I was amused to see your comment about allow at least half a day . . . I think If I traveled half-way around the world to Korea or Japan, I would have to allow at least half a month. Both countries intrigue me and yet I fear at 77 in just okay health, I will never get to either.
in the early 1990s, I had a friend, a lawyer, who had spent 3 years in Korea tell me about shopping in Seoul. He said If I wanted to buy three quality business suits there, he would set it up for his tailor to have a car take me to this shop, directly form the airport, for measurements. The second day would be fitting, and my suits would be don on the third day and waiting for me at the airport. The real upshot was that the while adventure would cost the same as just purchasing quality suits off the rack and having them tailored here in the US.
Please, more Korea. I want to visit in the spring, would like some recommendations on areas. Too bad James May never did a series on Korea!! His Japan series was a great tour though. I learned to make Takoyaki!
Yes to side trips! last one was Cuba from Cancun. A short (scary) flight on Air Cubana (you'll never bitch about United again!!) They don't stamp your visa, so coming and going from Cancun was breezy. Cuba is an interesting country with really nice, warm people living under a harsh regime. Hotel Nacional was an eye opener. Murals of famous movie stars, musicians, writer guests are scattered all through the hotel. Only one floor (6th, I think) had anything remotely resembling internet). Of course it wasn't safe to use it. A surprise- Cuban coffee is wonderful! Not the battery acid I was expecting!
Many times. Biggest was getting a phone call 2-days before a scheduled month-long trip that was to culminate in a 6-day windjammer cruise telling me my Dad was in ICU (this was already our first stop) with either a stroke or a heart attack but pneumonia for sure. Immediately left work, spent the next day packing & getting funds into travelers checks (yes that long ago). Arriving at the hospital he looked like death warmed over. By the end of 3 days, was moved to a regular room and was his usual stubborn self - non-cooperative. I had cancelled all hotel reservations except Boston (knew I could not get that one back) so I gave him our itinerary & license plate number and we left on our trip. (He died 10 years later - it was just pneumonia.) The 4 kids loved the battle at Fort Ticonderoga, the cog railroad to the top of Mt. Washington, and the windjammer cruise s well as the battlefields and other places we visited!
Many other trips, a wrong turn opened us to neighborhoods of fantastic architecture or scenery or attractions. We are never lost, just taking interesting detours.
My husband and I often take unexpected turns while traveling. We book the basics: flights/places to stay....and wing it from there. We do not rent a car so we book towns on train lines and enjoy exploring. We once booked a stay in a town on the train line, 1/2 way between Berlin and Amsterdam. People kept asking why we were going there and we did not know why they were so interested. Surprise to us: it was a "health" town with multiple hospitals and recuperation hospitals. People must have been concerned that one of us was ill. It was a lovely town with a big public spa-bath house. We stayed one night.
Find a program called Welcome! First Time in Korea. I think you will all enjoy it.
I was amused to see your comment about allow at least half a day . . . I think If I traveled half-way around the world to Korea or Japan, I would have to allow at least half a month. Both countries intrigue me and yet I fear at 77 in just okay health, I will never get to either.
in the early 1990s, I had a friend, a lawyer, who had spent 3 years in Korea tell me about shopping in Seoul. He said If I wanted to buy three quality business suits there, he would set it up for his tailor to have a car take me to this shop, directly form the airport, for measurements. The second day would be fitting, and my suits would be don on the third day and waiting for me at the airport. The real upshot was that the while adventure would cost the same as just purchasing quality suits off the rack and having them tailored here in the US.
Please, more Korea. I want to visit in the spring, would like some recommendations on areas. Too bad James May never did a series on Korea!! His Japan series was a great tour though. I learned to make Takoyaki!
Yes to side trips! last one was Cuba from Cancun. A short (scary) flight on Air Cubana (you'll never bitch about United again!!) They don't stamp your visa, so coming and going from Cancun was breezy. Cuba is an interesting country with really nice, warm people living under a harsh regime. Hotel Nacional was an eye opener. Murals of famous movie stars, musicians, writer guests are scattered all through the hotel. Only one floor (6th, I think) had anything remotely resembling internet). Of course it wasn't safe to use it. A surprise- Cuban coffee is wonderful! Not the battery acid I was expecting!
Any chance you could offer transcripts for paid subscribers? Not a subscriber but would of that was an option (not a podcast listener)
Rob, check the transcript tab: https://www.elliottconfidential.com/p/south-korea-confidential-exploring#transcription
It's available to everyone!
And according to Substack they offer free transcription services
Many times. Biggest was getting a phone call 2-days before a scheduled month-long trip that was to culminate in a 6-day windjammer cruise telling me my Dad was in ICU (this was already our first stop) with either a stroke or a heart attack but pneumonia for sure. Immediately left work, spent the next day packing & getting funds into travelers checks (yes that long ago). Arriving at the hospital he looked like death warmed over. By the end of 3 days, was moved to a regular room and was his usual stubborn self - non-cooperative. I had cancelled all hotel reservations except Boston (knew I could not get that one back) so I gave him our itinerary & license plate number and we left on our trip. (He died 10 years later - it was just pneumonia.) The 4 kids loved the battle at Fort Ticonderoga, the cog railroad to the top of Mt. Washington, and the windjammer cruise s well as the battlefields and other places we visited!
Many other trips, a wrong turn opened us to neighborhoods of fantastic architecture or scenery or attractions. We are never lost, just taking interesting detours.
My husband and I often take unexpected turns while traveling. We book the basics: flights/places to stay....and wing it from there. We do not rent a car so we book towns on train lines and enjoy exploring. We once booked a stay in a town on the train line, 1/2 way between Berlin and Amsterdam. People kept asking why we were going there and we did not know why they were so interested. Surprise to us: it was a "health" town with multiple hospitals and recuperation hospitals. People must have been concerned that one of us was ill. It was a lovely town with a big public spa-bath house. We stayed one night.