Asian Persuasion: South Korea

I'm going to Asia!!

I skipped the details in my previous posts, but here it is: the flavor company back home that I’ve been working various trade shows for the past four years through college heard I was in Australia and offered me to work some expos they have on this side of the world. So on May 9, 2010, I was on my way to an all expense paid trip to Seoul, South Korea, and Shanghai, China.

My first impression of Korea was a barren, gray land full of messy bogs and disgusting riverbeds. It's a good thing I don't judge a book by it's cover.

Korea was awesome! But first, KOREAN AIRLINES is AMAZING!! They feed you Fisher's peanuts endlessly, delicious omelette brekky, unlimited beer and wine no matter what time of the day, and Korean and American dishes alike for lunch/dinner. The ten hour flight from Brisbane flew by in no time between the meals, movies, and book I'm reading (ironically on Chinese murderers and illegal immigration from China).

Breakfast of champions

Everything is so cheapness, the bus from the airport was only $9 USD (over an hour away), snacks under $1, and the most expensive drink at the 7-11 was a $3 USD Corona import. YAY for CHEAP!! I've gotten so used to Australian prices that I forgot other countries aren't as ridiculous.

My first full day, I hiked up the mountain behind the hotel (Grand Hilton). There was exercise equipment strewn about all over the place, and a sweetness Korean looking tower, even a wild cat (looks like a house cat). Even the bugs looked oriental.

I did not enjoy the fish tanks of diseased fish for sale (for dinner) in front of all the restaurants. I felt so sorry for them, they should be swimming in the ocean waiting for me to photograph them. The puffer fish was the worst, his eyes were clouded over and he was swimming completely turned sideways :o( And my octopus friend from Fish Rock Cave...yeah...he was also in front of every restaurant ready to be eaten alive by some silly person. Poor dudes :o(

Seoul Food Show was my first international trade show...it was quite different from those that I've been to in the USA. They were sectioned off by which products people had (in the Korean pavillion), and in the other pavillions, people just grabbed anything they could without even trying to be cordial. The Canadian bakery kept us well fed with brownies that would give my mothers a run for her money (though still no comparison due to completely different ingredients), our neighbor to the left fed us jalapeno pretzels and churros, and I discovered the most amazing coffee bun in the world. I want it back. It's called Rotivill, if you see it, send some my way!!

The show for us went well, I learned a lot from my superior and was able to apply the knowledge I learned there to when I worked alone in China the following week.

I found a waterfall about a 5min jog from the hotel; I even swam laps in the hotel pool.

Speaking of the hotel: I was put on the executive level, which meant internet access in the room, buffet brekky every morning (including omeletes made by chopsticks), and happy hour with hors devoirs every evening (which completed my dinner).

I met some cool business folk in the lounge and went out on the town with them Friday night. We found some cool bars and tried some new drinks.

Saturday, E took us to downtown Seoul and none other than Outback Steakhouse. Oh how I've missed cheese fries with ranch! After linner, they both went back to the hotel and I set out to find a palace and other Korean coolness. I found a river with rocks to cross on running through the middle of the city, decor from the Lotus Lantern Festival, and even was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and get to see the parade (I thought it wasn't until Sunday, that's what I get for not being able to read Korean).

The pictures really say a lot, so I suggest checking out the whole albums listed below. I'm going to try to make a video of all of Korea as well and upload it!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3036490&id=2034929&l=8ae0e028d0

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3040486&id=2034929&l=6d3be13a1e