Solo Adventure to Namdaemun Market

Tonight I head out solo to finally buy the camera I've had my eye on. It's similar to the 5 year old one I have now, only better and with video capabilities. It's come time for proper video in my life.

So I hopped on subway line 9, and already there was hilarity. As I got off at my transfer point, there were so many people (Friday rush hour) that not everyone could fit on the train. I've seen videos of those white gloved men in Japan that puuuuush crowds onto the subway, but in Korea nothing of the sort that I know of. Anyway, so there were stubborn people at every doorway as I passed that clearly wouldn't fit but did not want to get off. The doors kept beeping to signal they were closing, hitting something (something big, it takes a LOT to stop those doors) and opening again. This must have happened at least 5 times, and I saw the culprits as I passed. One guy had only half his body sticking out, one woman her shopping bag, other odd limbs and items and most notably an older woman's ass. The door kept opening and closing on her ass as she tried to squeeze it in, and it wasn't big by any means.

Anyway, so I get to Namdaemun Market, check a few shops. 2 gave me fair prices, the rest thought I was a dumb foreigner and showed me a price nearly 100 bucks more and I immediately left. Decided on my place and made my purchase. An ahjussi (older man) in the camera shop sitting on a stool in the corner was like my own personal peanut gallery during the whole transaction, randomly throwing out his little bits of English:

ahjussi: "Beautiful. Tattoo."

"Thanks"

"So many. American women. Gansta."

Then as the saleman was cleaning my lens the ahjussi laughed and pointed

"Shoe shine boy," he said.

I got my receipt and headed out to try my new baby out. The road from the camera shops to the subway station is a cute outdoor market with stores on both sides and food cart restaurants? food stalls? in the middle.


I stopped at one of the food stalls to get some noodles and people watch. A western guy and a visiting married couple with him stopped in to experience eating the "live" octopus. The vendor lady grabbed the octopus from the tank and started hacking it apart in preparation much to the delight of her watchers, myself included. The married woman started squealing. After it was done and her husband was eating, she squealed some more as the chopped up tentacles writhed on his plate and hung from his mouth for a photo op. The Korean men next to them goaded him on to put down his chopsticks and just eat it with his hands.

I was eying the marvelous 1,000 won pieces of pineapple on a stick on the cart in front of me while I ate and was all set to get one when the vendor reached deep into her pants to scratch her ass. I'm not to squeamish when it comes to germs and street food, but there are some places where I draw the line. I gave my business to the lady next to her. You can see them both in the video. ;)

And there you have it. A Friday night alone and home by 10pm and I still had a great time! :D


OK wasn't going to but, went ahead and made a video! :D Enjoy!




PS: Accckkk! I spelled Namdaemun wrong in the video. Oh well.

Spring Catch-Up

So I've been a major slacker! Here are a couple outtings from the Spring. As it is past 11 and I just made yogurt and kefir after meeting with my long time no see Korean friend Anna who moved to Canada last year... what I'm saying is, I've done a lot today! :D


April 16, 2011 - Yeouido Park to see Cherry Blossoms!



A trash can fire broke out in front of one of the park's many convenience stores. This guy busted a hole in the side... maybe trying to get to the fire? But the oxygen just made it grow!


Kids coming to check it out!


Might I say, it was hilarious to see these grown men haphazardly try to put out a fire. They had no idea.


Hannah and Marcus


Some of the famed cherry blossoms.


Sarah and Hannah









April 23rd, 2011- Super Spring Adventure Hike- Yebongsan

Adventurers: KC, Alex, Me, Hannah, Chad, Brendan, and Mike












This bird just made our day.


Competition...

















It wasn't til towards the end KC thought to try and get the bird closer. Then we all wanted to redo our photos but alas the little bird was full and bored with us after a few more grabs, so no close shot for me!






















The top!!!










Some additional shots courtesy of Brendan! It's nice having another photographer around!



Vendor on the way up.










They took to calling me "flatlander" and also "Gollum" because I was the slowest and most exhausted. I blamed it on being a Floridian so I guess I was asking for it.


Whole group at the top.





The way back down.


Dr. Mulder to the rescue. Chad had a bum knee that day. and the downhill was killing him.