Random Subway Stop: Euljiro 3-ga (을지로 삼가)

It worked out that U-rim had Wednesday off this week, so at 7:00 we met up and went for dinner. I can tell I've become way too Korean. She suggested having some meat, and I was fairly indifferent. It was like (translated to English):
U-RIM: How about some grilled meat?
ME: Well...if you want it...If not, anything is alright.
My "anything is alright" was more, "I'd rather eat bibimbab, but if you're looking for meat we can have that." Wtf is wrong with me? If I keep up that kind of behavior I'm going to loose my American citizenship.

After dinner, U-rim asked what I wanted to do. I give a list of fairly insane stuff I wanted to see or buy (Korean pro-wrestling, North Korean shit, robots, punk rock shit, books about shit, and porn). U-rim suggests some flea market type venue in Euljiro 3-ga, and we head out there. Upon arrival at a tad after 8:00 pm, everything was closed. We did see some weird antique shops, and this...


Nazi Punks Fuck Off!

Some shop that sold old name tags (ie, a McDonald's name tag, or bank teller's tag), also had this fuckin' 3rd Reich patch. What the fuck dudes? Buddhist crosses aside, that's not even the first swaztika I've seen in Korea. I really don't get it...

After the flea market turned out to be a bust we headed home. On the way home I snapped this awesome picture.


You can tell this is Asia, since the dude took his shoes off prior to sprawling out on the bench and falling asleep. The hobos in New York wouldn't have bothered to remove their shoes.

Anyhow, inspite of the failure of this adventure, it gave me an idea. There are countless subway stops I've never stopped at, so I've decied that when I have free time, and I'm bored, I'm going to get on the train and head to a random station and check out the scene there. Hopefully some cool shit will present itself to me.

And before I depart, let me state for the record, that when I am without headphones, I have so many random people begin conversation with me. Today on the way home from work I had a conversation with some really sauced old man, which fucked ruled! I don't know why it is, but the old men who want to talk with me are infinately more interesting than the dudes my age who try and strike up conversation. Where old men will offer up stories of studying English literature in Princeton, or drinking three beers and going to a book signing, or killing communists with Americans in the 1950s. Guys my age, on the other hand, are all like, "Where are you from? Are you a teacher? What are your hobbies?" And I'm all like, "Yawn..." When my i-pod does arrive, I will probably only use it while on the bus, or while walking from my house to Hongdae Station (since there are no people on the streets in that direction).