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Night Shopping in Dongdaemun

1/22/2014

There are some things that one needs to experience in life.
Night shopping in Dongdaemun is one of them.
Suck it up, stay up late and hit the roads of Dongdaemun at 11PM.
I promise you will see things that will make you shake your head in confusion.
For example, this guy lounging in the street.

Packages, packages and more packages.
People shop, dump their stuff on the street and go back for more.

It appears some 'package areas' have a system.

While others do not.
The crazy thing about all of this.
No one steals anything.
It is all safe just sitting there on the street.

How awesome is that?
Can you see my friends in the next picture?
Someone did some serious shopping.

While out night shopping you might see men's napping tights...
I should have bought some for Hubby...

You will be able to find hats galore...

You might even find a little ol' lady in a box.

Or a chair on the street in case you are feeling a bit tired....

And just in case you need it, a mobile stationary store.

Need your stuff delivered?
No problem there are tons of deliver men waiting to be hired.

You will even find some tasty treats (and some not so tasty treats) on the streets of Dongademun!

2AM & we are finally DONE!

The yellow tents open around 10PM.
I think the malls around 10AM and close at 4AM.
Purse Haven opens at 1AM.
Most things stay open till 4AM.
To get there go to Dondaemun around the Milgore... you will see the yellow tents across the street.
Just explore!
Don't be afraid to go in every building or down every alley.
There is no telling what you might find!
Happy shopping!

14 Comments

Not Quite Right #49

1/22/2014

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Tomorrows post is on shopping.
Thought I would give you a little preview to help get you in the mood.
Night all....

No discount for you!

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Not Quite Right #48

1/19/2014

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I'm a little tired....
I think I'll just rest right here in the street.
I cannot make this stuff up.
WHY...WHY would he rest in the street and not on the sidewalk??

2 Comments

Seoraksan - Hiking Biryeong Falls

1/18/2014

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Our kids adore us, especially when we are on 'vacation' and we wake them up at 5AM to go hiking.
I'm talking A D O R E baby!
One has never heard such excitement.
They even adore us more when they get outside and realize it is MUCH COLDER than anticipated and their hoodies aren't cutting it...
Then we make them run to warm up.
I'm telling you, they adore us.
I can't wait to hear the stories they tell as adults.

The truth behind the wake up: Hubby woke up in a frenzy looking for his phone. HIS PHONE....do you know why? He needed to check the score of the Bronco game. During the search for HIS phone (he couldn't use mine...and it was sitting in plain site - right out in the open!) he turned on lights, tripped over kids (remember we are on a Korean holiday....floor sleeping is the norm!) and made LOTS of noise. All to check the scores at 5AM. AND then we had to hike early so we could make the 3.5 hour drive back home so he could watch a game.

Who does that?

In the end it turned out to be PERFECT.

We only passed one other person on the trail.

So quiet.

So peaceful.

Just us and nature.

I would totally do it again.

This is a super easy hike.
The only 'hard' part are some stairs, but there aren't that many.
Distance is 2.4 KM each way and it took maybe 2 hours with lots of stopping.

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Hiking Seoraksan - Ulsan Bawi Rock Course

1/17/2014

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One of our favorite things to do in Korea is to hike.
I was particularly excited to hike Seoraksan in the fall.
Ahhh, Beautiful Korea....

I'm not sure what these roof tiles were going to be used for but I thought they were super cool.

There are even crowds on the hiking trails in Korea....

Girl wasn't feeling well so Boy 1 stayed at the base of the mountain with her. I think it was a ploy because when we got back they had been having a great time hanging out together - they had played in water, skipped rocks and texted me a million times asking when we would be done.

On the mountain the boys were getting along great...I love it when that happens!

Not even close...

The views on this hike was A M A Z I N G ! !

I can't get over it.
Koreans can drink.
Even at the top of the mountain they stop for a little makkoli!
I'm afraid I would fall down and break my neck!

We made it!
4KM to the top!

This our stunning view!

Heading back down.

3.5 hours from home and we run into friends on the mountain.
I'm always amazed when something like this happens.

This took about 4 hours round trip.
It was tough in some areas.
Not for the faint of heart.

