Happy New Year!

I've just returned from Seoul, where I have spent the last three days and nights. I visited Namdaemun Market, Yongsan Electronics and Techno Market, Lotte World, Olympic Stadium, Deoksugung Temples, and Seoul Tower before joining in the New Year celebrations at City Hall, last night.

I also had a blind date with Seo Young Sun, a 28 year old from Jamsil. Simulataneously I
enjoyed the company of Kim Sun Suk - a best friend of Kim Ja Young (Monica), who kindly travelled with me on the bus from Changwon, and was my guide.

The Seoul Subway was our preferred method of getting around the Korean capital. Clean, efficient, cheap and with wide carriages - it puts London to shame.

On Saturday, we briefly visited Deoksugung Temples, before I met the very attractive Young-sun outside Gate 5, City Hall, while Monica hid. I presented Young-sun with an English/Korean Phrasebook. It wasn't used on our date as I wished - her English is minimal so I spent my time communication with body language and ''touching''. Kim Sun-suk, Monica's good friend, arrived soon after and we all visited Namdaemun Market, taking a typical Korean meal there. We later visited Insadong, a n intruiging mix of shops and bars - having a drink at a quiet bar, where we played games and had yet more to eat. My feelings for Young-soon quickly developed, and Monica translated, but without the proper
communication of understanding what was being said, it was
disappointing when she kept to a promise to take the subway back to Jamsil.

I stayed at a large jjimjilbang, W7000, on Saturday. They are fabulous places and great for families. Everyone choosing to get clean and rest together. I slept on a hard bunk bed next to some big snorers. Kim Sun-suk came, too, for the sleepover. She was infectiously happy and smiley all weekend. By the end, I confessed to Monica that I might have feelings for her, too !? I always said that what I wanted was a ''soulmate'' - well maybe I could have 2 ''Seoulmates'' to choose from.

On Sunday, breakfast was typically Korean - basically the same things, but slightly less of, what you would normally eat for lunch. We were joined, on the subway, by a male friend of Monica's and we visited Yongsam Electronics Mart, a huge place of the latest in digital this and that. I bought the 2nd major item (after my laptop) that I always intended to buy here - a Camcorder. Delighted with the price, we set off, again at my request, for the Olympic Stadium.

It was cold, the bitter winds which had come down from the North, had spread throughout Korea, although we mostly avoided snow. A walk past the World Trade Centre to the COEX complex at Samseong. Avoided Lotte World (Seoul's Disneyland) and the 2nd World Doll Fair, and went to a Kimchi museum, instead. Monica felt rough, so I had a guided tour from Sun-suk, through all the different types and preparations of Korea's national dish. I'm getting to recognise the different types. My mouth watered for more, and my luck was in. We visited Monica's mum's place at Mangwolsa, North of the city, in the shadow of Dobongsan. She made (another) typically meal - several dishes including Kimchi Jjigae. Flicking through the TV Channels - the whole of the West Ham v Man Utd was being shown.
We won 2-1. We slept over, tired. What another great day.

On Monday, New Year's Eve, Monica had to take her mum to the doctors, leaving me alone to find my way to the Ibis Hotel, in Myeongdong, not far from City Hall. My original plan to stay at the Gireum jjimjilbang cancelled so that I could be within walking distance of New Year Celebration at City Hall. Before this, I made a trip, via cable car, up to n'Seoul Tower - for the best panoramic view of the city. I visited Namdaemun again, grabbing some tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and continue my ''happy snappy'' weekend... i had to amuse myself.

Despite it being a very cold evening and being all by myself, there was much fun to be had - surrounded by 12 million Seoul-ites. The highlight was venturing into a typically Korean only bar called ''Love Love" - not a brothel as it appeared from the outside - and being treated to a free meal by the owner, just for trying to speak the local language. He also gave me a desk diary (probably an unwanted christmas gift, mind) and bought be a soju! Bargain! I returned there 3 more times in the evening just to warm up.... watching performances on the Arirang Radio Stage and watching the ice-rink enthusiasts - peaceful, totally pleasant... totally unlike Wells or London. Not a drunk in earshot - just me - after a few beers and a pyong (bottle) of soju.

After checking out of Ibis this morning, I still had time to travel over to the Olympic Park for breakfast, for a walk and a chance to overcome the night before... before taking the 4 hour bus ride back, alone, from Seoul.

Tomorrow it's back to ''relative'' normality... PXX