In honor of my two months in Seoul, I decided to hike in Bukhansan National Park. Here are some of my favorite shots from the weekend.
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A lot of study abroad blogs do reflections during or after that talk about finding themselves and discovering new parts of themselves. While all of this is true, it may not always be the most practical or applicable advice for peers or others reading these blogs. In spite of themselves, I think it has begun to sound a bit cliche. I believe traveling is not always about finding yourself, but always making yourself better through challenges and new experiences.
As I sit here, on a patio outside of a coffee shop drinking an over priced Americano and basking in the sun, i am taking the time to critically think about what I have really learned in Seoul thus far that is both practical, or just worth talking about. Here's what I came up with:
Okay, so maybe this post was still extremely cliche, but this is the best I can offer. Try to integrate maybe even a few of those into your everyday lives and then see you're better for it. I can't believe I have already been in Seoul for two months. Seriously, where has the time gone? New year, new me, right? A week after I rang in the new year of 2014 with my family and friends I packed my bags and moved myself across the world to Cape Town, South Africa. I lived, traveled, and backpacked this beautiful country for half of a year. I took part in an interactive, living classroom study abroad that took me from Cape Town to the Karoo, and back. We moved places every 3 - 5 days in our VW van. To say that it was a trip of a lifetime was an understatement. In South Africa my passions for learning, business, helping people, and life came alive. I completed over 12 projects including a business proposal for an energy incubation company I one day plan to see rolled out for real. I took the time to really start writing and get in touch with my long-term goals as well as what I really wanted out of life. And most of all, I got to meet some people that changed me. I got to teach classes of high school seniors about microfinance, I got to talk to home owners about their energy needs and their energy infrastructure, I got to talk about innovation with people from some of the best universities in the world. And the best part was, I was in a gorgeous country that I knew nothing about when I landed in Cape Town. Seriously, I didn’t even really know what apartheid was when I first landed. The people, the culture, the landscape, and the potential for such a growing country is amazing have taught me so much about the world and about the possibilities. I came home with $3 in my pocket, but I felt as though I had won the lottery. Traveling certainly does make you rich, but when you can really indulge in the culture and meet the people behind it, you have hit the jackpot. Now that it has been about a year and a half, I definitely romanticize parts of the trip. It was definitely hard work, and sometimes the work and the heat and the living conditions broke me. But funny things like afternoon tea and biscuits, and having some great people by my side built me up again a whole hell of a lot stronger.
I loved getting to live and learn in South Africa, on my own safari for knowledge and self-discovery. I found so much in the middle of desserts and on runs that led me to the most beautiful beaches. I danced with women that could not speak a written language, and helped those who have seen struggles I have never even imagined. Getting out of your comfort zone is hard, and for many, South Africa is a hard pill to swallow, especially when you leave Cape Town, but it’s worth it. Give a country so rich in history, culture, and diversity a chance. I did. And I am so much better for it. Maybe it’s the cold weather, maybe it’s the realization I have been in Seoul for over a month, maybe it’s midterms. I don’t know, but I have had an overwhelming desire to get out and walk, and to get out and explore. I always try to get out and walk in the morning because seeing the peace and quiet of the morning makes my heart sing. Now, as the weather cools, drinking my hot coffee and feeling the warmth of my muscles after a mile or two has made early morning walking feel so good.
