[Terry's Tale] Traveling Around

I know that most countries have public transportation systems to varying degrees, and most of these include railway systems of some kind. A few days ago, my friend Han, Wan-hui took me along with him on a business trip that sent us to a suburb of Seoul. The trip was nearly two hours in length and we rode initially on a train but, as we got close to our destination, we switched to the subway. The entire trip, one way (we had alternate means of return), cost only $5.50 total or $2.25 each! In fact, if I had just a few more years of age on me I would have been able to ride for free, that is, if I was Korean. I do not know that the arrangement applies to foreign nationals. Anyway, South Korean trains and subways are quite modern, comfortable, and accessible.

To be fair, the same accolades can be said of the bus system. When I first arrived in Korea on this trip I caught a bus at Inchon airport and rode straight to Cheonan in just 45 minutes. Had I gone by car the trip would have required more than an hour. Without doubt, South Korea’s system of trains, busses and taxis is second to none.

Cheonan Station, our point of departure

Many people use the trains to commute to work and thus the need for bicycle and motorbike/motorcycle parking.

And, the ubiquitous, wares-selling, kiosks

The point of entry

Automatic transaction machines for the sales of transport tickets

Pay telephones remain available, though they receive little use in this age of cell and smart phones

As in any western station, you can even find retail stores offering goods or services of some type - most often some type of fast food or high carbohydrate items such as doughnuts.