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Our Seoraksan National Park Weekend Getaway - Just Getting There Was an Adventure....

1/17/2014

5 Comments

This past November we all hopped in the car and headed to Seoraksan National Park in our awesome $2,000 hooptie that I wasn't sure would make it. I mean she has been sputtering, dying and really just being down right feisty for the past couple of months - I've been praying that she will just make it till we move in June. I was prepared to have another Korean adventure of being stuck on some random street up in the mountains while she was being repaired. Good thing that didn't happen. Ends up I think she just needed to get out and feel the breeze on her bumper and get some fresh air in her engine. Anyway she's been running awesome since we took her over 20MPS. :o)

SO, I think it took us about 3.5 hours to get to Seorak (that's what happens when I don't post right away...I forget. I need to start taking notes) and we saw things we can't undo. I'm going to share them with you. If you have little people in the room, well, it is probably too late....I'm sure they already saw this picture. I'm sorry. If you want you can have them call me and I will explain it to them.

Yes.
That is what you think it is.
A GIANT PENIS STATUE.
In fact this was a penis statue buying area.
Buy them for your yard, buy them for your car, buy them for your house.
You can buy them to take SHOTS IN!!
You know because you can NEVER have too many penis - peni? I don't even know.

While on the way to our hotel we say signs for the DMZ, so we detoured.
We passed through too man rock drops....

And I ask hubby to drive extra soft though the mine fields.
Are you kidding me?!
I was afraid if we had a blow out or our hooptied died we would surely be goners.
Thank goodness that didn't happen.

This is North Korea.
We weren't allowed to take pictures but I'm a rebel.
I was that close.

As we were trying to find our hotel all the young'ens were complaining that they were STARVING so we found a place and went in. Only to find out this is what they served:

OK...this is the part of my blog where you might decide we need to break up. If that is the case so be it. It was nice knowing you. But we had to. We were there and while in Korea you know...

If you don't want to know what we TRIED, skip this part. Don't read anymore. Go down to to the picture of the piles of poop pillow hammers. I'll leave some empty space. Close your eyes and scroll.

It was dog.
I know, I know.
I never planned to try it, but when you happen upon a restaurant that serves it and all the stars are lining up....well you do want the universe is asking you to do.....I know many of you would not listen to the universe and you would turn around and RUN, but not me....I embraced it. Sucked it up and continued on.
Plus, I am here to tell you that they don't kill your pets...they breed a certain type of dog for food.
Just like cattle, pigs and chickens.
And dog as food is REALLY, REALLY bad.
My stomach churned before I tried it.
The smell was enough to knock your socks off.
And when it hit my mouth I wanted to spit it out.
I'm talking NASTY.

Good thing they had other things to eat.
It was never on my bucket list, but I added it and checked it off.

YOU can start reading again!
Korea is not only obsessed with the penis, they also have an odd amount of poop things here too.
Poop hammers.
I don't even know.

Next up.
Hiking.
I think it should be a clean post.

5 Comments

Tuesdays With Trish - Noodle Lady

1/12/2014

4 Comments

When you go to the Noodle Lady's house for lunch it is like you are going to Grandma's house.
Your sassy grandma's house.
I mean look at her! How cute is this woman?

Honestly I would have NEVER in 1 million years gone up that staircase because I would have never known this is a restaurant. The only 'sign' this is a restaurant is that little 'sign' above with Korean writing and a phone number. Who knew?! (Well I guess if I read Korea I might have been able to figure it out....)

Kimchi pots full of kimchi goodness.

Here is the menu.
She has noodles.
2 different types of noodles and kimchi mandu.
I'm not sure if kimchi mandu is on the menu or not but we had it and it ROCKED.

Luckily we went with my beautiful friend that knows the Noodle Lady.
I'm not sure if we got special treatment because of my friend, but I totally felt 'a home' while here.

We ate in her living room.

No really, we did.

From what I understand the Noodle Lady has been cooking up noodles for years and years right here in this kitchen.

I'm not really sure what this is, but I see it drying often.

Some Americans might be put off because it is not a traditional restaurant.
I feel sorry for those Americans as they are going to miss out on something special.