But despite this, I feel as though my endeavors to explore thus far have not been enough. I am tired of being satisfied with doing very little in a day. Waking up late some days, strolling around, writing a bit, getting coffee, and maybe going out to dinner isn’t enough to claim an entire day’s worth of activity. It could be that my neighborhood is too quaint. Too comfortable. It does not prompt me to get out into bustling neighborhoods such as Gangnam to feel the energy and the action, even though that is when I am most alive. Not doing those things, and not going out and experiencing the true energy of Seoul makes me feel as though I am cheating myself, as though I am not taking advantage of every day. Obviously I want to get the most out of every day. I want to be energized about getting things done. For me, that is fulfilling. That is when I am most creative. That is when I am most passionate, and that is when I am most at peace. It’s odd that even in a foreign city, even when you think you are adventuring and being sporadic, you still make habits and patterns in your life. I have. But I don’t know if I like that. I know it’s important to find comfort when in a new place, but it is so easy to get stuck in the small comforts you have established. Those small comforts can hold you back. Recently, especially, I realize that if anywhere is over a 20 minute subway ride I find myself, saying: maybe tomorrow. And that is the wrong attitude. Or, I have midterms, I’d rather not. Which is even more of a wrong attitude. Getting out and doing things should make me study harder and more efficiently so I can go out and see Seoul in its entirety. I know I can’t continue on like this. When I get frustrated I love to go home and write, or read. I love to think about what else I could be doing tomorrow. This is another flaw: paralysis by analysis. This can kill you in many different ways, but especially when you have a limited time in a place. Tomorrow I am going to just make a decision and go for it. Go explore a new place in Seoul, regardless of whether or not it takes over 20 minutes to get there. I am thinking Apujong, or somewhere else over the Han River. Historically, going for it has always worked. Whether it’s good or bad, I’ll have a story and I’ll learn something from it. And besides, who wouldn’t want to explore one of the largest cities in the world? On a more relatable note, I hope this brainstorming has inspired you to get out and do something today, or this week. Life’s too short to be stuck in the same habits without at least a bit of exploration. Do something different today. Take a new way home. Stop somewhere you’ve never been. Just something. It’ll be extremely fulfilling. Here’s to us both getting out and doing things. Getting up at 8 Am after not sleeping in two days, however, made me feel as though I had gotten hit by a bus. I ended up rolling out of bed and without thinking just getting in the shower; that way I had no choice but to douse myself in water and accept the day. When I headed out today my first stop was across the street for some waters and a healthy, protein-filled breakfast. I ended up settling for a hand made granola square, it was a bit on the sugary side, but no complaints here. In Hong Kong it was hard to find coffee shops that fit my fancy. I was genuinely surprised at this, because I had never thought to consider that an issue, especially coming from Seoul. The first stops today were two universities on Hong Kong island: The Polytechnical Institute of Hong Kong and then Hong Kong University. Hong Kong University (HKU) has been an interest of mine for a short while because of their renowned Geography program and their efforts in Sustainability. Both have been a research and academic interest of mine in the past few years, and I hope to one day continue that interest in the form of higher education there. After all of these amazing views and some exploration of each campus (HKU was definitely my favorite — it had one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever stepped foot on) I headed to Central, which is very literally the downtown of Hong Kong Island. More specifically, I set my sights on Times Square Hong Kong. Getting out of the subway I was greeted by Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton. I am fascinated by the omnipresence of these stores throughout Hong Kong. Chanel and Dior happen to be my guilty pleasure, so I found myself peeking around at some of their new releases, especially in Dior. That brand knows its way to my wallet. I got lost in the Times Square Mall for about an hour, and when I finally found my way out, the outside was just as bustling as the inside. I now realize why everyone recommends staying on HK island— I liked it much better. I was going to head to the Causeway Bay district because of the tremendous reviews on TripAdvisor, but after meeting a couple from England who had been living in HK for a few years now outside of a bubble tea stand, they recommended me to not waste my time. So, I had no idea what I missed that day. Instead, I headed in the opposite direction to the women who sit under the bridge and beat paper with shoes. Sounds ridiculous. I know. But the concept is cool: basically, you write the name of someone you don’t like on a piece of paper, and then they put it in a fire in a dragon’s mouth and the they beat the piece of paper with a shoe. It’s called Villian Hitting. It is supposed to free the bad aura and feelings between you and that other person. Although I did not take part, it was fascinating to watch. The couple also recommended me take the trolley down Hennessy Road to catch some glimpses of every day HK. I picked the trolley up in Central and rode it to Wan Chai. I wasn’t a huge fan of the trolley because it was crowded and it made me motion sick. I also wasn’t a fan of Wan Chai. If there was to be a sketchy part of HK, this would be the place. I took the MTR to Soho instead of hanging around in Wan Chi to see some of the markets, the atmosphere, and the good eats. I have to say, Soho lived up to the hype. It was a beautiful conglomerate of old and new: with traditional markets nestled in with hip restaurants. This was my place to be. I even grabbed a bite to eat a Michellen Star restaurant renowned for the entire four things they serve. Amazing. All were dumpling and noodle related — surprise. After, I made my way back to the harbor, walking down streets and through subway stations to get to the Star Ferry. This took me through the IFC mall which legitimately blew my mind. Never in my life have I seen a spectacle like this. I even was so lame and fan-girled over the Cle De Peau holographic exhibit that they were showing. Of course I went inside. It was nuts. So the mall got me a little distracted, but the Star Ferry entrance was a short walk away from the IFC mall, and so the transition was painless. The Star Ferry itself is very cheap, and it’s a short, fun ride across the harbor. It was nice to see the area I had just been exploring from a distance, this way I was able to appreciate it on all scales. I’m kind of mad I didn’t make it to Victoria Peak during this trip, that is something I would have really liked to see. But, it will definitely be done next time. Because of the timing, it was about 7 PM when I got off of the star ferry, I decided to hang around the harbor, and take claim my seat for the 8 PM light show. Let’s just say, the light show did not disappoint. fter that I called it a night. There wasn’t anything more I wanted to do in Hong Kong, and I didn’t really want to hang out at a bar, so I headed back to my guest house to just reflect on the amazing time I had in Hong Kong. It seemed a bit anti-climatic to do so, but 30 miles later, I felt I just needed to settle in for the night.
