Korea, Seoul, September-October-November 2008

This is a pc bang. This is where I call you on the weekends.


Some colors from Fall, outside of the city.

Dongdaemun. Biggest shopping area in town.




Entertainer in Dongdaemun.

Former co-worker.

Friends. Some are former students.

My coworkers expressing their love for each other and a doner kebab.

Lotte Department Store.

Most of these are Itaewon on Halloween.



More refugees from Pagoda.

The girls at Mr. Beans made my likeness in my latte.

Clam bake, Korea-style. (With Denise, a teacher at my building.)




Interesting graffiti!

Ajossi naps and other Seoul phenomena. Updated with notes

Let me explain for those who don't know Korea. (I'm sure this happens in other countries as well, but...) in Korea often the soju is swizzled until you stagger, stupor, and, well, you have to take a little nap. And you can just do it anywhere. Especially if you are ajossi (which means "married man," or "older man--to be respected," or simply "sir.")



This is one of my favorite bars. It's one of two Woodstock bars in Gangnam, but by far the superior. It is close to where I used to live, and I stopped by Friday night. That's Mr. Kim and Heather. Mr. Kim is very particular about his classic rock. He usually let's me listen to David Bowie, and if it's a slow night, Velvet Underground.




I know this is tasteless, shades of Abu-Ghraib. But what can I say. It's standard operating procedure in Seoul.