The PJs that Saved Me This Winter

Okay, that's a bit of an overstatement, but I don't think I could survive this winter without the thermal sleep wear from UNIQLO. Trust me, I usually sleep with three blankets. Winter may almost be over, but these fleecey jammies of magic and warmth are definitely worth buying -- especially now, since they're on sale for 19,000 won (regular price, 29,000). I'm not sure how long the sale will last, so don't wait too long.

There a number of UNIQLO stores across Seoul, including Apgu (across from the Galleria), Myeongdong, Kagnam, and the Coex. For additonal locations, check out the company website.

w-store in Apgujung

Thanks to sheer brute strength and the aid of our shopping kuruma, Cyndi and I managed to move all of our junk in just two days. Now I can resume blogging about the mundane moments of life. Yippee!















While in Apgujung, we happened upon w-store, a new cosmetics drug-store type (because they don't sell any drugs) shop, similar to Watsons and Olive Young. The logo makes it look like a cellphone store, but step in and you'll find a dazzling supply of Korean and foreign import beauty goods.

I was tempted to buy a lot of prettily packaged lotions, toners, and creams that I would not know what to do with, but I held back and just picked up a few items that I needed. Yes, I am using the word "need" very loosely.















Item 1:
I decided to try out the L'Oreal Elseve Anti-breakage Nutrigloss Conditioner (Dang, that's a mouthful). It seems to be similar to the L'Oreal Vive Pro conditioner I used back home, only it's called "L'Oreal Elseve." Based on all the Japanese on the bottle, I'm assuming that this is the Asian version of L'Oreal Vive Pro.

Item 2: I bought an adorable contact lens tray that I had first seen at the eye doctor (Honestly, pun was not intentional). I like it because the "R" and "L" label are clearly marked, and the tray comes with a pair of tweezers in case I ever wanted to be hygienic. I was hoping for the extra large lens tray, about the size of a Nintendo DS, but I think it's only available for eye care professionals. The tray is made by a Korean company named MioTTiCa.

Item 3: W-store also had a bin of sample-size fragrances that were around 6900 - 9900 won. I don't think they are authorized to sell samples, but I picked up a couple of mini bottle for my sister and I because I thought it'd be convenient for traveling. I chose Anna Sui's "Magic Romance" and "Flight of Fancy."

In appreciation of my purchase, the store staff gave me a box of cotton pads, two sanitary napkins, and a full size bottle of Coogi Coral Water cleansing foam. Not sure if such generosity is customary or just part of their grand opening promotion. Probably the latter.

Afternoon Tea in Pretty Little Sinsa-dong

At the risk of sounding like a prissy little hipster wannabe, my favorite Seoul hotspot has become Karosogil in Sinsa-dong. Sinsa has even become a regular meeting spot to work on curriculum with my favorite colleague.

I've heard from a number of people that Apgujeong is where all the IT people go, but I think Karosogil in Sinsa is far more interesting. This particular road in Sinsa is full of aesthetically pleasing boutiques, cafes, wine bars, and restaurants. Yes, most of the eateries are foreign- themed. Yes, most of the merchandise is over-priced and can be found at half the price in Dongdaemun. Yes, you have to pay a pretty penny for such pretension. But, you know what? You can only stare at flashing neon signs and poorly designed buildings jam-packed with Love Motels and noraebangs before you starve for a little architectural eye candy.

Karosogil is quite small. It only spans a few blocks, but it feels much more fresh than Apgu. It's also less noisy and not as cluttered. You also don't have to worry about being run over by some foreign sports car leisurely cruising the streets for no apparent reason.

I rarely ever buy anything in Sinsa, but I still enjoy window-shopping and people watching.






































































I've noticed that the pedestrians (mostly young women) walking along Karosogil are very attractive; even more so that the folks in Apgujeong. In my opinion, the trendy women in Apgu seem like they're headed to a music video shoot, while the women in Sinsa are simply fashionably elegant women out for a cup of coffee or some facial cream from L'Occitaine. Meanwhile, the men like to sit near the window or patio, preening like the prized specimens that they are. It seems, however, that most of the women ignore them in favor of the cute dress in the store next door.

You may have to click on this picture to get a closer look, but I snapped this gang of skinny-jean boys. I say "gang," because the only reason for a group of young men to dress in coordinated outfits is because they're in some team or gang. I'm pretty sure these guys were part of an aspiring boy band. Otherwise, young men have no business wearing jeans that tight.














While in Sinsa last weekend, Cyndi and I had some afternoon tea at a little French cafe. The only other time I've had high tea was at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, so perhaps I'm just ignorant, but our tea platter was aju lame.











































The "Tea Platter" consisted of so-called tarts (in America we call these cookies), and a mismatched plate of savory bites.














I'm no tea connoisseur, but I don't think steak goes well with Earl Grey Tea.














Neither does a shot glass of unspecified meat. (I think it may have been pâté).















Despite the disappointing tea, I still enjoy Karosogil. Next time though, I think I'll stick to The Second Factory cafe and their paninis and waffles.

To get to Karosogil, you make take the subway to Sinsa station. Take Exit #8 and walk straight up the street for about 6 minutes or so, until you see a street sign that says "Karosogil." Turn left. You can also take the 1005-1 bus from Bundang and get off at Sinsa Station (Just walk towards Subway Exit 8). Karosogil is also walking distance from Rodeo Drive in Apgu (about 15 minutes). I'm afraid that I'm very bad with directions, so I can't give you any more specifics.

