Roller-coasters and North Koreans

Trip Start Jan 06, 2008

Trip End Jul 18, 2008

Loading Map

Map your own trip!

Map Options

Show trip route

Hide lines

Flag of Korea Rep. Incheon, Korea Rep.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008

I just got back from going with Allison to the airport. She was here nine days and we did everything you could possibly do in Seoul. Monday, still needing an upper from the Torture Museum, we spent the day at Lotte World, the world's largest indoor amusement park. I had been once before with my co-workers, but had to leave early to head out of town with my church. As we were standing in line, I decided to get an annual pass. It's $150 for the year, or $35 every time you go. I figured this was already my second time, and since it looks like I might not get kicked out of the country after all, maybe I can go a few more times and get my money's worth. Hopefully, since I have the pass now, I'll start using it on my days off. Better than watching the style network all day, right? We went on every ride we had planned with one exception. There's this indoor/outdoor water/roller coaster thingy that my co-workers still can't stop talking about because it was so amazing. We got a speed pass so we could cut the line at the end of the day

Lotte World

. When our time came, we stepped outside and couldn't fathom the idea of getting on a ride so fast when it was so cold, so we passed. But I've got the pass to go back. And it was great because we have similar taste in rides so there wasn't anything she was dying to go on that scared the crap out of me (except the teacups). That night, we had one of our famous "impromptus" in Allison's honor where we just sat around a table of food and stuffed ourselves on the usual spread of dumplings and wine.

Yesterday we went to the DMZ. I had done this before, too, but it is so interesting, I'll probably go yet again. The only tricky part this time was walking down and up the third infiltration tunnel. When i went before, we had tickets for the monorail, so we just rode down and back. This time was a little painful. The walk down was fine. But once you're down there, you explore the tunnels crouching over the entire time. The tunnel, built using dynamite, was meant for a rail system to transport North Korean troops into S. Korea. It was never meant for walking in. So after all of that hunched over walking, you have to walk up out of the tunnel which is ridiculously steep. The tunnel runs 239 feet below ground. Another interesting fact which I missed before was when the tunnel was found, the North Koreans first blamed the South, saying they built it to attack the North. But the direction of the dynamite blasts proved different. So the North Koreans then said it was never meant to attack Seoul, they were merely mining for coal, and the instantly sent troops down with cans of spray paint to paint black "coal" in the bedrock. Our guide pointed out some of the spots you could see the spray paint, clearly not coal. Another guide made light of the fact while the North Koreans risked life and limb building the tunnel, it is now South Korea that profits, charging a hefty admission for tourists to admire their "handiwork."

When we got back, it was time for Allison's last supper

From the Balloon Ride

. We met Dawn and Joanne, and of course decided to first go out for cocktails. We went to this place Joanne had been before, saying the drink menu looked great, but the last time she was there, the cocktail bartender wasn't there so they couldn't get drinks. We walked in, and the same thing happened. They told us the bartender wasn't there yet so we could only have beer or soju. We were about to leave when Joanne went up to them saying "This is the second time this has happened. This is a bar with no bartender? My friend Dawn here is a real "New York bartender" (true), so can she make drinks for us? I laughed and Dawn hid her face. But sure enough, a few minutes later, Dawn was behind the bar trying to ask the waitstaff, men who don't speak English, where the sour mix was. Hysterical!!! I'm sure it's breaking any number of rules because of liability, but we had a blast! One of our own tending bar in Seoul. After that we headed to a great Korean BBQ place to fill up before it was time to come home and pack.

I'm exhausted! We had an absolutely amazing time but it wore me out. Rest? Not so much. Today starts the lunar new year, the biggest holiday in Korea, and I'm off in about an hour to celebrate it with my friends JeongBin and Daejun, taking a three day vacation to the East Coast! Gotta pack!

Oh, and just to make you hate me a little more--the lunar new year is today through Friday, obviously followed by the weekend. That would only have left two days this week for us to work, and we really didn't see a point. So as little as I've been working, I'm now in the middle of a ten day paid vacation. I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

Incheon hotels Slideshow