Korean nightlife PC style

My brother came to visit me for the long weekend since he had Thursday and Friday off for Labor day. Unfortunately, even though it was a public holiday here on Thursday, I still had to work so I didn't get to spend as much time with him as I wanted to. But we did have lots of fun exploring the city together.

On Thursday night, we went to Myeongdong, a hip, hot and happening area in downtown Seoul that's filled with bright lights, restaurants, bars, shops, and hawkers peddling their wares from makeshift stalls. The mostly pedestrian-only streets were thronged with people, and there was an electric buzz of excitement in the air.

Unfortunately, I don't think Gandalf shared my point of view. He seemed to be quite disapproving of the young crowd.

Friday night was spent in another part of town, where lots of university students hang out. We'd read about this area, Daehangno, in the guidebook, but the cab driver must have misunderstood us, because we ended up in a totally different area. Nevertheless, the area was just as lively and packed as Myeongdong, and to be honest, we didn't even know we weren't at Daehangno until we entered a subway station and discovered exactly where we were. If you're looking for fun and excitement in Seoul, visit the area around the Hyehwa subway station on the blue line. I have no idea what it's called, but the place looks like a "western town" for Koreans, sort of like what Chinatown is like for Westerners, or Asian fusion, but heavy on the Asian.

On Saturday night, we finally ended up in Daehangno, after getting lost and wandering in the general, educated guess direction of our destination for about an hour. We were just about to give up, but luckily we didn't, because we eventually found it, and it was just as great as Myeongdong and Hyehwa. Lots of people, bars, restaurants and clubs everywhere, and a kind of bustling excitement that I've never experienced in New York.

All the elements of a successful nightclub...

Seoul is an awesome city. There's so much to do and see here that it's mindblowing. There's the cultural and historical aspect of the city, there's all the stuff that you would find in any other major city, there's nature that's so close that you see hikers kitted out in all their gear on the subway, and then there are so many trendy hangout places that I'm spoilt for choice. I've never known any other city like it. I suppose that in a city with about forty universities, there's gotta be lots of cool places to hang out.