Bits & Pieces - The World & Me: Spring Waltz in Seoul 2012

10^th April 2012

Good morning!　안녕하세요!

How are you feeling today?? My foot is feeling a little better today. Thank you if you are concerned about it.

The weather forecast said that there will be showers over Seoul city today. It dampens our mood too because we planned for an eating spree. =(

Ohh…….. we will be meeting a friend from Singapore tonight. It is our first meeting and we are meeting in Seoul. 神奇!!!!

What's first on today's itinerary?

광장시장 Kwangjang Sijang (广藏市场)

Kwangjang Market is one of Korea's largest traditional market and is famous for its' abundance of street food. Many international visitors frequently visit to sample traditional Korean food. Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), bibimbap (mixed rice) and hotteok (pancake with brown sugar filling) are the market's specialties. The bindaetteok in particular is a must-eat dish in this market. Mung beans are soaked and then ground in between millstones into a batter, and fried up with vegetables or chopped meat (beef or pork). And yes, this (bindaetteok) was our reason for visiting Kwangjang Market again.

Mung Bean Pancake Store

Grinding mung bean into batter

It's time to fry.

This is our breakfast.

After our delicious breakfast of bindaetteok, we explored the market. There is cooked food area and fresh produce area. Just looking at the stalls and what they sell was interesting. There was also this ahjumma who could make kimchi in minutes!

Layout of Kwangjang Market

This is Korean style tempura but not deep fried.

Choose your own shoe size?!? @-@

Marinated seafood

Fish store

Vegetable store

Fish intestine soup ingredients

Embroidery Store

Salted fish and dried food store

Korean pastry

Bibimbap store

Looks nice

Pig intestine and chicken feet skin

Dessert

The ahjumma who can makes kimchi in minutes

Very skillful

Next was Namdaemun Market. We went to the wholesale market for accessories. Oh dear, it was really cramped and ‘messy’. Accessories were displayed everywhere and with plenty of designs for you to select. I wonder how buyers choose their goods. I’m already seeing stars just by looking at them. *Thumbs up*

Namdaemun Market

Bun store

Noodle store

Hair accessories store

Hidden food street

Very lively during lunch time

Kids and toys store

More hair accessories store

Mirror mirror on the wall.........

This is how narrow the walkways are!

Have you decide what to buy???

We had just started exploring the streets when it started to rain which spoiled our mood. As the rain was making it hard to shop around, we made our way to Myeongdong and took shelter in Noon Square (no photos as our main focus was finding where to sit and wait for the rain to stop). After a while, as it looks like the rain was here to stay, we had a quick snack at 명인만두 [Myeong-in Mandu] Myeongdong branch and then head back to our apartment for a short rest.

At 6.30pm, we met Hui Fen whom I got to know through Twitter at Dongdaemum. This was so great – first time meeting a new friend and in foreign land!! After meeting Hui Fen, we proceeded to Hongdae as we had planned to visit a Noraebang together.

First thing to settle, my stomach. We chance upon this good and cheap BBQ place in Hongdae called 구이가. The food was good!

BBQ restaurant in Hongdae

Can you see how cheap it is???

Waiting for our meat to be served.

Samgyusal and bulgogi

Meat on pan

Are you ready to eat???

This is Hui Fen.

The restaurant with Pris.

After a good dinner, we head to the Noraebang. We chose to go to the see-through one but we weren’t given a room with a windowL. However, it was still interesting and furthermore, it was REAL cheap – only KRW20,000 for an hour, regardless of the number of people. In addition, it is not compulsory to buy drinks!! We had fun!!