Of course, we have taken many photos of cultural sights such as the Gyeongbok Palace and a few others. But that is not what I want to show here – I find everything else more interesting.

Delivery service in Seoul

Another lady gathering old paper on the streets of Seoul. Our accommodations was located in a fairly quiet neighborhood in Seoul, in the northern central part where all the embassies and consulates are. The roads are very clean, so I imagine there is not that much business for her there.

Gathering old paper on the streets in Seoul

Leaving the Gyeongbok Palace, we saw this interesting ad across the street.

"Naked Museum" ad in Seoul

Passing the Palace entrance once more, this time with guards in authentic costume.

Gyeongbok Palace guards

The streets of Seoul are very interesting – pleasant to your eyes and nose. Last, but not least, the locals were extremely helpful when we asked for directions. Some even approached us offering to help. This was very unexpected as I had been told by Korean themselves not to expect too much help.

A truck load of beans parked on the road side

Seoul is definitely worth another visit someday.

Now that we have returned to Germany, I have the time to reflect on our visit to Seoul. Next to seeing former students, the main impressions are the food and drinks we had there.

The very first dish I ordered was Tokpokki ( rice cake sticks in red pepper sauce), one of my favorite Korean dishes.

Tokpokki

Our homemade Korean bomb drink (Poktanju/폭탄주) on the terrace of K – haus in Seoul. Mix beer with soju, that’s all.

폭탄주 Poktanju

This was lunch with another student who took us to her favorite restaurant.

Lunch in Insadong, Seoul

Our last dinner in Seoul with yet another former student. We got spoiled, needless to say.

Dinner in Cheongaecheon, Seoul

After dinner, we went on to one of these soju snackbars in the same district. We returned back to our accommodations, soaked in very happy spirits.

Korean food is simply the best.

We have been here on Kyushu for two days and we have done more socializing in two days than what I usually get done in two months.

Just today, we had a good bye get-together for a friend who is returning to Yokohama this evening. Then a former student took us to a famous lantern museum (Edo period) with lunch following at a popular Japanese restaurant.

After that I was taken to the patchwork shop in Tobata where I used to take patchwork lessons. Even my former teacher and another student came for this little reunion. This was again followed by cake and coffee. By then, my companions were too tired to join me on another trip down the road to visit a traditional home fully furnished in Japanese antiques.

Now at 8:50 p.m., we are soon off to our last visit, a friend’s mom right here in Wakamatsu. All the other little stops along the way and making arrangements for tomorrow’s plan go unmentioned.

We have already had many good laughs such as earlier when we got picked up once more. Another engagement, another car to hop into. There have been so many pick-ups that we don’t even pay much attention what car we get into when it is waiting out front. My daughter hopped into the first car in front of the gate, I hopped in right after. The driver turned around and cupped her hand over her mouth. It was not who we had expected, but a complete stranger. I managed a couple of  sumimasen and another gomen nasai for good measure. My brother, who had observed everything was doubling over from laughter.

Tomorrow, we are off backpacking and our first stop will be Beppu in northern Kyushu.

On our last night in Seoul, we became really good friends with the national beverage – sochu.

The next morning, we completely overslept. From the time we woke up to the departing flight we had 2:15. We packed in a frenzy, showered in a hurry and hailed the next best cab to the airport (from northern central Seoul to Incheon the fare was 50.500 Won).

It was also snowing quite heavily at that time. Heavy for the month of April, that is.

We made it to the airport, checked in and exchanged our Korean Won into Japanese Yen and then set off running the rest of the way. We were the last ones to board.

It was a turbulent flight due to strong winds. Our pilot made a successful landing on the second approach. We were fortunate to land as we could see some departing flights being cancelled out of  Fukuoka Airport.

We were awaited by our dear friends for an uneventful car ride to Kitakyushu.

Japan looks so much greener than the Korean landscape we have just left behind. We are back in the land of the broccoli mountains.

Wouldn’t you like to read Melleron’s Monsters by Douglas Hill? If you do, you will find a free copy of the book at the Fukuoka Airport in Japan.

This is where I will release it into the wild.

Travelling books Japan