... suivi de Valkyrie with Tom Cruise.

Visiblement, c'est une journee tranquille devant la tele au hostel

On s'en allait sortir du hostel quand Home Alone a commence a la tele

Guess we're staying in

Maxime was telling me how Koreans had TV channels broadcasting Starcraft games and the likes. I didn't quite believe him until I saw for myself.

Koreans are the sweetest/most polite/most courteous people ever.

1. We asked directions to two cops on Jeju Island. They drove us to our destination.

2. A guy shyly asked Math on our 4-hour-long bus ride from Gyeongju to Seoul: "Can I talk to you?"

To which Math didn't have the choice but to answer: "Sure."

The guy kept on saying sorry every two sentences because his English was average.

To which Math answered repeatdly: "It's okay. I understand."

After we got off the bus, he helped us find the subway.

While we were recharging our T-Money (equivalent to Octopus Card), he asked Math: "May I go now?"

Math almost laughed.

3. "Thank you for flying with Jeju Air. We love you."

(We love you too.)

And on plenty other occasions, when we got lost or needed additional information or directions,

there was always someone with his phone willing to search on Internet or call for us.

We had ladies coming out from their restaurants with only their aprons and sandals to point us the right direction (freezing cold in Korea in case you're asking), bus drivers ALWAYS telling us when to get off (Eh! Eh! Here!), tourist information ladies calling their colleagues in others cities to make sure of schedules and prices/writing in Korean all the directions so we can just show the paper to people in the streets, the hostel owner always laughing at our and his own words, his daughter bowing and saying "Gamsa-amnida" when I gave her cookies... and the list goes on. 

English, no English,

Koreans always smile, listen and try to help as much as possible.

It's beyond anywhere I've been so far.

3rd day in Seoul

Changdeokgung Palace was small compared to the Forbidden City. (Quoique les Japonais ont detruit 70% du palais.)
I was mostly surprised to learn that Korean emperors had heated floors, something that the Chinese didn't have. 

However, it was so cold, we could only stay for 20 minutes before quitting and running to find a restaurant for warmth and food. I wish I'll come back one day to visit the Secret Garden. Heard it's amazing... 

Florence and Math freezing



throne + heated floor



In the afternoon, we went to meet Anna (ENFIN!) in a traditional teahouse in Insadong district. The place was small, cosy and calm. Birds were flying from one side to another. It was fun catching up with Anna because we didn't have time to talk much since Belgium (1.5 year ago). She sure is a busy girl!



our Double Harmony Tea



paper window

 

crazy pond in the washroom



sweet Anna

Insadong is an art district so we did spend some time in an art gallery. There was also Ssamjigil, a funky artsy place with a lot of boutiques selling jewerly, clothes and traditional items.

We finished off the day with a nice Korean BBQ in Sincheon University district, an area Anna knows well since she studied there.

 

back at Mr. Kim's

We eat like pigs in Korea

On the second day, we woke up at noon again (vacations are meant to be relaxing, right?).

Anna was busy with work so we couldn't meet up.

We headed out to the COEX Mall  (largest underground mall in Asia)

with the American girl from Tennessee and another guy from Shanghai.

Not for shopping of course (it's way cheaper on the streets)...

but for the Kimchi Museum!

Who knew there were more than 180 kinds of kimchi?

 

Right next to the mall, there's a temple. 

What's so special about Seoul is how the city is mega developed with skyscrapers 

and ultramodern buildings, but scattered with ancient historical monuments.

I like the contrast because there's always a surprise around the corner.

The last place we went before heading back to Mr.Kim's was the Ewha U market.

There are indeed a lot of cute outfits but compared to Hong Kong,

I'm not impressed by the prices.

The fashion and trends may be different but it's quite expensive from an Asian point of view.

But if I think twice and compare to Canada, I might as well buy that black coat I saw today...

Our first meal en sol coreen

I swear, this TaeYang song was playing when we entered in the restaurant

East Main Gate: National Treasure No.1

food in another street alley

La premiere journee, Math a fait le porc et ne s'est leve qu'apres midi.

J'en ai profite pour finir La joueuse de go, ecrit par Shan Sa. Trop excellent!

Nous sommes ensuite sortis dans le froid glacial pour aller explorer le marche Dongdaemun ainsi qu'une montagne (semblable au mont Royal) avec la N Tower Seoul.

Le soir, nous sommes sortis avec un bresilien, un anglais, une americaine et un autre canadien: tous du meme continent! Avec le soju, j'etais evidemment la premiere a tomber. 

Le sang asiatique ne ment jamais.

Seoul est une ville regorgeant de belles filles.

Elles ont des beaux visages maquilles, des beaux cheveux coiffes et des beaux vetements assortis avec des beaux souliers et des belles sacoches.

 Elles sortent toutes des teleseries ou quoi...

 

Our flight got delayed and somehow our only piece of luggage didn't follow us all the way to Seoul. Math and I usually bring a small backpack each to avoid losing our stuff, waiting at the carrousel after the flight and transporting too much weight for nothing. 

So the ONLY time we DO check in something, it gets lost.

Great.

But Korea is just too sweet.

The weather is bitter cold.

But after the suffocating humidity in Hong Kong in September-October

and then the humid winter we just got,

it actually feels good to be Canadian again.

Just bring it on.

I'm ready to freeze my ass off and of course, shop for winter clothes.

I've seen some girls sporting nice winter jackets, boots, gloves, hats and handbags...

We've landed since 2 hours and already, I can tell you the food is awesome.

We ordered randomly from the menu which was only in Korean,

in a restaurant located in a small alley next to our hostel and owned by a sweet couple.

We polished off the small hors-d'oeuvres, tiny soups, ramen soup and hot pot stone in 10 minutes, top speed.

Maybe because of the cold,

but the warmth of the people, the yummy and tasty food

and the floor heating system at the Mr Kim's Guesthouse is definitely reviving me.

Going to bed.

Might meet up with Anna tomorrow :)

13 Years Later: The Return to Ocean Park with Franco

Summer 1997

We were 5 and 9 years old

It was SUPER DUPER hot and humid

But we had the time of our lives

Winter 2010

We are 18 and 22 years old

The weather was just perfect

We're back at the Ocean Park!!!

sleepy panda

still sleeping

beautiful jellyfish

des beaux bacs de recyclage

Funny girl with a back pocket

sea lions enjoying the sun

30 min before the marine show

free marine show = crowded theater

from one side of the mountain to the other