Back in Seoul for a stay in Sinchon and shopping in Insandong

The approach to Gimpo airport was quite impressive as I was landing early afternoon on Thursday. After the rice paddies the metropolis sprawled along the Han river. Closer to the airport there seemed to be new housing development as some skyscrapers were sprouting out of the ground in the middle of the rice paddies.

From the airport I headed to Sinchon station, South West area of Seoul, which is famous for its nightlife as it is close to 4 Universities: Hongik University, Ehwa University, Yonsei University, Sogang University. The station was easy access from the airport. When I exited the station I was directly on the Sinchon rotary (or circle, big roundabout). There was a department store at the exit I took, the other one from the Hyundai department store. After crossing the street and walking around looking for the street of my hotel I finally found it among other neon lit hotels off the main street, behind a grilled meat restaurant, in front of Santa Fe hotel.

Reception gave a complimentary pouch filled with "goodies": a pair of toothbrushes, a pair of condoms, facial wash, a razor, panty liner. So indeed I was in a love hotel (why would a business hotel give condoms?). The room was decent and clean, with a huge TV screen taking up a whole wall. The 1m square bathroom let me shower in front of the toilet (seems like a common setting). The shower gel was fantastic for my hair and I was tempted to take it home. I started to smell like the people I first met in the trains: a mix of soap and bleach.

By 15:00 I was out and about again in Anguk station, strutting like a local and heading directly to the main shopping street I scouted  the days before. I was mainly looking for the souvenir centre and combine all my expenses on the credit card. But there were many small shops worth the trip as well. There were many shops for instance selling paper crafts: decorated papers, fans, and everything else to decorate a sheet of paper or stationary papers. I resisted the urge to buy tea sets from the many celadon shops lining the streets. I got myself boxes of traditional sweets and even spoke French to a shopkeeper that spent time in Quebec.

Soon it was time to head back to Sinchon and I still regret to have stayed in instead of going out and explore the famous night life. To be honest it was holiday season since Chuseok was on that week. So the students would have gone home to their respective families. This is the area that comes alive with impromptu concerts from the students at Hongik, and craft markets from the arts students. It is definitely an area I should get back to as it reminded me of the early days of Brick lane markets.

On a side note, the hotel (hotel Parfe) had thin walls. The next door room woman could be heard screaming and making all sorts of noises when being pleasured by her partner. I had to turn on the TV and the AirCon to max to be able to sleep.