Itaewon, Seoul: Rainbow of Colors

A shop, a fly, and a man near my hotel in Gangnam.

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Now on to Itaewon!

Seoul vs. Daegu - Pro Basketball in Seoul

Park near exit 7, Sadang station. I told Min I snapped pictures of the pigeons as I waited for him, and he said they are dirty garbage-eaters, and Koreans much prefer squirrels. Fall is my favorite season and the crisp air is making me happy. Summer in Korea was so humid that I sometimes didn't want to move.

The Sunday game between Seoul (white) and Daegu (red) was the first pro basketball game I've been to. We cheered on Daegu: Min's home town. The teams were neck and neck in the last quarter. We lost.

The players were a rainbow of Nationalities. I couldn't get over the height of some of the guys. But the cheerleaders were all Korean. I was impressed by their costume changes; everytime they did a dance routine they were dressed in something new.

There was no staple stadium food like hot dogs. People snaked on instant soup, fish skin and bags of potato chips. Tickets were the equivalent of $8USD. 

Catholic Wedding, Seoul

Before Tae Hun met me on Sunday, he attended a Catholic wedding near City Hall, Seoul, and took some gorgeous pictures! I had to share them with you. Korean weddings are more Westernized than I had imagined.

Sorry to drop the pristine cake but Tae Hun is always like, "darn another one." Koreans give money as a wedding gift, and the bride and groom forever remember the exact dollar amount from each guest. In most cases, close friends and family members will shell out $500 USD or more.

Pampas Grass Festival, Seoul

Moi, using the tripod Tae Hun bought me

World Cup Stadium

Seoul <3

I've been busy. I will post tonight. I only have a few more weeks left in Korea, so some things need to be said before I go.

Holiday Weekend Myeongdong

Seoul's first GAP cut the grand ribbon Aug. 24th. A T-Shirt costs about 35$. The store is only 2 floors high, catering mostly to men, but that brand name fix is all yours. Plus you'll be the envy of the guy in the middle with his arms crossed.

This stylin' Korean dude could pass as a French man from behind. Don't you dig his earthy look?

It feels like there is a Starbucks on every corner in Myeongdong. My short coffee of the day (the cheapest thing on the menu) was approx. 3 USD. I paid for the view though, got to people watch from the 2nd story window.

Lotte Department store. (Chanel is out of my price range but my camera wanted to roam!) "Department stores" are the shopping malls of Korea. Most of them are high-end so youth usually prefer to shop at boutiques and markets.

Cute Korean girls, by request.

Visiting Deoksugung Palace in Seoul

During the Joseon Dynasty, Deoksugung Palace was one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built in Seoul. It is located near City Hall subway exits 1& 2, a busy intersection in the heart of the city. Admission is only 1,000 W, and the grounds are beautiful.

The neighboring area includes the historic Cheongdong church, the Cheongdong Theater and SEMA. I photographed all of the sites and will post/write in depth soon.

Sushi at an affordable little restaurant to the left of the main gate (heading in the direction of SEMA.)