Passion 5 (Bakery)

After some delicious sushi at Sakanaya in Apkujung, we went with our cousins to Passion 5, an upscale bakery in Hannam (near the entry of Itaewon, across from the Samsung Leeuem Museum). Earlier that day, we had tried Passion 5's lovely puddings. I'm not really into pudding, but between the flavors and the chic bottling, I was hooked. I also tried their "Classic Chocolate Cake" and was quite impressed by it's full flavor and smooth texture. It was definitely a step up above Paris Baguette (not that there's anything wrong with Paris Baguette).

Queens Park Bakery

There is a plethora of bakeries in Seoul, but I find that most of them offer similar fare -- pastries and buns in a Frenchish vein.

Weaned on American delicacies such as box mix cakes, brownies, and Nestle Tollhouse cookies, I've become quite particular in my palette for sweets.

Until I recently got all the fixings to make my own brownies and cookies, I often stopped into bakeries looking for a brownie or chocolate chip cookie. Though not common, I've managed to find a number of brownies and chocolate chip cookies, but they've all turned out to be bland, dry, and definitely overpriced. Let's not skimp on the butter, people!

The only bakery that has come close to making a decent brownie is Queens Park in Apkujung. The selection of pies, cakes, loaves, and pastries all look very lovely, but I have to warn you, they're quite pricey. But, if you're like me, and willing to spend more on baked goods than you do on shoes or clothing, then perhaps Queens Park won't seem like such a bad deal.

In addition to baked goods, Queens Park offers a nice looking brunch and dinner menu. I've only sampled the baked goods, but I imagine that the sit down menu is pretty nice.

Good Eats: Kang Ho Dong's Samgyupsal

We really should stop eating at establishments simply because they're owned by some Korean celebrity. After getting our hair done at Leechul Hairkerker in Apgujeong, we decided to try out the restaurant owned by Kang Ho Dong, a mega popular TV personality.

Kang Ho Dong's 678 Samgyupsal was a major disappointment. The meat was overly thick and rough. I nearly broke a tooth while trying to chew the pork cartilage. The banchan was sucksville. The service was also lacking. I felt very neglected. Kang Ho Dong, we want our money back, or at least some free tickets to Yashimanman.

Anyway, check out the video for more detail.

Speaking of which, I think I need to stop with the videos. I seem to be losing all sense. My threshold for embarrassment seems to be on the rise. These videos have become some sort of shameless vice. I know I must stop, but I just can't seem to help myself...

머리를 했어요! (Haircut!)

I got a haircut!















Just kidding! That's just a wig that I borrowed from a mannequin in Shinchon.

You may recall, from the last time you saw us, that Cyndi was struggling to grow out her singed mullet, while I was just letting my multi-hued mane grow out like a wild beast. Well, we finally took care of our respective hair styles (or lack thereof).

This weekend we went to the trendy Lee Chul HairKerker (Yeah, I don't know what "Kerker" is either) in Chungdam (Apkujung). Cyndi had her hair done at Lee Chul last year and was really pleased with the results, so we decided to fork out the extra dough and check it out this time around.

Though the salon is quite pricey, you definitely get what you pay form in terms of service, ambiance, and styling. The staff is very friendly and attentive. We had our hair done by master stylist, and team leader Mr. Taek Kim . Though I was initially a little intimidated by his stoic demeanor, I was really impressed by his candor and understanding of my difficult hair.

Most people think I'm being silly when I say that my hair is difficult, but it is! Kim 팀장 totally understood my issues without me having to say anything. As he pointed out, my hair is quite thick and has a bit of a "wave" to it. Though I tried to contain the "wave" with a "magic perm" back in California, he commented that the perm made my hair look unnaturally straight. He also noted that if I were to cut my hair, the loss of weight would lead to, as I like to describe, an unbearable, puffy helmet of hair. Thus, he recommended a straight perm that would relax my hair, but also allow for a bit of a curl. I asked for the specific name of the perm, but he says that it goes by a number of names. This straight perm is the same treatment used in the States, and is supposed to be less damaging than the magic perm.

Oh! I forgot to mention the best part. Kim 팀장 lived and worked in Canada for a significant period of time, so he speaks English fluently. Now that I think about it, I haven't had a fluent English speaker do my hair in quite awhile, even back home in the States.

The bottom layers of Cyndi's hair were quite damaged, so he recommended that she cut it all off! Cyndi was reluctant, but like a soldier with gangrene, she knew what she had to do. Cyndi also has the same density and "wave" problem, so she also pama-ed it up!

For those of you blessed with beautiful, manageable hair that just falls into place when you roll out of bed, I thought I'd post a few photos to show you what some people go through to get lovely, white girl hair. :)



We wait and read magazines.














We get our hair chemically processed by apprentices.















We sit in front of strange heating apparatuses that, for all we know, may cause cancer.




























We sit around, sipping black coffee, as unknown chemicals seep down the sides of our faces.














We sit around, looking like crazy homeless ladies, with straws and tissue in our hair.














We do all of this -- just so that we can enjoy four to five months of smooth, shiny hair.

Now, as they do in America's Next Top Model, it is time to reveal the before and after photos:

BEFORE














AFTER














Doesn't she look like Snow White?


BEFORE














AFTER














The photos aren't the most flattering shots, but I think that our hairstyles are an improvement. All in all, Cyndi and I are pleased with our new do's, and will likely return to Lee Chul when
we need a fix-up. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but it's still significantly less than what I paid at El Camino Salon.

Speaking of ANTM, I spotted A.J. from Cycle 7 of America's Next Top Model , shopping in Apkujung. Cycle 7 is just now airing in Korea, so it was interesting to see her in person..