Starting the journey with Ryan

Here is Megan at dinner
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Hey all, so this one is the introductory entry to the next three, which I might actually do all today.  They will be dated differently, because I was in the places at different times.  My trip with Ryan was increadible, and quite the whirlwind.  We had the opportunity to do many things, and really see much more of Korea than I previously had.

I went to Seoul on Saturday evening and met up with my friend/student Megan, who I've mentioned before.  I hadn't seen her since January when she moved to Seoul, though I still give her phone lessons on a regular basis to keep up her idioms and conversation skills.  We went out for dinner at Bennigans (I don't get Western food often), and then went to a really cozy Korean pub/restaurant that had a really great atmosphere (I'll post some pics).  I would put a review, but I don't know the name of the restaurant, or where it was exactly.  Anyways, we had a really nice night, and it was great to see her again.

Wherever Ryan goes, the party goes too

This is the Korean restaurant/pub where we ended up.
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On Sunday I went to the airport to pick up Ryan, and I killed time by buying books.  What else would I do?  Finally he arrived, and we caught a bus to Bundang, where James lives.  Ryan was pretty spent from the flight but I just kept rambling anyways, it was kind of funny because we were in completely different frames of mind.

James came and met us at Samsung plaza, the most upscale shopping mall I've ever walked through.  This mall has prada, and Gucci and many more designers you can't imagine.  I wouldn't even dare browse there.  We went to James' and after Rye took a nap we went with James and some of his friends who live in his building to Monkey beach to kick of Rye's Korean experience.  Of course, we started his experience with soju, something which became a theme throughout the rest of the journey.

Another shot of the pub. I really liked it.
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Later, we went with James' friend Sookman to Nore bong.  Ryan the trooper managed to stay up rather late with us.  Wherever he goes, the party comes too, as will be illustrated as the journey continues.