I left at 10 AM the next morning after an easy ride on the airport express (which by the way, had WiFi — Seoul’s doesn’t!) Before I knew it, I was back in Seoul. The flight is only about four hours, and I spent the most time catching up on journaling, editing pictures, and writing these blog posts. A weekend in Hong Kong certainly was not enough, but it was the perfect dose of energy, excitement, and thrill that I needed before I returned to Seoul. It’s funny, now I think Seoul to be a sort of tame city compared to Hong Kong. I know this is not true at all, but it has also inspired me to get out and see more of Seoul. It’s hard to believe I have already been here a month. If you have any questions about HK, or even if you just want to chat, head over to the ‘Conact Me’ page, I would love to talk about the city and everything it has to offer. Cheers. Hong Kong is like a weird, humid metropolis sprawling with people, markets, and public intoxication. There is also a large amount of history and colonial identity, but also massive apartment complexes that kind of look like slums. That said, I can understand why people fall in love with this city. There are some really beautiful parts, and the energy that is radiating from each corner of the island is immense. There is definitely not a shortage of things to do here. I arrived at 7 AM on Saturday morning Hong Kong time. I was dead tired because I took one of the bargain flights at two in the morning and didn't sleep at all on the flight. The ride was rough and uncomfortable; I definitely regretting wanting to save thirty dollars, but it was character building non-the-less (stay tuned for a post about the best bargain airlines around Asia). Regardless, I picked myself with some eye cream and brushed teeth, then proceeded to take on the day. The first thing on the list was Big Buddha, also called Tian Tan Buddha on Ngong Ping Lantau island. A cable car takes you a few kilometers up the side of the mountain from sea level on the island, giving you gorgeous views of the extremely blue water and also a lot of the industry of Hong Kong. Regardless, it was beautiful. I didn't realize the natural beauty of the archipelago; with buzzing forests of thick and lush trees. It would be very easy to forget that one of the world's most populated cities is about one kilometer away. There's a constructed path around Lantau island for hikers to reach Big Buddha by foot, but it looked absolutely insane. I think when I come back that is something I want to try. After the gondola ride to big Buddha, I got out and walked through a touristy area that resembles an open air mall leading to a plaza of statues. When you proceed through, you are met with about five floors with of stairs to get to the actual Buddha. Wow. I was definitely winded when I got to the top and was greeted by the giant presence of the Buddha. I had walked all of the steps, carry on and all. It was gorgeous up there, though. I am still blown away by the views and the very stature of big Buddha. It was truly an incredible experience seeing the monks from the near by Po Lin Monastery perform their morning prayer. After about an hour of soaking in the beauty of it all, I descended the stairs and continued my exploration. There is a path that is part of the attraction called the Wisdom Walk, which I walked until its end, and I do not recommend doing. It was essentially a paved path through the forest to a look out point in which you could not see anything. It was also, however, the trail head for a more intense hike, which seemed extremely cool. Oh well, I got some more steps in for the day. I proceeded to take the gondola down to sea level a little after noon. I hopped on the MTR, which is the Hong Kong version of the subway, and headed underneath the harbor to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), which is a bustling part of Hong Kong on mainland China. I got off at TST station, of course going out the wrong exit, and being railroaded by hand outs and throngs of people. The TST area is home to luxury shopping, fake luxury shopping, and throngs of foreigners. A lot of tourists come to this area to shop at one of the various Chanels, Diors, or Guccis. It was also home to many cheap guest houses, which was why I was attracted to the area. It is kind of odd because the main Streets, such as Nathan Road, are lined with stores that are a bit run down looking, yet sell nice things, but as soon as you turn down a side street, it is all run down. Small restaurants, guest houses, small stores, and 7-11s occupy this area. It is as though the main streets have been given a face lift: purely topical in its looks. Also, towering above you in every direction are those high rise apartment buildings that I mentioned before. I decided