Korea (August 2004)

Introduction

Two years ago I attend an English language class in New Orleans and there I meet a lot of friends from all over the world. This year was my Asian year. I spend two weeks in Korea to meet my good old friends from there.

I started at 4 pm from Berlin (TXL) to Frankfurt (FRA). Berlin has three airports but only a few intercontinental connections. The majority of this flights start from Frankfurt. They plan to upgrade one of the three Berlin airports to a new modern and international airport but this needs time. Main problem is bureaucracy.

With Asiana Airlines I started to Seoul (ICN) at 7pm German time (GMT+1) and arrived in Seoul at 12:30 pm (GMT+9). Half the year we have in Europe Summertime and thats why was the time difference 7 and not 8 hours. I arrived at 5:30 German time.

I was a lucky man because the airplane was overbooked and that's why I could fly business class. Very comfortable and the food is much better and to much :-). After Dinner and some whisky I tried to sleep. It was a good time for the trip, I had no jet lag but the first days I was a little tiered in the afternoon.

Information for Travellers

Links

Official Tourist Site of Korea, very good Information's in many languages.	http://www.tour2korea.com/
Lonely Planet Forum	http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=19
Tagebuch einer Koreareise	http://www.beepworld.de/members74/jancorea/index.htm
Reisebericht Korea	http://home.arcor.de/griesbeck/Reise2/
Infosites around Korea	http://www.whatsonkorea.com/ http://www.lifeinkorea.com/
Informationen über Korea	http://www.explorekorea.de/
Travel Report	http://www.koreabilder.de/
Info Site about Korea	http://pweb.de.uu.net/abts.k/nav02e.htm

Some tips for Seoul

1. See one or two the palaces like Gyeonbukgung and Deoksugung
2. Hit Insadong Arts and Antiques street - stop in and have a drink in one of the teahouses there
3. See Namdaemun market in the daytime - a great traditional market.
4. Go to Dongdaemun Wholesalers market in the night-time - like after midnight - I think it gets hopping around 4 am. The place is so big you could get lost for hours
5. Book a DMZ tour - in my opinion the USO offers the most complete package - you get to visit Panmunjeom, the tunnels, etc. http://www.uso.org/korea/default.cfm?contentid=103
6. Yongsan electronics market for knockoff DVDs and games....the electronics themselves aren't that much cheaper but it's fun to see everything together
7. War Memorial museum - huge and fascinating it tells the history of war in Korea- also near Yongsan market
8. Sinchon and Hongik University are the best spots for nightlife and clubs - wander around and pick a bar at will. A good place to grab cheap Korean Barbeque as well. Don't forget to try the soju.
9. Visit a Noraebang - private Karaoke rooms, where you and your friends can howl in privacy
10. Visit a public bath, if you don't mind public nudity. You can scrub off all of the pollution after a long day - they even double as cheap accommodation if you take advantage of the sleeping rooms.
11. If you want to see a temple, you'll have to go to the outskirts of Seoul - I suggest Bukhansan park - you can do a mini hike up the mountain and find a temple in full swing.
12. Itaewon is great place to pick up knockoff bags, shirts, scarves, etc., if you feel a burning need for a cheap Louis Vuitton. Also, most of the good foreign food restaurants (Thai, Indonesian, Indian) are here, as well as a couple of used English books stores (if you're looking to stock up for the rest of your journey). At night, the place floods with GIs (Itaewon, not the bookstore), but it's a relatively safe place to hang out, despite what the locals may say. Just stay away from Hooker hill.

Where to stay?

Tip from Lonely Planet Forum:
In Sinchon (near Hongik University, about 4 or 5 stops away from Seoul Station by subway) there are a number of little yogwans, I like Hyundai (like the car) Yogwan. Its not fancy but very clean, with either beds or korean style mats, private bath, mini-fridge and cable TV. About 40,000 Won depending on if its a weekday or weekend and what type of room you get. Only a few minutes walk from a subway stop and from plenty of Korean and foreign restaurants and shopping. Sorry but I don't have an address or phone number for it but it was in the LP Korea (or at least was 2 years ago).

Other guesthouses:

www.guesthouseinkorea.com

www.seoulbackpackers.com  (I have been there)

www.kimsguesthouse.com

www.wowgh.co.kr (I have been there)

www.sollung.pe.kr

www.sinavrow.com/english (northern Seoul)

www.friends-house.com/english (zentral, sehr hübsch, klassich, aber einen schluck teurer 22 €)

www.seoul110.com  (zentral gelegen, sehr schön, klassisch, 22 € )

www.guesthouseseoul.com (hübsch, aber 25€, nahe city )

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