were a little surprised that we stood out so often as the only tourists around.
3. The city itself is not "modernly beautiful" the way Tokyo or Hong Kong can claim to be. It's clear that much of the city was rebuilt following the Korean War and this made the city feel grey and dreary in some parts.
4. Bibimbap is delicious! We really enjoyed this South Korean specialty, particularly with a side of beef bulgogi and extra kimchi.
5. Women are extremely conscience of their physical appearance. Everyone wears lots of makeup and is always dressed in the most fashionable outfits. There are also plastic surgery ads everywhere and, regrettably, our friends noted that eating disorders are very common in Seoul.
6. There isn't a ton to do when the weather doesn't cooperate. I suppose this could be said about any place but we found our options particularly limited in Seoul.
7. People love to hike! We were by far the youngest and least experienced hikers on the Bukhansan trails and we were impressed by the older people we saw making the difficult trek to the peak.
8. Korea has a sad and troubled past. Spending a day in the War Memorial really helped us understand the country's history and why the international community took such a major interest in preserving democracy here.
9. A heightened sense of smell comes with the territory. People might think NYC has some peculiar scents but it's nothing compared to the wave of sewage / garbage / unidentifiable stench that hits you on the regular while walking around Seoul. Phew!
10. South Koreans love their coffee! There must be thousands of coffee shops in Seoul - we couldn't walk one block without seeing at least two!
Peak: Hanging out with our friend Mike and meeting some of his friends in South Korea - really helped make our first Thanksgiving abroad memorable!
Pit: Missing the opportunity to visit the DMZ due to poor weather conditions.
Next Stop: Hong Kong