Lost in Translation: Seoul and a Seriously Weird Number (1259166)
okay, so. seoul. wow. just… wow. i’m running on fumes and copious amounts of korean coffee (seriously, the stuff is potent). i’m not even sure where to start. i landed here after… well, let’s just say a chaotic series of events involving a missed flight in london and a questionable last-minute deal. the number 1259166? i saw it scrawled on a street vendor’s chalkboard. no context. just… there. it’s been nagging at me ever since.
the weather here? it's a humid hug. 22.04 degrees, feels like 21.29. the air is thick with a kind of energy. the pressure is standard, and the humidity is...let's just say you'll want to invest in some breathable clothes. i just checked and it's… a surprisingly sunny haze, which is nice. hope you like that kind of thing.
my little corner of *Seoul feels like a constant hum. tiny shops overflow with things i don’t understand, and the smells! oh god, the smells. kimchi, street food i can’t name, something vaguely floral and definitely synthetic. the neighbors are… resilient. they’ve seen it all, i think. a mix of old traditions and absolutely cutting-edge tech - it’s a jarring but strangely beautiful contrast. if you get bored, Busan is just a short train ride away - check out some cool hostels on Hostelworld.
my days have been a blur of trying to navigate the subway (seriously, download a good transit app!), getting hopelessly lost in Myeongdong, and eating way too much tteokbokki. i heard that the best street food stalls are often the ones with the longest lines, but someone told me that the little hidden gems are usually the most authentic, and honestly, i'm too lazy to hunt for them.
gear-ish stuff, because i’m a photographer (freelance, still trying to level up):
*Camera: trusty old sony a6000. still kicking.
*Lens: 35mm prime - my go-to for street shots.
*Tripod: essential for those moody morning shots. check out B&H Photo for some options.
*Portable Charger: crucial. seriously.
reviews i’ve “overheard” (mostly from a friendly ajumma at a tea shop): the bibimbap is divine (duh!), but the spicy pork is spicy. like, tear-inducing spicy. and someone warned me about the crowds in Insadong* on weekends - apparently, it’s a chaotic mess.
i’m trying to decipher the meaning of that number, 1259166. maybe it’s an address? a phone number? a code for something i don’t even know exists? it feels significant, somehow. or maybe it's just random. who knows? that’s kind of the point, right? embracing the chaos.
the air tonight smells like rain and charcoal. i’m sitting in a tiny cafe, nursing a lukewarm coffee and watching the world go by. it's a good kind of lost.
time to wander. maybe i'll stumble upon the meaning of 1259166. maybe not. either way, it's a beautiful mess.
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