How to Be a Tourist Just About Anywhere

You're bored all the time. You want to make some new friends. You need to escape the clutches of whatever screen you're looking at right now. You know nothing about your hometown despite having lived there for most of your life. Whatever the reason, you know you've got to get out...but you're not on vacation, so how can you be a tourist? I'm always itching for an adventure, so here are some of my tricks for getting off your butt and into the world, even if it's just in your backyard.

Use the internet. If you are uncomfortable adventuring alone, uncertain about where to go, too broke to go to the well-known places, or just not convinced that being a tourist is worth it, go ahead, stay home all day. And research some places to explore.

Don't limit yourself to the major newspaper and friend's Facebook walls. Read skim the comment sections of articles about the famous tourist attractions for lesser-known ideas. Google embarrassingly obvious things like "best secret spots of (insert location here)" and "(location name) blog" If you keep getting hits from the same websites, use the handy minus sign and eliminate those boring mainstream websites-- this is adventuring for bandwagon hipsters.

Let yourself be inspired, excited, intrigued by what you find. Search for videos of the event, stalk the spot on GoogleEarth, find online forums and groups that mention it. Basically, be a virtual tourist and get the itch to adventure. BUT don't let yourself get sucked into the abyss of the interwebs. Give yourself a deadline and, partner or no, get out there!

Pick up papers. Essentially the old school version of the internet, there is still paper everywhere. So pique you interest and also save the environment and pick up some papers. Newspapers, magazines, flyers, those annoying postcards people hand to you on the street right after you've nabbed one from the convenient table at the front of the restaurant, business cards, information pamphlets, tear off tabs. Be grabby, take what you want and what you aren't sure about--don't take what you definitely don't want--and recycle what you don't need. I find saving the paper I want to do and keeping it in an obvious place (next to my computer, in my wallet, or on my fridge) is a good way to remind myself that I'm interested. Bonus perk: when you read about the area that you are in, you become a more informed and engaged citizen! Who wouldn't want to be a contributing member of society!?

Hang out in public places. Public transportation should, at the very least, take you by way of some popular spots. Coffee shops, bus stops, libraries, park benches...they are made for people! You can be one of those people! Then maybe, just maybe, you can work up the nerve to do the next thing...

Talk to strangers. Yes, mama said not to. But go ahead. Ask for directions. Maybe they know a shortcut. Give someone a compliment. They might recommend the shop where they bought their shoes. Help someone with their bags and their dog and their escaping hat and the door. Perhaps they'll say thank you. Perhaps not. Whatever, life isn't a romantic comedy. But information comes from experiences, and PEOPLE have experiences, so ask about them! Pro tip: when the conversation is over, say goodbye and leave. Get their info if you (both) want, but forgoodnesssake please don't prolong awkwardness.

Become a regular. (Thanks, Gail!) Say hello to the man at the corner store where you buy your afternoon pick-me-up and chat with the happy hour bartender as she pours your drink. Chances are A. They're a long time local, in which case you need to prove your awesomeness before getting the good dirt, or B. They're new, but maybe they like adventuring too! Once again, don't be annoying. Keep it to a minimum, and always thank someone for their help.

Wander. Choose a direction, and go. Follow your intuition. Does that street look interesting? Take a gander. Does this area feel unsafe? Turn around. Obviously this is not to say walk around with your cash hanging out of your pockets and your eyes closed. What I am saying is only take out a map when you need one. I'm saying an itinerary is not always necessary.

Buy a map. My personal favorite. I love maps and hang them all over my apartment (which I know is a glorified room, don't judge! I don't spend much time there anyway!). Here's what you do. Buy a map and look at it. Look at it when you are waiting for your tea water to boil. Look at it when you are procrastinating. Look at it when you need a break. Look at it after you got lost on your wandering adventure and thank god your phone didn't run out of battery before you found the main road. You'll see something of interest, and you can go there! Door's on your left. Or right. Bonus points when you eventually develop a better sense of direction and don't need your GPS to guide you back home after a full day of adventuring.

Finally, mix it up. Sure, do what you like and like what you do. But adventuring is partially about the challenge of unfamiliarity. Would it have been cool to adventure in your living room? Maybe with the proper amount of couch cushions, sheets, and a good book....but certainly not every day. Pay attention to your patterns and inspire yourself to try something new. General adventuring categories I could think of off the top of my head are: natural/man made, inside/outside, free/ticketed, hands-on/hands-off(!), day/night/early morning, academic/athletic/musical/artistic, near/far, half-an-hour/all weekend. Take risks, and remember that no matter how cliche it sounds, failures are adventures, too.

