(Myeongdong) Spicy Color

There's a new fashion franchise in Myeongdong called Spicy Color. The two Myeondong shops are basically around the corner from each other (near A-Land). I think it's being branded as an "Urban Lifestyle" store in the vein of "Urban Outfitters". It's also got a Japanese pop flair to it, so everything is ultra colorful. I decided to blog about it because it's been awhile since I've seen anything interesting in Myeongdong. Though not groundbreaking, I do like look seeing brightly hued merchandised arranged by color. I'm also pleased because I found a bright red tote bag that's perfect for work. It's made out of some rubbery plastic material that I hope will be light on my shoulder.

Items are moderately priced.

Info from the the website:

• 53-14 Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu SEOUL, KOREA02-3789-5424
• 54-24 Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu SEOUL, KOREA
• www.spicycolor.com www.fashionplus.co.kr

Elle Magazine puts out a publication called Elle à Seoul that profiles trends, eateries, and shopping destinations throughout Seoul. It's one of those magazines that I would never pay money for, but can't wait to read for free at a cafe or salon. I love looking at all the glossy photos of pretty things and pretty places. This month's issue has a feature on two of my favorite things: Dessert Cafes and Winter Street Food.

















I think the magazine did a particularly good job of capturing some of the most popular street snacks for the winter season in "겨울, 길거리 부페의 핫트렌드" (Translation: "Winter, Street Buffet Hot Trend"). I take some issue with the "Hot Trend" label. I mean some of these snacks (e.g, chestnuts and the sugar candy) have been around for a long time, but for the most part, it's a good list.

I wish I could provide you with a better quality scan of this article, but you'll just have to settle for my shoddy digital photography. Because I'm sure you're interested, here are my notes on each of these snacks. *Please note that the prices listed come from the Elle article. Actual prices may vary.



















(Clockwise, starting with the bun int the dragon's mouth)
1. 용알 (yong al, Dragon's egg, 2000 won) I've never tried one of these, but according to the article, you can find them in Insadong. They're little buns stuffed with different fillings like bulgogi-flavored or mandoo-flavored stuffing. I will need to seek this one out.
2. 미니와플 (mini waffle) This mini Belgium waffle trend really started popping over the summer, but continues to persist in its popularity. You can get the waffle smothered in various flavors of syrups, ice cream, and whipped cream, but I prefer to eat it plain, fresh from the oven. What's not to love about a warm, MINI waffle that you can eat on the go? Plus, it's usually only 1000 won.
3. 왕슈크림 (wang shu curim, King Cream Puff, 1500 won) I'm not a fan of cream puffs, so I can't really endorse this one, but I've seem them sold all around Myeongdong. Sold at 1500 won, they seem like quite a bargain, but having seen the vendors prepare the cream puffs at their street carts, I have to say, they don't look very appetizing.
4. 모둠꼬치 (modum kkochi, Assorted food on a stick, 3000 won). Chicken on a stick. Sausage on a stick. Heart attack on a stick. Processed meat on a stick is a favorite amongst carnivores on the run. The "stick" pictured in the article consists of mini sausages and ddeok galbi: rice cake encased by mystery ground meat. I'm a fan of the ddeok galbi concept, but am not really impressed by its execution. It's the darn sauce. The ddeok galbi marinade is a mixture of goju-jang, ketchup, and sugar, followed by a liberal stream of mustard. It's sauce overkill. Like most of the food-on-a-stick I've tried in Korea, ddeok galbi is worth trying, but I don't think I'd eat it again.
5. 회오리감자 (Cyclone Potato, 2000 won) It's basically a deep-fried spiral of potato. It looks really appealing, but is rather disappointing in taste. In my opinion, it tastes like a spiral of soggy potato chips. On the other hand, there always seems to be a ton of people eating these potato spirals in Myeondong, so there must be something about these potatoes that I'm just missing.
6. 꼬치옥수수 (kkochi oksusu, Corn on the Cob) It's corn on the cob. You can't go wrong-- unless it's been sitting in a vat of murky water all day long...
7. 달고나 (dalgona, 1000 won) This candy is also known as 뽑기 (bbobgi) because you're suppose to punch out the design impressed on the circle. I can rarely finish a whole candy on my own, but that smell of melted sugar and baking soda is sure hard to resist.




















