Saturday, February 26, 2011

Seoul 서울: Namdaemun Market 남대문시장 & Myeong Dong 명동

Since it's Saturday a huge group of us made a trip up to Seoul to do some sightseeing + shopping! We went to two tourist and shopping districts that are within walking distance to each other. First we visited Namdaemun Market (남대문시장). We found a place to eat first since our long journey made us all quite hungry. After eating we walked around the market for a bit, there are a lot of stands and a lot of people compacted in tiny aisles. To my Namdaemun isn't my type of district to shop in. They have a lot of knock offs and older style clothing. This just wasn't my cup of tea, I think there are souvenirs and such here as well but I didn't get a chance to see those. I still recommend you to visit here once if you have NEVER been to Seoul. It's got it's own vibe and the food here was great so if you don't like the shopping do the touristy bit and then grab a bite to eat!

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We then moved onto Myeong Dong (명동) which is a district that I LOVE. I like Myeong Dong because it's a combination of EVERYTHING. You've got your street food and street stalls all lined up on the main walkways. Then you have the middle range boutiques and shops plus restaurants all intermingled. Lastly once you cross the street you come to the department store which supplies you with the upscale! It is all here, literally, your one stop shopping destination.

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EXIT Number 6 on Line Number 4. This is the entrance into the wonderful shopping district of Myeong Dong!

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I personally didn't get much shopping done this time around besides my dorm essentials which I picked up from Daiso (다이소). Just like Japan and unlike Vancouver this is a 1 dollar store here in Korea. Some items are over 1000 won, but they don't go that far beyond it. I did run around with Olliver looking for a coffee machine we came back empty handed. However, I saw this UBER cute cup from Starbucks that I am so tempted in buying but it's 9000 won...we'll see.

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Here is Nathan with his fuzzy fox hat. This is the view from Yong San (용산) station as we waited for our Cheonan Rapid line train to head back to school. The tall building in the middle says Seoul Station Tower and in the last picture the building with the white lights it's actually a video or a digital light display or something. Things were moving and everything, really neat.

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1st picture everyone is DEAD tired from all the walking we did.
2nd Alli is super happy we're watching True Blood that night
3rd Olliver telling us something amazing I'm sure.

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Lastly this was my favourite purchase of the day! My Panda garbage can =) Ain't it the cutest thing you've ever seen (NAT every time I look at it, I think I see you...hahah). It's like Kung Fu Panda in garbage can form. 3000 Won from Daiso, oh yeah!!!

2 comments:

  1. hahahah
    you see me eh??? LOL! definitely kung fu panda. i'm glad i'm in your dorm room... though i'm not sure how i feel about being seen everytime you have something to throw away.

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  2. i LOVE the panda garbage can!!!!! <3

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