Stealing the Seoul of South Korea! Part 9

Day 9

Last full day in Seoul.

Started off the day with a standard American breakfast.  I almost cried tears of joy once I got my hands on the hotel's crisp smoked bacon (which was really good) and sausages.  Let's just say bacon and Western-style sausages in China are disappointing, and I had a good time eating what will probably be my last American breakfast for the next half a year.

I spoke to some friends via Skype before heading to my next destination: the War Memorial Museum of Korea.  It was pretty cold outside (later, I was told it was the coldest February 2nd in Seoul in years). I walked around the front part of the building which featured military vehicles, aircraft and monuments of the Korean War.

The Statue of Brothers: A South Korean officer meets his North Korean brother on the battlefield.  Hopes of reunification run high around this area of town...

The War Memorial Museum of Korea

Going inside, I started with the most obvious section of the displays.  The Korean War section was well laid out in a clean environment filled with English.  SK patriotism was unmissable. The museum focused on NK aggression and "Red" Chinese intervention. It mentioned the American war effort in Korea, although mainly focused on South Korean on North Korean/Chinese fighting.

Exhibit on the Intervention of the PRC during the Korean War

"Stand or Die."

Taken from the 38th Parallel

Aside from the Korean War area, there was an extensive ancient war history section.  Interestingly enough, Korea has been divided before, but they managed to get it together to create some long lasting dynasties...


That evening I had one last visit with Sue.  Whenever one of us is about to leave a place, we have the tendency of eating delicious food, followed by going up some sort of tower.  Last time we did this, we had good ol' Chinese American food in NYC's Chinatown followed by a view from the Rockefeller Center. This time, we had pizza at a Korean chain store followed with going up the N'Seoul Tower. 

Sue and I had a four-flavored pizza for dinner.

After dinner, we scaled the N'Seoul Tower.

There are so many relationship locks around N'Seoul,
they make trees out of them.

Seoul has become my favorite city in all Asia.

Writing to family on N'Seoul (notice new jacket from Lotte)

T minus 17 weeks...

Sue and I sharing our common interest of staring at cityscape at night.

Thanks Sue for being such an awesome friend!  When are you and Kwangseok coming to China!?

That pretty much concludes the second leg of my 2012 long holiday.  Seoul is such a great city to explore.  Practicing Korean martial arts, relaxing in coffee shops, and sitting in jjimjibang...my kind of place.  The only drawback I see is that it can sometimes become very lonely for single travelers, since the most interesting things in Seoul are done with groups of friends.  But Sue and Kwangseok were great friends and company...I just hope they feel the same way about me as I do them. 

I can see myself living in Seoul for a few years...maybe sometime in the far future?  Also, I should probably come back to explore the rest of South Korea.  I've merely scratched the surface of this interesting country.


Seoul, South Korea, 사랑해. I'll be back for sure.


Up Next...Thailand with Cathy!!!