Tomorrow I will run away. Well, actually, taken an aeroplane and fly away. I’m not quite energetic to sprint across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Seoul. My journeys in Asia promise to be quite busy. In Korea I will be met by an old acquaintance, a Koreanwho is eager to take me around with one or two of her friends. Other than perhaps feelings bit like Gulliver it has all the makings of an ideal situation. She knows the country, language, and how to prevent me from getting into trouble. One of her friends, who might be joining us, would like to help me with my graduate programme as he has already gone through it. My proposal to write about Korean history has been accepted and the only thing left to worry about is the final details.
Dongdaemun (actually, my hotel is in this area), Namdaemun, Insa-dong, Suwon, the palaces… The food, the Han river, the bridges… The lights of the city, the smells, the sounds. The quixotic excitement, the realisation that not even 50 miles away is North Korea, one of the most insane lands that side of San Francisco or a Livingstone supporter’s house.
After Korea comes what promises to be even busier… Japan. On all three portions of my holiday in Japan, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo I will be met by old friends and acquaintances. Some I have not seen in nearly 3 years. The excitement is building. The spring blossoms, the verdant hills, the trees budding with life. The wind, the rain, the sun. The flurry of life in a country of some of the most beautiful gracious people, one of the most elegant culture on a group of islands that seems to want to throw them all into the ocean.
I’m really excited, I’ve been planning this for two years. I’ve worked Ferret nearly to death making presents to bring with me. (Who else could I trust but Ferret to get it right?)
Boadicea's Chariot 
Good for you Christopher, have fun.
Lucky you. I loved my two visits to Tokyo.
Enjoy and travel well. I very much appreciate your travel descriptions. Yes I would like to travel to Japan but have never been far east. PS Look after those pens!
Bon voyage, Christopher! I loved my biz trips to the Orient, especially China. Strangley I found Korea rather less appealing – a bit too inscrutable perhaps.
Bon Voyage Christopher,
That’s some travelling right there. I am sure your old friends will be overjoyed to see you, my humble turnings will simply be a small cherry on top of a very elaborate cake.
Have a good trip, Christopher. 🙂
I do hope you travel ‘well’ so to speak. I do not envy such a trip, the thought of it makes my heart quail!
Hopefully you will return in good health and enjoy your trip.
Is that the end of SF for you now? Do you go North on your return?
Sipu and PG: I’ve spent ten days in Tokyo. It wasn’t my favourite, too big, too perfect.
But it’s clean, it’s functional, it’s well-organised, it’s safe. There are some nice parks, too.
Janus: Koreans are something else. I’ve spent a lot of time with them and have come to like them
a great deal. They’ve also changed a lot over the past two decades. The Japanese Colonial Era and the Korean War were both brutal and scarred generations. Younger Koreans are very different, they have no recollection of that or the dictatorships that came after.
Furrrrrrrrrrrrret: 😀
Araminta: thank you!
CO: I will fly Asiana, one of the world’s top-three airlines. I have aisle seats which allow me to move about a bit more. One thing I learnt on my first flight to Asia, to Taiwan, was that one should not fear spending a few hundred quid more on a proper airlines.
After this it’s back to Scam Franexcrement, but only for a month and half in order to finish the
term. Then it’s off to the countryside, then off to Minnesota.
Bon voyage, Christopher.
Boa viagem, Christopher and I trust you will be able to update us as to your progress. Nice to hear too that Ferret International Inc is going from strength to strength. The NSW and I are the proud owners of a matching set – the only examples of his skills currently in Portugal, as far as I know.
OZ
Thanks OZ,
I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am that my humble pens are currently being enjoyed across the entire globe. 🙂
What an interesting life you lead, Christopher. Enjoy the experience and best of luck! 🙂
I’ve made it to Seoul in good order, though it was a long flight and figuring the streets out is a bit of a challenge. I will go out shortly to do a little sight-seeing and shopping, but am tired as I haven’t slept in the past 24 hours and will be in want of sleep.
Ferret: your works are also exclusive in China, South Korea, and soon Japan.