15 November 2022
Above the line
From Chungjangno to Sangmu
Last time I was here I stayed somewhere near Sangmu and walked to Chungjangno. This time I am staying in Chungjangno and walked to Sangmu. I remembered some things along the way, mainly the giant Porsche dealership.
The journey is about 12,000 steps and I walked the whole way above the subway line, so it was not really possible to get lost.
Once I arrived in Sangmu I was reminded of the very colourful hotels, both by the hour and some that said 'business hotel', but I have my doubts. None of these hotels seem to come up in online listings. I have no idea why they need so many hotels in the business district of town even if they are all by the hour.
I did however enjoy the very wide streets, looking at subway line 2 under construction and a visit to the Lotte Mart Maxx.
Also, it is official, repeat dinners have started.
Tomorrow is a hiking day, but with a difference. It is a no plan hiking day. There are so many trails in the National park I am just going to walk in that direction and see where I end up.
I love building demolition in Asian cities, they just drive a steam shovel into the building and start smashing stuff, and continually drive on top of the pile. They must tip over quite often. The remaining walls must collapse on people often. My advice is to keep your distance.
Some of the trees, seemingly at random, have been fitted with a nappy.
My walk went over the main sewer creek. It is actually quite nice. I would like to run along it. These dusk photos have been brightened up a bit, it was almost dark.
Huge new ghost town parts of the city are under construction. Korea is losing population fast.
I passed a giant toy shop, but sadly it was on the other side of the road so I could not go in and frighten the parents who were there with small children.
Overpass number one of the evening. This one was a steel beam construction, so too shaky for a long exposure. Stay tuned.
Repeat dinner, almost. Abiko curry (same chain) but this time I got a 50/50 vegetable and pork curry. Pork is the main meat, beef was not on offer. However even though I ordered the same level of spiciness as when I had it in Seoul, it was nowhere near as spicy. Spice control is out of control.
And here is Sangmu. All the streets are wide. Subway line 2 is being constructed via the cut and shut rather than tunnel bore method. It actually looks like they are closing up the hole or just starting. The overpass here was concrete, so a long exposure worked fine.
Lotte Mart Maxx, it is basically Walmart. The actual Walmart owned place is called Emart, there is one nearby here. They are very large. What looks like a floating sign on the left is actually the building, with parking underneath, on the other side of the road from where I am standing. It kind of looks like the sign is hanging from the pole. It has 6 levels, look at the travelators in the middle.
Looking at it again, that really is quite the illusion, it is a black building.
And for my last photo tonight, the hotel I should have stayed in. There are at least 50 similarly lit up hotels in the general vicinity of Sangmu station.