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n3ptne
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Location: Poh*A*ng City
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 Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 6:54 pm Post subject: *beep* Seoul |
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Ok... the three star hotel was very nice, so was the Thai food, the Papa John's pizza, good, but cheap beer, and shoes that fit...
Having said that...
*beep* Seoul.
The traffic is absolutley unbelievable.
The number of foreigners there is staggering. As is the number of foreigners who can't even speak rudimentary Korean.
The subway was unbearable, and the fact that no matter how far, or short of the trip I took was, I always felt like I needed a shower, and had just climbed a mountain afterwards.
Two days was nice, 60$ for a 40minute plane ride, got to do some shopping... having said that... *beep* Seoul. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| You're obviously not a big city person. Seoul really doesn't have that many foreigners if you're not around Itaewon, especially if you've been to Beijing or Tokyo. |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Ultimately, Seoul is a million times better than the crap hole you reside in. Pohang? Pohang is Korea's anus. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject: Re: *beep* Seoul |
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| n3ptne wrote: |
Ok... the three star hotel was very nice, so was the Thai food, the Papa John's pizza, good, but cheap beer, and shoes that fit...
Having said that...
*beep* Seoul.
The traffic is absolutley unbelievable.
The number of foreigners there is staggering. As is the number of foreigners who can't even speak rudimentary Korean.
The subway was unbearable, and the fact that no matter how far, or short of the trip I took was, I always felt like I needed a shower, and had just climbed a mountain afterwards.
Two days was nice, 60$ for a 40minute plane ride, got to do some shopping... having said that... *beep* Seoul. |
Seoul is a huge city - of course traffic is unbelievable. Many of the foreigners can't speak much Korean because they're relatively new to Korea and are still learning how to teach, never mind how to speak Korean.
I agree that the subway is hard work in terms of the number of steps, but it is still a great system compared to many countries - very cheap and easy to use. |
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n3ptne
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Location: Poh*A*ng City
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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The subway was conveinent, I'm not complaining about "it", I'm just complaining about "it"...
As far as Pohang and Seoul goes? I look out my window.. I see a beach.
I want to go to the other side of the city? 5 minutes in a cab.
I need a steak? US Military friends go to the commissary, or we have an Outback.
Beer on tap? Not quite as good, or as cheap as Seoul, but I don't have any problem getting drunk.
Women? Not as many, but still hot.
Oh, and the last reason, which is really the top reason why my city pwns Seoul... I know about 85% of the people who work in my Dong. I know the people who own that restaurant, and this mart. I get free shit, and I get smiles and waves on my way to work every morning.
In fact, it's difficult for me to go anywhere without running into someone I know.
*beep* Seoul. |
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mnhnhyouh
Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Location: The Middle Kingdom
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Right then, now that you have that whinge off your chest..... we will resume normal programming, other whingers, please step up.
h |
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twg
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: *beep* Seoul |
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| n3ptne wrote: |
| The traffic is absolutley unbelievable. |
Yeah, usually a city of 11 million people has so few cars...
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| The number of foreigners there is staggering. As is the number of foreigners who can't even speak rudimentary Korean. |
So.. you were trying to speak Korean to them?
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| The subway was unbearable, and the fact that no matter how far, or short of the trip I took was, I always felt like I needed a shower, and had just climbed a mountain afterwards. |
Hit the gym. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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Tell me, OP, did you spend much time north of Itaewon during your travels? While we up here also have an appalling number of foreigners, once you get away from the palaces, Insadong & the hotels you'll find they're pleasingly spread out and thinner on the ground than in those areas of Seoul where you seem to have stayed.
| n3ptne wrote: |
Oh, and the last reason, which is really the top reason why my city pwns Seoul... I know about 85% of the people who work in my Dong. I know the people who own that restaurant, and this mart. I get free *beep*, and I get smiles and waves on my way to work every morning.
In fact, it's difficult for me to go anywhere without running into someone I know. |
Some people prefer the anonymity of big-city life, while others want to live in the bar on Cheers! I can understand both of those preferences. And even in Seoul, I have experienced both.
"*beep* anyplace that isn't my home", no?
I'll grant you this, however: Housing in Seoul bites.
 |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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Some people like being the big fish in the small pond.
I for one, prefer the anonymity of the big city. 85% of the people around your dong know you? F-that, dude. That's 85% of people up in your business.
I did the whole small town celebrity gig for a year, but it got old. I dated one girl, didn't work out, and I got branded untouchable by the rest of the single females in the community. They all went to school together, etc.
It's a personal preference, but for me Seoul is Korea. |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| n3ptne wrote: |
| The Oh, and the last reason, which is really the top reason why my city pwns Seoul... I know about 85% of the people who work in my Dong. |
You let people you don't know into your dong?
