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versione italiana
Nov & Dec 2003 - South Korea (Belly
dance, safety and nightlife)
The good and the bad - This morning
I walked down to the corner shop and was surprised to
see Korean people. Stayed in all day relaxing and had
almost forgotten we were in Asia for a moment. It's a
strange feeling when you suddenly remember you are in
Korea and not back home. Today is January 1st 2004. 2004
Valeria and I will get married, see three Euro 2004 games,
travel Eastern Europe and I (Paul) will try and learn
a lot more Italian. Expect plenty of pictures from many
countries in 2004.
In November Valeria, Jeanan (an American/Iraqi) and Alison
(from Ireland), got into the Korean Herald newspaper with
a 1/2th page report and photo on their belly dancing performance
in an Egyptian restaurant. They packed the place out and
fools like myself who didn't realise that there are so
many dance movements were surprised. One of the Seoul
T.V. stations now wants to film them for the T.V. news.
All
photos by Valeria Lo Iacono & Paul Symonds - 2004
Above (Valeria,
Jeanan & Alison)
Safety can sometimes be abysmal
in Korea. Below (right) a picture outside our apartment,
showing the way cables are hung from building to building,
not that high in the air. Notice the maze of cables
- this is typical everywhere in Seoul. Two weeks ago
we saw a truck driving outside with the roof of the
truck pushing and shifting the cables. Drivers drive
through red lights; motorbikes drive across with pedestrians
on crossings; schools etc NEVER ever do fire drills;
and so on. About 4 times since coming here, have seen
the chalked out body markings of where people had
been killed on the road. One of the Korean teachers
I know here lost her husband because he died when
a neon sign fell on him and killed him. I swear that
this is a true situation. It is probably the safest
have ever been to for walking at night and guns. You
never feel threatened when walking home like you would
late at night in UK or Ireland. You might see drunks
sometimes but they'd be completely unthreatening.
Few days ago - the aftermath shown below (left), 50
meters from our house, a big truck loaded with soil
tipped over onto its side as it tried to go up a hill
which was obviously too steep, and dumped its soil
over the car and half buried it. I think the car was
empty thankfully. In the picture below left - the
truck has already been lifted back onto its wheels,
as they finish digging the car out from under the
soil.
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Korean
logic - In the final two weeks of December, it was eventful.
In 'Crazy Hooks' - a very busy local restaurant,
last week, we all ordered our food and after a lengthy
time my steak came but Valeria's food was missing. Half
way through the steak one of the staff grabs my half
finished plate with the steak and says that even though
I ordered exactly the same thing, that one was meant
for another table - he walks away with half finished
steak. Five minutes later they bring another similar
steak, although with french fries instead of a jacket
potato as now they have no potatoes left. This kind
of logic is typical. Another time, a friend was in the
situation whereby he ordered a meal but on the menu
it came with beans. He asked for it but asked them just
to not bother with the beans but they insisted he had
to also have the beans as they were included. In the
end after talking with the manager, they gave him his
meal and brought a side dish with the beans as he had
to have them as on the menu it came with the meal. This
is typical of the way many things work in Korea. In
other ways they have some great ideas. In restaurants/bars
they always have a small button (buzzer) ont he end
of the table. When you need serving you just press it
and they are at your table within a minute usually.
It will be tough being in UK or Italy where you have
to wait at the bar for 5 minutes trying to get served,
as some blighter jumps in front of you. 'Floor heating'
which heats a room in a very short time also seems like
something which makes so much sense and saves so much
money and power. The taxi's are also so cheap and numerous
here. Will miss this things.
People are always on the streets promoting things in
the area we live, Gangnam. Above two ladies promoting
a new bar/restaurant. This area is one of the busiest
in Seoul, and was nothing but fields 15 years ago. Places
close down and re-open with new furnishings within 2 days
here. Below, in Gangnam at night. The nightlife can be
good.
South Korea is a mismatch of good things and bad things.
Overall, let me say this it is a great experience living
in Seoul. Most people are very kind. I am sure that Asian
people get treated much worse in Europe. I
can't complain at all. I have experienced a few long stares
on the subway and a shout of "Go home Yankee"
one time in the local shop but that was it. People often
presume that as caucasians we must be American. A Korean
friend in Ireland once complained that people there always
thought she was Japanese. It's the same in reverse I have
found. Koreans often complain that people (especially
Americans) don't know anything about Korea and where Korea
is. When I ask Koreans about Hungary or Scotland etc they
know no more than people know about Korea. Final pictures
below - Valeria (left) and another picture of Seoul at
night (right).
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