As you can tell by now, I didn't get a whole lot accomplished in Seoul photo wise. Family stuff can do that to you. All the more reason to come back though.
The quintessential Seoul portrait
"Does this make me look fat?"
In the odd chance that I ever get a whiskey bar up and running it helps to see how others are doing it. While I still feel that Japan still does the particular type of bar I enjoy best, Seoul is getting close. The Bing soo is there because I love bing soo. Notable mentions include the following: Vault 82, B28 Seoul, and The Factory
First some solung tang
The river walk (Cheonggyecheon river) is a fine example of urban planning that by day serves as a popular tourist spot and by night becomes a haven for couples
This one missed the memo
That's more like it
Halfway through the walk one can always grab something to eat at Gwangjang night market. The ajemahs that work and eat here are stone cold killers
"I didn't order that"
"Yeah you did. Eat this kimbap too"
"If you're not too busy Friday..."
"Don't even think about it"
No men allowed
Don't remember anymore what I did this day. But I apparently had delicious fried chicken
The view from my uncle's balcony
There is an art to sleeping on the train. This one is a grandmaster
Crowded market
Lots of shoes
Shopping works up an appetite. Braised pig's feet
I did a short hike up over where the president's residence is. Took some pics along the way.
Korean Bansky?
I liked the patterns on this wall
Everything about Seoul is about being a couple
Youngest fan
Them heels
Not much to see here. Sadly Osaka was the photo-death of me.
Caught the sunset on the way to meet the family
Korean version of a pop-up restaurant
Korean version of the food truck
Time to leave Japan and head for Seoul
Up in the air
Attention cabin crew, prepare for arrival. My first sight of land, I felt the unexpected feeling of being home
View from my seat
View from my hotel
I had average Kobe beef in Kobe, views from a mountain, missed views from the base of another. Most importantly, I've slowly lost the will to take pictures. Sadness. Here's what I mustered.
Yamazaki is a small town just outside of Osaka that was the birthplace of Japanese whisky. The distillery was founded in 1923 and named after the town that still is prized for its pure spring waters and diverse climate. If you've never tried Yamazaki and you enjoy whisky you have to give it a try. There's not a lot better than the 18yr old in it's price range. When I first discovered this whisky several years ago it was $90. It now sells for over $150. And it's still worth it.
Thank you for your hard work sir
One of the giant copper stills. Unlike a lot of distilleries, Yamazaki uses different shaped stills in the various steps of the distillation process to yield a greater variety of characteristics in their alcohol.
The warehouse smelled strongly of oak and alcohol
I wish I had this collection (minus the bookends)
There are over a thousand bottles of various maturations of whisky on display here
You can also sample various whiskies at a very reasonable price
Yamazaki 25
Smoke, molasses, floral nose. Almost a coffee, or roasted barley aftertaste that is long and lingering. I think I may prefer the 18yr. Especially since this bottle costs around $1300
Hibiki 21
Toffee, caramel, melted butter, alcohol. Definitely needs time to open up. Syrupy and silky. Delicious. Better than the 17yr and the 12, but barely. At around $250 a bottle maybe I'll grab one someday
These two whiskies were part of the 5 I believe that are used to blend into the Hibiki 17yr. This is the only place you can sample all the blends of the Hibiki line. On the side is "Mother water" which is the water they use to make the whisky. I'm not going to lie, it was actually really tasty as well. They should bottle this and sell it too.
Mizunara (Japanese Oak only found in Hokkaido 52% alc)
Needs water, sweet toffee, amazingly floral. Haunting, and unique aftertaste, almost like roasted corn, the smell of young wood burning. I wish I could buy this in a bottle
White Oak (54% alc)
Dried fruits, grape, lots of alcohol. Grain/wheat finish with some bite. After adding water, I could taste some vanilla and oak as well.
All adventures begin from our hotel subway stop. A little out of the way of all the action, but at least convenient to get to.
"I'M A TRAIN!"
"The train is talking to me, I gotta go"
Anybody that has been to Japan knows this sign as a sign of awesomeness
They seem close
River at night
It's Day 8, and it's a humid hot mess. Time to spend time at the aquarium.
Underground passes to escape the heat and the traffic
Somebody thought long and hard where to put that ad. Well played
Fish in a small tank
Sharks in the big tank
This guy is like the battle cruiser, with the other fish being fighter planes. This is how I saw it anyways. Fish wars
Jelly
Who doesn't like penguins?
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