As far as the rest of the stuff, all it shows is that your city is a hole. Personally, I cant live in places with no cultural activities, and where Outback is the best restaurant. Pohang is Korea's anus. Ive lived in steel towns before though, enjoy breathing that Posco air. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: *beep* Seoul |
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| n3ptne wrote: |
Ok... the three star hotel was very nice, so was the Thai food, the Papa John's pizza, good, but cheap beer, and shoes that fit...
Having said that...
*beep* Seoul.
The traffic is absolutley unbelievable.
The number of foreigners there is staggering. As is the number of foreigners who can't even speak rudimentary Korean.
The subway was unbearable, and the fact that no matter how far, or short of the trip I took was, I always felt like I needed a shower, and had just climbed a mountain afterwards.
Two days was nice, 60$ for a 40minute plane ride, got to do some shopping... having said that... *beep* Seoul. |
Well then I guess you'll have to find a new city for your next little holiday. I'll start by recommending Incheon. |
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Letiz7
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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I've been here for 5 days and my initial impressions are very favourable. You've clearly never been sat in a Bangkok taxi for nearly two hours!
Subway is cheap and efficient. Pretty clean too. Mountains are a nice backdrop. Food options good. Internet cafes everywhere. The stream is lovely. Tall buildings. Good shops. Took a stroll round Sinsa on Saturday. Charming 'hood.
Pleased I came here. |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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What is the problem with the subway though?
1. Its clean. Compared to most subway systems in large cities, the Seoul subway system is sparkling clean. Ever been to NYC?
2. Its extensive. It links all of Seoul together. It links the whole metro area together. You can travel from the northernmost reaches of the system to Suwon and beyond for under 7 bucks!
3. If ou are too much of a slob to climb stairs there are escalators and elevators just so you dont need to feel like you just went hiking in the mountains.
The only drawback is the rush hour. However there are tricks to deal with that too. Never take the middle cars. Go to the back or the front cars where usually it will be less crowded even during peak times. If the cars are packed, simply wait for the next train. Koreans love to simply pack into a subway car as tight as they can. If you wait for the next one that will be along in 2 or 3 minutes it will actually be strangely empty because the one that just left took everybody. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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| n3ptne wrote: |
Oh, and the last reason, which is really the top reason why my city pwns Seoul... I know about 85% of the people who work in my Dong. I know the people who own that restaurant, and this mart. I get free *beep*, and I get smiles and waves on my way to work every morning.
In fact, it's difficult for me to go anywhere without running into someone I know.
*beep* Seoul. |
Oh gawd I hate the stop and chat. hate hate hate hate it! When I lived in Small Town, Korea, I was in the same predicament as you. Everywhere I went, people recognized me and waved at me. It was miserable. I would walk all over town to go shopping at places farther away just to avoid having uncomfortable 5-minute conversations.
*beep* the stop and chat! |
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Vancouver
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject: Re: *beep* Seoul |
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| n3ptne wrote: |
The number of foreigners there is staggering. |
Man, I remember before i left Korea...I saw one guy guy. then about 14 years later, when i go back to Korea, i see more than like 2 foreigners before I even get outside Incheon International Airport
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| The subway was unbearable, and the fact that no matter how far, or short of the trip I took was, I always felt like I needed a shower, and had just climbed a mountain afterwards. |
i loved the subway. And the stairs weren't that bad. What are you, a 65 year old grandpa? At least you didn't have to drag a suitcase with you
| butlerian wrote: |
I agree that the subway is hard work in terms of the number of steps, but it is still a great system compared to many countries - very cheap and easy to use. |
like Vancouver
| jinju wrote: |
What is the problem with the subway though?
1. Its clean. Compared to most subway systems in large cities, the Seoul subway system is sparkling clean. Ever been to NYC? |
or a skytrain train in Vancouver
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| 2. Its extensive. It links all of Seoul together. It links the whole metro area together. You can travel from the northernmost reaches of the system to Suwon and beyond for under 7 bucks! |
I wish Vancouver had such extensiveness
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| 3. If ou are too much of a slob to climb stairs there are escalators and elevators just so you dont need to feel like you just went hiking in the mountains. |
indeed
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| The only drawback is the rush hour. However there are tricks to deal with that too. Never take the middle cars. Go to the back or the front cars where usually it will be less crowded even during peak times. If the cars are packed, simply wait for the next train. Koreans love to simply pack into a subway car as tight as they can. If you wait for the next one that will be along in 2 or 3 minutes it will actually be strangely empty because the one that just left took everybody. |
my cousin fainted once on the train cause it was too crowded. |
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