Last year October 2019, Derek was invited to go to South Korea by a client, all expenses paid. The best bit was getting time off for exploring. I am going to tell you about these highlights.
Three issues.
Although South Korean’s second language is English they mostly learn the written form and so when he wanted to ask questions it was tricky. Fortunately from a business point of view Derek’s client could speak English but when it came to the two days of travel Derek encountered three problems: the language; the directions and the unavailability Google maps.
Seoul.
Before Derek started his week they encouraged him to go touring so he took a Red bus tour in Seoul. Like in any other country the Red Bus tour has headsets which relay the commentary in one’s own language. The problem in Seoul was that he had to catch a train from his hotel to the middle of the city. The stations only had signboards in Korean language; and no English. So buying a ticket for the correct train line was a challenge.
Once he got into the inner city and in the correct vicinity, there was no Google maps so he couldn’t find his way. Eventually he found an English speaking policeman who kindly explained to him how to get to his bus tour.
Bus tour
In Seoul, is that if a business wants to construct a building it is mandatory that they also have an art installation erected in front of the building. Here are some examples.
In the evening everything is lit up with city lights and televisions on the walls for art and advertising.
Some people are dressed in traditional clothing here because if you are from South Korea you can come in dressed up and get a free entrance. I think this is a nice touch.
What Derek found interesting was that each city seemed to be surrounded by high-rise residential apartment blocks while outside this ring of apartments were nonresidential agriculture. The layout of the towns and agricultural lands in between the many conical hills, sounds quite picturesque.
Gwangju
Derek and his client went to work at the University in Gwangju which has quite an impressive entrance.
After that he went on another bus tour.
There was no headset automated tour facilities for the trip and the tour guide only spoke Korean but Derek enjoyed the scenery and the sights very much.
This is a place where they stopped to view traditional arts: dance and music.
Once it was lunch time the bus stopped again and everyone disappeared into the village. Derek didn’t know what was going on and what time to come back. After trying to communicate with a few people including the bus driver with google translate he found two ladies who were on the tour on behalf of the government for bus tour guide quality control. They could spoke a little English and took him under their wing and showed him around.
On the way back to Seoul Derek and his client went past another World heritage site:
Meal times.
Derek is not too supple and so he found sitting on the ground difficult but he took to eating with chopsticks quite quickly as his family use to eat Eastern food with chopsticks when they grew up.
His host was very keen to offer him Western food like this stake but Derek was feeling quite adventurous and tried all sorts of dishes.
Derek really enjoyed his 10 day stay in South Korea.
Next time I will continue with African Travels in Malawi.
Take care.
Morag Noffke 
Lovely clicks!❤️
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Thank you 😊🙏
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Wonderful
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Thank you 😊
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Thank you for the lovely tour 🌿
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It’s a pleasure 😊🌹
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Pictures are so good
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Thank you, I will tell Derek.
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Yeah, South Korea doesn’t allow Google maps for security reasons I believe, they have their own app for navigation. Google translate is always handy especially since you can download it for offline.
I was in SK last year in October too. A very culturally rich country
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Yeah that is correct, thank you for the information, so true. Sounds like you enjoyed your stay too 😊👍
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Thank you so much for your kind words that you have extended they were greatly appreciated. I wanted to let you know that I love your blogs and look forward to your blogs to come. I have nominated you for the “Awesome Blogger Award” please head over to my page and check out my blog “Blogging Award Nominations” for the list of rules Shabbat Shalom.
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I am happy that I was able to share care. It is very difficult times. Thank you too for nominating me am surprised and humbled… that is very thoughtful of you. I will respond in due course. I will let you know when I do. (normally on Fridays) take care and enjoy your weekend.
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Likewise
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Thanks Morag…so interesting!
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😄You are welcome.
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especially lovely to see during these times — who could’ve predicted?…
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I know! And the trip was totally unplanned. 3 weeks before we were coming back from Spain and a few days after coming back he got an urgent request to come as soon as possible. If he had put it off… Who knows when he would see South Korea 🤔😄
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Seems like an interesting journey!😊
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Wow, some spectacular scenery that Derek photographed while there! And the food – some of the dishes looks really good and then there’s other that might take some convincing for me to eat 😉.
That was a nice and quick getaway, thank you for sharing.
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Yes Derek is not as adventurous with food as I am and my daughters and I were wondering how it was going to turn out for him but he came back raving. He said their food was much nicer than western take out. I got the kreeps seeing the baby squid with tentacles and all. 😀
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It was exactly that baby squid with tentacles that got me!!
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😂😂😂
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Marvellous share and nice going through your blog.
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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment 👍
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