Well, it's that time again. Time to go rushing to the airport to catch my flight. This time I'm leaving Seoul and heading back to Tokyo. It's been a great trip and I got a lot of valuable work done. As I leave the city heading towards the airport I can't help but feel that I'll be back again soon.
Even after visiting a number of Asian cities I was a bit surprised by Seoul. The city is a delightful combination of western and Asian cultures. The new part of the city, or "new city" as a few persons called it, feels very much like an American city - it reminds me of Chicago. I felt immediately at home, safe and comfortable here. Much more so than I felt in cities in Japan and China. Tokyo is by far the safest city I've ever been in, and it feels that way, but you still feel like a stranger in a foreign land. Not so in Seoul though. In Seoul I felt like I could move here from the US and not skip a beat.
The food choices in Korea are an enjoyable blend of Asian and American cuisine. I ate at some great local, traditional restaurants and there are American chain eateries all over the city, if that's what you're up for. If you do make it to Korea you've gotta try the Korean BBQ. Though it'll be tough to avoid as there are Korean BBQ restaurants everywhere. Traditional Korean food is also tasty and not BBQed, it's more of a traditional Asian meal. As for the food itself, it's somewhere between Japanese and Chinese. What do I mean by that? It has some of the simplicity and elegance of Japanese food with some of the spice and flavor of traditional Chinese food. I found it to be the perfect combination for my admittedly western taste.
There's lots to do in Korea and the landscape is breathtaking. Seoul is definitely at the top of my recommended list for places to visit while in Asia. You will not be disappointed. Besides, if things get too dull you can go to the DMZ and try to run across the border. Although I don't recommend that.
Labels:
Gyeongbok Palace,
Seoul,
South Korea
