We Tried, So Hard

When the river is frozen,
you know it's cold!

As frustrating as it was, with the freezing temperature and the jet lag from a day of travel through time zone after time zone, we didn't do much yesterday. That lovely, huge window which shows us the city we have been longing to visit, seemed to tease us all day. We tried our hardest to see something, to try something, but we didn't get that far. Luckily for us, there were a few things close by that we were able to experience.

We began our day bright and early- where I left off with yesterday's post. 5 am, waiting for the sun to rise. Then we headed down to breakfast. Our hotel offers a free buffet breakfast, which was fantastic. After filling our bellies, we went back to our room to create a plan of attack for the day. We decided to venture out to the park across the street. It would let us get out and about, see something, do something, but also allowed us to test out the weather without getting too far away from the warm hotel.

A chilly walk in Yeouido Park

Yeouido park was beautiful. There are trails which weave in and out of the greenery, with huge birds flying and singing. One of these paths took us to a frozen pond with a traditional Korean gazebo. Another path led us to a massive statue of King Sejong. We barely explored the park, when we all started to feel a tad too cold. On the way out of the park, we found a map which showed a forest, an arts center, and more. We hope to go back and explore the park more throughout our visit.

While heading back to the hotel, we found an entrance to the mall attached to our hotel. We walked through the mall, practically alone. Apparently, 10 am on a Saturday is not the optimal time to shop. We got some hot chocolate, then headed back to our room.

After resting for a bit, we decided to try our hand at using the subway to get to one of the many places we have on our list of things to do and see. It didn't go well. This was the first time we felt really out of place. It was also the first time frustration got the best of us. Not knowing how to use the subway system, not being able to read the signs, and not understanding the attendants who tried to help us, was rough. I have been to New York twice. I feel pretty confident in my ability to use a subway system and map, but this was a whole new ballgame.

At the same time frustration hit us, so did jet lag. We gave up- too easily probably, but decided to head back to our hotel to either ask for help (because the hotel staff is amazing!) or to get a cab. Just getting back to our hotel wore us out, so we opted to find a nearby grocery store rather than venture out farther. The attendant at the front desk was wonderful- so patient, and she gave us very easy instructions to get to the local E Mart. We walked through the underground tunnels of the subway, then emerged just blocks from the store. We wandered the aisles for a bit, grabbing what we knew would be eaten, then headed back.

Once we got back to the mall we decided to get some lunch, hoping some food would bring us much-needed energy. It did and we wandered a bookstore, looking for children's books to take home for Maylee. Finding books with characters that look like her is pretty important to me. Unfortunately, as quiet as the mall was that morning, it was that busy then and we could barely make our way through the aisles. We plan to go back today, during the quiet hours to browse at a calmer time. We also found a vendor who makes animals out of cotton candy. Naturally, we had to get the biggest sugar bunny imaginable. The boys were ecstatic.

Warming up!

Between the full bellies and pounds of sugar, we regained enough energy to visit the pool for a bit. This was another instance where we felt "obviously American". From what we gathered, in Korean culture it is customary for men and boys to wear tops with their swimsuits- oops. Also, everyone wears a cap in the pool- double oops. This led to three boys wearing bright purple borrowed caps. I wish I would have gotten a picture of this, because, well, purple caps. It was hilarious to see the attendant try to process and decide whether or not she should give me one as well. Eventually, she decided I needed one too. For the second night in a row, we ordered room service for dinner, too exhausted to get out.

Cotton Candy Joy!

I am SO thankful we chose to arrive a couple days before our first meeting, because this jet lag is no joke. We have traveled through time zones before and never had this kind of exhaustion. Again this morning, we were up bright and early, so although I have high hopes for sightseeing today, I am preparing for another day of zombie-like behavior from all of us.

We have renewed motivation to make it out of our area of Seoul. We hope to find street food and art and handmade items to bring home. Wish us luck!