I've just about finished up my day here in Seoul. I'll be heading for the airport soon and then I have to just wait out the next 2-3 hours before my flight takes off for the last 1200 miles of this little Odyssey. Once it is over, I think the fun will just begin.

I began this morning looking through my aggregator and, in particular, reading Will's post on rural Georgia and some of the barriers and opportunities to young people. In the past, when I've traveled to Asia (and too a somewhat lesser extent in South America) it has always struck me as somewhat startling that you can see the juxtaposition of abject poverty with the very latest in technology and modernity. In many ways, the same is true here in Seoul. Take a look through my flickr stream and you'll see some photos I shot in the local market which gave me a sense of just how poor some of the folks are here. Prices were extremely cheap, animals being butchered and sold at incredibly cheap prices, rats about in open view (and not the cute Disney Rat-a-too-ie rats). While at the same time, of course, everyone has a cell phone, but more than that are the first class districts filled with Chanel and D+G goods less than five minutes walk away; not too mention the LG headquarters and all the other industry.

I guess my point, if there is one, is that the so-called developing world is facing many of these similar challenges - how do you deal with the stark differences in class and economy while at the same time protecting your heritage? Additionally, how do you provide the opportunity to all while not furthering the gulf between the rich and the poor? I've often noticed that once you leave Europe and the US the "price of people" drops dramatically. Here in Seoul, the same is true. At a number of locations, I saw people (usually 3-4) doing rather menial tasks (and it was clearly their job) such as sweeping water off the walkway around a building that we'd rarely see in the U.S. Over here, it is affordable to hire someone to do the sort of tasks that we just couldn't pay someone in the US. I certainly don't think what I'm saying is revolutionary, but it does make you pause as you're touring about.

Aside from this little diatribe, I had a very nice day here in Seoul. Good food, nice people, and the rain did finally let up. Heading off to the airport now ... more later.