Slacky Blogger

Although normally I have blogarrhea, with so much to say and so little time for 'putering, the last few days I've been taking in a lot more than typing out.  After leaving Sokcho, we traveled to Samcheok for some quality time in the penis park (more on that in a moment).  The following day, we headed to Gangneung for a morning bus to train layover, then came to Andong where we've been for a few days.  Tomorrow we set off again and will be in Gyeongju by mid-afternoon, learning more about the Shilla dynasty than we ever thought possible.  Particularly because we didn't know what it was...

I weirdly miss Sokcho and often think about canning the rest of our Korea itinerary and heading straight back there.  Hanging our hats for 10 whole days put us in a completely different mindset - toiletries unpacked, favorite restaurants visited twice, a couple of afternoons in the rain reading on the covered porch...  Plus, we miss Yoo and his awesome dog.

I learned an interesting lesson staying at that place....  I've always figured that working in a hotel must be awful.  People are rude, have asinine expectations, think they should behave like idiots because they're paying for the priveledge, etc.  I, too, have been a testy business traveler; late for my flight, annoyed that the express checkout function on the TV didn't work, impatiently extending and retracting the handle on my rolly bag because there is a line at the front desk and I need to GO.  Eventually faced with a facially placid and verbally insincere hotel employee who at once apologizes for the delay and then asks whether everything was ok, and, wouldiliketoprovidemyemailforfuturespecials even though CLEARLY I just want to get the eff out of here I, too, have been a not exceptionally polite version of me. 


Anyway, everyone who does work in the accommodations biz should take a page from Yoo's book.  I challenge even the crustiest road warrior to get angry or impatient with this man.  I think the expression "you get more flies with honey" must have been translated from the original Korean.  Always smiling, always apologizing even when nothing is wrong, always thanking us for doing nothing.  And here, I brought you a ginormous piece of my birthday cake.  And here, I got you some beers and bottled water to take to the train station with you.  And can I please walk you there?

I'm looking at my creative Tshirt-making friends here....  When I get home and my new aura of benevolence leaves all who look upon me sightless, I'd like a T-shirt made and I'd like it to read:  I learned it by watching Yoo.