Seoul

When our time is up now in South Korea and to be completely honest I'm pleased. I think after having spent 2 weeks in the peaceful nation that is Japan, where everyone is so polite and quiet, would doing anything and everything to help you and one of the only nations where I can honestly say 99% of the people will go out of their way to help you, South Korea has been difficult. Thats not to say that the people are not nice as we have encountered some fantastic people, namely to 2 guys that own the hostal that we are staying in, but unfortunatly we have encountered too many rude people in one day to say that its a place that I probably wouldn't come back too!!!! I'm not sure if its just foreigners that they don't like or if its just their way of life and the way in which they have been tought to behave in society, but they really don't come across too well. That said the 2 guys that owned the hostel we are staying in are 2 of the nicest people I have ever met. They were so warm and friendly and they really did make you feel at home.

So even though we had a limited amount of time in Seoul, we still managed to see alot, although I'll have to confess we spent the last 2 days practically shopping and eating far too much street food, but thats only because we couldn't find the street food on the first few days we were in Seoul, so we had a lot of stuff to try in a very short amount of time. We took a trip to the DMZ, which as most of you will probably not know its the De-Militerized Zone between North and South Korea and provides a divide that neither of the 2 countries can cross and actually stretches 2 KM either side of the board to ensure that there is no chance of people "'crossing in error'. The tour also included a trip to the Northern most railway station in South Korea and is the only one that is connected to the North, waiting for the day that it may be used when The North and South may re-unite. Its a fantastically imaculate staion (well it would be as it's not bein used!!!) and all the latest mod-cons. We also took a trip to see 'The Third Tunnel', one of 4 tunnels that have been found by the military in the south that have apparently been tug by the North from their side and have reached some meters into the DMZ on the south side. This was a fantastic trip upon which we took a monorail 73meters underground and then walked a further 230m to what is known as the 3rd blockage (there are a further 2) that have been put in place to stop the tunnels being infiltrated. It is said that people believe there could be over 17 tunnels underground which have not yet been discovered. It was a really interesting trip and once we've finished this blog we are going to read up some more on the North South divide which we will share with you next time.

We haven't done as much walking in Seoul, in fact hardly any as the metro only cost 50p, regardless of the length of journey, so we've taken advantage of that. Plus I think we didn't too. My joints were still hurting from the Everest trip and the only way for them to get any better was for them to have a little bit of rest. So what else does Seoul have to offer?!?!?!?!?
Well we took a trip to Seoul tower, then along to Seoul Museum (not really our thing) across to the 1988 Olympic Park (again that wasn't really my thing, more Chris's and there wasn't much to see but when you think the buildings were built in 1988, they must have been pretty impressive at the time. Now they are what most Olympics parks have become, all purpose multi complex areana's). As well as these we visited Seoul Palace, although only the outside as they don't let you inside the building and Seoul prision museum, which was fab if not a little scary!!! It was once a prision built when the Japanese when they invaded in the 1900's which they used for torturing people that rebelled. Today it has been reconstructed as a museum with fake blood and screams and interactive scenes, where you can actually stand od the trap door that is used for hangings as it goes from under your feet. I have to admit I found it a little too much.

The street food in Seoul is fantastic. We have tried so many things here (but nothing fish related, I can't stand the stuff unless it comes from the fish and chip shop). We've had potato's sliced and deep fried on a stick, waffle's with varies fillings, a georgous pancake with a sinnamon filling (I will be making these when I get back) smoked cheese in a hot chilli sauce, my first and last ever corn dog and not forgetting Chris, BurgerKing!!!!!!

But from tomorrow we move on to China, which strangely enough I cannot wait for. We're craving meat so much, especially sweet and sour pork, sweet and sour prawns, egg fried rice, egg and tomato, fried aubergines, chicken and mushroom....................................................