Korea day 16

Really just leaving. Had brunch with Karen then headed to the subway. Sad day leaving. Being in Korea reignited my desire to live somewhere other than the U.S. someday. We'll see how that goes. Flew for 11 hours to LA. Then an 11 hour layover in LA. Finally in anchorage at 12:30 (after over 24 hours of travel time). Longest day of my life (literally cuz I crossed the date line and the day lasted for 41 hours with the time change). Happy Easter. 

Korea day 15

Fisher fair scones for breakfast :-) Super lazy morning. Hot pot for lunch. Then off to an old part of Seoul and hiked part of the Seoul wall. Went to a famous Korean bakery that wasn't all that great. Then to Hongik to see the street performers, who were subpar. Then to Jonny Dumpling for dinner before meeting Tae June Kwon for dessert. Then back to Karen's and some packing. 

Hot pot... Cook your own food in boiling water

North Tower from the Seoul Wall

Loving the selfie stick

Line at the bakery... Koreans think it's better than Karen and I do...

Korea day 14

Lazy morning. Went to standing coffee with Jen (Karen's roommate(ish). Got on a bus to go to the Strawberry Festival in Nonsan. It was a little underwhelming, but still fun. Another two hour bus ride brought us back to Seoul, where we went to a super pretty Starbucks. Then we wandered looking for dinner (maybe a little too long cuz hangry Kate showed up). Then home to drink a little milkshake. 

Cuz why not?

We got free strawberries for letting people take pictures of us with these hands....

Korea day 13

Early to school with Karen. I worked on some school stuff and went to Starbucks to get Karen a latte for her pumpkin spice syrup. I got to read to three of her first grade classes today. After school we went to the ice cream waffle place again then just chilled at her house. 

We got matching socks... I have to find the pictures of me reading to post...

Korea day 12

Up bright and early for the DMZ tour for real this time. We went to the joint security area and the third tunner. It was pretty interesting stuff. When we got back to Seoul we went to the Korean War museum and then to get dumplings for dinner. after dinner we had ice cream waffles. Then early to bed again for school. 

Just across the border into North Korea

At the third tunnel ( that the tour guide pronounced tunner)

Drum inside the war memorial museum 

Ice cream waffle 

Korea day 11

Up bright and early for the DMZ tour. But we got the day wrong. So we went to Nami island, 40 km ne of Seoul. We tandem biked around he island and saw the funky recycled art. Then we went to Myeongdong for dinner.

Suprisingly not as hard as I expected

We found a peacock

Aaaaand we both wore purple shoes :-)

Korea day 10

Went to school with Karen. I worked on some of my own school stuff since I'm a student again and also alphabetized her kiddie books. After school we went out for Korean BBQ and for dessert, which Karen declared was for my birthday. We went to three different dessert places. 

Grilling

Chocolate cake 

Apple tart

Cookie and ice cream 

Korea day 8

Set out to find the tofu village (where they make tofu) and foot bath hot springs. Didn't really find either, but did have some good tofu lunch. 

Then back to town for ice cream and to pick up our stuff from the hostel on our way to the bus. Sokcho has a funny little mascot with a mountain for a head and a sweet wave for a pony tail. 

Back to Seoul and middle eastern food for dinner and trudge up the hill to Karen's house cuz my legs hurt from yesterday.

Korea day 9

Church with Karen. Lunch at a fancy place near church. Not sure what this guy is, but he's the ad that stared at me during my meal. 

Then to the dollar store. Then bingsoo, which is apparently the best Korean dessert. 

To the grocery store on the way back to Karen's. She made Pad Thai for dinner and I happily ate it. Then we went to the little convenient store for ice cream. Early to bed since Karen leaves for school at 6 am. 

Korea day 7

National park time. Into Seoraksan to wander. Up and up and up some rocks. 

At lunch time. Not super happy Kate. Down to eat food. 

Then take a cable car up Mount Seorak. Ice cream and Karen's first dip n dots at the top. 

Then back down for a chill evening at the hostel. 

Over 30,000 steps today. So my legs hurt. 

Korea day 6

Got up and packed. Breakfast burritos :-) walk to Dunkin on the way to subway. Take bus (2.5 hours) to Sokcho. 

Walk to hostel close by. Then wander sokcho (mostly the market for street food) then over to the ocean. 

Then back to the market for more street food for dinner. Back to the hostel to chill some and watch some Korean tv before bed.

Korea day 5

Up at 4:45, but feeling ill. Rallied. Walked up to north Seoul tower and over the hill. 

Subway to Hongik university for traditional Korean food. 

Then off to Hello Kitty cafe. 

Then to guyanbok palace. 

Street food for dinner, which is pretty much my favorite. Back to Karen's to watch a movie.

Korea day 4

Still very jet lagged... Up at 3:30. Laze until 9:00. Out to see a palace and the changing of the guard.

Off toward another palace and old neighborhood. 

To insadong, a little artsy neighborhood. To meyongdong, the foodie neighborhood for street food and a foot-long ice cream cone. 

Back to Karen's. Watch Tangled. We walked over 25,000 steps.

Korea day 3

Lazy morning cuz Karen wasn't feeling great. Wander out for lunch at Jonny Dumpling. To the Korean War memorial. Get ice cream on the way home to chill a bit more and eat nachos. Out to the park near Karen's house. 

Eating ice cream dressed up to look like Rudolph. 

Sunset from the park. 

Korea day 2

Starbucks, Church, wander gangnam, to Gigi's cupcakes, lotte world, hard rock, school for books, Starbucks again, home.

Gangnam style

Food! I can't remember what it's called. 

Funny little dude at Lotte World

They look pretty much the same everywhere...

Korea day 1 -3/22

Arrive in Seoul at 5:20. Finally get bags and through customs around 6:45. See Karen! Take the subway an hour and fifteen minutes-ish to her house. Crash.