Hooker Hill and Korean Crooks

Destination: Korea

I took a giant bus into Seoul from the airport, which gave me a good opportunity to catch a glimpse of the city. I half expected Seoul to be similar to Tokyo. I was so wrong. Seoul is filthy. I looked in horror at their trash lined streets and their dreary buildings. I worried about the next 10 days that I would be here.

The Hotel Shilla where my company sent me is…..awesome. Five star all the way. I rolled around with joy on the bed that was not on the floor. I jumped for joy over my expense account I was able to access. I tried to locate my fellow co-workers, but no one is around. No one gave me a schedule so I have no idea what I needed to do or what’s going on. So, I went down the street to get some dinner. Apparently, the hotel is located right in the heart of touristy Itaewon. So I order some American food. I’m going to be in Korea for 10 days, so I know I’ll get Korean food every day. I met a Canadian teacher named Vince that sat next to me at the bar while I drink a much needed beer. Vince seems to be a regular at this bar and knows all the barmen by name. He has the most annoying laugh. So annoying in fact it makes me cringe inside. He gives me some tourist warnings about Hooker Hill and all the places where people hang out on the weekends. He also warns me that Asians from other countries have hard time in Korea and that they might think I’m a hooker or stripper. Great.

I caught a cab back to the hotel. I became confused about the money thing. In Japan , the taxis were easily $20 to $30 USD to get around the city. So, I give the taxi driver 10,000 won for the cab ride and he holds out his empty hand again. More money? Ok, I hand him 20,000 more wons. He hands me back 5000 and waves me out of the taxi. The doorman stops me and asks me how much money did I give the taxi? He opens the door and begins yelling at the taxi driver. An argument ensues and the taxi driver yells at me, throws money at the door man and drives off angrily. The doorman hands me back 25,000 won. I had almost been taken for $35 I found out later when I looked up the currency exchange. I am beginning to think that I am a moron and that Korean taxi drivers are crooks.