…I’m going to feast fast!

Amongst the things I’ll be enjoying in Korea are a cold mug of OB Lager, the traditional blow job shots, and nice neighborhood pubs like Bless U in Itaweon.

For some reason I seem to prefer the East Sea to the West Sea.  Well, I’ve been to the East Sea several times, and the West Sea only once, if that’s an accurate measure of preference.  But truthfully speaking, they are both equally nice.  I guess I just enjoy the mountain drive to the east coast better than the somewhat shorter drive to the west.

I don’t know why, but no matter which Korean coast I’m on, it’s cloudy/raining.

The view from the room…

Jee Yeun soaks her feet in the West Sea.

…and even though winter won’t be over when I arrive next month, I’m looking forward to that sweet Korean springtime!

Cherry blossom on Yongsan.

Yes, this is not the traditional way Korean families celebrate the new year.  I like the picture though.

On display at the Thomas Edison museum in Gangneung.

In Korea you don’t so much drive over the mountains, you drive through them.  Methinks Koreans may be distant relations of Tolkien’s Dwarves…

Unlike in the USA, many bars in Korea are upstairs.  This is an example from a bar in Songtan, just outside the Osan Air Force Base.  These are about the worst I encountered and were quite difficult to manage even while sober.  I guess the Korean trial lawyers aren’t on their game like their American counterparts.

Too much time for McDonald’s?  This is your place…

I can do chopsticks enough to get by, but when it comes to noodles, not so much.

Well, I got that last part done ok I suppose…

Interesting perspective on why we might not see regime change in the DPRK anytime soon.

Been there, done that.

Believe it or not, internet/cable/phone service in the ROK are actually quite excellent.

Daepohang is a little fishing village on the east coast near Naksan Beach.

The fish don’t come no fresher than live…

Our dinner selection.

Dinner is killed…

Dinner is served.

And for people like me who don’t like their fishee raw, they’ll cook it up in this tasty stew!

For an MT weekend with the dart team:

Seoul Station.

Entertainment at 300 k/ph.

Arrival at Korea’s second city…

The Plaza.

The hotel.

Dinner.

Darts.

Dragon.

Blue Bulls.

Hope the weather in hell suits you.

Here’s a nice essay on the society Kim wrought.

A photo I took of Namdaemun gate, Korea’s No. 1 national treasure.  It was burned down a couple of years ago but a madman, but is in the process of being rebuilt.

Probably the biggest dive in Itaewon and the closest thing to an old fashion Southern honkytonk you’ll ever find in Asia is the Grand Ole Opry bar.  Dirty, dingy, and half way up Hooker Hill.  Great place to go for country dancin’.  At midnight they play Proud to be an American by Lee Greenwood, and folks stand and sing along with lighters held aloft.  This is followed by The Star Spangled Banner.  And then it is back to dancing with Skynard’s Sweet Home Alabama.

I didn’t frequent the place too much.  But if I was ever feeling a tad homesick, this is where I’d go for a taste of deep fried Americana.