(Clockwise, starting with the crunchy snacks in the baggy)
8. 강정과자 (gangjeong gwaja, starting from 3000 won) This is an old timey snack made out of corn powder and a bunch of other things. It tastes like a peanuty rice cracker.
9. 풀빵 (pul bbang, 5 for 1000 won) It's a bite-sized, crispy-ish glutinous rice cake filled with a bean paste. The bbang is quite unappealing when it gets cold, so you'll want to gobble them up as soon as you get them.
10. 딸기빵&똥빵 (Ddalki bbang & Ddeong bbang, 4 for 2000 won) Only found in Insadong, these bean filled buns come in two very appetizing shapes. (1) Dalki, a popular Korean character with a strawberry-shaped head or (2) a swirl of poo. I've already written about these breads, but to keep it short, they're pretty disappointing as far as bean-filled buns go.
11. 꿀타래 (ggultarae, Honey Almond Candy, 10 for 5000 won) If you've been to Myeongdong or Insadong, you've undoubtedly seen a stall full of young men in white hawking these sugary confections of honey and almond. They're a little to sugary for my taste, but the candy seems to be a popular take-home gift for visitors. Even more remarkable than the candy is the little show they put on when they make the candy. If you haven't already, you should definitely watch them do their candy spiel. It's quite entertaining. Here's some footage from youtube user 1wd13mp.
12. 핫바 (Hot Bar, 1500 won) There's always a line of people waiting for this fishcake-on-a-stick in Myeongdong, but I swear, there's only a line because there is a line. It's sort of a monkey see, monkey do phenomenon. I've tried one of the ggae-nip wrapped, deep-fried fishcakes. Nothing to write home about. I mean, you can't really go wrong with fishcake. Just be sure to eat it slowly. Remember, it's been deep fried, so it'll be hot.
13. 케밥 (Kebab, 3000 won) Some savvy folks in Myeondong have Koreanized the chicken "kebab" by changing up the seasoning on the chicken and smothering the wrap in, what's essentially, thousand island dressing. Again, I think they're a little to liberal with the sauce, but it's not bad.
14. 군밤 (gun bam, roasted chestnuts, 3000 won) I can't believe I haven't eaten any roasted chestnuts this winter. Having grown up in a chestnuts-less locale like Hawaii, roasted chestnuts were a special occasion snack that came sold in those fancy red paper envelops at the Japanese market. Chestnuts are even better in the Motherland because you can buy them already peeled.
15. 구운오징어 (gu-un ojingeo, grilled squid, 2000 won) The Elle article describes the 2000 won squid, but you must go to Myeongdong and spring for the 5000 won bag of squid. I have no idea what the vendor is called, but there's a stand that only sells grilled ojingeo, and it's SO GOOD. They manage to someone maintain the squid's chewiness, but still infuse it with a nice smoky flavor. At 5000 won a bag, it's pricier than other street vendors, but the squid is definitely superior. It's best enjoyed right after it's been grilled. Note to self: Take a picture of the squid and post.
16. 옥수수 호떡 (oksusu hoddeok, 900 won) This deep fried, sugar-filled pancake is a street food staple. Though a big fan when I first arrived in the Motherland, I'm no longer a fan of the deep fried hoddeeok. It's too greasy. I prefer the "diet" aka "Chinese" aka "original" style hoddeok. It's grilled (?) instead of fried. It kind of taste like a crispy flour tortilla with a warm, sugary center.

Okay, now I'm hungry.
I'm going to go find me some roasted chestnuts.

Trendspotting

Last year I predicted that Roti Bun was going to be a huge hit. Lo and behold, roti buns are almost as ubiquitous as coffee in Seoul. Despite being featured in KBS' megahit, Boys Over Flowers, I think the popularity of roti buns are on the decline (Sorry, roti buns. Korea is a fickle, fickle market.) Move over roti buns. Here are my picks for the next big trend items.