She has fat noodles

And thin noodles
The thin noodles are my favorite.

The noodles are called Kalguksu and they date back to the 12th century.
They are a handmade wheat flour noodle that is cut by hand and served in a thick seafood broth.
If you are lucky you might get a clam.
Once you have Kalguksu you will never look at noodles the same again.

The kimchi mandu.
OMGoodness...
I had NEVER before had kimchi mandu.
It was THE BEST mandu I have ever eaten.

We left full and happy.

I think she was full and happy when we left too.

To get there:
From the Gas Station gate on post....
Cross over into Itaewon.
Typically you would walk straight....this time turn right like you are walking back towards the Commissary gate... Turn LEFT at the 1st street - just past the dog groomer - the alley between urban works and Bull and Barrel restaurant is her alley. It is across from the entrance of the Underground market in Itaewon.
It looks like this:
Thanks to a friend that went out and took this picture!!

Turn RIGHT. You will see the staircase pictured above. Go up the stairs.

The noodle is only open for lunch.

4 Comments

Not Quite Right #48

1/12/2014

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A little something to make you smile this Monday morning.

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Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Apples & Onions - Whole 30 Approved

1/11/2014

1 Comment

One night I was struggling for what to make for dinner.
I wanted quick and easy.
My friend Amber texted this recipe to me.
I've loved her even more since that day.

3 chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
2 sweet potatoes cut into bite size pieces
2 -3 apples cut up into bite size pieces
1 red onion chopped up
6 slices of sugar free bacon (if you can find it...if not leave it out)
salt & pepper to taste
oregano - maybe 1 or 2 tsps?
thyme - maybe 1 or 2 tsps?
Bake in the oven at 350 for about 30 - 40 minutes
cut the bacon up, mix everything together and serve.
YUM-O!!

1 Comment

O'ngo Food Tour

1/10/2014

7 Comments

It was on my Korea bucket list - but Hubby isn't a fan of tours.
And I get it, some tours BLOW.
Especially when they are too big and you feel like you are just a number.
Most of the time we feel like we NEVER get our moneys worth on tours.
But Daniel Gray.
He's kind of cool.
I use his blog Seoul Eats for date nights ALL.THE.TIME!
Plus, he has been on the Kimchi Chronicles!
Like I said, he is cool.
And this tour did NOT BLOW.
It was all kinds of AWESOME.

I mean check it out....here I am with him and a couple of my girlfriend!
(Not all tours get Daniel....don't hate.)

Our tour was private.
The 6 of us + Daniel.
I was a bit disappointed when I found out we were going out in Insadong. I thought "really, Insadong? He is taking us to a freaking tourist area...I've been to Insadong many times." I wasn't a happy camper.
UNTIL
He started weaving in and out of alleys and we landed here:

WHAT?!?! How on earth have I missed this? I've spent time in Insadong. This little lesson taught me to EXPLORE a little more! These alleys were packed with locals drinking and eating!

And how fun is this? I have NEVER experienced a coat check quite like this before!

After Daniel ordered the best pork I have ever eaten at this litte Korean BBQ joint he proceeded to teach us a drinking game. Beer in a glass, slip a shot glass in and take turns pouring soju in the shot glass, little bits at a time. The person to sink the shot glass has to down the drink. Have I mentioned that Koreans drink the most 'Spirits' per capita than any other country?

And apparently, so does Betty.
Just kidding.
She doesn't really drink that much.
But when in Korea.....
You know the drill.

Shannon's turn!

I love the look on her Hubby's face....

This is a serious game.

And because one of the guys sank the shot glass they all decided to take a drink.

This is where I do a break in my regular blogging to tell you about Daniels Bar, Brew 3.14
I only spent a few moments in the bar as Daniel had called ahead and ordered a 'to go cocktail' for me since my friends were all drinking and didn't bother to pick anything up for me. That my friends is service. TOTALLY NOT feeling like a number on this tour.
Plus, I LOVE 'to go cocktail bags'!

