by: -RoG-
(12/7/11)
...CONTINUED
A view of the riot police surrounding protesters from our hotel room. Another peaceful demonstration where nobody got hurt.
The next day, we ate our breakfast with a stone dong outside the nearby window.
We then headed out to Toy Alley in Changsin-dong. And just what does one find in Toy Alley?
GUNS.
And Simpsons ear plugs.
And car-eating pterodactyls.
But mainly guns.
Still under construction after all these years?
One of the many huge markets in the area... we walked deep into this one and it was nothing but shoes.
More shoes than I've ever seen anywhere in my life. It's where all shoes go to die.
One of the subway screens had a Windows error. We still made it to our next stop.
Walking along the Han River on Yeouido island towards our destination...
...and there it is off in the distance - The 63 Building!
In case you haven't heard of it, the 63 Building was the tallest building outside of North America when it was built in 1985.
But first some chicken tenders, fries and grape soda - everything a growing boy needs.
The shrimp fried rice came with little dollops of ketchup. Fancy!
In the basement of the 63 building, there is a wax museum. Oh yeah... we had to check this one out.
And what better way to start off a wax museum than with a US dollar bill featuring Darth Vader?
Which one is the was figure? I'm so confused!
A wax head.
Another wax head.
Abe.
I'll fix this damn mess of a country if it's the last thing I do...
...unless you vote for my opponent instead.
Obama's suit was a bit too large for him.
What's up, Ernesto?
I guess he doesn't like the changes I made to his concerto.
Everybody's a critic.
A life-sized recreation of The Last Supper.
Jebus and his fish.
For some reason, they also have a few signed cast photos from random television shows.
Oh man! By standing near this autographed picture, it's as if I was on the show itself! Come on ladies, let's grab a cosmo!
Re gets a few painting tips from Van Gogh.
Re poses with what must be the worst was figure recreation of Elvis we've ever seen.
Michael Jackson loves his Christmas tree.
James Dean: the later years?
The hair on this Leonardo Dicaprio wax figure is clearly dead on.
There's more madness from South Korea to see!
Click here to continue onward to page 7!
Reader Comments
On the vending machines
[i]I know its insane just what all kinds of stuff they have in them. I've seen several that had packs and full cartons of cigarettes. I'm a smoker so I know first hand that over there in any little shop they have on the street you can get a pack of the best brand for just a dollar american currency. Totally Unreal[I
On Street Resteraunts
Hell of a way they can make potatoes eh RoG? I never got to eat anything like that but one of their most popular choices is Rat On a Stick though I can tell you that its just a clever name. Still for a beef on a stick which I know you're familliar with they are pretty tasty.
On the strange and bizzare toys and assorted novelties
It still amazes me what all they have over there. Its funny to see some of our most beloved and well despised celebraties on the box of some of the most insane shit they sell over there. Totaly amazing.
On Protesters
Yeah I witnessed first hand some of those protests and I chose to stay as far away as I could. Most of them are not the nicest bunch to say hi to especially if you're not from their country. The scary thing is if you get caught in a tussle with one of them even if you didnt start it you get thrown in jail and they dont have to even feed you.
On Street Merchants
Talk about going the extra mile for a sales pitch. If your eyes even wander close to one of the things they're selling they will go all out demonstrating what said object can do. They really pull no punches in trying to get you to buy their stuff. I guess everyone has to make a living somehow. Fortunately a lot of stuff there is cheap. The dollar really goes a long way.
On Seoul in General
Like I told you before its like being in another world over there and they definately do Christmas big. It's fortunate that you and Re decided to go this time of year because in the summertime it's nothing but a 3 month long monsoon season. Talk about rain 24/7. Anyway I loved the toys and wax figures that you all took. On a personal note I hope you enjoyed all the chicken and ramen that Seoul had plenty of to provide you two. Oh and I hope you steered clear of the kimchee.
Anyways thanks again for sharing these photos with us and bringing back memories for me personally.
That's it. The Mystery Action is inflicting said wonder on unsuspecting rubes.
Also I would totally go to that cat cafe and FUCKFAKE.
Also also I lost my shit at the photo booth creations, especially the one with Wonder Turd.
How hard was it to get around & whatnot when you couldn't read the signs or speak the language (I assume you couldn't, feel free to bitchslap some sense into me if I'm wrong XD)
I take exception to the comments about the superior christmas lights though. Nobody does it like we do here in the good old "U" "S" of "A" Yeah those are some impressive lights... put together buy large companies and such.
There was a guy (who sadly passed away a few years ago) that used to put more lights on his house! And this wasn't somebody with a lot of money or somebody in a big city either. This was just some guy from Cabin Creek, West Vriginia. Much like fireworks, Hill-billies and Rednecks have the market cornered with light displays. You've been in the city too long my friend.
Also, Milkus is the greatest drink known to man.
I think what your cousin was referring to was the kimchee that they cook over there. For those who don't know kimchee is kind of a spicy vegitable that they use with a lot of dishes when it's raw it has a hint of spice to the smell, however when it is cooked it smells terrible. My first night in Seoul when I stepped out of my hotel onto the streets I got a good wiff of what smelt like someone literally taking a shit accross the street. Turns out my friend told me it was the kimchee being cooked at the resteraunt nearby. I never wanted to try kimchee and I dont know mabey I'm being a bit harsh on the smell but it sure was harsh on my sense of smell. No way I was prepared for that.
Asian countries' obsession with cutesy poo is one of those things that I simultaneously do and do not want to know the story behind.
For reals tons of great pictures though. Love the architecture.
Like I told you before its like being in another world over there and they definately do Christmas big. It's fortunate that you and Re decided to go this time of year because in the summertime it's nothing but a 3 month long monsoon season. Talk about rain 24/7. Anyway I loved the toys and wax figures that you all took. On a personal note I hope you enjoyed all the chicken and ramen that Seoul had plenty of to provide you two. Oh and I hope you steered clear of the kimchee.
Anyways thanks again for sharing these photos with us and bringing back memories for me personally.
I take exception to the comments about the superior christmas lights though. Nobody does it like we do here in the good old "U" "S" of "A" Yeah those are some impressive lights... put together buy large companies and such.
Also, Milkus is the greatest drink known to man.
But I think I have an answer to the Chucky question - that looks like a mount for a security camera (becoming more and more popular these days, and I think I saw a few others in your shots of Seoul), so I'd guess that Chucky Halloween mask is there for one of two reasons: Either they want to hide the camera (or make it look cooler) OR they wanted to cover up the camera - "The man isn't monitoring our bar! Go bonkers!"
Now, I'm clicking over to check out Lotte World!