Seoul, part deux

After buying the matching underwear, Rollie left to go to a Cirque de Solei show with the group he had traveled with. Molly and I, drawn like moths to a flame by the promise of H&M, headed further downtown. We perused awhile, and then called Annie and Meagan who came and met us for a dinner of middle-eastern/Indian food, topping off the meal with a patio and a hookah.

After we'd enjoyed the sweet perfume of apple tobacco long enough, Molly and I went to a hole-in-the-wall bar called Vinyl, where Ray and Victoria were enjoying tasty cocktails that were served in plastic bags. And when I say hole-in-the-wall, I mean just that. The place was a single, triangular room with a small counter where you could order your drinks, and a couple benches around the perimeter. It was like drinking in a walk-in closet. The lighting was dim, there were band/event posters littering the wall, and a bohemian-filth atmosphere that instantly earned a place in my heart. I cannot wait to go again.

We left Vinyl to explore the other bars in Hongdae (the area of town where Molly and my hostels were) and, after swimming through the restless tides of foreigners doing exactly what were were doing, we eventually settled on one of the literally hundreds (thousands?) of bars in the area, and grabbed a booth across from a Korean asleep at his table. It wasn't until an hour later that we realized that Rollie was with his friends in the booth on the other side of the dividing wall. We couldn't have orchestrated this meeting if we had tried - no one knew the city well enough to direct the other to a place to meet. So we hung out some more and had a beer together.

The next morning I again ate breakfast, checked out of my hostel, and caught to metro to meet up with Maren and Rollie in the shopping area of the city. I stored my luggage in a public locker, and met them for some more shopping, including a successful trip to Forever 21 where I got a cardigan I suspect I will wear the shit out of. Afterward we found a really good pizza place and the three of us enjoyed a neighbor-reunion lunch before I had to leave to catch a train back to Yeosu. (It's about a five hour journey on land.)

The weekend in Seoul felt like a weekend out of Korea. For the first time since arriving in here, I felt like I didn't stand out while I walked down the street. It was so refreshing to feel anonymous again; you don't how much you think about it until you don't have to. And to be able to experience Seoul in the company of the people that, aside from my family, I have known the longest... well, that was just special.

The train arrived on time back in Yeosu at around 8:30, and I dragged myself home simultaneously satisfied and hungry for more. I will be returning to Seoul next month...

... WHEN MY PARENTS COME TO VISIT!!!