First Seollal in Korea~ Gangnam, Seoul

January 2012. So, my first seollal in Korea came to an end after staying 4 days in Busan. On the 5th day, we left Busan and head to Seoul and stay in Gangnam for 2 nights before flying back to Malaysia. It's my first time exploring Gangnam half day alone without him as he needs to be away for a business meeting. After lunch together at Gangnam station underground shopping centre, he left for meeting and I continue witth browsing and shopping. Manage to get sis the skincares that she asked for while waiting for my student Sung Jin finish work and meet me up. Finally met up with Sung jin for coffee and we had a long chat with his not-so-fluent English as I am still bad at having conversation in Korean lol. After buy Sung Jin dinner at the Korean-Chinese restaurant that he chose, Oppa finally finish his meeting and meet us up before we part ways. 

While walking back to our hotel, we can't resist the smell of boiling Tteokbokki and Odeng in this cold winter and end up takeaway tteokbokki, odeng and sundae back to hotel as supper. I guess I must be too tired in this trip for all the long distance travel (Seoul-Busan / Busan-Daegu-Busan / then Busan-Seoul); the next day dawn when we travel to Incheon airport via AREX, I felt so unwell and throw out everything I ate yesterday inside the train (so sorry to the train assistant who has to clean up for me...). I end up sick for a week after back to Malaysia where doctor diagnosed I am down with indigestion. 

Last day in Seoul~

January 2010. We spend our last 2 days in Korea in Seoul. We head to Seoul via a midnight express bus from Busan and arrived at Seoul Station before dawn. While waiting for the first subway train starts operate (we will take subway to our accommodation in Seoul Station, I saw McDonald's and Lotteria just side by side and was amazed with it. Oppa said lets have super early breakfast at Lotteria since I have been wanted to try Lotteria when we were in Busan. Lotteria is the biggest fast-food chain in Korea and it is like the Korea version of McDonalds as both have many similarity in their menu and packaging. Burges and fries, fried chicken, meals set with toys, ice-cream and even shake-shake fries (that we always eat at McD). However there are something Lotteria have that McD don't offer~ Shrimp burger and Hanwoo burger (Korean beef burger)~ and that's what we chose and it is really tasty!! 

Took the 5.30am subway to Jamsil where we will stay for one night. After sleep for 2-3 hours, we wake up and head out to Lotte world for lunch. Finally I am here at Lotte world~ I have been wanting to see the Carousel after watched the Korean drama Stairway to Heaven. Sadly, there's no way can be see from outside thru the glass window unless we buy tickets to enter the theme park. But it is really waste of money since we have no time for the theme park - it's a huge theme park with indoor and outdoor like Disney world. So I will leave it for next time then, I will be back someday anyway. We choose to have Dolsot Bibimbap for lunch and my Dolsot Cheese Bibimbap is so addictive~ never know gochujang and cheese can be such a great combination for Bibimbap! 

From Lotte world, we take subway line 2 for 2 stops to Samseong-dong COEX mall and look around at the central of Gangnam District. Snow pile up everywhere outside as it snowed heavily last night. Thankfully it stops snowing today so we get to walk outdoor more but not just indoor. 

From Gangnam, we take subway to Dongdaemun. A group of white Darth Vader is doing dance performance on Girl's Generation's Gee when we arrived, so cute! That's Cheonggyecheon Stream that flows through the heart of Seoul (from Dongdaemun to Gwanghwamun) and Dongdaemun shopping district / wholesale town behind me. Initially we wanted to take a stroll along the steam from Dongdaemun slowly to Namedaemum but our plan changed after we saw the snowy path. The fortress that guarded Dongdaemun since 1398 is Heunginjimun (also known as East Big Gate). There are also North, South and West Gate - Eight gates in total with four big gates + four small gates around Seoul. 

From here, we slowly walk to Myeongdong. When we reach Myeongdong the sky already dark at 5pm in Winter and temperature drop below 21 Celsius. This year happens to be one of the coolest winter for Korea, too cold to stay outdoor long hours, we then went for early dinner at Andong Jjimdak at Myeongdong 10-gil. Andong Jjimdak is Korean braised chicken dish where you can choose to add noodles (tangmyeon or udon). It's my first time trying Andong Jjimdak, I find similar to our Chinese braised chicken dish. After meal we went for quick shopping at Myeongdong and I managed to get Korean skincare products and clothing that is Made in Korea for myself and my family before we go back Jamsil.