Seoul Static: Gear, Ramen, and a Whole Lotta Chill
okay, wow. where do i even start? i’m elara, by the way, and i’m a violinist. touring’s… well, touring. it’s a thing. this leg’s been brutal, a whirlwind of tiny venues and questionable catering. landed in Seoul a few days ago, and honestly? it’s exactly what i needed.
1897000… that’s the number of steps i clocked yesterday just wandering around. i’m serious. my feet are screaming, but my soul? it’s… quieter. in a good way. i needed quiet.
and the weather? it’s… bracing. i just checked and it’s hovering around -6.5 degrees Celsius right now, feels like -6.5 too. hope you like that kind of thing. layers are your friend, people. seriously. i’m practically a walking marshmallow.
my main priority, as always, is finding a decent practice space. the hotel room is… cozy, let’s say. not exactly conducive to nailing a tricky passage from Bach. i’ve been scoping out cafes - gotta find one with good lighting and minimal chatter. apparently, there’s a place in Gangnam called ‘The Arpeggio’ that’s supposed to be pretty good. someone told me the coffee’s amazing, but the Wi-Fi is spotty. classic. check out the reviews on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298314-Seoul.html - always good to get the lowdown.
food-wise, i’ve been living on ramen. it’s cheap, it’s warm, and it’s… well, it’s ramen. i did venture out and had some bibimbap yesterday. pretty good. i’m trying to be adventurous, but honestly, after a long day of travel and rehearsals, the thought of anything complicated just makes me want to curl up with a blanket.
1410622472… that’s the pressure in hectopascals, apparently. who even knows what that means? it just means it’s cold and clear, i guess. the humidity is low, which is a plus for my violin - don’t want it warping on me.
I’ve been trying to capture some of the city’s vibe with my phone camera, but it’s tough. the light is… interesting. i need to find some good spots for street photography. maybe head to Myeongdong? I heard that’s a good place for people-watching. Yelp https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=photography&find_loc=Seoul%2C+South+Korea has some recommendations for photography studios too, if I ever get around to renting a proper space.
if you get bored, Incheon and Busan are just a short train ride away. i’m thinking of taking a day trip to Busan sometime next week. need to escape the city for a bit.
my manager keeps texting me about the next gig - apparently, it’s in Osaka. ugh. more travel. more ramen. but hey, at least I’ll have a new city to explore.
I’m also trying to find some local music shops. I’m always on the lookout for unique sheet music or maybe even a new bow. The Korea Tourism Organization https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/ has a list of cultural attractions, maybe I can find something there.
okay, gotta go. need to find a place to practice before my fingers freeze off. wish me luck! and send ramen. lots of ramen.
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