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Seoul Here I Come ( first posted on thebarefootfoodie.org - 12 Mar 2017 )

 

Seoul Here I Come

MARCH 12, 2017BAREFOOT TRAVELS, SEOUL

Seoul is an exuberant city of indulgences where you can literally shop till you drop, eat like there’s no tomorrow with coffee in between and still soak in the arts and culture for an all-round experience. ( Many do get rounder afterwards )

This was my maiden trip and it kicked off with an ambitious whirlwind itinerary to do it all.  Actually, it went like this – Day 1: Explore Street Art in Ihwa-Dong, shopping and eating. Day 2 – Visit 2 UNESCO sites, shopping and eating. Day 3 onwards – shopping and eating…( Managed to squeeze in one visit to Leeum samsung Museum of Art )

Shopping

On Common Ground

This is the world’s largest cargo container mall and every instagrammer’s delight! Think street style, indie fashion, grunge and one-of-a-kind stuff that you can strut around without fear of bumping into copycats. After getting your shopping fix on the first and second floors, head up to the third floor roof terrace for a bite at a trendy restaurant, or back to the ground floor for a quick snack from one of the food trucks. All in all, there are some 200 containers lined up for you. Opens everyday from 11 am to 10 pm. Take the subway to Konkuk Station on Line 2 or Line 7, get out through exit 6 and walk straight for about 250 m.

This one was calling my name – made from recycled canvas
Tucker Truckers

Underground is the way to go shopping in Seoul instead of jostling with the crowds in the much touted districts. You can find the top 5 listed in this article at english.visitkorea.or.kr  These malls offer a staggering variety of shops at better prices. You also get easy access from subway stations, stay dry from the rain and keep warm from the cold.  Wished I had done better research before the visit because I wasted precious time at Dongdaemun and Namdaemun ( go only if you like aunty fashion ) Managed to pick up some good bargains at Goto Mall, also known as Gangnam Terminal Underground Shopping Centre – Express Bus Terminal Station, Subway Line 3, 7, 9 Exit 8

The university precinct of Hongdae , around Ewha Woman’s University, has a good selection of trendy wear at prices which will not break the bank, when you do decide to surface above ground.

Seoul is also the land of quick fixes for the vain. You can opt for the permanent, temporary or anything in between. I see many good-looking people on the streets and reckon something is working. I asked my Korean friend for the secret of their eternal youth and she replies ” good skincare habits” and Ohui. Ah, that’s a new four-letter word I’ve not heard before. Now I can rattle off that it is a premium line of cosmetics, created by LG, yes, that company.  I took my friend’s advice and brought some skin food home, along with mega packs of skin masks which got cheaper by the day.

Skin Food to last me for a long, long time ( there are multiples of these )

 Coffee 

There is seriously good coffee in Seoul, and I’m not referring to the lattes and cappuccinos. I tried Coffee Lab and Alpine Lab for the most indulgent and divine caffeine concoction and even went back to Coffee Lab again for seconds.

Affogato – Espresso with Frangelico ( hazelnut liqueur ) and vanilla ice-cream
Day & Night in Seogyodong – espresso with cognac, vanilla ice-cream and dark chocolate

Eating

I need to return here again and again to be able to experience the whole gamut of offings. Being a small eater does not help much. So I had to be selective in my choices. It boiled down to Bulgogi, Ginseng Chicken, Korean Oven baked chicken, Army Stew, Galbi Jim, Bibimbap, and the Snow dessert, among the usual suspects. I am a satisfied customer indeed. Burp!

Seafood Army Stew at Namdaemun Market
Galbi Jim – Braised Short Ribs
Samgyetang at the legendary Tosokcon joint
Bulgogi at Wooraeoak
Oven baked spicy Korean chicken with ice-cold beer at Hongdae
Grilled Squid
Cupcakes with Latte
Snow dessert at Ihwa

Seoul so good, I’ll be back for more!

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