T-money

I think about the transit card in my pocket.

The T-Money card costs 2,500 won to buy, plus whatever credit I topped up.

It covers all the city buses and the KTX local rail network.

Using Naver Map instead of Google Maps saved me hours of confusion.

Rent starts around 40,001 outside the center.

Use a T-Money card for the buses.

It saves time and hassle.

And if you are staying longer than 90 days, start your ARC application immediately.

The total comes to 8,001, about $6.

I pay with my T-Money card, which I loaded with cash earlier at the station kiosk.

Using the card is essential in Korea.

It works on buses, trains, taxis, and even in some vending machines.

28 degrees feels manageable when the breeze hits you directly.

I tap my T-Money card at the gate.

The machine beeps once, a sharp electronic chirp.

That is the sound of Korean transit.

I need to get there before the evening rush.

The city bus is run on a T-Money card, which I bought at a convenience store for about 2,500 won.

I tap the reader, nod to the driver who does not look up from his phone, and settle into a plastic seat near the back.

The bus rattles along National Route 17, past industrial zones and low-rise apartments, heading toward the water.

Jianzhou is an affordable city, no question, but transport is the one thing that's been creeping up.

I swiped my T-Money card, which I'd picked up at a GS25 convenience store for about 4,001, and found a seat near the back.

The zoo was quiet in the drizzle, mostly families with umbrellas and a few patient souls like me.

The lemurs were indeed not on public view, and I didn't push it.

Jianzhu has taught me that you can find a rhythm anywhere if you're willing to walk in the rain and follow a parade flag.

That's it for today's wandering.

Everything I've mentioned, from the parade to the zoo to the MacGialli halls, and where to book a Hanuk stay or sort out your T-Money card, is in the episode notes.

Tomorrow, the paper museum and the slow business of making a home.

The city bus fare went up to about 1,701, the highest basic fare in the country apparently, so I've been walking a lot more than I would otherwise.

A T-Money card is essential.

You can buy one at any convenience store for around 4,000 won and charge it with cash.

For short stays, the prepaid SIMs at the airport are fine, but for a longer stretch, you'll want to get a postpaid number registered under your ARC at a carrier store.