I met up with my mate Dan in Seoul, and Asia brought an entirely different energy to the trip. The cold was brutal - properly sub-zero - but the food and the culture more than made up for it.
Korean BBQ became a near-daily ritual. We found a great spot near the hotel called Doma and kept going back. Bibimbap from a local place recommended by the gym trainer - where the old lady helped us mix it - was another highlight. At Gwangjang Traditional Market we had an unforgettable encounter with a dumpling vendor. We sat down, asked if she had meat dumplings, got confused, and moved to a more convincing stall across the way. The look on her face - she was yelling “Same! Same!” as we walked past. We felt terrible, but it was hilarious.
The DMZ tour was interesting, though the media probably overhypes it a little. Gyeongbokgung Palace was beautiful, and we sampled our way through Myeongdong’s street food. I tried live octopus at Noryangjin Fish Market - the tentacles were sticking to the plate and my mouth. I’m glad I did it, but once was enough. We caught N Seoul Tower, discovered an outstanding coffee spot called Coalmine, and on my last morning, stepped outside to find it had been snowing all night.