1. Turkish döner kebab
Anyone's who been to Itaewon a few times has probably discovered the awesomness that are Turkish kebabs for him or herself. Kebabs joints have probably been around in Itaewon for quite some time. I would say, however, that kebabs have only recently become popular amongst Koreans. Case in point, they now sell kebabs in MYEONGDONG. Once an item hits the streets of Myeondong it's no longer on the cusp of trend, it is a trend. The Myeondong kebabs have even been Koreanified, i.e., lots of mayo and cabbage. Also, if you've seen any of the newly renovated kebab joints in Itaewon, it's evident that the kebab business is poppin'.



















2. Forever 21
This trend item probably seems redundant given that in Standard American Mall English, "Forever 21" means "trendy." In my opinion, Forever 21 is a whole different animal in Korea. First of all, I don't know if it's just the merhcandising, but the clothes in Forever 21 Myeondong seem a lot more chic. It's definitely more expensive. Also, the Myeondong store is flanked by bodyguards in black suits and ear pieces, who all take their job very seriously. I loves me some Forever 21, but I think bodyguards are a little much. Anyhow, I've been seeing those horrendous caution-tape yellow bags all around town. Seoul folks are definitely loving Forever 21.




















3. BBang Faces.
I'm not sure what they're called, but these little cellphone buns are so adorable. They're also made out of some rubbery foam that make them so squishably lovely.



















4. Brunch
Brunch has been around for ages, but I definitely think that brunch is this year's roti bun. Everyone restaurateur and their umma is now serving brunch. Stroll around Itaewon, and you'll find that nearly every eatery now offers a brunch menu. It doesn't matter if it's Italian, French, or just a little cafe, they got brunch. Of course, brunch might consist of pasta and sausage, but it's called brunch.

Our latest brunch hotspot is Richard Copycat's All-American Diner in Itaewon. It's a cross between Hooters (without the "hooters") and a diner. Portions are very American, and the food's not half-bad. The staff all speak English.



















5. Cupcakes
This isn't quite a trend so much as a trend I'd like to see blossom. Cupcake bakeries have been popping up around Seoul, but I've been pretty disappointed by all the cucpakes I've tried. This weekend, while cruising the food hall at Hyundae Department Store (in the Coex), we discovered a new cupcake bakery called "Good Ovening." I have to say the cupcakes there are the prettiest I've seen thus far in Seoul. They definitely look like they could be delicious. Unfortunately, I had just started my obscene diet, so I couldn't sample a cupcake. Instead, I made Seong and Cyndi try the red velvet cupcake while I looked on :(

Cyndi & Seong said that the cupcake was tasty, though skimpy on the sugar and butter. The cupcakes, are apparently, lower in calories than most other cupcakes, hence the shortage of fat and sugar. The cupcake appeared a little too dry for liking, but I won't be able to taste them for myself until after my exam next week.

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.

Winter is All Around Me

Usually Christmas decorations are swept away as soon as the 26th hits, but Christmas still lingers in Seoul - trees, carols, Christmas themed merchandise -- they're all still around. Even though Christmas in the Motherland doesn't feel quite the same, I'm glad to see reminders of Christmas around town.

Even the buses are still celebrating Christmas. This weekend, Seong and I managed to catch one of those magical local route buses, charging throughout town, bedazzled with garland and lights (both inside and outside of the bus). As gaudy as they may be, these decorated buses make you feel special.















Though we've been working 6-7 days a week (We're done by 8:30, so it's not as bad as it sounds), we made the time to walk around Myeongdong, primarily to pick up winter accessories.
My memory's not so keen, but I swear, winter is MUCH colder this year. Or, maybe it's just the building...

The Hagwon is located in a newly built building, so the facilities are quite nice. It's just that the building was so poorly designed. First of all, the heater/air con is built into the ceiling. I don't remember much from my science classes, but I do know that heat rises. Heat doesn't fall down to short people like me. Secondly, the building is not well insulated. I can feel the cold air seeping in through the windows! We could complain to the building manager, but we're all a little afraid of him. He's like one of the bosses from a Korean gangster movie. We all decided to wear shawls instead.

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite winter accessories, essential to surviving a Korean winter (or a poorly insulated building).

1. Earmuffs (10,000 won). I don't know what I was thinking, but I left my earmuffs back in California. I picked up a new pair in Myeondong. I know they look rather silly, but they are very warm. It's strange that my ears are so sensitive to the cold, despite all my hair.















