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car moved. by jburron
All cars have the driver's cellphone (called a hand-phone here) in the front window near the steeringwheel. Sometimes it's just a piece of paper, but many alse get creative; they have little needlepoint pillows, Hello Kitty signs and other oddities (like the pic to the left which are Go-Stop cards, have a tip on that game also, arranged to show their number) to let people know where to holler to move their wheels. Leave a Comment
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If you're out late (and you probably will be, even if you don't do that at home) keep your eye on your watch if you want to save a few bucks. From midnight to 4AM cab fares go up 20% (basic fare is 1,920 won (USD 1.65)instead of 1,600). It's still pretty cheap, but if you have a long way to go or it's 11:50 or 3:50 you may want to keep this in mind (especially if you want a deluxe cab!). Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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 This Street Sign Doesn't Refer
to One Street Name! by jburron
1. There are 4 kinds of streets. Dae-rlo (slur the r and l together, dae is said as day): they are large boulevards such as Gwanghwamun Dae-ro. Ro: What we would term an avenue (or wider street). Gil (said as geel): which are narrower and/or side streets. And, the unnamed...simply too small to warrant a name, these are many of the smaller streets and alleys in the city (although I have seen alleys with the name gil as well).
2. Important avenues, such as Jongno (sometimes no replaces ro), are broken up into sections according to the major cross-streets. Unlike Western way, where you might say Robson & Thurlow, they just number the cross-street and call them ga. Jongno-sam(3)-ga means "the area where the third major cross street crosses Jong Street". There is Euljiro-sa(4)-ga (4th crossing of Eulji street) and so on. One different one is the first cross-street. It is often written as il(1)-ga but also as ip-gu. il-ga means first cross and ip-gu means entrance--which makes sense because this is the 'entrance' or start of the street (even though it may extent further).
3. Apart from the major streets or those in their neighborhood, most Koreans won't have a clue what you're talking about if you simply give them an address. This is why it is important to get (and give) landmarks such as Kookmin Bank Building or The Big Church or something. Many, but not all, of the buildings have numbers on them and the name of the street it is on, but no one (except mailmen) really pay much attention to them.
You should also know that only in the last 2-3 years have the streets started to have names...imagine what is was like with only about 10 streets in the whole city of 15 million named!
More info here Leave a Comment Theme: OtherPhone: 1330 for free all-language info
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Tip#2: If a cab stops for you don't explain your destination before getting in. Just get in the cab. If you speak English to a cabbie (very few speak the language) they will feel some burden/hassle and, to ease this feeling, simply drive off.
Once in the cab say "Anyounghaseo" (hello) and "Ajeoshi" (mister, sir) then your destination "...ai ka-jusaeyo". I also like to (knowing Hangul) read the driver's name (there is a card on the passenger's side dash in every cab). We sometimes talk a bit and (perhaps) he believes I am more a local and know the streets (no overcharging).
To get there faster say "koop-hai-yo" or "bal-li ka-***a" (let's go fast).
Turn right is "o-roon-jjok" and turn left is "win-jjok" while go straight is "ddokparo ga-jusaeyo". Stop is "yeogi-yo" (polite way to say 'here'). Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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This usually happens in taxies in Korea, as few foreigners drive there. The rule of the road is a vehicle cannot enter a crosswalk while the pedestrian green is lighted (the little guy walking sign, rather than the big hand)--even if no one is actually in the crosswalk.
This gets a little frustrating for hurried foreginers who want to blow through an empty crosswalk or if no one is in front of the cab. Cabbies, however, are loathe to do so unless there is no one around (something that is hard to come by in Korea, especially Seoul) and even then they may feel weird doing it. It's like running a red light for them.
If you want to egg one on to drive through it you can say: "괜찮아Ǽ36;/kwaen-cha-na-yo" (It's ok.) This sometimes works if you say it a few times. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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 Business Class on SingAir by jburron
Let me wax poetic the high points:
(i) Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, gets their own personal TV screen with ON DEMAND movies (24), TV shows (30) and games (20) as well as the 'flightpath channel' and other goodies. The screen is small, but it's right there in front of you. And don't forget...it's on demand so you can start, pause and stop any of the shows at any time!
(ii) Good food. I've always had a good meal on SingAir. Of course the business class food is better, but the economy is no slouch, either.
(iii) New planes. Lately all the SingAir planes are 777. Which means the turbines are impervious to flying birds and othe debris, the air is filtered and distributed better and the cabin is quieter.
(iv) The staff are great. We all know the famous "Singapore Girl" slogan...and you got ot love how two of them can squeeze down the aisle rather--they are just thinner and more alert than many other airlines' flight attendants. The guys are...well...feminine, as usual, and quite helpful as well. And the uniforms look smart.
(v) I've found SingAir has the lowest prices! Yes, compared to local (KAL, Asiana) the prices to/from Seoul are less on Sing...go figure. Not only that, Sing has a better flight/fatality record than local airlines (from what I hear).
I've only taken another airline here when I've HAD too--meaning, SingAir was fully booked for weeks to come. Try it. Leave a Comment
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I've never driven in Korea, but I do remember seeing these stickers on some errant cars. It seems that if you park in the wrong spot or such you don't get a fine in Korea.
You do, however, get a big sticker splotched on your windscreen (right on the driver's side!) so that you are (i) branded as a bad-guy and (ii) have to go through what seems like a pretty brutal ordeal to get the thing off of there.
I've seen cars with these things on them getting towed, too so don't thing that's where it ends.
Thanks to Flo for reminding me of this. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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If you've ever travelled in a Korean's car you may have found this:
(i) most Koreans have no idea what 'defrost' is and that it can actually clear fog from the window a lot better than by wiping it with one's hand;
(ii) there are only 2 acceptable positions for airflow, heat and air con(ditioning): off and full blast, anything else just doesn't make any sense;
(iii) it is a good idea to engage the emergency brake even if your automatic transmission car is not parked on a hill;
(iv) it is NOT a good idea to shoulder-check when changing lanes (the other car will let you in, don't worry);
(v) it is better to merge first and beg for forgiveness than to ask permission beforehand (unless you're up against a bus); and
(vi) all signs, signals and lines on the road are suggestions only.
Best of luck on the roads. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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 Map of Seoul subway by hopang
There are a total of more than 260 subway stations covering a total track length of approximately 290 kilometers. The subway serves not only Seoul City but also Incheon and other provinces near Seoul City. Seoul Metropolitan Subway was established and opened to the public in August 1974. It is also one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world. The cost of a ticket for an adult is 1,000 won for the first 10 kilometers and half price for a child. Leave a Comment
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This is a pretty nice 45-minute trip (which I took once, return) from either a small port a little outside of Ok-po or in 'downtown' Ok-po (on Geoje-do), just south of Pusan. Cost I think is 12,000 won/10USD or so (don't remember all that well) but here's my tip; DO NOT take it if the seas are stormy (unless you have a seafarer's stomach for sloshy waters.
If it's a nice day and/or you're not drunk/hung-over (both of which I was not on either voyage) then it could be a nice little run--and a heckuva lot faster than the 3 hours bus ride the long way is! (A new bridge, estimated completion in 2007, is on the way as well which will bring driving time down to 1 hour, I think.) Leave a Comment Theme: Ship/Boat
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