Seoul Trip..and school almost here

I got back last Thursday from my second trip to Seoul. Well, I guess it's really my third, since I went there the summer between eighth and ninth grade, but I don't really count that, since I don't remember much of anything except bartering for cheap watches and a leather bag.

This time around I went over with my friend Ayako, another climber, and a hapa kid--though she's from Texas. Ayako only stayed until Sunday, but we had a good time walking around the city, enjoying the excellent exchange rate (the yen was pretty strong when we went), and loving the good food.

We got there on March 26th, and on the 27th we went to the DMZ. That's an experience: Stand on the border of two countries at war; look out across 2 kilometers of land empty save for two token cities, the one from the north supposedly only for show with no one actually living there. Looking to the north, you see no trees: we were told this is because they cut them down for fuel. Imagine a world without trees...what a grim existence we would have, if only that were to change in our lives.


Click on the picture: You can see a band of trees, which is the DMZ; beyond, where there are no trees, is North Korea.

I don't know much history, but the way the tour guide made it sound was sort of like this: Korea was occupied by Japan from 1910 to 1945 (when they surrendered and promptly vacated Korea). At this point, there was a political vacuum, so the US and the USSR stepped in, dividing the country in two, the north going with communism and the south with democracy. Who knew war would break out? I don't know the details, but I can't help but wonder if maybe there would be no North and South Korea if a more diplomatic tact had been used.

Saturday Ayako and I met up with three of my friends as well as a Japanese couple we know from the climbing gym. The eight of us went out to eat bibimbap and ice cream afterwards. I love these kinds of nights: people from various parts of the world, sitting, eating together, talking, laughing.

Eugene, Peter, Ayako, Hye Young, me, Koji, and Fumiko

Ayako left Sunday morning, but for the next few nights I met up with different friends. I also watched a lot of movies during the day, as the price there, with the exchange rate, was between $3.50 and $5.50, as opposed to the $13 or $18 I'd pay in Japan. I only saw one good movie, though: Watchmen. I thoroughly enjoyed that.

So, I occupied myself with walking around the city (I know the part north of the Han river quite well now), watching movies, and shopping. I bought yet another pair of rock climbing shoes, which were so cheap...

Another great vacation...

Now I'm back, and school starts on Thursday. I'm trying to eke out as much as I can from my remaining days, so I went climbing at Fukube again on Sunday, and tomorrow I'm going to Eboshi-Iwa again. I really am borderline obsessed with climbing these days. If it weren't good for my health, a lot o fun, and the way I've made a lot of friends, I might think it was unhealthy.

That's all for now. Be back again soon.

Aloha.