I met up with my mate Dan in Seoul, and Asia brought an entirely different energy to the trip. The cold was brutal - properly sub-zero - but the food and the culture more than made up for it.
Korean BBQ became a near-daily ritual. We found a great spot near the hotel called Doma and kept going back. Bibimbap from a local place recommended by the gym trainer - where the old lady helped us mix it - was another highlight. At Gwangjang Traditional Market we had an unforgettable encounter with a dumpling vendor. We sat down, asked if she had meat dumplings, got confused, and moved to a more convincing stall across the way. The look on her face - she was yelling “Same! Same!” as we walked past. We felt terrible, but it was hilarious.
The DMZ tour was interesting, though the media probably overhypes it a little. Gyeongbokgung Palace was beautiful, and we sampled our way through Myeongdong’s street food. I tried live octopus at Noryangjin Fish Market - the tentacles were sticking to the plate and my mouth. I’m glad I did it, but once was enough. We caught N Seoul Tower, discovered an outstanding coffee spot called Coalmine, and on my last morning, stepped outside to find it had been snowing all night.
As is custom for me, the first thing I do in a new place is go looking for a decent coffee. If this took you to Seoul for a few minutes, you can buy me the first one in the next city.