2) Finger-less gloves (10,000 won). There was a cheaper pair for 8,000, but I sprung for the thicker knit. I either wear these gloves under a pair of mittens or wear them while I'm typing away at the computer. They make feel like a cartoon bum, but I don't care. They're very effective.















3) (기모) Gimo Tights. I'm not sure what gimo means, but these tights are much warmer than an ordinary pair of tights. The tights are lined with cotton, similar to the lining in a pair of sweat pants. I know what you're thinking. Why don't I just put on a pair of pants? Firstly, jeans (even with the naebok) aren't that much warmer. Secondly, I prefer to wear skirts and dresses. Don't worry. I'm usually wearing boots when I head outdoors.














As much as I complain about the cold, I enjoy having a legitimate reason to wear such accessories.

Forever 21 in the Motherland

The thought of a Forever 21 launch party in Seoul is so strange to me on a couple of levels. First of all, as I mentioned previously, Seoul is basically one large Forever 21. You can find similar fashion items (if not the same exact thing with a different tag) for a fraction of the price in Edae, Kangnam, or Dongdaemun. Secondly, I still remember when Forever 21 was just a step above Rave or Jean's Warehouse, a place to buy your clubbing outfit for under $20. Now's it's become the mecca of the budget fashionista.

You have to admire the founders of Forever 21 for seeing the potential in Korean manufactured fashions and their ability to make it appeal to the American Mall demographic (i.e., Asian Americans).

Speaking of malls, Forever 21 had yet to open before I left, but I did see the Coming Soon signs at the newly built M Plaza (located right next to the Body Shop). I'm calling it. In about ten years, Myeongdong is going to become one big shopping mall. Yeah, I'm talking American style. Who knows? It may even have a Cinnabon and an Orange Julius.

Perhaps malls do not fit with the "here today, gone tomorrow" model of many small retailers in Seoul, but I think Korean consumers will quickly become accustomed to large, somewhat organized merchandise displays and air condintioning.

Mark my words.
(And if I'm wrong, I'm going to blame the economic woes of 2008)















I'll see you in December, Forever 21 Myeongdong.
If you're still there, that is...

Forever 21 Coming Soon to Seoul

A few weeks back, I noticed that they're constructing a Forever 21 shop in Myeongdong, which seems odd to me, because I tend to think of Seoul as one large Forever 21 store.

I know that their products are manufactured in Korea, but has Forever 21 grown so much that they're now considered "name brand"? I'm kind of skeptical about its potential for success since I can find Forever 21 type clothes for half the price all over Myeongdong, Kangnam, and Edae. I even remember buying a dress for man-won two summers ago in Edae, only to find the dress at Forever 21 for $30.

Just this week, we were looking around the underground shopping area at 고속터미널 when I spotted these earring for 1000 won a piece.


















Cyndi and I will be sure to check out the Myeondong Forever 21 before we head back to the Homeland. If the Myeongdong Forever 21 isn't open yet, I'm sure it will open soon. Shops are built at lightning speed in Korea.

Non-Beef Related Protest in Myeondong

Two weekends ago, on our way home from Myeongdong, our bus was temporarily waylaid by a crowd of protesters. I assumed that the crowd was an extension of the protests in Kwanghwamun, but it appears that these folks had a different agenda.

I'm not clear on their purpose, but a man held a flag that read "남북공동선언 실천연대." At least, that's what I think it said. Neither Cyndi nor I know what the phrase means. Cyndi says it has something to do with North & South.

I entered the phrase into Babel Fish (I know, I know. Don't ever trust Babel Fish translations). According to Babel Fish, the text means, "June 15 Joint Declaration practical regiment." I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the translation is quite off.

I will have to ask Heng about the meaning of the phrase, but in the mean time, you can check out a brief clip of the protests for yourself.

B.B. Cream

Although I don't wear a lot of makeup, I do like to browse around the various cosmetics stores in Seoul. Korea is a great place to purchase inexpensive, cutely packaged makeup. Korean women tend to favor more high-end department store cosmetics, but dozen of tourists often swarm to Myeongdong to get a small carry-on's worth of cosmetics. The most popular stores seem to be The Face Shop, Etude House, Missha, It's Skin, and Skin Food. Come to think of it, it's easier to find a cosmetics store than a public trash can or phone booth in Seoul.

