Some General Impressions and Random Observations

There are so many little things that make life in another country interesting. I'm going to try to get some of them down here.

Driving/Walking: The driving here is frightening. There are no stop signs. Cars will park on the other side of the street, and somehow negotiate really tight alleys and back streets, coming mere centimeters from other cars and pedestrians. Pedestrians do not have the right of way unless they're in a cross walk - if you try to cross the street randomly, you're taking your life into your hands. I think I've already mentioned this, but I'm astounded at the multitudes of big cars and SUVs here - the highways are fine but the normal roads in the city are very narrow. I've seen cars with little blue foam bumper pads stuck to doors and side panels, to help stave off sideswiping from a bad parking job.

Illicet Sex: Prostitution is illegal, but the barber shops with double barber poles are places a guy can get a shave and a haircut and something extra for two bits. On the bus ride from Ulsan to Namchang, there's a small town with a whole block of prostitutes sitting in little rooms with pink and red neon lights in the windows, available and plain for all the world to see. This is in the countryside, so perhaps the cops just don't venture that far out of the city.

Eating: Korean food is notoriously spicy, and it will make your nose run. But, it's considered impolite to blow your nose in public, so Koreans will sniff and sniff and snort rather than blow their noses! They also love to slurp coffee, soup, and noodles, and will often chew loudly, smacking their lips. I can remember it annoying me to no end when I first arrived here 5 years ago, but then I read the lip-smacking came from an appreciating of having food to eat. It was like letting the world know that you had food, that you weren't starving. It didn't seem quite so annoying after that. I have to admit, there's something comforting about slurping coffee.

Coffee: although there are now an abundance of coffee shops, Koreans usually drink what's called "milk coffee" which is instant coffee laced with powdered milk and sugar, served in tiny paper cups. You can find this coffee at any restaurant, in machines on the street and lobbies of banks and hotels, just about anywhere. It certainly has its endearing qualities, though it doesn't pack the morning punch I need! Luckily, this hotel also serves properly brewed hazelnut coffee with breakfast. :-)

Fashion: One word sums up women's fashion: BLING. Everything is shiny, frilly, busy and otherwise "not-plain." An Amish person would have a heart attack here. Everything meaning shoes, skirts, pants, blouses, sweaters, earrings, and hair adornments. I've noticed a little less cutesy than there was 4-5 years ago, though.

Street of Shops: I love how many different shops there are and how they are all lined up close to the sidewalk. It's very inviting and cozy. Lots of little hole-in-the-wall looking boutiques, bakeries, bedding stores, jewelry stores, you name it. Often you'll see old Korean farmers with their produce there on the sidewalk, ready to sell. The sidewalks are quite wide, so there is room for the farmers and plenty of pedestrians to all get on. And the sidewalks aren't just concrete slabs - they're brick or some kind of cobble, with a sort of yellow brick stripe down the center. Many Korean women walk with sun parasols, which are very pretty and can cost upwards of US $50. I bought one for much less to hide from the beating sun. I've noticed not as many parasols as before - as opposed to China where you'd about get poked in the head every five minutes from all the parasols.

Eating out: Of course I've already talked about kalbi, the BBQ meat that is nothing like Americans' concept of BBQ. It's much healthier because it doesn't have the carbon buildup on the meat, and the meat is actually eaten with greens, onions, and sauces and garlic. Other Korean food I like very much is kalgugsu (a soup with thick noodles and seafood), and bibimbap, the common dish of rice, vegetables, meat/tofu and hot pepper sauce.

For now that'll do it I guess. I'll try to get another session in tomorrow, because after I go to Seoul I don't know what internet access will look like. This hotel has a nice room with computers to use, such a great amenity to offer, and I have no idea what the situation will look like in Seoul.

Until tomorrow, then...