Find out more about his bar here: Brew 3.14

Directions to 3.14:

From Anguk Station: Exit 4 walk straight until you see Samil Daero 30-gil and make a left (you’ll see 낙원떡집 and Pizza Haven in the building on the corner). Walk Down the road past the crown hotel and Ibis Ambassador Hotel. You’ll see Proto on the corner, make a left down the alley. You’ll see a sign for Brew 3.14.

From Jongno 3-ga Exit 6,7,8 go up Donghwanmunro road. Walk until you see Secret Garden Cafe on the Right side. Cross the road and walk down the road until you pass an empty lot and before a building that reads Proto make a right.

Next up on our tour I mentioned that another thing on my bucket list was to eat live octopus.
Shut the front door, Daniel was happy to oblige...he weaved in and out of some alleys, opened a back door and took us in for shasami, beondegi (silkworm larva), and LIVE OCTOPUS!

As you all know I have tried this bowl of nastiness before, but Daniel insisted that they taste different in the restaurant than they do on the streets. Can you believe I tried them again? Guess what...this time they weren't so bad. I even ate a few. Don't get me wrong, I won't go ordering them anytime soon, but it was nice to find out they are not as bad in the restaurant as they are on the street.

Next up, slimy, slippery, moving octopus.
This really wasn't what I was expecting...I was expecting a whole baby octopus.
This guy was cut up, sesame oil poured on him and all his parts were wiggling around.
That plate was MOVING!

Here is a piece on my chopsticks....getting ready to dive in.

Seriously, not bad AT ALL!
In fact we ate the entire plate of octopus.
Just make sure you chew those little suckers up so they don't stick to your throat...

Like they are sticking to Hubby's tongue.

Next up on our adventure was Gwangjang Market. We have been here a couple of times, but one of the couples had never been. However I had never seen this stall....check out all that foil.

Mung bean pancakes.
YUM-O!

This picture makes me laugh!

As if all the food we had already consumed wasn't enough Daniel took us to yet ANOTHER restaurant.
All I remember is that it was amazing...
I've never had it before in Korea.
And before you ask, not it is not Samgyetang.

And there was more soju.
Flavored soju.
There was a good one....
But for the life of me I can't remember which one it was.

At this point our tour was over.
BUT...we didn't stop there.
We invited Daniel to come with us to OB's Cabin.
A place for live music, beer and fried chicken.
Yes, we ate again.

If you are looking for a place to kick back, relax listen to music and possibly do a little dancing in the aisles OB's is the place to go. I apologize as I cannot tell you how to get there....you are going to need to google this one!

Here's one last picture of the group with a new friend we found on the dance floor....or aisle.

SO in review....
We had a GREAT time!
We didn't feel like a number.
We felt like our tour was worth EVERY PENNY and possibly more!

If you are new to Seoul or have lived here for years you should look up O'ngo Tours and book one today.

And by the way there are NON-alcoholic tours as well.

They also have cooking classes! I'm trying to collect a few friends to join me for a cooking class in February.
O'ngo Tours is offereing 15% off cooking classes in the months of Jan/Feb if you mention you saw the ad on their website! (You must mention the word "snowfall"!)

Happy Eating!

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“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you
did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou

Author

Hi, I'm Trish, the writer, creator and photographer of this blog. I started this blog for 2 reasons, 1 - When I found out we were moving to Korea back in 2008 I was a little freaked out and started scouring the internet for information on Korea. At that time there wasn't much out there so I am doing my part in helping families across the world not be so freaked out when it comes time to move to Korea. The 2nd reason I started this blog was to help stay connected to family members back in the states. Today it is so much more that.
I hope you enjoy our journey.

Are you moving to Korea? Do you have questions, concerns? Are you freaking out? Freak out no further - click the button to ask a question. I'll do my best to answer open and honestly.

Moving to Korea?

Night Shopping in Dongdaemun

Not Quite Right #49

Not Quite Right #48

Seoraksan - Hiking Biryeong Falls

Hiking Seoraksan - Ulsan Bawi Rock Course

Our Seoraksan National Park Weekend Getaway - Just Getting There Was an Adventure....

Tuesdays With Trish - Noodle Lady

Not Quite Right #48

Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Apples & Onions - Whole 30 Approved

O'ngo Food Tour

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