With my eyelash extensions, my makeup consists of three products. In addition to my moisturizer (don't forget the SPF!), I simply put on some B.B. cream, powder, and blush.

Cyndi and I have introduced a few people to B.B. Cream, and they all seem to love it.

So, what is B.B. Cream?

"B.B Cream" is short for "Blemish Balm Cream. Unlike concealer, it both hides and soothes blemished skin. You can read more about B.B. Cream at this link. I'm not certain if it's helping to "regenerate" my skin, but it certainly does a solid job of covering my blemishes.

Most B.B. Creams come with SPF, so it offers added sun protection for your skin. The creams range in price, but usually start at about 7,000 won. Unfortunately, since it's an Asian product, the creams usually come in just two shades: Light-skinned and Light-skinned person with a slight tan.

Based on Bo Unnie's recommendation, I'm currently using the Missha B.B. Cream pictured below. My sister likes the It's Skin B.B. Cream, but I find that it makes my face feel a little more oily. The various cosmetics shops are very good about letting you test the products, so I suggest that you try out the product in the store (if you don't mind some sales clerks hovering around you).

You can also read this handy review of various Korean B.B. Creams.















Here's a brief demonstration of how to apply B.B. Cream. Basically, just gently dab the cream across your entire face.

Hair Styling Tips from a Myeondong Ajusshi

While JIm was looking at some hair accessories on the streets of Myeondong, we watched with amazement as the ajusshi taught some young Korean women how to put up their hair with a chopstick. I asked him to teach me, and he kindly let us record his tutorial on camera. He taught me how to put up my hair using three different accessories: an ornate chopstick, a long clip (salon style), and two mini clips. If you've seen my hair in person, you know that it's VERY thick and unruly. I was quite impressed that he could secure an up-do with just a chopstick or two mini clips.

If you are interested in learning how to put up your hair, you can check out the video or stop by his stand in Myeongdong. I'm pretty certain that I won't be able to replicate his styling, but I'll certainly try. The ajusshi is usually stationed across from the Cafe Baskin Robbins (near Buffalo and On Tree). I must warn you though, he can be a little overly friendly, if you know what I mean.

He may be a little sketchy, but he's great at twisting hair.

Ramen in Myeongdong

Cyndi and I finally found a decent ramen place. It just opened up in Myeongdong. The portions are quite large and the price of a dish averages around 8500-9000 won.














We also tried their donkatsu (pork cutlet). They use 목살. I believe that this is supposed to be a selling point, but I do not like neck meat. I can't imagine that anyone would prefer neck meat over the more succulent part of a hog. (Maybe a Cullen?)















If you'd like to check out the place for yourself, it's called Furusato (후루사도). It's above Missha, and right across from 명동교자.

Doughnut Plant

I've been wanting to check out Doughnut Plant in Myeongdong for awhile now, though that was primarily because I thought it was called "Doughnut Planet." We went there rather late, so they seemed to have sold out a number of their flavors.

Perhaps the donuts that they had in stock where there for a reason, because I have to say I wasn't impressed.















I was greatly looking forward to trying the doughnuts, because the menu featured all sorts of interesting options like PB&J and Valhorna Chocolate. They even have square-shaped doughnuts!

For some reason, I decided to skip the doughnuts and try out the sticky bun. It was 땡겨ing me. Bad call, Annalog.















Cyndi had the "Blackout," inspired by the rich chocolate cake of the same name. It wasn't that bad. I think it tasted more like a cupcake. It definitely tasted better than the One cupcakes from Shinsegae.















I had the "Sticky Bun." It lacked flavor, and was a bit on the dry side.














Piliksu had the "Vanilla Bean" doughnut, the so-called no. 1 selling doughnut. For a ring of dough saturated in oil, it was very dry. It was possibly the worst doughnut I've ever tried.














After perusing the Doughnut Plant website, I realized why I did not find the doughnuts to my liking:

NO TRANS FATS
NO PRESERVATIVES
NO ARTIFICIAL FLAVORINGS
NO EGGS

Despite the disappointing doughnuts, I'm sure that people will be be drawn to this hip-looking doughnut boutique. I saw another Doughnut Plant being built somewhere else in Seoul (Kangnam? Shinchon? I can't recall), so I think you can count on them to ride this current wave of doughnut mania in Korea, a trend which I hereby deem dollyu.

