"When was the last time you did something for the first time?" has always struck me as quite a cool saying. It's simplistic, yet indeed challenges the idea of routine and normality in our everyday life. This weekend I experienced this feeling on several occasions: firstly I went to a trance party in Itaewon, I ate KFC at 5am as the sun was rising, I spoke to an American Soldier about his experiences in Iraq which were devastating, and I ate BACON and EGGS (not my first time-but it feels so long ago that I did- it could have very well been my first time!)
Seoul is always vibing! There is just something about this city that exudes excitement, a sense of bali-bali (hurry-hurry), something electric and ticking-perhaps even like a bomb! Yes, Seoul is like a time-bomb-any and ever second a bomb is about to explode-fresh ideas, new contracts, social meetings, getting noticed and noticing! Nothing waits in Seoul! And neither Kirsten and I!
I met her at about 8:30pm after making our way across the country to the capital! After a search in the guide book (thanks to my friends back home) we found a dindgy hotel with a perfect location. ie a few hundred metres from the Club Oxygen! We went back to our room (literally a bed and a metre walking space and shoddy shower) where we got dressed up for th evening! Haven't really done that since I got here so I was thrilled! on our way to the club we didnt want to get there too early-that would be uncool-Kirst assured me-so instead we stopped in a toyshop and bought tattoos! well-I did! Kirsten was horrified by my kitch selection of a black and silver scorpion! I on the other hand was delighted! With the help from the toyshop owner, water from my waterbottle and some toilet paper-I had made it- my life was complete with a horrendous fake tattoo. Nevertheless, I was asked by several characters in the evening if it was real! And with a gorgeous dashing fake smile, I could only answer: YES! :0)
The evening (and morning) itself was jolly interesting. In Cape Town, the trance scene ususlly involves a lot of hippies, danicng barefoot, in a field taking drugs and getting high, although this trance scene was very different: a sophisticated Club, a dress code of no sandals and no shorts and a smart attire, only very expensive alcoholic beverages -even the water cost R20 equivalent and there were no signs of drugs-only high heels and powder used to powder their noses. This was most amusing and probably most sad about the entire evening. The young ladies-in the springtime of their lives- looked miserable. Well, they looked stylish, mod and chic as if just taken out of a magazine, but they appeared to be awfully sad and miserable. Admiring their stick-thin silhouettes in the dark mirrors of the restroom displayed such a sad scene of obsessively beautifiul women that only knew self-worth from what their outer appearance portrayed. It was heart-wrenching to see how Korea is also a nation obsessed with "beauty".
In my pumps, my denim skirt and simple grey top-I decided not too judge anything-the people, the crowds and especially the MUSIC! Kirsten gave me god advice about just letting your hair down, closing your eyes and dancing like no-one is watching. Great tip- it obviously worked as at 4:30 only did I think ok I am getting tired now. My best part about it was the visual stimuli on the gigantic plsma screen behind the various dj's. The fluroscent and cycodelic images projected on the screen were entrancing and the lights were out of this world-especially the green beams all around the large room that created a cage-like effect over the dance floor. There were 2 strange characters who seemed to follow me around the whole night-one being a Swiss guy who was in Korea to learn English (HUH?) and a 28 year old Korean engineer by the name of Tan who was seriously persistent and tried to make me do the robot dance several times all night.
I was quite relieved to leave at 5am so I could get rid of them. We caught a taxi to Itaewon central and decided KFC would be a good plan! I have never particularly enjoyd KFC but somehow now was an exception! The funniest sight was an obese American women clearly not in any state to still be out, but shoving a KFC burger into her mouth as if it was the last food she would ever get in her life! :) Missioning back to our dindgy hotel room I was delighted to get back to my room where we slept the morning away!
At about 2pm we eventually awoke and decided we should make use of the day! A delicious stop in at this delightfully Western restaurant, allowed our stomachs to delight in things such as Turkey and Ham sandwiches! Such foreign delights do come at a cost and unfortunately the hole in my wallet seems to increase whenever I go to Seoul! Such is life! A few subway stop changes and we were at City Hall where we decided instead of going to a Museum as our inital plan we would ratehr go and sit by the river and observe the passers-by. What a good plan! :) I loved it. Even managed to soothe my weary feet in the cool river! :)
Later that afternoon, I met an American soldier who to be honest is the first one I have spoken to. Let me make it clear from the beginning : I do not see any point in war! I loathe it! I detest it and I think it is futile! And my encounter with him did not change that point at all. This guy is off to "Africa" and wanted to know what it was like there. He did not hold back and continued o describe his encounter in Iraq a few months ago where he saw his best friend being killed in front of him, he was blown up himself-had mangled fingers, a messed up leg and a plate in his jaw. Now if that wasnt bad enough he said his job is ratehr important as he has got to place missiles and big bombs. Despite his initial pride in telling me this it sooned turned to complete grief as he described how he had blown up a Middle School in Iraq (by mistake) and now lived with that everyday hanging over his head. He ends by saying, " Yes, I should probably get some help. I have medication, so i dont dream anymore, which is good. I think being 22 though it might mess me up for life". I stood in front of this boy-just the same age as me-with a DragonballZ tattoo on his leg- and was flabagasted. If there is any reason not to go to war, here is was standing in front of me. Sure i have watched war movies, and learnt the history, but nothing becomes quite so real, as when a soldier tells of his most personal interactions in the field. I thought about him for a long time afterwards.
A trip to Hongdae I was keen to try out my new camera and unfortunately had notnyet learnt about long exposure and hence my photos were a shambles. The night was fun and Kirst and I had an interesting chat about life our careers and families. We crashed early as our dancing feet were now tired feet and we needed rest.
After a lovely bacon and eggs breakfast at the American Diner, we both made our way home! Content with life and a weekend of new experiences I chilled out for the rest of Sunday, by playing some frisbee with the foreigners, doing some washing and catching up with emails.
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
Bisous
JO
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