Seoul, South Korea
2018-08-11, 11:17, JASON
STAY: AirBnB booked by Joy
I met Joy while studying at the London School of Hygiene Tropical Medicine back in 2014. I knew a guy, Archchun, whom I met dancing to "Upgrade U" by Beyonce. He was friends with a girl named Lyn. Through them, I'd met Joy, a South Korean medic. She was crazy for the English boys at the time. "Ohhhh, so cuuute!" everytime a cute waiter walked by at the local cafe. She's come a long way -- we were in Seoul to see her get married.
Seoul is not as high as I'd imagined. Living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, my expectation of Asian metropolises were all high-rise, neon lights, late hours. Instead, Seoul's more spread out, low-rise, and situates itself along the Han River. Another city hugging its river; reminds me of Europe. It's a bit hilly, too, just enough that there are nice vantage points peering down into the Hustle. It's November, and almost winter time, but there's a languid autumn sun that shines. There's something nostalgic about the city at this time. It reminds me of the flatness and sprawl of Los Angeles, the autumnal colors etched into the mountains of San Francisco, and an odd silence of winter. Perhaps not nostalgic, romantic.
Had a chance to visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Everyone dresses up in Korean traditional wear. It's selfie-central, and slightly kitsch, but makes for a decent photo.
Korean wedding: a mix of traditional and modern. When we got in, she was sitting in a room by herself in her gown. Those who entered could take a picture with her. It was almost creepily perfect: the positioning; not a lick of hair was misaligned; the pose. It'd almost look like she was going to be sacrificed at the altar (pretty much marriage, tbh). I was so sure at some point she'd burst into flames and the offering would be complete. But, I can't deny, she did look really happy that day.
After the formal wedding ceremony, there are some other small speches and they make a change into Korean traditional wear. Loved the color schemes -- simple and stated.
That night, after the celebration, Joy and her husband came to eat dinner and spend a night out in Itaewon. Had a Chinese-Korean barbecue and then an ice cream. It's colder at night, but being Itaewon, still trashy.
The next day, we went to Myeongdong for some shopping (LINE store is here) and also hiked to the top of the Seoul Tower. The mountains really remind me of home. The colors, the briskness of the air, the hot Korean boys... YES!