Gwangju: A gallery from a thriving South Korean city that isn’t Seoul.
I’m not sure how to introduce Gwangju, so I’ll say this: Gwangju isn’t a world renowned city, nor is it a usual destination for travelers. If you’re not a foreigner teaching English, or visiting one, you’ll likely never end up in here. I couldn’t find any demographic statistics on Gwangju, but like the rest of Korea, it’s very ethnically homogenous (well over 99% of the population is ethnically Korean). Talk about visible minorities – us foreigners stand out like a sore thumb.
Gwangju is South Korea’s 6th largest city near the southwest edge of the Korean peninsula. It’s surprisingly vibrant thanks to a high population density and intelligent urban planning. It’s situated among gorgeous forested mountains; Korea is a country of mountains after all. Compared with Seoul, it’s a fair bit less crowded, the air is cleaner, and the cuisine is reportedly better (and it was, in my experience).
I spent a few days taking in the great food and variably good soju. Coming from China a day before, Gwangju felt quaint and welcoming. With that said, the pedestrian streets of downtown Gwangju can be just as active as any Asian metropolis. So here is a gallery, off the beaten path in South Korea. Peace!
Seoul ——> Bangkok
Seoul – where do i begin. As a megacity with 20 million people, I was somewhat surprised not to find the city overwhelming. Perhaps it was my time in Beijing and Shanghai, both of which felt more hectic and massive, that prepared me for Seoul. It might be the mountains and huge rivers that help decrease the sense of being closed in. Who knows.
Its got what you’d expect from a city this crowded in Asia; vibrant markets, great food, bright neon sign posts, disobediant motorbike drivers and so on. Apparently, in Korea, if they like the appearance of an off white 35 story apartment building, they’ll reproduce it a thousand times. You really see this if you perch yourself on one of the many surrounding mountains in the area – they find a template and they stick to it. I was told that 70-80% of seoulites live in apartments of 12 storeys or more, so i’d imagine they’ve got to get them built quickly and effeciently.
And now, Bangkok. Initially, not a welcoming place. The heat and humidity drain your energy. It’s polluted, its congested, and there’s poverty abound. With that said, It’s also one of the most affluent places in all of Asia. The markets are incredible. The palaces are grand. Stray dogs roam the street and modern highrises flying hundreds of feet above the slums. An amazing skytrain transport system the average thai can’t afford. Amazing pad thai for a dollar, brand new jeans for 2. These are my first impressions of BKK.
