Day 28 (9.9)- The Long Walk
As my time in Korea draws to a close, I decided to spend my remaining time here people-watching.
This stylish girl was someone I ran into several times, I was first enamored by her elegant style and tall stature, but then I noticed she was afraid of a pigeon walking by which gave her a bit more character, you could say.
And while the people out and about during the day provide some great opportunities to see the fashion sense of the business hours of Seoul, this is a lively city that only gets livelier after sundown.
Whether it’s girls on their way home on the subway turning a polite way to protect others from germs into a fashion statement…
Couples on the bus, the man standing aside the woman providing her a buffer to keep her safe as she naps on the way home…
Or more boisterous couples giving piggy back rides after a night on the town, Friday and Saturday nights are when people unwind as soon as their off work, and the whole city comes alive with people shopping, eating, and enjoying themselves as they see fit.
As people loosen their ties, take off their blazers, and put their feet up, you start to see that the same theme I keep bringing up is apparent once again. Fun is taken seriously here, with after work being a designated time to relax with friends, colleagues, family, and significant others, the key being that this is done outside the comfort of home, and instead in the comfort of the public.
Crowds of businessmen chat outside bars and eateries after a long work day…
Colleagues step into a restaurant for a late-night bite…
Even Buddhist monks find the time to get out and enjoy the city by night….
And who wouldn’t want to share a city like this amongst loved ones and good friends? It’s how Koreans keep up relationships, by spending time together outside the confines of an apartment or home. The idea is to be social, and to enjoy the company of one another, rather than to sit at home.
I leave you with one final photo to sum up my experience on this trip. On my last night in Seoul, I walk towards my hotel up an alleyway. Before me is a group of 4 young men who by their attire, have obviously just gotten off a long day at work, and have been living it up partying with each other since they punched out. There is a camaraderie between them that sums up the culture of relationships and friendships in Korea.
The message? Life is always better when you’ve got friends by your side that have your back, ready for anything the universe throws at you.
Thank you Seoul. Thank you Jeju. Thank you Busan. Thank you Korea. You were the best host any foreign 바보 could ask for. 한국, 고맙습니다. Till we meet again.
