Yesterday was spent at the Techno Mall, a ten-story shopping center made up mostly of electronics goods, located across the Han River from Jamsil. The salesmen (no saleswomen, as it's electronics, and in electronics sales, being a man is a huge plus) there tend to be quite aggressive, so it's not really a place for casual window shopping, but if I really know what I want to buy, I can get good deals there.
The Techno Mall also has a nice rooftop garden on the ninth floor.
From the garden, I have a good view of the river. Here, at the eastern end of Seoul, there was a ferry dock nearby to carry people and goods across the river. In the 1960s, the ferries were replaced by the Gwangjin Bridge, a narrow bridge that is still in use. The bridge above is a much newer one; despite its name, the Olympic Bridge was built around the turn of the millennium, and is one of the few bridges in Seoul to feature stunning architecture and/or artwork. Most Han River bridges, especially those built in the 1960s and the 1970s, have very utilitarian designs, intended for the cheapest and quickest construction.Today was spent at Jamsil, where I returned to Lotte World and its ice rink. The Jamsil Lotte Department Store had opened a new food mart in its basement, and I made sure to sample some meat products there as well. I have to say, however, that the wine section - and its American wine rack - made me feel another bout of rage, due to California and its Proposition 8. I will gladly continue to buy Napa Valley wines, based on the stances of the wineries, but I will certainly never buy any Temecula Valley wines ever again.
The ride back to my apartment on the subway was a much better experience, however. With Christmas theming starting to go up around me, I decided to play Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas album, from 1994, on my iPhone. That was the very album that I had Mariah autograph for me, in person, that same year, in New York City, as I shared my Seoul experiences from earlier that year. Even through the W years, Mariah maintained a very positive reputation here in Seoul, and now that Obama will take over, her music will once again play a prominent role in bringing US and South Korean popular cultures together. Again, I am very proud of having helped her make that happen back in 1994, and looking forward to improved US-South Korean relations (where I hope to have a say once again).
And every Hyundai Genesis that I spot on the streets also boosts me. My reaction to the Genesis used to be: "D*mn, it's a nice car. I can't believe it's a Hyundai." Now, it's changed to: "That's my next car, my Christmas present to myself this year." I do look forward to returning to California just before Christmas, buying the Genesis, and taking it to my favorite LGBT hangouts (of course, with a story of why I am no longer showing up in a BMW). But for now, I also look forward to my road trip, which will take place a week earlier than originally scheduled, as well as my Hong Kong trip, which will be reserved within the next week for sometime early December.
