April 20, 2017

I desperately needed to clean the bikes. I have been very negligent in keeping the bikes cleaned on this trip. Poor Mrs Sweetcheeks has a dreadful squeak, now she is cleaned I hope she will be happier for our last ride to Incheon on Saturday.

After cleaning the bikes, today was another tourist day. The plan was to visit the City Hall and the Market.

When we arrived at the City Hall we noticed a camp site. Apparently there are some people who do not agree with the impeachment of President Park.

The new City Hall was one of the reasons that the old administration (pre-Parks) was ousted. The populace complained that money was being wasted and the new City Hall represented a lot of wasted money.

However, one of the things that we liked was this ear-shaped structure. You can talk into it for 30 seconds and tell the City hall what you have on your mind. The question is do they listen?

My home city, Barrie, had a copy of Rodin’s “Thinker” facing the City Hall, the theory was that they will think before they make decisions. Maybe after they relocate the thinker they should put in the ear – so that they can listen to what the people want.

While Ralf was taking photos I was asked once again, if I needed help. Amazing people in Seoul.

We found the Namdaemun market, where you can buy everything you could possibly need, from food to household items.  Namdaemun market is situated next to the Namdaemun Gate.

The market is very large and has approximately 10,000 stalls and shops. The market is very popular with tourists and locals.

Of course this number (10,000) includes the hundreds of little jewellery stalls, where they are making costume jewellery,  inside one of the large indoor market areas.

Ralf noticed this collection of clocks, almost all of them have the correct time.  South Koreans, could give Germany a run for their money as far as organization goes.

Within the larger market area, there are little alleyways where you can buy food and traditional medicines.

Of course,  there were tourist information staff wandering around the market to help lost tourists.

Many years ago Di, my sister-in-law, bought me a pen with my name on it. It was a very simple pink pen, but she had my name engraved on it. My name was spelt correctly with a Y not an ie (Jacky) and I had kept it for years. Well, I lost it on this trip! While wandering around the market I decided to see if I could find a replacement pen. There is a section in the market for stationery and I found a small blue pen – Pierre Cardin no less, it doesn’t have my name on it, but it writes nicely. Sorry Di for losing the pen you bought me.

One of the funniest signs we saw was Porky Kids clothing, something lost in translation maybe?

We caught the subway and was asked by a young man why we were wearing the same jacket! Yep the Boppsy twins. We explained we were cyclists, and had cycled from Incheon to Busan. We had a limited amount of clothes with us, only two jackets and that is why we had matching jackets for cycling – very bright and visible. He assumed we were in a race and on the same team. He said that considering our age we must be very fit!! Ralf held me down so I didn’t smack him on the nose – “considering our age”!!  He was a Phd Student and we think he was keen to practise his English.

Another good day being tourists.