Arrived in what is called Incheon yesterday, which is pretty much Seoul. But I booked it onto a ferry after a long bus ride, a taxi that took me to a train station instead of a ferry terminal, and inside the train station a lady gave me a printed leaflet of how to get to the ferry terminal, hailed yet another cab, and got onto the ferry.
In Tokyo, when you get into a cab, you pay a minimum of about seven bucks. In Korea, a buck-fddy. And after a 20 minute cab ride, I only paid about four bucks.
Made it onto the ferry, and the only room left was a C-class room, which meant a large room for about 30 people to sleep on, any which way they could. The ferry ride took about 15 hours and it was exactly what I needed. Not a train, a busy airplane, just a cruise down the coast of Korea, through the night, and into the morning. Got to experience some Korean culture and made friends with a bunch of university kids my age -- we spoke English well into the night drinking beer and strange Korean booze. Their English was good -- much more natural than the what-have-you Japanese English speaker.
Got into Jeju this morning. Jeju is kind of a resort island, but it keeps it real enough. Rented a rad mountain bike and went for a 20 km ride into the woods for the morning. Real air. What a difference. Spent about 10 bucks on lunch -- pork dumplings, a sushi roll with pickles and cheese, a rice bowl with meat, lots of veggies, and a bowl of spicy ramen. Couldn't finish it all. Kimchee good!
Rented a room for the night for about 30 bucks, complete with porn channel. Went for another ride, this time about 15 km, down the coast line. Rad ocean air -- had I forgotten?
Korean girls are nowhere near as cute as Japanese girls.
Tomorrow Russ and I will hang out! Surreal to meet up with an old buddy in a country I'd never been in before. He says beer for breakfast and open mic for dinner. And I say -- fuck yeah.
In Jeju till Tuesday, and then I either fly or take another ferry back to Seoul. Relaxing and reading is better suited. Don't have to rush and squeeze in as much "time" as possible.
Currently reading a bunch of Soseki Natsume. Bought about four of his books in Ebisu the other week.