Bukchon

Bukchon is a neighborhood with hanok houses

But I suggest first go to the Bukchon traditional culture center to get a general idea about what you'll see after. For example, the hanok's building process.

And also to spoon some harvest.... literally :-)

Spiiiicy !!!

In a rainy day what else a wandering person can do beyond indoor activities and eating :-)

I've read about korean food and now I tasted it.... really spicy and just by looking at it I started sweating :-)

I guess korean people and Bahia's one exchanged culinary tips.... or fires :-)

So at night I have no courage enough to face it again at Gwangjang market

Changdeokgung

This palace was built as a secondary palace of Joseon dynasty in 1405 and a guided tour to the secret garden is worthwhile :-)

before starting finding conclusions :-) look at some pictures

without considering the information the guide provides :-)

Tony Wheeler

who is cofounder of Lonely Planet wrote

"All you've got to do is decide to go and the hardest part is over"

And I agree so here I am at Seoul and I'll start with a transportation tip. Buy a T-Money card to move around the city.

Was it easy to get one ? no.... at least for me :-)

Was it funny ? surely.... for korean people :-)

So I went to Seoul station to get one... buy one... 2500 KRW per card and I made a charge of 10000 KRW and it was enough until now. Another tip: get a map of the subway's lines.

Also I went to Cheong Gye Cheon

to walk 5.8 kms... and of course 5.8kms back... or 11.6 kms with only half liter.... really low consumption :-)

Gun bae :-)

Before leaving

1) The post's title (from the brazilian translation) was taken from a movie I saw some scenes while taking a breakfast.

2) We want  money and happiness - Titãs

3) a travel tip suggested by my personal tourist guide who never makes  mistakes but me...hmmm.... :-)

4) Time flies

5) The origin of suffering is attachment (buddhism)

6) Any stone on your way, you can withdraw (Roberto and Erasmo)

7) I was advised by a friend about tension in the neighborhood and maybe I could calm them down :-)

8) My mother will reach 80 age soon and if I delay my back I'll celebrate with her :-)

9) Life is too short to be small (Benjamin Disraeli)

10) I still haven't found what I'm looking for (U2)

All together at same time is known as synergy but on the other side all collected along the travel is a strong signal that I must start a sabbatical period so I've just arrived at Seoul with quiet mind, spine erect and tranquil heart :-)

Before finishing vacation

I guess it's time to write about some tips because I didn't try them by myself before. So late is better than never :-)

Key words to survive :-)

bi-ru = beer
akai-wain = red wine
mi-zu = water
ha-ra-he-to-ru = I am hungry
ta-su-ke-te-ku-da-sai = help me

and to get cash look for post office. At first it's strange because I go to post office to send letters but if in Rome dress yourself like a roman .... in Japan dress yourself like a japanese... literally :-)

Don't trust much on banco do brasil even with a good account manager.

So bring some ca$h .... by the way may you lend me $ome ? :-)

To/from airport there is limousine bus in Narita and Haneda. From Narita there is also Narita express

About moving around because the probability of taking the wrong way, get off far away,... is 200% :-) so to save money, time and best without bothering locals by speaking japanglish :-)

1) If you intend to use train then get an exchange order for  JR Pass before arriving in Japan. To be honest I didn't make any math account to check if it's advantageous or not but just by not taking the wallet out all the time to pay for any travel was a great deal.

2) In Kansai there is Kansai thru pass

Both are sold only for foreigners or japaneses who live out Japan.

In Hakone there is also a good option

3) Takkyubin or kuroneko in japanese if you don't want to carry luggage with you.

4) Making reservation at hotel in a language that you don't understand (for example korean :-) ) can be circumvented by using Lonely Planet search engine or do you prefer make a choice by yourself ? :-)

5) If coming from a long fly journey, staying in a ryokan for at least 2 nights is good to get through jet lag. If onsen ryokan much better :-) and if arriving in Tokyo I suggest Sadachiyo where the breakfast

is just for you

6) Last and most important, get a good travel guide book and I recommend Lonely Planet. It doesn't cover 100% and also things change so sometimes try your own way. Because it's better lose by trying than preserve for nothing (Geraldo Souza)

Ta-dai-ma

A little more about japanese expression, ta-dai-ma is used just after arriving at home. How do I know about it ?
Because I used it when I was a young and I'm back Tokyo :-)

In this return I made a choice for Asakusa

at Sadachiyo

with magic elves coming from nowhere to make up my bed

So there was time to some fuel replacement

without forgetting the tiramisu

just before going to onsen

and write tomorrow... if not arrested :-)

Up on the roof

Beyond Armstrong also Taylor passed by Kerama islands at Zamami jima.

Again let's go to the facts:

I'm gonna climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares they drift right into space

Oh on the roof it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below, it don't bother me

Oh on the roof, that's the only place that I know
Look at the city baby

Where you just have to wish to make it so
Lets go up on my roof

And at night the stars, they put on a show for free

Zamami's beaches

The beaches at Zamami aren't so easy to reach as in Aka but not easy doesn't mean hard :-)

One of them is Furuzamami

whose water color I was not able to get 

So I'll try to describe

It starts from transparent then changes to light green, a little strong green, dark from the reefs, and blue.

I gave up :-)

Another beach is Ama that is good for children because it's shallow water

Close to Ama beach is Unajinosachi observatory

to enjoy the sunset but bring light and warm clothes that unfortunately I didn't so 2 more mistakes in my endless list :-)

Minshuku

After getting through ryokan I guess it's time to another challenge so I choose minshuku without expecting  magic elves appearing from nowhere to make up my bed

neither welcome tea and so on :-) so the bed was on my charge...

... not too bad at least I got a good sleep :-)

What a wonderful world

I guess Armstrong was in Aka jima before recording his song :-)

So let's go to the facts

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see skies so blue and clouds of white

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Maybe only rainbow is missing and it could be at Geruma island to where there is a bridge

But to be honest........: Did I come here to drink or to walk ?