that was something I was not extremely crazy about. It took about forty five minutes to find my guest house, InnSpirit, which would have taken five if I had just read a map initially-- but ya win some ya loose some. ![]() InnSpirit was amazing. If you are looking for a cheap place to stay in Hong Kong, I would highly recommend this guest house. I have nothing to say that contradicts any of its previous glowing reviews. I think the funniest part of Hong Kong culture is the juxtaposition of nice and clean with dirty, old, and not taken care of. InnSpirit is located in a building with some old Chinese restaurants, with a steel stair case and mops in the stair wells. And when you arrive onto the sixth floor where the hostile is located, you are greeted by the cleanest space you have probably seen since the Hong Kong airport. In fact, the owner Samuel, was actually in the middle of cleaning everything as I arrived. After a painless check in and an hour long nap, it was time to get back out there. I decided to head north of TST to the Monkok area. I managed to get lost a dozen times in the area, wandering through markets of live chickens, giant swimming gold fish, live crabs, and other random assortments of goods. It is the classic story of markets where you are so overwhelmed with the sounds and the smells of live animals and cooking food and fish being killed right in front me that I really just stumbled through. I managed to make my way to a dumpling restaurant that has a Michelin star in the Tai Kok Tsui area by the Olympic Mall. I was starving from not eating all day, so I ordered plate loads of things: fried need dumplings (they were eh), streamed shrimp (so good), pork buns (so good I got a second plate), and raw pork spring rolls (was okay, just very different). The entire meal ended up costing about 16 USD. I thought that was the greatest part of all. After eating, I set out in search of the Ladies market, which took me about an hour and a half to find due to the inability to cross streets and a faulty navigation system. ![]() Crossing freeways and wandering through some sketchy neighborhoods, in hind sight, may have not been the best idea, but it all turned out okay. The Ladies Market is basically the epicenter of knock off luxury goods (watches, hand bags, wallets) as well as various silk goods, cheap clothing, and other random electronics. You get a bit of a rush when you attempt to bargain-- which you should most definitely do. It can make your HK dollars go a lot farther. That said, after about twenty stalls many of the goods start to look identical, and for me the overwhelming nature was too much. I hopped on the closest sub way and took it back to TST, with actually only a five minute walk away from my guest house. I took a shower, freshened up, and put some concealer over the bags underneath my eyes, and took a cab to the Ritz Carlton. When you're in Hong Kong, you have to head up to Ozone, the world's tallest bar, for at least two drinks (there is a minimum spending limit, of course). The view is best on a clear evening, but the spectacle of the hotel and the bar itself will make up for some clouds, in case you are worried about it. As you would expect the Ritz Carlton is beautiful, iconic and elegant. As you ride from the 103 floor lobby to the 139 floor bar, your ears will pop a few times and maybe experience some motion sickness as I did. When the elevator opens you are greeted by dimmed lighting with accents of blue, and the pumping bass of techno music. Ozone is laid out more similar to a lounge, rather than a bar. Most are clad in hand bags and shoes that are worth more than a year of my rent. I found this pretty comical, as my modest Madewell dress and shoes were considered peasants wear. More importantly: the drinks. Wow. The person I was with and myself ordered four different drinks, each wonderful, strong, and aesthetic. If I had to recommend one, it's the Dragontini: so good. So so so good. Most important: the view. I guess I wasn't sure what I was expecting from Ozone. I first didn't think it would strike more resemblance to a club than a bar, but more than that, I thought the view would be more accessible. The outdoor portion is only outdoor because of the open air roof. There are floor to ceiling glass windows, with segments of wall inbetween, and a bar situated in front of those windows. The seating for this bar is first come first serve, so it is not typical you will be able to find a seat. We were not. It also slightly uncomfortable when you are looking over strangers shoulders to try to see the view, as there is no empty space in front of any of the Windows. Once we racked up a sizable bill, we took a taxi across the harbor to Lan Kwai Fong, the debated center of night life in Hong Kong.
