Sunday--Seoul

We got picked up by a van at our hotel at 7:40a.m. We picked up another couple.  We drove a short ways and transferred to a tour bus. 17 people in all. We drove to the DMZ. The DMZ is the Korean Demilitarized Zone.    All the way down the interstate there was barbed wire fence and military guard shacks with soldiers in them to protect South Korea from North Korea. The North Koreans could come down the river to attack. In one spot we could see North Korea while driving. They have a fake village set up to make it look like North Korea is a nice place to live. Everyone knows it is a very poor place.

In the van ready to start the tour.

This bus was decked out in purple.

Our guide said "ah, yeah, ok, you know, alright" and "it was what?" about 6 million times during the tour. During his talk he would give a fact then say "it was what?" then go on with his talk. There was a guy from India that loudly answered almost every question asked. He obviously studied up on history before going on this tour. You know the type...One of those annoying people in college that everybody dreaded having in their class.

We arrived.  We stopped to get the tickets.  While we were there we checked out Freedom Bridge and a train used by the South Korean military. The Freedom Bridge was used to walk nearly 13,000 POW's back to freedom.  South Korea blew up the train bridge across the water so North Korean people couldn't get to South Korea. One of the guards in the guard shack was telling people not to take pictures of them.

The Peace Bell.

We are at the DMZ.

The Freedom Bridge.

This soldier didn't mind his picture being taken.

Ribbons were hung all over.

The train used.

Pretty cool.

Taking a break before getting on the bus again.

Some of our group.

On the way to the first stop we passed the Anti tank wall on the road that goes to North Korea. It has dynamite planted in it. If war breaks out South Koreans will blow the tunnel to slow tanks down from North Korea.  Kind of freaky.

We went through the guard shack getting to the DMZ. A military guy with a gun walked on the bus. They could have checked passports but they didn't.  They just did a head count.  Our bus driver then went the wrong way so we had to go back through the security check point again. Finally on our way. We passed over the unification bridge, which was built in 1998, and started our tour. Every man has to be in the military for at least 21 months in South Korea.  In North Korea women have to serve for 7 years and men have to serve for 10 years.  Yikes.

Some of the guards.

This guy had a big gun.

Once we were off the bus we started with the movie. Only 7 minutes long luckily because it was jammed packed with people. It was interesting.

Cameron could hear the movie that was playing before we went in.

The museum was next. Cameron liked the weapons. Our tour guide gave a lot of information. My attention was on a Chinese lady that was taking pictures of all the white skinned people in our group. She was getting right in front of each of us. Todd moved when she tried to get his picture.

Where are we?

Thinking about going to North Korea.

Cameron liked the guns.

Listening very closely.

On the bus and headed to our next location...The tunnel. The tunnel was 73 meters underground. North Korea started digging this tunnel in 1972 and South Korea found it in 1978. We grabbed hard hats and started our way down the tunnel. At first I was thinking "why do we need hard hats?" The tunnel that South Korea built to get to the other tunnel was nice. However, once we got to the original tunnel it was dark, wet, low ceilings. I hit my head more than once. At the furthest point we were 170 meters from North Korea. Pretty cool. The hike out was uphill and tough. Sweating and breathing hard by the time we reached the top.  Hard to believe these tunnels were dug by hand. That was a lot of work. South Korea has found 4 tunnels so far but they think there are more.

In the tunnel that South Korea built to get down to
the other tunnel.

We are now in the tunnel the North Koreans dug out.

Through the little box you could see North Korea.

Walking back out of the tunnel.

Back on the bus. Dora Observatory on a mountain was next. We could see 25 meters into North Korea. Unfortunately it was foggy but we could still see North Korea. We got some coins to use the big binoculars. I couldn't get very good pictures because they have a big yellow line you must stay behind to take pictures. They have military guys waiting to erase your pictures if you try to take them from other places.

Todd was careful not to step over the line.

Cameron was looking at North Korea through
the binoculars.

This soldier was just waiting to delete pictures.

Todd and Cameron were completely into checking things out.

The boys bought soy bean candy.  I did not like it.

On the bus again to the Dorasan Train station. It was the oldest one. It was the only train station that connected the north to the south. This was a pretty uneventful stop. 

Walking the tracks.

We slyly took a picture of the cool jeep.

This part of the trip wasn't too cool.

We stopped at an amethyst factory. Tours always throw in something to try and get you to spend money on. We were there for about 20 minutes. A guy bought something and one lady. We stood around waiting for her to decide what to buy. Back on the bus.

Learning about amethyst.

We were dropped off at Itaewon. It was an area that has shopping on both sides of the street and restaurants. We walked up and down both sides but decided to go a block over. We found an area that had open air restaurants and bars. We grabbed a drink at a convenient shop and found a chair to sit and watch people. This area was really cool. We found a couple restaurants we might need to go back to try before we leave.

A cool area.

So bummed.

A lot of little shops to look at.

Check out what this booth was selling.

I'm not sure how you could drink this all without it
getting warm.  Cool can though.

A lot of neat restaurants.

Walked around awhile longer then jumped in a cab. Back to the hotel. We hung out for awhile then went to the lounge. Had a few snacks. In the lounge there were doors that lead out to the patio. Todd was sitting next to the door that was slid open. A lady with very bright orange tights decided she was going to go outside. She walked over and messed with a door handle trying to get the door open. By this point everyone was staring at her. Some other lady finally told her the door was open next to Todd. She looked at it then finally walked out it. Once she was gone everybody started laughing. She had to be embarrassed.

Out on the patio reading...all by himself.

The door right over Todd's shoulder was wide open.

Cameron getting a kick out of funny Grandpa Casey
stories we were telling him.

At 7:00 we met Anthony, Shawn, Olivia, and Aaron for dinner at the Korean BBQ restaurant across the street from our hotel. How funny to be eating with our friends from TEDA.  We ate and drank too much. It was fabulous. For some odd reason Cameron and Anthony each ate one piece of raw garlic. Needless to say neither of them enjoyed it. As he was eating it Cameron was talking about how Uncle Scott would have barfed if he was there. When it was leaving time we tried to pay the bill. Come to find out Shawn paid it already. He would have no part of taking money from us. He said it is the Korean way. That was not necessary but super nice of him.

Me, Olivia, Aaron, Shawn, Anthony, and Todd enjoying dinner.

Cheers to eating garlic.

Not enjoying it.  Got a little spicy.

Ice cold noodles for dessert.  Odd.

We walked across the street towards our hotel and a guy was shooting these things in the air. Next thing we knew Shawn bought 2 for Cameron. Cameron never even said he wanted one. Man, we owe Shawn big time.

Up to MoMo's for another drink. Todd took Cameron to the room then he came back down. Shawn didn't want to stay so him and Anthony left. We chatted with Olivia and Aaron for awhile then they left to go to their hotel. We went to our room and went to bed.  Storms over night. Lots of rain and lightning.  A great first day in Seoul.