Seoul

When not closed for Lunar New Year, Seoul is actually a pretty great place to visit (but maybe not to live in from what I hear). Here are some must-do's and some good places to go for fellow waygooks that I have learned from my visits to Seoul so far.

~Foreign Restaurant (Itaewon): This is a pretty good place, especially if your a fellow waygook stuck in a small town or city without much western food. For 16,000 you can eat all you can at the buffet complete with Naan, lentil crackers, lamb curry, and french fries. The sodas are a bit expensive at 4,700 but otherwise it's really good if you just want to stuff yourself because you missed that kind of food.

Directions: If your back is to the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon (easily located via Taxi and the Itaewon subway stop), cross the street and turn left. Walk a few blocks until the next intersection and take a right. Walk up the hill and it will be on your left. If you've hit the Foreign food store or What The Book, you have one too far.

~Namaste: This is a really good Indian/Napali resteraunt, and it's right next to a subway exit. Everything is really good here. The only thing I haven't cared for too much is the Mango Lahssi. The best deal by far here is the 15,000 set. It gives you little bit of everything and is really tasty.

Directions: Take the subway line 6 to Dongmyo station. Leave via exit #5, with the stairs to your back, turn left and look up. It's on the second floor of the building right next to the subway exit.

~What The Book: A great little bookstore for anyone searching for English books in this country. Sometimes other bookstores will have some books in English, but the selection is quite small, and there will never be any magazines in English. What The Book has everything from literature, to language learning books, cook books, travel books, to English Magazines. They will also take your used books and give you store credit so you can get more to read.

Directions: See directions for the Foreign Restaurant.

~DMZ: This is a must-do in Seoul. There are many tours available, and sometimes, depending on the time of year and circumstances, there are tours into North Korea as well. Check into it well ahead of time and be warned, there are many rules you must follow (although the camera rules are sometimes allowed to be ignored).

Directions: Check out the internet for a goo-priced tour. Also, many tourist booths and hotels will have brochures for you, but it is best to plan ahead and schedule tours ahead of time, especially if you will only be there a day or two.

~Clothes for big-sized Waygooks: Itaewon is the best place to look for larger sized clothes if you are like most westerners and have curves or are larger than the average Korean.

Directions: If your are facing the Hamilton Hotel, turn left and walk straight. Keep an eye out for the "big-size" signs. Most of these are men's shops, however I do know of one on the side you would be walking on. It's a few blocks down from the Hamilton, and on the second story above a shoe shop. Just keep an eye out and you may get lucky. The shoe shop also has larger sized shoes, but it's a bit expensive as they claim everything in there was made in Italy.

~Palace: Another must-see for Seoul. Sostly just empty restored buildings, this provides many photo ops and is a good place to get really nice pictures of your surroundings. Don't be surprised to see many of the tourists carrying around their $1,000 cameras and tripods for all of the photo opportunities available.

Directions: In Insadong, walk to the end of the art street to where there is a statue of one of the giant brushes they use for paining. There are two roads to the left, one that angles back, and one less so, take the one that doesn't angle back the way you came do much. Walk down the street until you hit an intersection with an old-style building on an island in the road to your right. Take a right and head down that road, cross the street as soon as you can and you can see the entrance to the palace. You can't miss the tourists and food vendors milling around.

~Dr. Fish: If you've heard about the little fish from Turkey who will give you a natural pedicure, this one of the places to go in Seoul. For 2,000 won plus the cost of a drink (starting at 7,000 total), you gain the opportunity to sit with your feet in the fish tub for 22 minutes, and then relax, refreshed, with your drink and some fresh toast that you can make yourself. The fish are gentle and it feels like many tiny little pinches, but it doesn't hurt at all. You might have trouble if your very ticklish though. Also, the pool is only big enough for two, maybe three people at one time.

Directions: Go to Insadong via the Jongno 3 (san)-ga subway stop and leave at Exit 1. Walk straight down the sidewalk you are facing when you leave the stairs. Walk down to the 2nd intersection (If you look left you will see a big 24-hour Burger King, this is also the same street, if you go right here, you will be on Insadong art street). Cross toward the Burger King, and then cross again immediately on the right. There is a big brown banner outside the building that says Book Cafe and also Dr Fish. Head up to the 2nd floor of the building, but your drink and specify "Dr Fish" They will take you up one more floor, you wash your feet, and then head to the small tub with the fish. Afterward they will bring your drinks and you can toast some bread.