Seoul Searching..

Sorry for the lack of updates, but moving out to my own place in Japan next month. Will update much more when Im out. I do apologize to my 3 readers.

As you may or may not be able to guess from the heading, Im in Korea atm, actually I just got here like at 2pm, so havnt been here long. Im a very lazy man, so Im just going to copy and paste an E-Mail I sent to Sachiko just then (well, most of it).

"I arrived here OK, and Im using the PC in the hostel Im staying at.I was a bit late getting through customs and the like, but eventually I met Jiyeon out in arrivals.It was very very strange being able to meet someone that I had only ever talked to on MSN and over the phone for nearly 3 years! With saying that however, it felt like we had already met (which we had in a way of course) but at the same time rather strange. Great though.
We took a bus from Incheon Airport to someplace in Incehon downtown area - It took just over an hour. Her Mum was with us too btw, but she just kept going on the bus. She seemed really nice!
Incheon Airport is like Narita to the fact that its also in the country. Korean country side looks very different to Japanese though - Hard to describe. On the way to downtown I even saw little house things that I see in games that people hide and and shoot machine guns though! Talk about security. Must be for older times.
In downtown I met my other friend Lucy whom Ive known for many years also - Very strange again, but great at the same time. We had pizza at Pizza hut together. For 1 normal size pizza, lasange, salad bar and a drink cost about 40,000 won I think, so about 4000 yen.
I have a shit load of money btw. Because I was running late, and I couldnt find Jiyeon, I changed 1000 yen into won at the airport for a phone call. I was suprised to get like 8 bills and 10 coins.And now with the money from Jiyeon, I have about 340,000 won, which amounts to about 40 notes in my wallet. Looks like Im rich, but its the equivalent of only 4 japanese/aussie notes.
Most things seem to be alot cheaper here. A drink out of a machine is only 400 won I think (40ish yen). Theres an amazing amount of street vendors too, most of them with a very basic setup consisting of a few tarps thrown over a pole. They sell things from vegetables to ready to eat little food stalls with like 2 chairs, shoes anything really. Some are really really basic where you have a very old lady on the floor of a busy street with some vegetables on pieces of cardboard in front of her. Cool though.
Anyway, after having something to eat, we took the subway to Seoul to my guesthouse. Its about 6 stations away from Seoul Station, and took about 1:20 from where we had lunch. Oh yeah! Btw they did give me a normal lunch on the place - ie rice with fish, cake thing, sushi, drinks etc. Pretty good.
The gueshouse is about 10 mins walk from station (probably less even because we didnt know where it was). I was surpised when I got into my room and realized its actually a pretty new place. I have a decent sized room with a futon, my own TV and fridge and heating. Oh and what heating it is.I should mention that the heater levels in Korea are very high. Even in Pizza Hut in just a tshirt I was sweating but my friends seemed fine in their jumpers. And in my room its very hot even, but nothing I can do I suppose.
Lots of rooms here too, with shared shower and toilet. I cant seem to find the toilet paper though.. hmmm. It seems in Korea they dont like to simple put a toilet roll next to the toilet. Oh and here they dont seem to flush their paper down the toilet, and they just put used toilet paper in a bin beside the toilet.No towels either so Im fucked. When I have finished writing I will go and try and buy a towel, but Im not exactly sure what towel merchants will be open at midnight in Seoul. Oh well.
Apparently breakfast is supplied too. They have a Internet PC here (which is what Im on now), washing machines, full kitchen etc. Everything is very new -I like it. Seems pretty secure too with pin operated front door etc.
Lucy and Jiyeon stayed with me in my room for a while and we had a chat, but they had to go home a while ago because of homework they have to get ready before tomorrow. We will meet up down the street at 6:30pm tomorrow after Uni, so I have time to play around for a bit. I noticed a small arcade up the street, so I may have a wander soon. Mind you, both of them advised strictly against going out after dark. I was under the impression that Seoul was a pretty safe place, or so I had read on the net. After they had gone, I asked the manager and he said it should be fine walking at night around here, so I might just got for a small walk."

Any mistakes, please ignore them. Also, I cant find the apostrophe key (I dont think I spelled that right), so sorry about that.

Anyway, really really tired, so Im going to go. I really want to have a shower but no towel.
And I should ask where they have hidden the toilet paper.

Goodnight!

Wade