Korean Drinksie

After a long hiatus, I met up with The Stumbler at our old haunt in Gangseo-gu cheong, at Saemaul Shikdang (New Village Restaurant), for an overdue dinner of grilled pork and soju, Korean-style.

We usually meet well in advance of dinner time for, let's just call it "cocktails", a few drinksie at a chicken hof or, ideally, at a convenience store with a couple of tables outside--lower overhead on the beer prices.

To wit, the latest addition to the constellation of Korean beers is the Filite "Fresh", in the blue can. The particular establishment at which I awaited his arrival happened to have some, so I gave it a shot while waiting. Here's the can; it doesn't have a lot to recommend it, other than the price, 1,600 W, which is the same as the green one. And frankly, the "clean barley flavor" of the original suits me much better.


While waiting (the weather started to turn, affecting traffic), I had a second one. It didn't really change my opinion, but I didn't mind it as much. At this point, it's coming up on half-seven and I'm getting peckish, so I stroll toward our dinner spot. I barely have time to explain to the wait-staff that my friend is late and order some drinksie when a team (okay, a pair) of promoters come into the restaurant. They are promoting Cham-i-sul ("real dew") soju, whereas I had just ordered, as usual, Cheoeum-cheoreom ("like the first time").

The fact that one member of the team was a pretty girl in no way convinced me to change my order. Nope, I just hadn't had my picture taken in a while, that's all.


As an additional inducement, the young woman is holding a giant cut-out soju bottle, which you can see below is a kind of alcohol advent calendar. Pick a window and win a prize.


Truth is, I've played this game a dozen times, at least, from Guro Digital to Cheolsan to Hongdae and back again, but I keep playing on the off-chance I'll win a small island in the Caribbean, or at least a Hyundai Sonata. I picked IU 아이유, a hot Korean actress, but had to settle for a large packet of mul-tissue (moist towelettes) and some skin cream.

Grrr. Next time, soju advent calendar, next time!

Seoul Subway Signage

I've been meaning to write this post for a while, then at least two people asked me this week-end if I was ever going to resurrect this blog, so here it is. I have written numerous times in the past about elements of the subway, here is a partial list:
Yangcheon gu cheong station: http://seoulpatch.blogspot.kr/2015/04/or-my-local-subway-station.html
Yeouinaru station: http://seoulpatch.blogspot.kr/2010/10/yeouinaru.html
That time they changed the left-right on the escalators: http://seoulpatch.blogspot.kr/2009/10/she-told-me-to-walk-this-way.html
And two posts about when they opened Line 9: http://seoulpatch.blogspot.kr/2009/05/subway-saturday.html and http://seoulpatch.blogspot.kr/2009/07/tuttle-rides-nine.html

As the title suggests, this post is about signs you find on the subway. First up, the very helpful maps of station, local area and system:


Here's a moderately helpful sign pointing out safely and comfort features of the subway:


And here's one showing good manners and proper behavior on the subway:


...but it doesn't include my two favorite images of the series (in the first one, the Hangeul says: "Out!"):


Here are a few advertisements you might see today, the last one for the "Goblin Night Market" a glorified flea market or car boot sale, as the Brits might say:


You see a few of these around (including at Yangcheon gu cheong station, as pictured in that post):


And finally, Seoul Best Toilet, awarded in 2001 to the World Cup Stadium station. Well done!