I started my normal day with a must Thai session on Wednesday, but instead of an evening session I was packing my bag! I left my apartment around 7pm and walked to the airport.

The nice ladies at the Hong Kong Express check-in desk upgraded me to the exit row because there was more leg room. Maybe because I’m tall by Asian standards? But funnily enough, when I boarded all the people in the exit isles were white people. In our defense we we’re taller than the majority of the passengers… Also, on a side note the security at the airport in Chiang Mai is so relaxed by US standards. Security take 5 minutes and isn’t nearly as serious. It’s pretty nice!

Then after a hour and a half delay I got on the plane and zoinked out until we arrived in Hong Kong. In my half sleepy state I wandered around and took advantage of the free WiFi. When I finally realized I should get to my gate so I can focus on getting some sleep, there were no lines for the immigration, transfer or whatever procedure I had to go through.

Then, since the Hong Kong airport is huge, I took a shuttle bus about 10 minutes to my proper terminal for my morning flight. Then, in the terminal, I found some bean bag chair at a kid’s entertainment section. Unfortunately, there was an old man sleeping on two and a girl sleeping hogging four. I assessed her sleeping and decided I’d risk stealing one from her. I snatched it and ran off to my own corner and set up shop for the night.

After about 4 hours of sleep I got up and repacked for my flight. After a quick bathroom break I was on my way to Korea. I slept most of the way there as well. Then off the plane I had to go through the line for foreign passports which consisted of me and a couple hundred Chinese people. The line was pretty slow, but I got through and Maria Ha was waiting on the other side for me! For those who don’t know, Maria and I went to high school at MLS together.

Then Maria guided us on the subway were we met up with her friend. The three of us went to a Korean hotdog shop for my first taste of authentic Korean food. I had a hotdog covered and deep fried in potatoes. Then it was rolled in coconut sugar and then drizzled in chili sauce. One of the tastiest foods I’ve ever eaten. I had immediate thoughts of bring this back to the US as a drunk, hung over food. In that market this could be an absolute hit! Then we went and got some Hodduck from a stand. I have had a little bit of an obsession ever since with it ever since my high school roommate, Kisun, started making it on special occasions. It’s pretty much a rice dough pancake with a honey, cinnamon, nutty, delicious center. It was so good. That alone made the trip worth it!

After that we went to a board game place where we planned a bunch of different board games and I enjoyed a Korean sports drink, similar to Gatorade. We played a game where you had to get a certain number and type of rubber fruits out of a bowl using chopsticks. Needless to say, I was completely outmatched versus two Koreans. It was super fun nonetheless, and after that we met Maria’s mom for dinner. While waiting for Maria’s mom to pick us up I saw my first snow of the winter season! The restaurant was one of those short tabled, sit down cross legged, restaurants. Food was great. However, my inept chopstick ability did resurface.

Then we went to some supermarkets and I enjoyed perusing the local selections. The fresh seaweed was a first for me. Maria and I happened to find all the free smples in the store which included green tea ice cream, Pho Vietnamese soup, and even rice wine. We bought a couple bottles of the rice wine and the banana flavored rice wine is pictured above.

Second Day in Korea

The next day was a special day because we we’re planning to visit my old high school roommate Kisun, the one who started my love of hodduck. We had a two hour subway journey to his military base. In Korea there is a compulsory two years of military service for all males. So he was just six months in on his military service after choosing to serve after his junior year of college.

After finally making it to the base we met the uniformed military soldiers at the gates. We headed inside the gates to the check in post and there was a hold up because of my US passport. We waited for a while, but while we waited out came Kisun for us! He had a suprised look on his face to see me. His mom told him a friend was coming to visit, but he didn’t know who. We hugged and then he told me that I actually wasn’t allowed on the base! Apparently foreignors have to process their paperwork in advance in order to be allowed on the base.

So we stood outside the check in post and ended up catching up for talking for 2 hours! I technically wasn’t supposed to be inside the gates, but we just kept in low key and we even snuck somewhere to take a couple pictures together. Apparently, according to Kisun, I am the first foreignor to visit the base since it opened 10 years ago. When we first talked to the check in post they had to call in to ask what the procedure was. It went up the line since no one knew what to do because it had never happened before. Maria could go in, but I couldn’t. So they went to the store on base while I just milled around. But we just spent most of our time right inside the gate just reminiscing about good times back in high school. Man, it was so good to see him! Even though I didn’t get to go in I am glad that we got o catch up. Maria and I were his visitors outside of his parents so I think it made him really happy to see us!

Maria and I thought about hitting the DMZ after we talked with Kisun, but there are apparently a ton of regulations now with rising tensions and we would need to plan better. I did get to see acrossed the river into North Korea though!

Next on my adventures are Korean church, possible DMZ visit, hiking some of the local mountains, and of course more hodduck!