China - Day 9

So, finally, I am almost done with these China blogs... I've been too lazy since we came back... obviously....

So it was Tuesday. We had a great week, although my ankle was still killing me. Cody and I got up early, packed up and cleaned our hostel room so that we could get our 100 yuan deposit back. We then checked out, but asked the hostel to watch our stuff, and headed to the Silk Market to spend our remaining money.

We walked in, and we were immediately accosted with stalls EVERYWHERE selling all manner of fakes and goods, people grabbing at us and shouting prices. "I have Prada, you want Prada bag? Gucci? 100% silk scarf! Very cheap!"

It was insane, and I had a headache almost immediately, but we were ready to jump in. We quickly bought another mask, cheaper than the other ones I had bought this time, but not by much, Cody picked up a tie, and I bought one "silk" scarf for 30 yuan, then bought two more, this time the "45"% Pashminas (So better than the last one, thicker as well), for only 50 yuan. By the time I was done arguing and bargaining, the lady breathed hard and said "You are a very hard bargainer!" I could have probably gotten it lower, but maybe not, she was very adamant about not going to 50, but I got her there!

After spending all the money we had, except enough to get us to the hostel and airport and a little for food, we headed back to the hostel, got our stuff and said goodbye, and then headed to the Airport again.

At the airport, we got stuck behind yet another tour group, this time an older group and at the check-in counter (I don't know if I mentioned, but when arriving, we got stuck in customs behind a huge Korean tour group made up of high school kids). It was really annoying, and really slowed the line down because theyw eren't prepared for check in (both groups weren't prepared...) and had a ton of bags, but we finally got checked in and through security without incident.

We ended up in a downstairs terminal and waiting for our plane and a shuttle bus to take us to our plane (as we had to enter the plane from the tarmac. Yea for tarmac experience dos!), which ended up being about a 1/2 hour late, adn then the bus took about a 1/2 hour to shuttle us to the opposite side of the airport.

It was long and slightly frusterating, but we dinally took off without further incident, and made it to Seoul. BEcause it was so late, we ended up staying in Seoul at the Paradise Hotel (the love motel we stayed at with Fallon in january) and eating late night Burger King and Street food. We also took turns soaking the China dirt away in the big Jacuzzi tub there.

The next day we got up early, lugged our stuff to Outback Steak house, had a nice steak, and then went back to Mokpo on the train.

All in all, our trip was really good, if a bit smog-filled. Cody and I deperately tried to find China Cola there (Also known as Future Cola), but it turns out they don't sell it in cities. Dang them, only marketing to small towns! Ah well, maybe if we ever make it back to China...