Another fantastic day here. Despite the fact that it was pouring buckets AGAIN (and looks to be raining all this next week, I still had a good time wandering around the shopping districts and eating. Dolsot bibimbap for lunch (hard to explain, a rice bowl with kimchi and meat and veggies and hot spicy sauce you mix together in a hot stone bowl); I got it from the same chain we got the pork rib soup from last night. I can’t remember the name; the mascot looks like a potato. I also got my hair cut by a Korean woman in a back alley. We couldn’t communicate at all, but she did a fantastic job. Shampoo and a trim, 20 minutes, quite refreshing; and it only cost me 6000 won (about 6 bucks). It was pouring buckets so I had to buy a pair of shorts to wear while my soaked jeans dry out, and a pair of flip-flops to walk in the puddles. Total: 15000 won for everything. Transportation, food, and basics are so inexpensive here.
Hung out with Chao and his girlfriend, who is Chinese, beautiful, and an airline stewardess. I was introduced to a couple of her friends who run flights to China… wow. Maybe I made a mistake studying Japanese; I think I should have studied Korean or Chinese.
One thing I’ve noticed here is that there are a lot more people just eating and drinking in open patios in front of restaurants. The atmosphere is completely different; nightlife seems almost like a European city, actually full of life and vigor. I’m looking forward to exploring some more tomorrow.
Well, it may be different because you live in the STICKS in Japan (which is not bad and I’m not criticizing, but I’ve been through there, and it’s rural!).
Well, even in Tokyo people tend to go into small restaurants and go into hiding. Here, people eat from street vendors and drink on tables pulled out into the street.
Sounds like Paris (from what I’ve seen on TV).
I’ll tell that to the Parisian sitting in the room right here! Hehe.
Actually she’s officially my “wife” now… :P