KOREA

SEOUL-GYEONGJU

These 24-7 days have got to stop.  That last night at the Grand Palace and blowing it out with the threeall night was a great time.  Having only time to grab the bags and head for the airport was hectic.  I looked forward to sleeping on the plane.

Arriving at the Incheon Airport and taking a taxi to the Hamilton Hotel that I thought was in the center of Seoul.  I was really dragging but caught my second wind when I learned that the hotel was in the center of the GI social life.  There were Russians, Phillipines, Aussies, and the local women all over the place. It reminded me of the first time I went to Europe and stayed in Wiesbaden, Germany where the airborne and the airmen clashed.  The GI's had curfews while the airmen didn't .  The party really begin when the GI's had to make curfew, so too here. De Ja Vue.  Nothing had changed and my body was begging for relief cause it was another 24-7.  I met Damei who had come out with a friend. Earlier I also met two GI's.  One was a short timer with only three days to go, and the other had 8 more months. They both looked miserable.  It is sad to look in their faces and see the loneliness.  Watching them drink and go bar hopping.  Damei and I tagged along for a while and then split for another place.

We were only there for a short time when a highly intoxicated Korean came in and started mouthing off in Korean and it was obvious it was about Damei and me.  The juices started flowing and I was yearning to take him on, as it had been over 13 years since I had been in a physical fight.  The manager and waitress were both trying to calm him down and keep me away from him.  After a couple close calls, the police were called and he was arrested and taken away. An apology was given to me and Damei continued for the rest of the night of having a good time.  Later in the day, I took the subway and train around Seoul.  I met Mimhyet, a beautiful young Korean girl, who was going to see her brother.  What a time we had.  After our adventures, I made another date with her for two days later as I planned to go to Gyeongju. She couldn't go as she had to work.  Gyeongju is one of the cultural cities in the southern part of Korea. I took a bus to it. 

After a couple hours it stopped at a road stop for what I understood was a 40 minute break.  Boy was I wrong.  It was fifteen minutes. Finally, a Korean couple was about to go look for me as no one wanted the bus to leave without me.  I showed up and had to apologize profusely.  I met the new acquiesces who had made friends with a girl from Gyeongju.  She helped me get to a hotel and I recipricated by taking her out to dinner at the Hotel Hyundai.  This place is fantastic and a 5 star resort.  The food, atmosphere, and company were tantalizing. 

The next day I headed back to Seoul thinking I would see Mimhyet. Wrong, I had to catch a plane for Hong Kong where there was snow waiting for me. I had miscalculated the days.  I barely made the plane.

Korea was the surprise country among all of them so far.  The people are extremely helpful and would go out of there way to help me out.  Bar none. I had older people stopped and ask if they could help when I had a questionable look on my face or needed an inquiry answered. I was truly amazed.  I do want to revisit this country as I totally enjoyed the whole experience.

Aah, the plane and finally some sleep.  I knew I would need it for what was waiting in Hong Kong.