When we got out of the taxi a little past midnight, my peers from all across the world were drinking in the street. Another overwhelming experience in Hong Kong. The bars line up side by side, playing throw back hits from the US as loud as humanly possible. All of the drinks are so expensive in the bar, so everyone buys their alcohol from 7-11 and drinks in the streets. This is why it is affectionately called club 7-11. When in Rome, right? I grabbed a beer and roamed the streets while trying to take it all in. When I finally did decide to enter a bar, beers were about $11USD each. That is currently pushing my college student budget. I then really understood why 7-11 was the better choice. Regardless, it was so much fun to get to dance and laugh while singing along to some of the best throw backs of the last ten years. LKF, you are something else. Around two in the morning I decided it was about time to call it a night. The taxi home took about thirty minutes with traffic and all, and cost about $12USD. Every Trip Advisor post about Hong Kong that you will read says public transportation is relatively cheap, and I agree. You will definitely not break the bank when taking a taxi in this city. It felt good to be able to go to bed. I checked my apple health and it read twenty miles for the day. No wonder my feet throbbed. As soon as my head hit the pillow I was out. My first day in Hong Kong was unreal. This past Monday I went shopping in a popular university section of Seoul called Hongdae. It is known as hip, young, and potentially hipster. Overall this part of the city is lively and teeming with people regardless of the day or time. I went shopping by myself because I just needed a few things and I wanted to take the time to just wander. I initially needed only skin care items, but as you would expect I ended up going into many clothing stores ranging from department stores, international chains, and small Korean boutiques. The following is meant to be a comical depiction of my experiences. As I re-read, I have found that some of my wit can be seen as negative, but it is pure fun.
All in all, my first real all-out shopping experience was great. Hilarious at times, but really great. Feeling the energy of Seoul and all of the people there, especially Hongdae, is something like no other. If it wasn’t for a weight limit and limited baggage amount home, I would definitly do this more often.
Especially by myself. Shopping by myself has always been one of those things that I have loved, but doing it in Seoul takes it to a new level of being alone. Because i cannot read or speak Korean, it feels as though I am in a world of my own. Aimlessly going wherever I please. Sometimes Seoul feels like a dream. I know I should have seen it coming. But it came and it went without leaving a trace (thankfully).
I’m talking about the tragedy of getting sick abroad. I’m not talking about a cold, or even a sinus infection. I’m talking about stomach pains, up all night, nutrition deprived, everything leaving your body, sick. It robs you of twenty four hours of your life, and then it’s gone (if you’re lucky, like I was). I don’t know, I should have seen it coming. I ate way too much and just did not consider the consequences. The good news is, I was prepared. If you have ever traveled for a long(ish) period of time, you know that Tums, Ibuprofen, Immodium, and Peptobismol are necessities. Depending on where you travel chances are you will not find them anywhere. It is truly a circumstance of ‘you do not know what you have until it’s not available in your local drugstore and it’s gone’ type of thing. Sad times. Anyway, yesterday I went nuts on just about every food group. I ate tacos and full-fat ice-cream and croissants and spicy snails. What was I thinking…? Also, shameless plug, all of these things are available within about a square mile of each other in Seoul. I think we all have those days, though. We just live life and decide to go for it and eat everything. Some of us, like myself, pay for it later. Unfortunately, spending a day cooped up and in bed in your flat abroad is not exactly an exciting day. It’s actually kind of sad and slightly traumatic depending on who you are. My best advice: just be prepared and understand it’s going to happen at some point. Also, maybe just try to eat in moderation. Try new things in moderation. And always stay hydrated. Don’t do what I did. Time abroad is supposed to be a positive experience no matter what. So if you’re sick, listen to your body and take a rest. It’s a great time to catch up on Facebook, Netflix, and maybe even send your parents an email. Definitely drink some water, and if you’ve never have had to deal with sickness by yourself, read up on it. It’s a good life lesson. Just like everything else studying abroad, it’s a time to grow up. Everything can be made productive, if you try hard enough. After sleeping for about 13 strait hours yesterday, watching multiple Aziz Ansari comedies on Netflix, drinking a few gallons of water, and putting on a face mask to take time and treat my skin with some respect, I feel worlds better today. A day of recovery never hurt anybody, in fact usually it makes life a lot better. Today I haven’t eaten a whole lot, but Ive written a whole lot of new content for this blog as well as my Medium site. I also took the time to make some moves in the new Harry Potter (a personal favorite of mine right now), and even go to a coffee shop to drink a latte and do some school work. I’ve been thinking about planning a few trips out of Korea (hopefully Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia)… If you have any suggestions, feel free to reach out! I’d love to open up some dialogue about