Soldato
Ive been to Seoul the food markets at night were really cool and the temples you can visit lovely blend of city and greenery.
Or anyone been to Japan?
Surprisingly - NoGreat post
I think I'm leaning towards Japan more now
Is it crazy expensive in Tokyo?
Thank you
Coco Ichibanya had a place out the back of my office in Seoul, they had some money out of me on "fish days" in the canteen at work.
I lived in Seoul for 2 stints both around 2 years long.
While I loved the place and had a great time there is would not describe it as a tourist place. Maybe because I was there for work and lived there for so long after many many work trips before moving out there.
Seoul seems to cater for Chinese people coming to spend money on "cheap" designer goods, though they ain't cheap you can buy them cheaper in London. I never got the shopping drive in Korea things are expensive there, even if you go to the E-marts.
If i was going to jump on a plane for 10 hours+ i'd rather go to Malaysia, Indonesia Thailand or Vietnam. All cheaper and more fun places to visit.
However if you havent been to "developed asia" before Korea is probably a very good start, I found it easier to get around than Japan and much easier then mainland china.
After 4 years is Seoul I have a love hate relationship with there food, Some of it is amazing, some if it is just toxic to me now. I HATE kimchi the smell of it just turns my stomach now, I didn't mind it to start and used to eat it but its everywhere it just became too much.
Group eating is the only way to go in Korea, if you go to eat by yourself they look at you like your crazy.
However if you go with a group its an amazing night out, unless they make you eat the live octopus stuff, that wasnt great (bet with my korean colleges that nearly lead to me puking on the table).
That and Soju gives me the worst hangover in the world... feels like someone has rammed screwdrivers in your eye sockets the next day.
Fried chicken and beer after work was a ritual and Fridays in the office mostly consisted laughing at the korean guys falling to sleep in the bogs (at least they had nice heated seats for them).
I was in Seoul 2010 and 2016, in 6 years the place changed loads. But once you get out of Seoul the old Korea is still there, like a lot of Asian countries there is a massive gap outside the big cities.
I don't mind Kimchi but I treat it as a condiment, not the main. It's something to cut the grease. Had a Bibimbap which is just red, red and red (spicy soup, spicy kimchi and spicy rice), was way too much and everything tasted the same.
Lucky that was day 1, learn not to do that the rest of the week.