Annalog Eats: Cupcakes from Shinsegae

My sister can attest to this: I'm a terrible source of info for visitors to Seoul. In fact, my top three favorite spots in Seoul are simply:
1) Kyobo Bookstore
2) The Food Plaza in the Shinsegae Department Stores
3) Kangnam Undergroud Shopping Center

I realize that given the Motherland's rich culture and history, my list seems pretty lame. I hope to explore more of Korea's historical sites in the forthcoming months, but I'm pretty sure that my top 3 list will remain the same.

Though Korean department stores can be quite nice, I usually avoid them because the crowd of shoppers can be overwhelming and much of the merchandise is overly priced. There are only two reasons for me to stop in the department store 1) To escape the heat 2) To check out the delicacies in the food marketplace.

The food plaza generally features an array of artfully displayed Korean and foreign food items from various vendors. The food is overpriced, but as I've mentioned before, I'd rather splurge on a little cake, then a pair of designer shoes.

I especially like to drool over the beautiful cakes and pastries.

A few weeks ago, Cyndi and I discovered a cupcake vendor in the Myeondong Shinsegae Department Store. The cupcakes are made by One, a company that claims to make "Contemporary American Style cupcakes." (In case this impresses anyone, I should note that One is affiliated with the Chosun Hotel.) I was pretty ecstatic to see cupcakes in Seoul, but at soon as I laid eyes on the colorful cakes, I knew that I was in for a big disappointment. The frosting appeared grainy and the cake appeared dry. Nevertheless, I couldn't stop myself from buying a box (4300 won per cupcake).

Though the cupcakes were sub par, I did appreciate the pretty packaging. For 300 won extra, the cupcakes are wrapped in an adorable little brown box, tied with a pink bow. The alternative is a white box (no charge), which, as the saleswoman pointed out, will likely cause your cupcakes to tumble about and smear the frosting. Um, I guess I'll pay the extra won and preserve the appearance of my expensive little cupcakes?

I really hoped that the cupcakes would be semi-decent, but sadly, they didn't even come close. I'd rather drop 6000 won for some Duncan Hines cake mix in Itaewon than buy a cupcake from One.

If you want to watch me eat an over-priced cupcake or see Piggy before all of her hair was shaved off (I'll explain later), check out the video:

Heart Attack on a Stick

This is a Korean delicacy that can be found on the streets of Seoul. In case you can't tell, it's a deep fried corn dog, fused with french fries, and smothered in ketchup.
It's 100% FAT FREE. ㅋ ㅋ ㅋ.

걱정마요, 이모!

It's pretty nasty if you think about it too long, so you have to eat it quickly. Otherwise, it's very delicious. If my heart could handle it, I'd eat one everyday.

Happy Halloween from the Motherland

In honor of Halloween this year, I dressed up as Waldo of "Where's Waldo?" fame, and randomly posed among the crowds of Myeongdong, to the embarrassment, but also slight amusement of my unnie posse, Cyndi, Heng, and Bo.

By the way, did you know that Waldo is known as Willy in Korea?

In honor of Halloween, Annalog & Co. presents a very special interactive post. It's a multimedia extravaganza!

WHERE'S WANNA?


















Okay. This first one is very obvious, but I wanted you to check out the "sleeping" couple. Can you guess what item they're promoting? The rest of the photos are slightly less obvious, but still pretty easy. We didn't have the means to take any wide angled shots.



















































































HALLOWEEN MOVIE

I also enlisted the help of Cyndi to make this fun Halloween video. It's my first time using iMovieHD, so the clip is pretty short. I hope you'll take a look.


"This is Halloween"


Also, here's a special Hollaween greeting from Bandito & Stacy:
Look into their crazy eyes.

Namdaemun + Myeongdong

If you only have a couple of days in Seoul, and are in need of souvenirs, I recommend that you start off with the outdoor marketplace in Namdaemun. You can find just about everything at Namdaemun: Korean made, foreign "inspired" clothing, accessories, and bags; shoes; various household items; leather goods; blankets; kitchen utensils; Korean soccer paraphernalia, souvenirs with a traditional Korean flair; and various Korean street food, including marinated pig's feet. There's definitely an abundance of pig's feet.

