Friday, May 10, 2013

Heaven's Door

May does brings showers but it also heralds the beginning of my annual spring break. Surprised quite a few people when they found out that I'd be heading to Seoul yet again, not the least amongst their critical number my very own sister-in-law, Sassy Sue.

Sue : Seoul again? Did you secretly marry a Kpop star there? 
Paul : I wish. Oh Choi Siwon, I want to bear your children!

Just imagine Siwon packed into a Samsung box! Though I wish they would export hunky Korean boys along with kimchi and soju, all my desperate entreaties to the customs officer didn't seem to make any impression. Blame the insuperable language barrier. Despite not having the incredibly fetching Mr Choi as a souvenir of my trip, that didn't make Seoul any less irresistible. 

Dammit! Siwon should be in the bag!

Yes, I was just there exactly a year ago but it's just... so exceptionally peaceful there in the land of the morning calm. Even with the dire threat of the despotic Kim Jong-Un eagerly waiting to rain a sea of blazing fire on the bustling metropolis of Seoul. 

But I like it there. Even with the insuperable language barrier mentioned above - though I am starting to understand bits of the written alphabet. Since it was originally created to be easily and quickly understood, turns out it's not all that difficult to pick up written Korean. Words such as bibimbap 비빔밥 and kimchi 김치 I found easy enough to read on the billboards - tells a lot about me that I've memorized most of the words in the menu.


That didn't stop me from loving the trip though.

- Something about late spring mornings on a heated ondol floor in our hanok guesthouse with coffee and bread ready at the breakfast parlour.
- Something about dressing up in fine threads with suits and ties for a day about town with Kpop blasting in the background.
- Something about lazy strolls through the narrow lanes with the boyfriend going in and out of quaint little neighbourhood stores selling peculiar knick knacks from delicately painted music boxes to men's platform shoes.
- Something about companionably roasting galbi or munching on fried chicken wings as we watch the numerous suited Korean salarymen hurry home.
- Something about lying down on the courtyard platform in the evening chill with natural face masks generously slathered on our faces.

True, it was a relaxing trip for me but I still move just a tad slower than lightspeed so you have to ask Charming Calvin - who seemed to be huffing and puffing throughout - on how much he liked the place.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I went to Seoul for the first time in March this year, and yes to all mentioned in that post. Luv it, but shh!! don't tell everyine about the place

savante said...

Think most people are starting to learn how lovely the place is too, anon! But it was perfect timing this year. A lil warm last year but this time it was really cold which I love.

Unknown said...

Enjoy the trip~ this is redundant isnt it?




[Jino] - A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot

Unknown said...

Enjoy the trip~ this is redundant isnt it?




[Jino] - A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot

Anonymous said...

I spent most of my nights in Hongdae rather than places like Itaewon, and my hotel was at Sinchon. Oh..giving away more Seoul secrets!! I was a bit concerned that many of the KPop songs blasting out from various places I knew *shudder* Oh..the eye candy!! Enjoy your next visit *envy*