We visited Korea last month. Cathy was there for 2 weeks and I was only there for 1 week. We flew back on the same day. It was 3 years earlier that I started my journey to Korea. Wonderful memories flooded back. The anxiety and uncertainty of what was to come was such an adrenaline rush. I never felt so alive in my life before. The first days of college were similar in the sense that I was leaving the security of home behind, but nowhere near life changing as leaving everything behind to start a new life in a new country. I will miss and cherish those emotions forever. Anyway it was only a short time between Oct. 20-27, but it was just so good to be back. Here are some pictures.
Flew Korean Airlines (ticketed through Delta) direct from Dulles to Incheon for only $1000. KAL screwed up our seating assignment though BOTH WAYS. For that I give them two thumbs down. My feeling is that because it was ticketed through Delta (instead of full fair on KAL, which was hundreds more) they purposely disregarded our seating assignment. KAL sucks.
We met up with our friend where I used to live. Home Sweet Home.
Stuff like this made me miss Korea. Instead of liquid soap, there's bar soap on a metal stick. Seriously...this works MUCH better than liquid soap dispensers. Sometimes simplicity is best.
Some hot models meant to grab your attention at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition 2009 otherwise known as the Seoul Airshow. All the guys were clamoring to take pictures with the models. Koreans sure know how to market.
Here are some NEW street vendor snacks that I came across. A lot can change in 1 year. My favorite snack is Deli Manjoo, but instead I found Ppiokko. Essentially tasted the same. The Banana snack wasn't as great.
Rows of bicycles parked in front of an English hakwon (or extra-curricular studies) late in the evening (9pm-ish). Korean kids know how to study and don't really get to hang out or chill or play Wii. All they do is study. It's nuts, but awesome. I hope I can get my kids to do the same.
The newly built Gwanghwamun Plaza in the heart of Seoul used to be a grass covered medium that separated traffic. It was converted into a beautiful water fountain park.