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.
Tokyo can take all your money away and give it back in dumb-ass ways. maybe i had fun tonight and spent all my money. but maybe i didn't. but i do remember drinking on enoshima beach at noon. and soon after i was back in Tokyo with rage^amohol on my mind. and helll to prove it.
my ticket to south korea came through. now all that is left is to see if my visa will allow it. if it does, i will run run run away from the city. all all all. bye.