14 September 2011
Insadong
Today I had to do shopping for various demanding people who expect shirts that say I heart korea, souvenir pickled dog meat, photos of Kim Jong Il looking at things etc.
I actually first intended to go to the national museum in the morning, but it was shut today, instead of Monday, which is a little bit confusing.
First I went to the Shinsegae department store, mainly to check out their fresh food basement, which was very impressive.
Next up I headed to Insadong, which is where many antique shops and art gallerys are. Lots of I heart korea tshirts are made in china and actually say made in china on the label. I dont know why they dont just pay the chinese to print made in korea like we make them print made in Australia.
I also managed to get a real Korean lunch here.
It probably seems as though I didnt do much, but I left at 8, and im only back at the hotel at 3:30.
The closed museum. It appears to be enormous.
Nearby Yongsan park, I read on wikipedia that the US Army owned the area where both the park and the museum are. They gave the area back to Korea on the condition it kept its football field. It did for a while but then Korea built the Museum on it. America got angry.
I find it a strange concept that America owned a large part of downtown Seoul and can tell people to maintain their football ground for them.
Lots of stores have identical setups to this, I am not sure what part of a pig it is, looks like an alien creature.
Basement of the Shinsegae store.
Which also has a roof garden which is pretty nice, but they try not to let you look over the edge...
I found something to stand on to take this photo. As soon as I had got down, a child climbed up in exactly the same spot I did.
Blurry photo, but theres a couple of variations of the portugese egg tart here, chocolate and caramel I think.
Restaurant I had lunch in looks authentically Korean, I asked if they serve ice cream, they said no.
Beef galbi, with the various side dishes, was delicious. Metal chopsticks make your life slightly difficult though.
A nice area of Insadong with lots of little stores selling expensive Korean paintings, carvings, tea etc.