More Seoul

From Seoul & Hong Kong Kyung Bok Gung, old temple in the middle of Seoul

Yesterday we went to this crazy indoor mall called COEX - has an arcade, shops and a theater. We saw a movie - Love in the Clouds - some older movie with Charlize Theron (not good). Everything was sold out so we ended up buying from a guy trying to get rid of his pair.

It is so freezing here! Sub 20 degrees F everday. I have a bit of a flu. I couldnt eat much yesterday and am achy (feels the same today). I feel relatively ok though, so hopefully it will pass. Jina has a cold too. We have been getting a lot of rest though and Jina's mom owns a pharmacy so she stocked us up on vitamins. They drink all these health drinnks here. They come in little brown glass bottles that look like nyquil.

Korea-isms:
- So many people live in high-rise apartments...really high! The horizon is filled with them and its all you see when you are driving on the highways around the city. Jina was joking that is why so many Koreans live in Jersey City - similar set up there.
- Ondal system = heated floors in apartments and restaurants where you sit on the floor. Amazing!
- Confucian philosophy - apparently Korea is the most confucian country in Asia although Jina said its changing. Confucian translates into conservative thinking with emphasis on hierarchy: respect for elders, men. On the subway there are seats you cant sit in unless you are old, even if the whole train is full. From reading about it in Lonely Planet I thought it sounded severe, but I dont get a severe vibe being here. Everyone in Seoul is friendly and modern. Actually, its a first for me: Being somewhere where people dont look like me and everything is modern. India being a developing country, is very different.
- All the signs are flat rectangular boards and are all over buildings. At night they all seem to turn into electric signs. Lots of crowded lighted signs! Also animated characters abound...even at the military base. There were statues of little cartoon character soldiers! and cartoons soldiers on the signs.
- So many Hello-Kitty-esque stores and in people's style - very whimsical.
- Lots of mountains - they cover 70% of the country.
- Lunch for breakfast! It was the same in India and something I dont think I could get used to if I was here for a long period of time. (Renee and I rationed our granola bars in India!)

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong