When it’s 4:35 pm in Seoul, it’s 3:35 am in Washington DC. After 14 hours of airtime and more movies than I ever cared to watch in one sitting I arrived in Incheon International Airport. Unlike Bangkok the people who frequent Seoul’s international airport are not vacationers. There are no future cases a melanoma or exotic looking pants and jewelry to be found here. The people in this city mean business and their business is money. Dressed in shiny suits and ties, blackberries in hand ready to buy, sell or trade a stock or any other product imaginable at a moments notice. Seoul is an extremely fast paced city and with its incredible light pollution it simply never sleeps. The pollution is not exclusive to light however. I don’t believe truly clear days don’t happen in Seoul. I have been here for nearly three week and have yet to see an actually blue sky. Regardless of what the weather might actually be, with in the city limits a haze of smog prevent anything close to fresh air. But, on the upside, the pollution provides for one hell of a sunset. I have never in my life seen sunsets like these. The sun turns a firry crimson and the sky races with orange and purple.
While the sunsets are out of this world, I’m still not sure what is more astonishing. The sunsets or the sheer vanity of the Korean people, it’s remarkable really. I’m not judging, I am just giving a simple statement of facts; these people constantly and shamelessly look at themselves in the mirror. But, it doesn’t stop there. Then come the photo shoots. Digital cameras, blackberries, cell phones and lap tops are used to take self-portraits anywhere and everywhere, all the time. The issue is not the vanity alone but the flagrance of it. The girls are considerably worse and far more frequent offenders but couples with out question take the cake. In matching outfits they parade down Promenade streets lined with western boutiques and bistros orchestrating a photo layout Vogue would be proud of.
English here is relatively common and I get by with few problems. I live in one of the wealthiest area of Seoul but that is okay I guess. IT really limits my ability to get my self into sketchy situations but I am dedicated to the cause so gritty adventures WILL happen. I might just have to go north towards the DMZ looking for them…(just kidding dad). I get stared at a lot but I also am usually the only person with blonde hair and green eyes with in a 10-block radius. Most of my co-workers are either American or Canadian. A handful of them are Korean-American nonetheless, my office is about as American as you can get.
Mountains are only 20 Kilometers away so I can go hiking whenever I want. Biking is also very popular and I am fortunate enough to live 3 blocks from a river with a paved trail along it going straight into city center. SO my relationship with biking is still in full swing. But before there was biking, there was my first and only real love. ROLLERBLADING! Let’s all is honest with ourselves for a moment. I was born to rollerblade. I am in the market for some sweet new wheels and soon enough I hope to be back in my natural state, giving the Bundang District of Seoul Hell…on wheels.
I will try to get some pictures up sometime soon. Until Next time I will be Smiling in Seoul! All my love to all you crazy animals out there! And I surely miss you!
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