Here in Gangnam, lookin' for style. (Actually, slightly lagged in Gangnam and looking to go back to bed after this post.)
Some reasons from yesterday why I frickin' love South Korea.
Immigration kept opening new stations as the line grew. I got through in great time.
I got to the bus station seconds after the bus pulled away. He saw me get to the station in his rearview mirror and stopped dead, just 20 feet away, to allow me to saunter up and get in.
Obvious and continuing investment in infrastructure. Not to say there are traffic issues. There are. But they're not letting moss grow under the concrete, so to speak. Constant improvements.
Confusion where I was supposed to depart the bus (because it wasn't on the hotel instructions). The bus driver spoke no English. I told him which hotel I was going to. He pulled a U-turn on a busy street that I'm sure wasn't part of his regular route, stopped, and walked me to the corner where he could point out the hotel sign a half block away.
The hotel clerk who met me at the door and insisted on lugging my bag to the desk. I'm pretty sure it weighed more than she did.
"Megan" at the front desk. I had several questions throughout the evening, and every time it was the most important thing in her life to get it answered.
Going across the street to get food at a decent nice restaurant, getting a tasty portion, with sides, that I couldn't finish, paying with plastic, and checking the statement later. $4.44.
No tipping. Seriously, no tipping. You are handed your receipt, no tip line to fill in, no tip jar, and you say "thank you," and you're on your way.
I have not spent a second in this country where I felt unsafe.