Editor's Note: The magnificent creature featured as the subject in these photos is Winifred Rogers, who you can follow on twitter @RastaWinnie 

Norebang Tour of Korea

In my last post from my time in Korea, I present to you, dear reader, the best part of Korea: 노래방 / Norebang. I can't begin to express to you the wonder of these private karaoke rooms, rented to the weekend-evening-enthusiasts for a low cost and a high profit. My own relationship with Norebang developed as it became clear that my fellow merrymakers and I prioritized a norebang stop in every place we visited throughout Korea (excepting Mudfest. Boryeong  노래방, you escaped our love). I hope these few snapshots help you to share in the glory that is Norebang, and may you one day come to know it's wonder.

Final note: I did not take all of these pictures. All the high-quality, actually pleasant to view photos belong to Michael O'Donnell.

Mudfest

Imagine your elementary school field day. Inflatable obstacle courses, a kiddy pool. Now add mud. A thin, grayish kind, with a very silky and even consistency. And also add waiting in line just like an amusement park. You've got it! Mudfest.

We took the bus down on Saturday morning, and home again Sunday afternoon. There was a huge stage on the beach with a variety of events, including a rave and a tomato fight. There were nearly more photographers than festival goers. And there was mud. We bought these nifty little waterproof bags for our phones that later even passed the ocean test (and conveniently matched my bathing suit).  The town, Boryeong, seems like it exists for Mudfest and nothing else. The main drag was called "Mud Street", hotels jammed 'mud' into their names, and there were permanent structures boasting the festival. There were weird little cartoon people branding the event, but their muddied complexions made them look like they were wearing blackface. Oops. Long story long: waiting in line was not awesome, but there were mud stations dotting the small complex, so we just slapped mud on each other and made our own fun.

Off to Ever Everland

Everland is an amusement park just south of Seoul. Nearly every day one of my students mentions Everland, usually asking "Teacher, Eh-ber-lan-duh spelling is what?" And Everland comes in handy when describing a variety of things to the kids, such as the meaning of the words 'beg' and 'hope' (Mom, please please please can we go to Everland this weekend??). So we went to Eh-ber-lan-duh and now I'm gonna tell you about it.

The spread and the contents of the park are somewhat unique. The rides are nestled into a hill, so there are moving walkways and ski lifts to take you up and down when, like we were, you are too lazy to walk. The other distinguishing aspect is that Everland has a zoo sprinkled around the park. There were all kinda of animals, from kooky looking birds to polar bears, but also regular old domesticated dogs and the rare skunk.



It was refreshing to break up the day of waiting and exhilarating with the animals, but the conditions these creatures live in were more than mildly upsetting. Zoo cages and corrals are always a target of criticism, but never have I been uncomfortable on an animal's behalf. The tiger and lions were in the same small area, with literally no room to run.  There was a seal in a tank the same size as the home of a the few penguins that live next door. I didn't even try to count how many squirrel monkeys were squeezed into a room a little larger than my apartment. The animals didn't often look healthy and were oddly active and people friendly, unlike my experiences in basically every other zoo where the animals are usually chilling and don't want anything to do with the gogglers. One elephant was eerily shaking its head back and forth as if it were in a semi-violent trance. Some people said it looked like she was dancing; I thought it  was reminiscent of banging your head against the wall.

Derping

On the brighter side of things, we went on some pretty sweet rides.  The T Express is the best wooden roller coaster I've ever been on, and apparently other people agree with me since it has been ranked the world's best in recent years. The track is long and the first drop is I'm Not Sure If I Trust Korea This Much steep. We loved it. We also went on an extensive water flume ride with multiple drops (why isn't every water flume like that?) and this awful ride that cranks a row of seats around, and then loosens the hold on the seats so that they free spin while being cranked around. Terrifying.

One other ride of note was a river rapids ride. We couldn't help but poke fun at the Korean sensitivity to presentation, as there were plastic covers to keep you from getting wet on the water ride. But we quickly ate our words when we realized the raft was not a bowl, but individual seats with open slits in between, and we all got soaked. Extra points went to Korea for the team at the end of the ride that wiped down the seats so your butt didn't get wet when you sat down. Korea is so confusingly smart.

We happened to visit right in the middle of a rose festival, and were pleased visually and olfactorily (I made that word up) by the rose garden.

Another interesting detail is that the performers at Everland-- people in the parade and the (kick ass) jazz combo that played in the restaurant area, and not the general employees like ride operators and food vendors-- were all foreign, and mostly white. I'm not sure what my commentary about that tidbit will be, so I'll just let it marinate for a while.

Lastly, I have to mention again that Korea does amusement parks, and many other weekend excursions, the right way. The entry cost was not that expensive, and the food and ridiculous amusement park junk for sale inside were also reasonably priced. Was the park that amazing? Eh, 7 out of 10. But returning wouldn't be unheard of since the price is so friendly. And that wooden roller coaster was really awesome.

And it lit up at night!!!