Last year this time, we were having our honeymoon in Europe and I've not stopped missing the places we went ever since :(
This October, we went to somewhere nearer - Seoul.
Took the Cathay offer and in the 2hrs transit in Hong Kong, we couldn't not eat the food.
Although we have had dinner during the flight and it was almost 11pm, nothing could stop us.
2hrs transit is easy peasy, especially in an airport that has much to eat and see.
After embarking on another 3hrs plus journey, we reached Seoul at 545am their time (they are 1hr ahead of us).
Bus 6015 that would take us to Ibis Myeong Dong's doorstep.
First bus only arrived at 6am and it took us about an hour to reach.
I was snoozing in the bus after not sleeping much in the plane.
Pro of arriving early - maximise time spent in the country
Con - hotel room is almost never available
Got a shock when they told me our room would only be ready at 2pm!
I wasn't dressed for the weather, not made up and shops were not even opened, boo hoo.
Felt better when the check in counter told us our room would be ready at 11am instead.
And so we slept at the lobby - very unglam I know - till about 9am to go to the cafe beside the hotel which opens at 8am (I think).
First meal in Seoul - sweet potato & peanut toasts.
Not cheap at all!
We were done at about 10am and I decided to try asking for the room.
And we got it :)
Napped for a while and I chased Mr. Grumpy out because I didn't believe in wasting time sleeping.
Walked around Myeong Dong and happened to walk to Nandaemun Market.
Only managed to get 3 tops at a mall that looks like Platinum Mall, Bangkok but prices many times more.
Chanced upon this lady selling egg sandwiches and decided to ignore the language barrier to order it.
Wise choice made!
Was a little disappointed how little shopping I did and by then, we were both pretty tired from the lack of sleep. The sky getting darker much earlier didn't help too - makes you feel like it's really late.
Decided to look for dinner and randomly walked into one of the restaurants.
His bbq beef.
My seafood pancake & rice cake (not in pic).
This is Myeong Dong, just beside our hotel. These look like roadside or what we call pasam malam stalls but the prices not at all. The cheapest item usually costs at least S$10+.
Then we found this potato chips. I thought it looks like what I had in Phil and was a little disappointed it didn't taste as nice. Mr. Grumpy loved it still. This row cost us S$2+.
After what seemed like quite a long day, we decided we were done for the day and recharged for the next day's tours to Dongdaemun and Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Breakfast - dan dan aka egg egg
Very yummy.
Walked further down and we ate again.
Egg sandwich - yes, we ate eggs everyday!
I don't know why, I tend to go to the 'wrong' places that people highly recommend.
Everyone says there are lots to buy there yet I found nothing!
And then we moved on to the palace.
And the museum - trying to be more cultured.
The signature against the wall shot :)
And we chanced upon Seoul's 'Istana'. Funny, we saw a group of tourists with 2 monks, bowing in front of it.
Since I didn't shop at all at Dongdaemun (and I must), we went on to Hongdae, a place my sis in law recommended and we both loved it.
It's something like Holland Village and the people there are all so young, hip and good looking.
I felt ugly!
The strange thing is the Koreans there spoke to me in Korean.
Can't they see my flat nose and far from perfect features?
I think it's probably my complexion or they were just trying their luck since they wouldn't know English anyway. I met a few who, once I told them I don't understand Korean, shrugged and walked away. They weren't rude, just not trying, ha.
I was so happy when I finally found a pair of pants and a dress at Hongdae, considering they were selling mostly winter wear.
Mr. Grumpy's patience is limited so being the nice wife I am, I have to know when to stop. At least for a while.
Dinner at a place that claims their noodles are better than pasta but it's nothing like what they said.
Not that it's not delicious but I think they bragged too much on the signboards. Either that, we were just suckers for advertisements.
Mr. Grumpy surrendered after dinner and left me to shop for about an hour while he drank at a pub.
When I combed almost the entire area and learnt that I would not have bought anything more, we left for the hotel.
Not feeling very full from dinner, we bought more junk food....
The star biscuit is really sweet, made of caramel I think. We wanted to buy the one with a heart shape but the lady seller offered Mr. Grumpy the 'star'. I think he secretly thought he's a star.
Back at the hotel, I was complaining about the lack of shopping on Facebook and his cousin was making a few recommendations.
Thanks to her, we found some new places.
Don't know if it's the late night facebooking or the lack of sleep accumulated from the previous nights, we woke up at 12pm local time on day 3!
Wanted to have breakfast (or rather lunch) at this porridge restaurant but it was under renovation.
Went to this instead and continued to go back for the next 2 days.
I'm not a porridge fan but I liked it. The omelette was damn good too.
He and his soju.
And our first stop - the National Museum of Korea, which is somewhat similar to the National Palace Museum we went on Day 2.
After which, we headed to War Memorial and wasn't able to spend enough time cos we were chased out at 5pm.
Not giving up on my shopping, I dragged us to Itaewon which is full of tourists (mainly non Asians), some drunkards and rowdy people. Didn't like it much but managed to get a vintage dress at a decent price. Because the place made me feel kinda unsafe, we decided to head back to Myeong Dong for dinner.
We stopped by the mall at Myeong Dong and I swept 7 dresses in just one shop. He dragged me out right after I paid and I know better than to stay any longer. I would have done more damages to my pocket.
Finally went for dinner - his big sized spicy pork cutlet and my fish cutlet with udon.
Followed by dessert :)
Day 4 started with porridge at the same place again.
And it was training for 30mins to Lotte World thereafter.
Entrance fee is about S$30 per person and because I was too scared to take any rides, I felt it's a complete waste of my money. Unlike USS, there aren't a lot of photo opportunities so I would say go if you are taking the rides. Otherwise, save the money.
It was also on day 4 that it started to get chilly and rainy.
By night time, it was freezing and I was doing some last minute shopping, trying hard not to miss out anyone.
More masks.
And then Mr. Grumpy discovered this lane where there are lots of eateries but I found more shopping instead, ha.
Like I said, I really when to stop so I had to pacify him a little with food.
Last dnner in Seoul - pan fried seafood which is really spicy.
But yummy!
Poseur with his coffee.
Last day in Seoul started with kimchi fried rice, done on the spot at your table at the porridge place.
And omelette again :)
And then it was time to bid farewell.
It was freezing by then (at least for me) but I saw girls in mini skirts and men in just a shirt. How do these people do it I really wonder? And no, they are not fat.
If you ask me what I think about Seoul, I would say it's alright but I don't think I would return. Things are expensive and being a shopaholic (kinda) who perhaps went at the wrong time, it didn't quite work for me. Ok, to be fair, I managed to buy 20pcs of clothes so I guess it's more of the prices - I'm a cheapo shopper.
If you are worried about the language and people pushing you, fret not. There are lots of Chinese working there and the train stations have very clear signs in English. It's very easy to get around by trains and I've only been pushed once, by an old lady who had a lot of space to walk yet chose to push me. I uttered 'stupid woman' very loudly after she did that but you don't have to do what I did.
So, it's fine to go free & easy in Seoul and who knows, you may get lucky or are smarter than me to find good bargains :)
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