Pusan, South Korea

Quality is much more important than quantity: two days, two days only in Pusan, but simply perfect. I reached Pusan by bus from Gyeonju, and it`s the 2nd biggest city in South Korea, a very active port and party town. I like this city, his colours, his flavours. But mainly I have such good feelings just because of the great times had there. I wanna spend few words saying how cool it was to meet Penelope Cruz again, and visiting Yonggungssa temple first - a beautiful Buddhist temple settled on the seashore - and then hitchiking the way back to the city for fireworks show, and looking to all the people squeezed on the streets and deciding to see the show illegally from the roof of a skyscraper, and trying to open his door with hair pins, and finally be allowed to see the unbelievable show from up there, before drinking booze on the beach and moving to a tasty Korean barbecue session...
Once more, people makes your travel more than the place itself.
The real meaning of travels is listening to anybody has a story to tell.

Gyeongju, South Korea

Gyeongju: the ancient capital of Shilla Empire, nowadays a quiet medium-sized city settled in the middle of the gentle Korean countryside. The area around Gyeongju is spreaded with world ranking shrines, like the Unesco`s world heritage temple of Bulguksa and Seokguram Grotto, as for Yangdong ancient folk village. A totally different charme to big cities, simply lovely. I`ve travelled this sights with the company of a Penelope Cruz-like French lady met at the hostel, mixing cultural trips to heavy party sessions and, finally 5 years later, back to hitchike! Yeah!

Seoul, South Korea

I`m in Seoul since few days right now, reached by a freighter ferry from Weihai, China. Seems unbelievable how few hours sail can brings you to such a different culture than the one you left. South Korea is completely different to China, so close but so far. And it`s also amazing to consider how these countries I`m crossing, which were previously just names on the map for me, now they`re quickly turning into voices, faces, memories. Anyway, I feel an irrational simpathy for Koreans. Don`t misunderstand me, I`m not saying that just because the girls are hot, but because they are so polite and kind that I`m totally astonished for it. Seoul is a very modern city mixing Asian and Western charme, I could easily live here or at least spending some months, who knows... why not?
Among the remarkable things I`m experiencing here is: enjoying a traditional Korean barbecue and cold noodles with friends met in Mongolia in bustling Seoul`s Saturday night; eating silk worms while sipping Soju, the national firewater; hiking to the top of Mt. Bukhansan; walking the streets in search of mistery food and much more. Nice!

The soul of Seoul

The Past...

...the Present...

...the Future