TRAVEL: korea 韩国首尔 @SEOUL

SEOUL KOREA 韩国首尔🇰🇷

Sunday 4th March 18

My stressful Visa run，

I was nervous having been told by the girl for the school that it was hard to make student visas especially from work to student. I had my flight on the Sunday night. Only a couple hours plane ride and then once off I got the limousine bus to the city centre to the stop nearest my hotel: I was staying in ibis styles ambassador. Korea was colder than shanghai and there was a slight drizzle of rain when I arrived. The staff were lovely, my room had a flat screen bathrobe and good internet, no vpn needed internet!!! (Facebook was used freely)

 I booked the spa trying out their small gym briefly. The spa had a steam room and sauna pool. Just me. Bikini optional, the view overlooked the hillside and a Korean tower relaxing music played, and even though it was open air I was soon roasting! A great relaxing start to korea. 

Monday 5th 

Went to the breakfast international with Korean stuff too, tasty fruit juice and a coffee machine. A nice view looking over the mountains and Namsan Park 

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264320

I finished up and got the metro to the station nearest the Visa place 中国领事馆 it’s sort of in a shop/mall like place in the second floor. I spent ages there and  the staff were super helpful. I had prepared photocopies of flights, my old visas etc but it was just handed back to me, I was also told to do the form again not listing the work Visa and info just applying for student. They were so chill. I was ready to have a panic attack wth the stress. 

Once handed in I strolled around the city heading through the namdaemun market and camera shopping street, full of little shops. The market itself was full of herbs, food, fresh fruit and veg and so many different varieties of kimchi 泡菜 it was lively for a weekday morning, not jam packed either though. Went past the start or many palaces and gate houses done in a very chinese influences style due to the history. They had been refurbished to an extent so an inbetween of looking old and realistic and too new and fresh. But it’s hard to get that exact balance or restoration. Especially for buildings with painted surfaces. I went on into the centre of three city seeing the statue of

Admiral Yi-Sun-SHin. A large statue, there were officers around it but not the sense of security like that felt in Beijing 天南门， more like that of VIetnams, a force of loyalty duty and respect.

 I continued on to the main palace, GYeongbokgung palace, the national palace. Outside there is a changing of the guard and many visitors locals and tourists opt to dress up in traditional clothing 韩服, with places nearby available to rent. The ticket price was reasonable but with discount only available to local residents. People were few a huge place I strolled around slowly. Similar to the forbidden palace 故宫 you couldn’t really go into the buildings but u like it, there was a decent supply of information telling you about the different areas, making you more able to get a sense of the place and history, understanding more why so similar to chinese palaces. To the east of the main palace was the smaller lodgings like hutongs, this is were the children and the wives lived and studied. To the west was Gyeonghoeru pavilion and with a pool of water surrounding it. It was beautiful. Here they also had a little cafe and handcraft shop were I chilled for a while. By the time I was leaving the sun had come out and it was a little warmer 

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264337

I headed towards Dogdaemun to start exploring the shops for 买样衣 buying samples, en route I explored a variety of little shops passing and checking out a beautiful Buddhist temple Jogyesa temple. Here, the religion is approximately half Christian catholic and half Buddhist. Showing the mix of Asian and Chinese influence along with American influence after the war. Like japan it’s stylish and clean but there are more roadside  food stalls , the cheap markets are a plenty along with outdoor vendors, all this plus the obvious Chinese influence seen present in the old palaces’ , to me seems like  (to personify it simply) daughter country of china and japan, smart clean tidy stylish a mix of both, living cost wise too.

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264352

The metro is dearer than china but cheaper than japan, it’s odd,You first pay a deposit for the metro card and having used it, you insert into a vendor after and get your money back? 

And if I was to compare korea china and vietnam , id described vietnam as the crazy rebellious and more disordered son of the two countries, china， the stricter dad, and Korea a more calmer warmer mother, in terms of the simpsons, vietnam would a bart Simpson to Korean lisa. 

I stayed out late going round the malls thats were open, some seem to open late to early morning, some onlyday time and they closed on different days confusing and annoying. There was obe or 2 decent ones. One mall, the first floor was designer boutiques with expensive one off pieces but really nice the rest were like cheap markets flogging clothes- bit like Shanghai’s cheapclothes market area  able to haggle a mash of clothes/ shops all very similar  I stayed out and went round countless takingpics and asking prices etc, all very winterynot spring summer...  I walked back to the hotel tired.  Checking out the ‘tulip light’ flower field and ancient city all Enjoying another sauna I stayed up late doing a ppt with pics prices etc sending it to paul. He replied the next day to say have another look

Tuesday 6th, 

got up again for the breakfast they seem to do different things each day. The weather was still cold but clear. I checked out the ‘old town’ namsangol Hanok village and namsangoi Park beside it which then led up to the mountian. Korean style introducing the original area as 2/3 families and there lives, the houses had been made again and you could go around looking and reading about them, again quite chinese. I strolled around the park watching a couple playing some weird outside spinning top game, the girl was unable to do it hahah 脱落

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=561382

Went to get my Visa and success!! Such a relief! 

I then made my way back to the markets again with theirs silly different openinghours.

There was even worse selection for he ones that were open. I checked Out the design mall/exhibit shop but it was mainly technology stuff

I didn’t stay out as late, not much point. I bumped into some English speaking older Korean ladies, one was even learning some Chinese.. even turns out they were Mormons and invited me to a Mormon thing.... typical. Back at the hotel I Updated the ppt and sent it to paul saying about the situation I offered to go get anything in the morning but he said no need. I went and enjoyed me last night in my glorious sauna and pampered myself wth the free cleanser and moisturizer! 

