Seoul - 17 Dec
No wonder I am feeling the cold. The highest temperature is -4 degrees and the lowest -10 degrees.
Today I decided to take it easy on my poor feet. I went to a Jjimjilbang - the Korean version of a bathhouse. I paid 15 000 won and the counter lady showed me where to store and lock my shoes. The same key would open my locker where I can store my belongings.
I stripped and put on the shorts and loose top, as instructed by the guidebook. When I entered the shower / pool / sauna area, I realised there was nowhere to hang my top and towel. In fact, the middle aged guy and the old man were stark naked sitting in the pool. Well, when in Rome... I took a quick shower and dipped myself in the nearest pool. The water was not too hot. There were three pools - normal, green tea and ginseng. Frankly, they all felt the same to me. I also tried the steam room and the pinewood burning sauna. Smells of pine!
It was very refreshing and I had a chance to relax my feet thoroughly. After the break, I had lunch at a nearby Fried Chicken joint. Lately, I had developed a taste for Korean fried chicken and I wanted to see what it is like. The skin is crispy and the meat tender and there were a few types of dips.
I decided to go back to Korea House at Chungmoro where I bought a lovely scarf for my ex-colleague. (She told me she had finally gotten the transfer she wanted to another school.) I also bought a tie for my best friend at work. I managed to take a photo together with the pretty Korean girl who speaks English and is dressed in Korean attire. Haha.
I decided to also re-visit Isa-Dong, which had turned out to be my favourite place in Seoul. There were simply lots of things to see and buy. Bought a hand-made purse for my mom. I had coffee and New York Cheese cake at the coffee joint on top of Ssamziegil.
Dinner was at one of the old hanok houses converted into an eatery. I had shell soup and beef bulgogi. The unfortunate thing about eating in Seoul is that when you order a meal, it comes with at least five plates of side dishes. Inevitably, one of them is kimchi. By now, I can judge how good a restaurant is by the kimchi they serve! I notice that other people do not finish all the side dishes as well so there is a lot of wastage going on. (I did see homeless people who sleep in subway stations or by the doorways of shops along the street. The temperature must be terrible out there at night.)
On an impulse, I bought a small oil painting of a sheep in the form of a cloud. Very quirky and surreal.
Tomorrow I must visit one of the banks nearby and exchange some money. Money not enough 8-)
Today I decided to take it easy on my poor feet. I went to a Jjimjilbang - the Korean version of a bathhouse. I paid 15 000 won and the counter lady showed me where to store and lock my shoes. The same key would open my locker where I can store my belongings.
I stripped and put on the shorts and loose top, as instructed by the guidebook. When I entered the shower / pool / sauna area, I realised there was nowhere to hang my top and towel. In fact, the middle aged guy and the old man were stark naked sitting in the pool. Well, when in Rome... I took a quick shower and dipped myself in the nearest pool. The water was not too hot. There were three pools - normal, green tea and ginseng. Frankly, they all felt the same to me. I also tried the steam room and the pinewood burning sauna. Smells of pine!
It was very refreshing and I had a chance to relax my feet thoroughly. After the break, I had lunch at a nearby Fried Chicken joint. Lately, I had developed a taste for Korean fried chicken and I wanted to see what it is like. The skin is crispy and the meat tender and there were a few types of dips.
I decided to go back to Korea House at Chungmoro where I bought a lovely scarf for my ex-colleague. (She told me she had finally gotten the transfer she wanted to another school.) I also bought a tie for my best friend at work. I managed to take a photo together with the pretty Korean girl who speaks English and is dressed in Korean attire. Haha.
I decided to also re-visit Isa-Dong, which had turned out to be my favourite place in Seoul. There were simply lots of things to see and buy. Bought a hand-made purse for my mom. I had coffee and New York Cheese cake at the coffee joint on top of Ssamziegil.
Dinner was at one of the old hanok houses converted into an eatery. I had shell soup and beef bulgogi. The unfortunate thing about eating in Seoul is that when you order a meal, it comes with at least five plates of side dishes. Inevitably, one of them is kimchi. By now, I can judge how good a restaurant is by the kimchi they serve! I notice that other people do not finish all the side dishes as well so there is a lot of wastage going on. (I did see homeless people who sleep in subway stations or by the doorways of shops along the street. The temperature must be terrible out there at night.)
On an impulse, I bought a small oil painting of a sheep in the form of a cloud. Very quirky and surreal.
Tomorrow I must visit one of the banks nearby and exchange some money. Money not enough 8-)