On to Bangkok

I am about to get on a plane to Bangkok in a few hours, and it is an odd feeling. I just changed my money from won to baht, and am still working on the exchange rate. Thailand is supposed to be very cheap, which is good, but more dangerous due to thieves, pickpockets and razor artists, which is bad. Not so bad, because i have the gear I need to take care of myself, but still, I will have to be wary now in a way that I have not had to be yet.

Last night Yong took me to his college and showed me around. We walked up to the top of the hill his school is on and got an incredible site of Seoul. True panorama is below, but this is just a single semi-HDR image i took. Seoul HDR We made our way back to his uncle’s house and called it a night. I had a great time in South Korea, and the interviews came off looking promising, so there is a very good chance I will return.

I made so many friends in the short two weeks I have been traveling, and it amazes me how easy it was to meet someone, then spend days traveling with them. From the start, Nathan and Rachel, thanks so much for making your place open to me on the first day of my arrival. Without your couch, I would have succumbed to jet lag, and your introduction to English teachers was endlessly helpful, as was the night out. In Sokcho, Claude, you were a great roommate and I enjoyed hiking with you in the mountains. Maybe I will come to Belgium one day. In Geyeong-ju, Lynda, and Mr. Quick Lizard, y’all were great fun to hang out with and go hiking with. Even if one hike was unplanned, and the other was foggy, I had a great time getting to know you both. In Seoul, Johnathan and Andras, good times for the two days at the Backpackers Hostel, and the War museum, and Yong, thanks so much for working it out so I could stay at your uncle’s place and taking me around Seoul in a way only someone who lives there can know. I left my towel there, hanging in the closet of the room we were in, but it is ok. I can find another one to use.

I am sure I missed a lot of people, and I apologize. I am on to new places, and new faces. If you read this and I met you while traveling, please comment and let me know what you are up to. I would love to hear from you.

-Ben

Seoul Panorama