In Seoul

After the spa on Wednesday we travelled to a traditional guesthouse near Incheon where I had a less than comfortable night sleeping in the floor. Quite a lot of snow about and I finally took a few shots with the Rolleiflex.

Thursday saw us at Everland - a mega-amusement park at Yongin, just south of Seoul. The designer of this place must have been on drugs. Heavy psychedelic influences abound. They have a well run zoo - such a surprise after my previous visits to zoos in Korea which have had serious welfare issues. The animals at Everland have good enclosures mostly. The highlight for me was some baby porcupines and some truly enormous black bears.

That evening we stayed with my sister-in-law is Seoul. Slept well on a light matt on the floor.

Friday I split from the family, who returned to Busan. I travelled into the fashion heart of Seoul and searched the arcades and backstreets of Myeongdong and Chungmuro looking at secondhand cameras. There are dozens of shops in the area and they are all stuffed to the ceiling with interesting items. Leicas in abaundance. Hit gold with a Fuji GW690III rangefinder, popularly known as the "Texas Leica". Evening spent with some old friends in Ansan, where I slept at the sauna... on the floor.

Saturday - met up with friends in Seoul and once again hit the camera shops. Picked up a couple of LF lenses - a Rodenstock 210 and a Super-Angulon 90. Even found a couple of enlarger easels thrown out on the street. Pulled an all-nighter in the bars of Itaewon with a group of about 20 expat friends who had organised to get together with me for a drink or two. Had way too much to drink and crashed at one friend's house til lunchtime Sunday. Another good night on the floor on a matt.

Yesterday Bill and I wondered around the Suyu area in Seoul doing a bit of street photography. Felt rather seedy. After a good night's sleep on the heated floor I am sufficiently recovered now to hit the streets agaiin today.