I have seen Hongdae in its quiet but I wanted to see it in its busiest as well – at night. ‘Sightseeing’ aside, I wanted to cross out a to-do in my – drink alone in a foreign land. I have always wanted to do that because I guess that would pretty much test my ability to take care of myself, not only in places I am familiar with but anywhere. So that night, after few hours of walking in the cold, I was so restless when I arrived at the guesthouse and I knew that I just could not forgive myself if I do not go out and at least give it a try.

So without having an idea where to go exactly and though it is already an hour before midnight, I decided to go to Hongdae to see whether there are gigs I can watch or go someplace where I can drink. My big camera has been almost a necklace for I was wearing it all the time since day 1 but for a change, I decided to leave that at home and just bring my phablet.

The stalls selling food and accessories were an addition during night time. 

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I was wondering where the noise was coming from and turned out there were some youngsters playing in here. This is similar to what we Filipinos know as “perya”

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Hongdae is known for its street performances but I caught only this one. And guess what this guy was singing – Oppa Gangnam Style. Whoa. Why of all songs, it had to be that?

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I kept on walking around the area but unlike the previous day, I was more careful and tried to put some system into my search for the place-to-be. I just realized that if I am to drink and get tipsy, I have to be confident that I can find my way back. No room for aimless walk when tipsy and when this late, I said to self. I was walking for about 30 minutes and I was getting disappointed because I could not find any gig place or any street performance.

I know that Koreans like to drink also in chicken and beer places so I tried to enter one that seemed friendly to solo drinkers. I came in, asked whether they serve beer and I think the guy in the cashier could not understand me and said, “just food”. Hmm, or maybe he just did not want a solo customer (Boy, little did he know that my eating and drinking capacity surpasses one haha). Just a side note : I have read earlier that Koreans find it strange to see people eat alone because dining (and probably even drinking) for them is a social activity. Hmm that made me feel more challenged to try my solo drinking stint in this city.

There are Western pubs which I think are solo-drinker friendly but I was just too scared to try as some have kinky names. Safe places, I am quite sure, but I just chickened out – intimidated probably by their names.

As I was searching for that place, took some photos of interesting artwork on the streets.

Hmm. Does that mean some “duckling”?

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A windmill against a screaming red background! And a grumpy cat.

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More windmills! And what is up with my fascination, huh?

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A bunch of pretty squares.

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How to make voodoo dolls or at least dolls that look like Voodoo Dolls. 

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I have walked and walked, peeking at windows to find the perfect place when I came upon this sign that said “맥주 OK!”. Thank goodness, I can read and understand some basic Korean so I knew that this was a beer place. It was again another one of those impulsive decisions because the place was in the basement and I could not see how it looked like but I went anyway. And I am glad I did.

Place had all kinds of beer from all over the world. One just has to grab one in the many refrigerators on one side of the bar. The owner ( I suppose) came to greet me and I asked him whether I can drink there alone and he said “OK”. As in most bars, he did ‘the talk’, trying to spark a conversation just asking the usual stuff on whether I am on vacation, whether it was my first time in Korea and the question I never fail to get under such circumstance – why am I drinking alone. And my usual answer “I just want to”.

I usually do not eat a lot when I drink so I just ordered what I think is lightest on their menu –  nachos, which is basically just those round tortilla chips with cheese and catsup dip and drank around 3 bottles of Cass while watching Korean Pop music videos being played on a huge flat screen before me.

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When I felt bored and already a bit tipsy, I paid and headed out. The man at the bar (whose name is Park) gave me his calling card. I am pretty sure Park is his last name but I do not know why he told me that is his name. (Hmm a Korean I work with in the office did the same thing. I wonder why they give their last names for lack of an English name.) He told me to call him the next time I visit Seoul. At the back of mind, yes, of course, I will definitely come back. Beer OK, indeed.