I just came from the site of Aren and just finished reading his most recent entry entitled "Chinese New Year". I’m supposed to leave quite a long comment but decided to just write my post here since I’m afraid that others might not be interested in what I’ve to write. Btw, this post is not about CNY, k? 
Actually, this is not what I was planning to post tonight, but decided to postpone my original post to another day and give way to this posting.
Aren’s post actually reminded of the time I went out by myself to explore parts of Seoul. It was October of last year.
For those who are used to travelling alone, I know that this experience thatI’m going to share is trivial. But since I just started travelling alone last year, this is something for me to brag about. Also, since this is my blog, i can say whatever I can write whatever I want to write 
. So, if you’re interested you may continue, but if you think that this will be just another boring stuff then you can stop here and thanks for leaving your footprints. ^^
LikeI said, reading Aren’s recent entry brought back memories when I went out alone in Seoul [1 evening and 1 whole day] and left my friends to do the things they wanted. With only a Beetle map and a hangul phrase book I was able to survive my Seoul adventure.
Taking the complex subway, eating alone in restaurants, walking for several hours to look for the nearest subway station [which even resulted to a dead toenail],and asking for directions to people who hardly or do not talk English are things which are not quite common situations to me. Plus the fear of having some old men touching my butt or saying "Aigoo, aigoo" with a [small] pinch in the arm with a smile or approaching me when I looked at the board map. Argh…yes, believe me, I’ve been to several countries but only in Seoul that I experienced this. ^^ I asked several friends [from other countries]who’ve been to SK too and even some Korean friends if this is normal to tourists especially Asian, but they said that they haven’t heard nor experiencedsuch.
Here’s an example of butt touching experience from 2 ahjussis [sorry i've to shade their faces]. This is my friend Elle who happily posed with these 2 guards in a Chosun Dynasty wedding re-inactment. Notice Elle’s sweet smile and the 2 ahjussi’s face. Seems that nothing is going on right? Actually, the 2 ahjussi’s palm were on Elle’s butt cheeks [one for each ahjussi!]. Elle couldn’t do anything because she was being sandwiched by the 2 ahjussi. The one who was taking the photo [Leah] also had the same experienced with the same ahjussis. Mine was a different experience, it was in a subway and it was really…argh!!!! I would have hit him with my bag but instead controlled myself. 
Asidefrom what were mentioned above, I was also warned by a Korean friend that rape cases in Korea are quite high. Hee, since i’m not pretty nor sexy, the probability of happening this to me is low. But honestly, I also got scared since it’s a common knowledge that rapists do not choose their victim when they feel the "urge".
Despite being new to this experience and the warning, I was still determined to discoverparts of Seoul alone albeit myfriends worried face because they fear that I might not be able to find my wayback to our place. Incidentally, I didn’t have any cell phone with me. For fear that I might get lost one of my friends lent me her phone. So, off I went alone and headed to Gangnam, my 6 friends all went to 63rd Building.
On my first try of the subway alone, I got lost. Oh no, I took the wrong line! I started to get panicky but got hold of myself, I studied the map again [while protecting mybutt because the car is full and there were old men], then decided to go downon the next stop to take the right car that brought me to Shinsa station.
On the first night that I was alone, I was out for 6 hrs. I dined at GIK and had coffee in Starbucks and enjoy the night walking. Btw, I noticed that even though it’s already 9pm there were still so many people and cararound Seoul.
The following day was quite easy for me since I already know how the subway works. Likewise, I was more thrilled and confident to seize Seoul.
Just for everyone’s info, frankly, I hate dining alone. But I was able to do it in Seoul not once, not twice but several time.
Like I said, this post is not much. You might think that I’m shallow, but for a person like me who is not used to taking the subway/mrt/lrt nor taking the cab or bus. As well as, walking for several hoursin a 3 inches high heel boots [ok I’m not complaining, I’m really used to wearing high heels ^^ than flat shoes] this experience is something that I’m happy to brag about.
If I’ll be asked if I’m going to do it again, without blinking my eyelashes, yes.I just proved to myself that I can be alone and not depend on anyone. Don’t you think that I’m a brave lady to be alone at night in a foreign country for the first time? Or is it a shallow bravery?
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These are just few of the images i took on my way back to our place [actually the quality is not good because for some reasons i was too shy to take photos]
