ROK in H2O

A day at the swimming pool is quite different when it comes to Korean terms. If you think you're going to swim laps in the quiet, still waters of a deep blue swimming pool...well, I hate to burst your happy water balloon, because this is quite the opposite. You must remember that you aren't the only one ready to dive into cool water on a nice, hot and humid summer day. Pretty much all of South Korea wants to chilly down as well. 

There are six public swimming pools that rest along the Han River in Seoul. The one I visited was Mangwon, a short bus ride from the Hapjeong subway station. This outdoor tri-pool swimming facility is quite the experience. Not only is this location set below a bridge that stands still with traffic for hours upon hours, but it also rests beside the wide Han river. Water-splashing fun between a busy world and a slow stream, where bikers bike and joggers jog and walkers walk, all crammed together beside a heaping skyline! Another fascinating example of the diverse worlds of the Republic of Korea.  

The smell of chlorine and fried foods left me in indecision on which to begin with: fried chicken with hot sauce and mustard, or diving head-first into the pool? After scoping out the place, I decided on the latter first, and deliciousness after. Each pool had a top layer of bobbing heads, displaying a rainbow of swimming caps - in order to hop into the pool, headgear is a must. 

After a quick dip, I laid down to, once again, zoom into the minds (and feet) of the life in this crazy yet beautiful world. Every child is smiling. Every adult is resting. When Koreans want to enjoy their day, they don't mess around. Seriously. They just sit back, eat, nap, laugh...and pretty much enjoy. 

Also, as I lay there watching the world around me, I noticed a sense of beauty and cleanliness that the Koreans tend to maximize to a surprising extent. Bodies in perfect shape (for the most part), every woman show off their pedicures with intricate nail detail, many women wear high-heels (at a swimming pool?!), and they shower (with shampoo and all) at the end of the day. Yes, this sense of perfection exceeds beyond the spotless tents and shiny floaties and toothpicks served with fried finger foods. Is it that every Korean has a case of OCD? Or must they live up to the the Jones's? Or am I just used to a world where the five second rule extends a little longer? All in all, my world around me seemed perfect enough to take a nap under the scattered clouds and among the hundreds and hundreds of happy feet scuttling about, only inches from my face.