I just got in country on 21 AUG. Been offline for a few days doing the apartment thing, and suffering through two days of the worst stomach crud I've had since my last trip here in '01. Much better now, but I was praying to die on Wednesday. I'm living in Hilton Villa apartments, across the street from Opera House apartments, (if either of those mean anything), about halfway between the dong office and the Huam market. Pretty close to gate 20. There's a police station right up the street.

__________________
I'll be in the Army all day.....

I lived in Huamdong years ago. The parking was hell on earth because the only place to park was along the sides of the narrow alleys. This old grand dad that delivered fuel oil to my place in 5 gallon cans on his bike was very intelligent and knowledgeable about the history of Huamdong. He told me the reason why it stayed mostly intact during the Korean War was because Nam San basically shielded it from North Korean artillery. Thus, it didn't have to get rebuilt like a lot of other areas in Seoul - so it kept those narrow streets.

There are some modern apartment complexes there now, and I'm sure the parking is good at those places. Every once in a blue moon I'll drive by my old apartment and the parking situation hasn't changed a bit.

What really frosted my ass was the guy across the alley. He had a garage to park his van in, but he opted to use it as a storage room for his fishing tackle shop - so he parked out in the alley. There were basically three parking spots - for six apartments.

PNOGUY:

You were here before? Then you know to not drink the water or eat strange stuff for a while until your system gets used to Korea! Normally we all get sick or at least get real diarrhrea ha ha ha soon after we get here. They still don't use soap on hands or dishes. Glad your prayers were not answered. The Army part I can't give advice on. I was Air Force. You volunteered. Welcome back, and welcome to our forum! Add to our knowledge base on the Yongsan forum whenever you can. We can use some recommended eating places! (Wait a few days before recommending a new spot-to see if you get sick!)

Thanks, Joe, and BITE ME! I have eaten one meal in a Korean eaterie since my arrival, and that was four days before I got sick. The rest of my meals were eaten at the Dragon, (hmmm, makes me wonder), and trust me, I never touch the water. Anyway, I'm feeling much better now, and will be checking out a couple of places nearby gate 20 soon. I'm a big fan of Korean food, and really need to learn how to cook some of it myself. Last tour, I found the best food was to be had at the little hole-in-the-wall joints where you have to sit on the floor. Now, how about some easy directions I can give a Korean cabbie to get me to that pub. Up the hill is it? Sounds like my kind of place. Peace.

__________________
I'll be in the Army all day.....

pnoguy: If you live where I think you live, just walk down toward gate 20 on the right side and after you pass the Market area and the Bakery, you will pass the Boston Pub in about one minute,1/2 a block before YS High School corner.
I wish I had a better map. That one is good, but doesn't quite cover the area I'd like. I'll work on it.

Drove up through Huam Dong past the Dong Office and Market today. Forget all previous traffic about the Boston Pub! The Photo in the Gallery is all we have now! The FORMER location of the Boston Pub is now a REAL ESTATE OFFICE! It is located as previously described, and easily discovered by a fire hydrant near the middle of the sidewalk where a drunk could trip over it.
You Huam residents will have to find (or buy) your own Pub! That may be a good idea! Foreign owned Bars in Itaewon get Business! (And have full size ceilings and bar stools!) I understand the VFW used to be in Huam Dong. Ask around and see if that location is now a bar/Pub.
I can heartily recommend the present VFW location as a watering hole, but it is over near Gate 3 (Walk-in-only Gate). You could drink there, and ride local Bus #2 (or is it #3?) up that steep, treacherous hill and back down into Huam Dong;the bus stops at the Woori Bank. (Probably the shortest run of any bus in Korea.) See our classifieds for bars in Itaewon. If one has a non-smoking area, let me know!