Seoul Searching

October 3, 2010

        

                We were virgins—pristine, naïve, clueless, and a little scared, but the crippling sense of stimulating heat took control over our mind and body. Our senses were tingling from anxiousness. It was our first time, indeed, to go to a winter wonderland. 

                        The very moment we stepped on the sub-zero land of South Korea, my friend and I had immediately felt the Seoul winter chill creeping down our shivered spine. It was on the 26^th of December 2009 and the temperature was a frostbiting negative five. 

                        Having to visit a foreign country once again after thirteen friggin years got my excitement level jumping up and down like a teenage boy in heat. The garments I brought were not exactly arctic gear material. My coat was for autumn and the boots I bought were not snow-proof—they were suede. The amount of money that I had was the one that cajoled me to think that I can survive the unforgiving North Pole weather.

                        It was a group trip; we had three buses for everyone of us. We also had our own Korean tour guide in each of our heated buses to tell us all about the capital of South Korea. 

                        Dining in Korea for the first time is a tad difficult if there are no spoon and fork condiments. Their chopsticks are made of metal; they’re really thin, flat, and slippery to use. We found them tricky to grip even if we knew how to use the Chinese ones. Despite the arduous struggle with their chopsticks, we still managed to ravenously chow down the piquant dishes and steaming hot soups to heat up our quivering, near-frozen bodies. 

                        Breakfast at the Co-Ex hotel in Seoul would be dreamy. There’s nothing like a divine buffet to wake up to and start our day with. There was a wide selection of bread from bagels, baguettes, to croissants. Two to three different soups were prepared to awaken our heavy-eyed senses. There was an array of American breakfast meal that consisted of deep-fried crispy bacon, creamy scrambled eggs, and succulent American sausages. There was also a set of Korean grub that was laid out such as Kimchi, which was their most prized dish. Desserts that were offered were cakes, French pastries, fresh fruits, and strawberry or blueberry yogurts. To wash it all down, there were orange and grapefruit juices and hot coffee to compliment our palatable breakfast.

                         Strolling along the sidewalks of Seoul was tough during winter. The roads were slippery and we would definitely freeze to death because we were used to a tropical climate. I could only look at the snowy Seoul from the bus or in our hotel window. Everything was dressed in white. The sidewalks, the trees, the buildings, and the cars were covered with the wintry frost that resembled champagne powder. Every detail of this immaculate scenery was picturesque. 

                        In one of our trips, we were taken to the far side of Seoul to go skiing. It was a blue bird day as we were taken to a ski resort. We rented ski suits that are very thick and boy, were the skis heavy! 

The ski resort was packed with a whole lot of skiers on the slope that kind of looked like ants climbing up and down the anthills. Our group went to the beginner’s slope, since we were all first timers. 

                        As I walked step by step, I found it grueling dragging my feet that were attached to the heavy skis. My friend, who was quite an athlete, was already gracefully skiing her way, easily learning the sport by herself. I suddenly felt the need to at least know how to move so I wouldn’t be left out and have “loser” stamped on my forehead. I tried my hardest to summon any muscles and strength (if there were any) in my feeble physique. Finally, after much exertion of pushing with my arms, I had managed to budge inch by inch. 

                       Seeing how pathetic I seemed to be, a companion in our group helped me and slowly pushed me down the small slope to let me experience downhill skiing. As I skied, I felt the cool zephyr rushing through every bit of my body and blowing me away. The chill was absolutely invigorating. Seeming to think that I knew how to ski already, I wanted to challenge myself to a higher slope. So, I left my group and went alone as I slowly dragged my feet to the other side of the resort.

                       A sea of unfamiliar faces was on the other side. The slope was indeed, higher than the bunny slope that our group was stationed at. As I readied myself for the higher slope, all I could think of was “let’s freaking do this!” 

                       As I skied down the icy hill, the nippy gush of wind gave me a thrill that I never have felt before. For one brief moment, I felt very much alive than ever! And in a blink of an eye, my excitement instantly turned into nerves as I didn’t know how to stop. Finally, two Koreans made me come to a complete halt as I bumped into them and fell down with my derrière on the snowy, wet ground. I did let out a mere “sorry” to the two Koreans but they simply shrugged and went away, leaving me on the ground-- helpless beyond belief. 

                        I waited for a kind stranger to come to my aid as I sat on the damp ground with my face exhibiting seven shades of red. Much to my dismay, nobody even bothered to look at me. I immediately felt eruptive rage to the entire Korean race and at the same time, I was wallowing in complete and utter humiliation as I felt trapped into an abyss of shame. A few minutes later to what it seemed like a thousand years, my friend spotted me and helped me get up back to the surface. 

                        Despite my impression that the inhabitants of South Korea were self-absorbed, snobby and weren’t ready to give a hand to people in distress, my experience was worth it. I had finally gotten out of the Philippines even for just a bit. I got to come into contact with snow even if my body did not have the fortitude to make snowballs, let alone snow angels due to the harsh iciness. I even got to live through a negative seven temperature that seemed like a freezing point by the near end of our journey. My soul was finally unearthed within me; I had felt rejuvenated once again from this much-needed trip. 

                        Skiing was the cherry on top in my Korea tour. The fall I came across did not hurt me at all; in fact, it taught me to ameliorate in the sport. I would go back to Seoul if given the chance, but only because of skiing. It is after all, the nearest country that has ski resorts. The revitalizing sensation from the sport got me wanting more of it like a cannabis drug that takes you deep into the depths of felicity and making it your oasis, your own little world.

Below are a few more of the many photos from our trip. Till then!