With the number of foreign visitors that frequent Namdaemun, many of the vendors speak a few phrases of Japanese and/or English. It's an open market, so you're welcome to bargain. Cyndi and I are getting slightly better at bargaining, but our triumphs are quite small. It's very difficult to haggle over a few thousand won with someone that could be your grandmother.

I tried to chronicle the experience through photos, but the shop keepers can get quite irate when you take photos. What's the big deal? I mean, it's not like they're selling any illegally produced merchandise that violate international trademark laws. Right?

Here's a sampling of items you can find at Nadaemun:

Piles of ajumma clothes for approx $5 or less.














Various seafood (and soju) prepared upon order. I bet the block of ice was mandated under Korean health code regulations.














Korean utensils. After some smooth bargaining, Cyndi purchased a set of extremely lightweight chopsticks for 4000 won, but then found a vendor a few rows down that was selling the same set for 3000 won! Traditional Korean chopsticks, made of stainless steel, are thin and flat, but can be quite heavy and difficult to grip. Now days, people have started to use a more lightweight version that appears to be made of aluminum. I'm don't know much about the technological advances behind these chopsticks, but once I find out their story, I'll feature these chopsticks in their very own post.















Korean body scrubbers and crocheted little thingies. I've noticed that Korean women (at least Cyndi's aunts) use these crocheted doilies to clean their pots. That's a novel idea. I always thought they were potholders or used to showcase dusty, ceramic figurines and collectables.















Von Dutch, A&F, Nike, CK, etc... This place has everything your trendy little head could desire.














Various beans and vegetables? I don' know what that gelatinous brown thing is, but I am intrigued.














Leather and fur coats. That coat on the right was made out of 101 puppies.
Just kidding. It's obviously made out of baby cheetahs.














Korean souvenirs.














Wallets. I am told that there are different quality levels of imitation luxury goods. I've heard that the really high quality knock-offs are usually sold underground. I don't know about the grade level of the goods sold in Namdaemun. The branding and logos appear to be correct (so your wallet will say "Chanel", instead of "Channel"), but I'm sure that the handiwork leaves something to be desired.














Another great thing about Namdaemun is that its a stone's throw away from Myeongdong, another trendy shopping district. Myeongdong offers a nice contrast to Namedaemun because its filled with lots of modern boutiques and eateries, as well as outdoor vendors. Be warned though, Myeongdong can be quite chaotic during peak shopping hours (evenings, weekends, and holidays). Brace yourself for lots of pushing and personal space violations.

While in Myeongdong, I got to show Cyndi a variation of one of my favorite street snacks, 호떡ho dduk. As you may recall from my Edae post, ho dduk are typically deep fried. However, I prefer the Chinese style or "diet" version, where the cakes are grilled in a waffle iron-like apparatus, rather than deep fried. The end result is similar to naan or flat bread, filled with a warm sugary paste.

I always thought ho dduks were filled with cinnamon sugar and peanuts, but according to the sign on the truck, the filling consist of eight special ingredients, including ginseng. How can this be? There is ginseng in my beloved ho dukk?












































In Myeongdong, you can also help yourself to a towering serving of fro-yo for approximately $1US. This place boasts a cone that is 32 cm high, but we found a place a few blocks that offers a 33 cm high. Oh yeah. Competitive market in action!














My sister told me that the voodoo doll key chains are currently all the rage in the States. Pshaw. Those voodoo key chains were soooo last year. The U.S. may ignite the trends in plastic surgery, panty-flashing celebrities, and reality TV, but the cute trends all start in Asia. There's a whole lot of cuteness going on over here, but if I had to predict the next cute trend to head to the States, I would put my money on these guys: Big, button eyed, creatures of whimsy.
What do you think?





























Cyndi ordered some chicken curry for lunch. We were shocked when they brought out an entire deep fried chicken!














On our way to Starbucks, we spotted this cool Converse "Self Factory" truck. These mobile artists give new life to your old, beaten up sneakers with the help of a little color and sparkle. I'm not certain if Converse is affiliated with this endeavor (even though the name is on the truck). If not, they should totally jump back on this concept of the personalized sneaker. Have you seen such a service in the States?