Eastern Europe 2005

I’m finally here in Prague. It’s 7.13 in the morning but I’ve been awake since before 6. Still jetlagged. I couldn’t sleep well last night. The noise from the street didn’t help either, but we couldn’t really close the windows cos the room would get really hot and stuffy.

Met two of my roommates yesterday - Greg, an American guy who earns his living playing internet poker (interesting..) and Brian, a Scottish guy with a really thick accent I can barely understand.  We went out with them to the shops, trying to find a power adapter with hole for the stupid extra prong in Czech power points. No luck. Then after we got back I found out that my Australian adapter’s got the hole to fit it anyway. Doh! It’s just my hairdryer that doesn’t work, since I bought it in London and the adapter doesn’t have an extra hole in it.

It was pouring last night - we were drenched by the time we got back to the hostel. They said the weather had been great until I got there. It was 40 degrees on Friday! Let’s hope it won’t rain today - I want to do some sightseeing!

I’m really confused at the moment, I don’t know if I still want to go to Romania. I’ve heard bad stories about the country, and something just doesn’t feel right. People have been asking me "Why Romania?" and pretty much "why would anyone want to go there?" questions. But the thing is, where do I go?

Oh well. We’ll see how it goes. I might fly to Hamburg or something from Budapest.

So here I am, in Incheon, Seoul. It’s really boring around here.. it’s like 60 kms from the city, and there’s nothing much around. I’m just waiting to get back to the airport for my flight to Prague.

I’ve met a few people here since I arrived yesterday arvo. Went out for a drink with 3 other people. We just went for a walk to see what was there, and ended up at a Japanese bar. Which was funny, because Jeff, the CUTE guy - yes, cute (I’ll elaborate more once I get home) - had wanted to try some authentic Korean food. Too bad I don’t think I’ll get to see him again. He’s flying off to London today.

One of the girls is going to Prague to meet her fiance, and I’ve spent this morning with her walking to the so-called shopping mall next to the hotel which was dead quiet. I don’t think it was even open. Anyway, we’re gonna meet up at the lobby a bit later to get to the airport. She also told me she’ll take me around when we get to Prague. Awesome.

Seoul is horrible. It’s been foggy as since yesterday, and apparently it’s all the pollution(?). I thought it was just a foggy day yesterday, but it hasn’t changed today. Terrible. The weather is not that hot but it’s very humid and it feels sticky. I had to send my shirt for a laundry last night because I didn’t bring any change of clothes and I couldn’t bear the thought of wearing the same shirt today.

But the hotel is fantastic. I had a long hot bath last night (probably the last one I’m ever gonna get until whenever) and it was just lovely.

Anyway, time is running out. Internet costs 5000 won every 10 mins! I’ll write more when I get to Prague.

Not long now! I still haven’t got my passport back from the Slovenian Embassy but they told me I should get it back sometime this week. Only 5 more days of work too.. woohoo!

Will post my itinerary once I get home tonight.