30 March 2026
First of probably many
Bibimbap in Myeongdong
Tonight I tried to go to the Shinsegae department store, but it was the stores day off. They do that apparently. They were still showing the BTS Arirang yacht dancing thing on repeat on their giant wrap around screen, even though according to many reports, the BTS post military service comeback was a flop with a lot less people attending than expected. That reminds me, what is the oil price? That is the second most important event in the world now other than BTS... OK oil price is up again, increasing the chances I will not be allowed to fly home due to lack of jet fuel.
So because Shinsegae was closed, I wandered down the road to the basement of the Lotte department store and had a rather ordinary bibimbap, probably the first of many.
There is one of the city gates, you will see it again later from out of my hotel window.
The Seoul tower in the distance, I will save going up there (on foot of course) for another night. Actually it is supposed to rain this evening, but so far at the time of writing, no rain.
I skirted the edge of Myeongdong. It was less busy on a Monday night.
But still quite busy. I like the yellow text on the road.
I think it is a bit rude to refer to this mildly disfigured unfortunate looking person as a monster.
Time to descend to the underground labyrinth of second hand record stores and second hand shoe shops. Yes they seem to sell used shoes.
Behold the first of many bibimbaps. Pretty ordinary to be honest. The stone bowl was however properly hot, I feel as though the only way they can clean the burnt rice out of them would be with an angle grinder.
And finally, as promised, the view from my hotel window. You can see the top of the city gate as shown in the first picture here.
Tomorrow, not a hiking day, possibly raining until the afternoon.