Initially I'd planned this really ambitious day trip in which involved going to two major tourism spots in Gyeonggido (a province that is right next to, or more accurately, one that surrounds Seoul), but ended up changing the plans instead because YJ and I needed some time to get some more supplies for our room. We headed to Paris Baguette near Konkuk University and had our breakfast there before going around the area for a mini get-to-know with our surroundings near our dorm, and let me exclaim here once more that breakfast was absolutely glorious! Loved my strawberry milk because for some reason I was reminded of Super Junior Eun Hyuk when I saw it - he loves strawberry milk to some crazy extent, fans would know), and also, I got a cheese walnut bread - I couldn't understand why my tastebuds are luckier than me to deserve such awesome things when all it does it taste food and mix them around and fun stuffs like that... Really that good!
Walked around exploring the area and also, using some of those really measly amount of korean language and basic english, we asked for directions to the nearest supermarket, and seriously, no one here knows where to find supermarkets wherever we were! Or at least, those two women we asked. One just pointed to Watsons to us. Hmm. So we wandered by ourselves into Lotte departmental store nearby and through our instinctive style of searching for places, we finally found the supermarket. There's really no need rely on locals at all so far, haha.
Finished shopping for fruits, snacks and clothes hangers etc. before heading back to the underground station area where we saw lots of really cool food stalls on the first day we walked past here and said wanted to try them for lunch. Brought back some Kimchi Kimbab (so good) to the dorm to eat while we waited for Juai to be done with her lunch and stuff and then to meet her at the subway station to head off to NAMI ISLAND...In which the journey there was so long and difficult involving many many subway train stops (took like forever), taxi and ferry to get there. It was worth the trip, albeit tiring.
Nami Island became famous from being the shooting venue of a popular korean drama Winter Sonata (I'd never watched before though). It's absolutely phenomenal during winter, according to what I see on the Internet, of course. A little disappointed that it's summer now cos everything will still look green and not all whitish and romantic like what I saw on the internet. But still. Pretty good experience and a great reunion with nature -
really fresh air and breeze. Told Juai that I really want to come back every season just to see the trees change shades. Also, the next time I go, hopefully with a boyfriend? An awfully romantic place to go there during winter definitely, although it's gonna take some good amount of walking.
Loved loved loved the air and the breeze. I don't think I can mention this enough. Wish I could just catch the wind and upload here for all you readers to enjoy.
These photos were not all, but I think I'll leave some out for the sake of secrecy and mystique, or trying to act like it.
My standard full body shot again. Don't question me why but I like how I just stand straight right smack in the middle of my photos.
Dinner was this really huge hot plate Dal Kalbi (Chicken hot pot kind of thing). It was delicious, only a little spicy and best eaten wrapped between the pieces of veggies that came along with some of their many side dishes. Scrumptious.
This was before it was being cooked:
After:
It was a long day, YJ was almost tired throughout I know, and Juai and I were just crazily snapping away with our cameras. I with my phone, at least.
Again, ending off with me again.
And also, there was couple of people standing around to wait for me to finish taking with the Winter Sonata poster, and after I stood up, this Korean man totally said to me "O, BEAUTIFUL."
Which reminded me how ytd, while entering this leather bag shop Juai was in and talking to this lady shopkeeper, she looked at me and pointed at me to Juai, asking in Korean: "Your chingu?" Which means friend in korean. Juai didn't understand her so I said "Neh, chingu". Yes, friend. She was like, ohhh, and then she exclaimed to Juai "Your friend nomu yeppo!"
Sorry, I know this is too silly to talk about, but I'm just that overjoyed that in this beautiful land of too many other beautiful people, they actually complimented me! I really don't get that all the time, so I really really appreciate that, and these people totally made my day.
Days, actually. One per day in the two days I've been here.
My oh my do I love this kimchiland.
