I am @ Seoul

I am in Seoul this week on business. First visit and mightily impressed with the way Koreans use technology in day-to-day life.

Here are some first impressions:

a) Internet access is a roller coaster. Average speeds even in hotel rooms surpass 75 mbps (Almost 10X times faster than most parts of the world).

b) The audio guide tour at Korean palace museum relies on infra red to automatically recite the relevant information. Cafes use IR tokens that buzz when take-away food is ready.

c) Sub-way is efficient, ubiquitous and a great way to get around.

d) The palaces and cultural heritage centers have been very well maintained and most of them either have free admission or very low entry fees.

e) A big minus is the air pollution. Friends tell me it has now reduced but it is still very visible and casts a bad shadow over the city.

f) Today is the "Liberation day" in Korea and a national holiday. Coincides with our independence day.