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Went back to the electronics market in Yongsan to buy a lens for my camera: an 85mm f/1.8 lens. It's my first "prime" lens, and it's a bit tough to shoot with it when I'm so used to being able to zoom in and out. But the sheer amount of light I can get in made it possible to take photos in half to a quarter of the light I'd normally need. And I got a pretty good deal on it too. I was going to buy the 50mm f/1.4 prime as well, but as I already have a kit zoom in that range and not much room left in my suitcase (and had insufficient cash for the purchase) I figured I can always get one after I get back.

We went next to Changdeokgung, a World Heritage site that used to be the king's personal retreat. The site is only accessible on official tours led three times a day, and the tour guide was impossible to hear or understand. On top of that, it's impossible to take decent pictures with fifty other idiots wandering into your shot with bright umbrellas. So Ashley and I lagged behind, and then got conveniently "lost" before wandering around and eventually stumbling into a Korean language tour. It was quite fortunate that we got left behind, because otherwise we would never have seen the hidden garden. Yes, the tour guide had skipped the best part of the whole place entirely.

I started with the stock 18-55mm zoom, and swapped out to the 85mm lens about halfway through. Wow. It was simply astounding how much light I was able to get into the camera. Even in cloudy weather, I was able to shoot at lower ISO modes. I took some portraits of my traveling companion before swapping back to the zoom for the landscapes.

I'll post some photos when I get back.

P.S. Ashley and I, after finishing our palace tour, crossed the street toward a convenience store. A little girl walking with her mother, maybe 5 years old, looked right at me with a huge smile and said, "Hello! Welcome to Korea!" I was so stunned by this spontaneous use of English that I could only gasp out a "hello" in return.