airlines and cool destinations. Anyway, in conclusion, being sick sucks. It really does, no matter where you are in the world. But like anything else, be prepared. It’s a test of who you are, so make sure you come out on the right foot. And, if you can, make the most of the day. Studying abroad is full of all kinds of enjoyable moments, a day in bed could potentially be seen as an enjoyable one, especially if you’ve been needing an excuse to slow down. ![]() One of the things I knew I would want for my living space when I arrived in Seoul was a decorated living space. I decided to do this in the form of a collage in my small room on the wall above my bed in my small apartment. To say that my living situation is humble is an understatement. It’s city living. It’s charming, but cozy. Anyway, this collage is of places I've been, things I've gotten, and just general things that remind me of my time here. It’s important to use things that you have accumulated in the place that you are in, because it gives you a sense of accomplishment. If you ever feel as though you have done nothing in the new city, look at your wall and see everything you’ve done. Remember those inspiring times in your new city. And take the time to smile about it. Not only is collage-ing the wall of your living space make it more personalized, it also gives you something to do. That may sound odd, but it is so important to keep yourself busy when you're in a new place, and hanging things on your wall is a form of creating. Like painting or other forms of art, it's constructive and rewarding. I tend to save things up and when I'm feeling a little lonely or homesick I'll get my tape out and start hanging things up. Because I've done this moving to a new place and starting new as a young person thing so many times, I understand it can be hard. Especially when you have some time to yourself. A word of advice: love those moments too, and make them constructive. Make them a moment you can be proud of, even if you were sad or missing home. The worst thing you can do is just sit and think (unless you are meditating, because that is something I always support). So far, I’ve done a lot in Seoul in the past almost three weeks. I have brochures of castles and museums and fortresses as well as tickets and maps. I’m excited to see how my wall grows in the next five months and all of the things I acquire. It also motivates me to go out and do more so I can add to my wall. Overall, creating something like this is something to be proud of and something to make your new home feel more comfortable when you move to a new place. Because I have done it many times, I can tell you that sometimes it is hard. When I first moved to Cape Town I felt so alone and so lost, even though I shared an apartment with two other girls.
At night I would look out the window onto the city skyline of Cape Town and Table Mountain and feel so alone; instead, I should have been feeling inspired. I knew at the time people would kill to be in my place, but I couldn’t fight the feeling of sadness. I will not make that mistake again, and I never want any of you to go through that either. So whether it is writing, reading, creating collages, or just being out and about, find that hobby and do it. Really immerse yourself and commit to it, and have a good time. I’m about to head onto my next adventure to add to my wall, I’ll write soon! ![]() I love the weekends on my little street in Seoul. There are cute couples walking their dog, coffee shops opening their doors and windows to release the smells of espresso, and an overall relaxed vibe. The trees that line the streets are about five feet apart, and about twenty feet tall. To my perception of city standards, they are huge. The leaves they drop are bigger than my two feet placed together. The beautiful trees are still as green as mid-July back in the States. You see, in Seoul it will stay warm until the middle to end of October. I really love that. When I go to walk in the morning to fetch some coffee and some fresh air, the air typically has a bit of a dampness to it that I perceive as cool. But like clockwork, around ten thirty the air becomes warm and it is time to put a sun dress on. Today, particularly, on this lovely Saturday I got up around nine, and I went to get some coffee. There are about eight coffee shops within a five minute walking distance of my apartment. I think that is one of the funniest things about Seoul. They all have their own feel, but generally all of them are modern and clean looking. Wood accents, freshly polished steel, and thick paned windows that are the length of the shop that can be opened. The breeze flowing in and out mixed with the sounds of steaming milk is something I consider to be amazing. I feel so at home on my little street. I got a haircut for the first time today from a barber shop not three minutes down the street. Similar to the coffee shops, the place I got my hair cut, entitled ‘Hair Cut’, was clean, sleek and modern. All of the people working there were young Koreans that spoke very good English. Not going to lie, it made me feel very hip. The haircut was well done, quick, and cheap. I could not ask for better service but also better quality. When I think about weekends on my street, strolling along, I smile. Even though I am in the heart of Seoul, it seems as though my neighborhood is a bit slowed down, a bit removed. For anyone who will be staying in Seoul either short term or long term, feel free to contact me for the location and AirBnB listing. Have a great weekend, everyone! |
Author: Allyson DitizioGeographer, yogi and occasionally creative writer. Archives
September 2016
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