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Mercer Cheese

Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Location: Near Huntly
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 6:56 pm Post subject: Tourist opinions of Korea |
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A friend of mine recently passed through Seoul enroute to somewhere else. This was her first time here, and she only stayed a week. her verdict was that she absolutely loved it, and wants to come back for another slice of pie. Yes, she is very well travelled, so has plenty of other cities to compare it to.
This *kinda* surprised me, and yet, *kinda* not. As a foreigner living here, my opinion of this place is, obviously, jaded.
Don't get me wrong - I like Korea. I savour the good and accept the bad. But, as a moderately-travelled person, I'm not sure I'd really be so impressed with Seoul if I had just visited as a tourist, rather than came here for work.
My question is thus - If you came to Korea as a first-time tourist visitor, what do you think your impression would be?
Further to that - have you met many tourists here, and what were their opinons? |
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indytrucks

Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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Wifey's sister, mum, and niece were all just here to visit for the first time. They all had the same opinion of Korea, and especially about Seoul ... they loved it. They thought Seoul was a very modern, hectic city full of character with PLENTY to see and do.
There you go. |
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weatherman

Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Tourist opinions of Korea |
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Mercer Cheese wrote: |
My question is thus - If you came to Korea as a first-time tourist visitor, what do you think your impression would be? |
Dropped off the plane with an open mind. Let's see. Lots of energy. Lots of beautiful people. Seems like a lot of people are having fun. Yeah, I can see why your friend thought that way. She saw the surface, and the surface is good. But one can't live on or off of the surface. One needs depth in one's life. She didn't see beyond the surface and that is what Koreans hope happens all the time. Stay here for anytime and the ugliness of Korea starts to show. |
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Tiberious aka Sparkles

Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: Tourist opinions of Korea |
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weatherman wrote: |
She didn't see beyond the surface and that is what Koreans hope happens all the time. Stay here for anytime and the ugliness of Korea starts to show. |
Like a foundation-caked whitehead set to pop.
Sparkles*_* |
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chronicpride

Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: Tourist opinions of Korea |
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weatherman wrote: |
Stay here for anytime and the ugliness of Korea starts to show. |
As in any country, but ugliness is subjective. |
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Swiss James

Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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and yet again a positive thread about Korea begins to degenerate into mud slinging.
Friends from Japan have been over here and can't wait to come back, my brother and his girlfriend recently came to stay for a week and my brother said it was the best place he's ever been to and would love to live here.
To be fair he hasn't travelled around asia but he has lived in three cities in England, one in Spain, one in France.
People need to separate Seoul as a place from their situation, because this can be a fantastic place to live. |
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indytrucks

Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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Swiss James wrote: |
and yet again a positive thread about Korea begins to degenerate into mud slinging. |
You really expect anything less?
Keep your expectations low. Then, you won't be disappointed.
In the immortal words of The Joker, "This town needs an enima." Couldn't be more apt. |
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Patong Dong
Joined: 06 May 2003 Location: On Nut
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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Out of the big cities I have been in Asia I would only rank Seoul above Taipei in terms of interest. But that being said I once stopped in Seoul for 3 days on the way to Thailand with a friend that had never been to Asia and as good as the beach was, Seoul was one of the highlights of his trip. All things being equal I would not recommend Seoul over a lot of cities but you could definitely enjoy some action packed days here as a tourist. |
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kangnamdragon

Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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The kimchi is always hotter in the other's bowl. |
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Swiss James

Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't say Seoul is the best place in the world, and if you match it up point for point you could easily find a place to beat it e.g.
Not as exciting as Tokyo (but a lot cheaper)
Not as beautiful as Zurich (but a hell of a lot better to drink in)
Not as cool as NYC (but....actually no, NYC is just ace)
Not as cultured as Barcelona (but a lot safer) |
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kangnamdragon

Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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..........and, Seoul has the Hi-Seoul festival...  |
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funplanet

Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Location: The new Bucheon!
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 5:02 am Post subject: |
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Hong Kong-better food, more exciting night life, better shopping, friendlier people, more entrepreneurial spirit
Singapore-same as HK plus much cleaner, friendlier people
Tokyo-more exciting night life, better shopping though more expensive (quality much better on many things), friendlier and more interesting people
Shanghai-more exciting night life, better shopping, more entrepreneurial spirit, great food
Bejing-more cultural events and sights, good food, more entrepreneurial spirit
Bangkok-better shopping, friendlier people, more exciting nightlife , great food
Phnom Phen-wild west feel, more interesting, good food, entrepreneurial spirit
Seoul-boring nightlife, good cultural events, great food, bad tailors, so-so shopping, too many barriers to entreprenuerism |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 8:58 am Post subject: |
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Well it was a vacation. Of course it should be fun. And the place may be unlike any other (for many people at least). There are some unique things anyway. Novelty is fun. But I'd take BKK over Seoul almost any day. |
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