Headbands and High Heels

When in Rome do as the Romans do. This age old saying has its applications for just about any traveler anywhere in the world. I've succumbed to the chopsticks, the bowing and the soju, but there's just two things that I haven't been able to do is sport  headbands and heels.

On Headbands: Korean women have an obsession with both being cute and sexy at the same time. This is all fine and dandy, most women want to appeal to the opposite sex in both a girlish and womanly manner- but when it means wearing mickey mouse ears at the ripe age of 25, in my opinion it just doesn't work.

When attending any amusement park in Korea, girls, teens and yes, adults  wear ears. It's really big here. Headbands with bows and pointed prints can be spotted on just about every female. I've even witnessed a few adult males wearing them.

For picture purposes only, I tried on a pair. I was complimented beyond measure.  Trust me, its the last time I'll be putting those on.

On High Heels: Every woman loves a fabulous pair of heels. As my girlfriend pointed out, here in Korea, the minute your foot slips in to the heel, the countdown begins.  In Korea, you have to walk just about everywhere you go. The streets are uneven and there are times when you're walking for several miles- putting on heels just isn't an option. However, Korean women are all gussied up for just about any occasion and wearing heels it seems is their only option for footwear.  They wear heels hiking, touring and even at amusement parks. It's ridiculous to me, but I guess when all these women are vying for couple-hood they have to put their best assets forward. Most of my ex-pat (male) friends love Korea for this sole purpose.  The women here choose sex appeal over comfort every day of the week.

Yesterday, we attended a local amusement park here in Daegu. A total of 23 schools arrived with students in elementary, middle and high school levels. Some of the outfits I saw were, well, outrageous. They were at an amusement park for crying out loud. Mini skirts, false eyelashes and heels. I'm not sure about everyone else out there, but when getting ready for a day on the roller-coasters; heels and frilly dresses are not the first items to be pulled out of my wardrobe.  But this is Korea, after all.  Below are some high school students waiting at the park.

I guess the point is that when you are in Korea, try not to stare at the Koreans.