I stayed up late enjoying a life of no vpn (Facebook haha and ofc posted about Paris fashion week - letting the fake reality world think I was there, my stuff is, just not me) chilled and watched the large tv there was decent stuff on the Korean tv - English programs! Including history stuff! 

Didn’t rush too much and enjoyed my

Last morning of the breakfast before packing up. Unfortunately fell over with the suitcase on my way across the road but I was helped up. Got the airport bus and arrived on time, yet the flight got delayed! I ended up Skyping reb and not going to work as I would have only arrived for an hour. Korea is nice, but just for shoppers and foodies 购物狂/卡奴/吃货。 exactly as phil said lol 

travel: venice

威尼斯 Venice 17/1/26

Up early (but not as early as when we got that flight) and went for our buffet breakfast, they made great hot chocolate this morning, cioccolato, yes Italy is famous for coffee but when u ask for latte it's just milk haha, and I don't like coffee because it's so bitter, I have to add lots of sugar (3 I get looks) it's can make me feel queasy and I just want to brush my teeth their hot chocolates tend to be small thick and u can usually sort of eat it with a spoon but this one was quite milky and smooth, we got a taxi to the train station and boarded the train using our online ticket PDF/screen shot. A smooth ride I even befriended some Chinese who gave me water! Nan was happy that they'd extended the train line before u would have had to get off the train and then board a small ferry to the 'island' cold crisp but beautifully clear with cloudless blue skies the canals also emulated the sky, clear shimmering turquoise and light blue. Clean and not smelly (like it can be in summer due to heat and overcrowding) it was empty nor packed. The gondolas were rowing smoothly in the maze of romantic canals some with tourists (one ride is a hefty €90!) so it's not the local transport. 

We crossed the bridge and made our way through the maze of alleyways browsing shops and seeing some beautiful masks and lace, I got some patches 国旗贴牌 for my travel packback. We walked past some beautiful buildings old homes and villas with their traditional Renaissance facades still clear (some were getting restoration work. We past some amazing old churches too (basilica di Santa Maria gloriosa dei frari/ chiesa di san Rocco) and  small piazzas,  a confusing maze 糊里糊涂的迷宫 with tiny signs I kept checking my map.

 We finally arrived at a huge bridge crowded with people with a public ferry on the grande canal - san tomà we just got a one way ticket and boarded, having stopped and had some strong and delicious mulled wine that went straight to nan and i's head but warmed us up (it was bitterly cold barely 1')  I found out - due to over hearing a Chinese father that st marks square is the biggest in Europe! And it's also illegal to feed the pigeons there lol. On arrival nan bought reb a big furry Russian style hat. 

We passed the huge old palace leading into the square utterly stunning, and st Marc's basilica itself breathtaking. Sunlit filled the square - its was nearing 1, we were going to sit out in a cafe but the prices due to the area were extortionate! We went down some of the alleyways and found a quiet cheaper place. Drinking some of their local alcohols (nans fav wine Sauvignon blanc comes from this region) and I tried an orange based champagne  'cocktail' they had some Chinese workers so I wished them 拜年/恭贺新禧/新年快乐 as today is 除夕 we strolled back and went into the basilica nan having enjoyed more sea food (exceptionally fresh here obviously) the interior though was of people was silent - no pictures. Detailed in gold and covered in biblical depictions it was breathtaking 惊艳 we sat in the left alcove soul searching and admiring the beauty around us, questioning the choices in certain area for some artwork. We then tried to enter the Doge palace but it had literally closed the doors! Disappointed we strolled the main canal resting and freshing up in a lush hotel and browsing stores. 

The sun began to set 日没 the sun filled with shades of orange we boarded a ferry before isle fully set. I sat inside with nan, admiring the beauty of the lights and buildings reflecting on the water as the sun finally set. Reb stood out in the cold creating memories to linger forever in her heart and mind 威尼斯的景点永远刻骨铭心-难忘 on arrival we browsed the lit up shops along the Main Street getting famous souvenir Venice masks reb braving icecream in the even colder night (the Russian hat must have influenced her haha brave woman。 we went into the station for more browsing buying snacks and drinks in the food court (no seats though) nan had more wine and I persuaded her to get one for the train as it was ridiculously cheap reb and I pinched some cups and got ryan chocolate. Nan was a hoot sneakily pouring the wine from her handbag and hiding the bottle like a naughty underage teen! (There was even some people from n.i in our car, the accent unmissable haha small world) 



On arrival we were starving but was late and nothing was open. We ended up going to a horrid sort of fast food restaurant (not entering another due to a women dressed in a skirt and heeled boots in winter who was clearly a call girl  娼妇/婊子 the pizza I shared with nan was horrid and gave her a bad tum, they gave us a meager salad, the bread we begged for was stale, we had to beg for mayo aswel, rebs pasta was rank, the drinks expensive, it was overall the most expensive and disgusting thing I've had in a long long time. A disappointing end to the last night. And my morning hot chocolate then next morning wasn't nice or chocolate like either. Got one in the airport, along with alcohol, nan and I were shocked that you couldn't buy discount cigarettes here (fine in spain though, but not in France from What I recall)  and got a huge pasta pack for the house.