Les Go to Korea- Part 1

Seoul, South Korea

The world is a magnificent place. When I look at the journey my life takes me and look at the connections I’ve made along the way (though not as many as you’d think because I’m a pretty big introvert) sometimes it blows my mind. I decided to go to South Korea to visit a friend I met in Mexico who is from the States but now lives in Korea. Imagine that! Les Go to South Korea!

Fashion, beauty standards, and perfectionism

Call me ignorant, OK, I’m calling myself got damn ignorant, I had no idea about the beauty standards and meticulous fashion that I witnessed in Seoul. Yes, I had a faint idea of what K-Pop was and BTS but that shit is real! Like 2000’s NSYNC/Backstreet Boys real. Their flawlessly airbrushed faces peer out from every bus, street ad, beer decal and regular ole convenient store imagined. Their skin is so flawless it really makes me wonder what being an impressionable teen in Seoul must be like.

Though airbrush is obviously the culprit in the ads around Seoul, the beauty standards from the average joe walkin down the street seemed to be extreme, too. I saw plenty of beauty parlors and I’ve heard Korean beauty products are the truth but it was amazing to see in person. Every one’s face looked sculpted and smooth.

And the fashion.

I had no idea a plain ass colored tee (primary colors were a thing) and jeans/slacks could look so got damn good. Maybe they carried a pocket-sized iron with them because I don’t see how it’s fathomable they get their clothes that pressed. I was way out my league with my thrift store shoppin/minimalist ass.

Hanok Village

The first day out we decided to explore Hanok Village. This was the antithesis of the high fashion, Instagram-ready hot spots of Seoul. It was calm and peaceful and reminded me a lot of smaller sections in Tokyo. Though there were tourist milling around it was deathly quiet, sans cars.

Though it rained for the most part of the day, that didn’t stop my awesome convenient store fashion sense.

We meandered around and the “Hanok Observatory” caught our eye. After following signs, but still managing to get turned around, we found the “observatory.” Ok, you are on the third floor but you are not an observatory. No shade (but all the shade) I want my 3000 won back.

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What struck me as a little peculiar was one could rent traditional outfits to ramp around the Village. Of course I found this to be culturally appropriating when I saw pale-faced tourist dressed in full garb. I didn’t know what their end game was to wearing these beautiful garments; They prolly didn’t either.

Seoul Tower and Itaewon

I don’t get super excited when thinking about being crammed in a cable car with complete strangers to go to the tip top of some tower, but there I was. I kind of knew what to expect from the tower but what I was not expecting was the insanely trippy light show that awaited us as we stepped off the elevator.

They didn’t even give a b*tch warning! Mind was sufficiently blown and I was satisfied.

What was super unfortunate were the pad locks that littered every got damn surface surrounding the tower. Firstly, that shit ain’t sustainable nor eco-friendly. Seriously, you’re gonna profess your love with a got damn key lock. Girl, bye.

Secondly, everything doesn’t need to be photographed.I’ll touch on the Instagram-ready factor of Seoul in my next post.

Itaewon was a dope area for night life and the scene. All the LGBT friendly places seemed to be closed (it was a Sunday) or were clubs. I can’t do clubs. I need to be able to hear the person I’m with, ya feel me? We did pass many ‘transgender’ clubs/lounges. Now, I’d assume these were particularly jus for exchanges of the sexual nature seeing as though we were in the red-light district.

We ended our night at a dark little bar that was more my speed. Two things really tripped me out at this bar. One, the amount of Koreans we met that had studied/lived in Alabama. A total of two (one of which had the whole bloody state emblazoned on his arm). Ala-f*ckin-bama. Of all the states that’s the one? Really?

Two, the amount of trap music I heard(including in this bar) during my trip. Some of it was K-rap/trap and it was trippin me the hell out. Nice beats though!