Some more experiences around Seoul

This week was much more productive. On Thursday night I went out to Itaewon to scout it out for my friend's birthday. Itaewon is the foreign quarter of Seoul. Here is where the GIs come to hang out as well as anyone who is passing through Seoul but doesn't want to bothered with Korean. Everything here is in English and large sizes. All parts of Seoul that I have visited look the same but feel different and that's the case here. It feels foreign and a little bit unruly. Both of which I confirmed on Saturday night when I went clubbing there. When people go abroad they often feel like the rules no longer can effect them. You see a lot of this in Itaewon. It's not a bad place though. For instance, my roommate and I found a nice middle eastern restaurant and smoked hookah (legal, flavored tobacco). Seen here. Friday was Founding Day, the day the bear that became human from living in a cave and eating only garlic gave birth to the founder of Korea. Kyra and I went to two of three palaces in Seoul. Built around 1405, this palace has become Korea's Williamsburg, complete with changing of the guards and a King and escort wandering the grounds.
Still a nice place though. But not quite as awesome as the one's in China.
Me with my Founding Day Korean flag in the back gardens.
And some of the many strange statues that periodically show up near old buildings. Haven't found a meaning for them yet.
The second palace was a UNESCO World Heritage Site and so we had to take a tour around it and thus got only a limited view. But here is the "Secret Garden" of the emperor.
Finally, on Sunday I met up with Sehee, an old intern from White Tiger, and visited Kukkiwon, the world headquarters of Taekwondo. I watched first degree and fifth degree testing. It really didn't seem that hard so hopefully when I test for third degree in the spring, I'll pass.

On a side note, I'm officially coming home Dec. 19th. So, I'll see everyone then.