Korea: Myeongdong

Myeongdong district in Seoul is a trendy youthful area with tons of food, shopping, fashion, and fun to go around. Whether you're looking to stock up on some new skincare products, try the latest street food sensation, try a trendy new restaurant or get a new piercing you can find it here. There's no shortage of trendy youth districts proliferating around the various college campuses of Seoul, whether it's the Hongdae area near Hongik university (where I personally tended to spend more time due to it's proximity to my residence and ease of getting there) or Ewha Women's University (where I visited to join my friend Carmen for an epic adventure I'll be posting about later). Myeongdong, in this post, is an especially excellent area for foodies and people who want to be close to the heart of Seoul. From Myeongdong you can see Namsam Seoul Tower or walk to Namdaemun, which I later returned to towards the end of this post. Because of the youthful and trendy nature of the neighborhood, you'll find a lot of foreign style restaurants (from American barbeque to Thai), though not with quite the density you might find in the dedicated foreigner districts of Itaewon. There's a lot to see and do here and it would be especially nice on a date, though I was here by myself on this visit and particularly feeling the absence of my partner... I opted not to spend too long in Myeongdong, promising that I'll return on my next visit to Korea with Antho. Of course, don't let my existential ennui and homesickness prevent you from going to Myeongdong and seeing all that it has to offer! It's a vivacious and bubbling neighborhood ready to entertain and amuse, catering to a wide array of fashion-forward aesthetics.   

There are seriously so many things to see, do, or shop that it's a shame I didn't get to spend more time here. I didn't exactly have a lot of spending money, either, which was also a contributing factor to why I didn't linger in a renowned shopping mecca for too long. There were a LOT of super cute clothes and so many fun new skincare items (Tony Moly was promoting their Pokemon themed items pretty hard at the time), this area could be dangerous if you had a budget. Like I said, though; this area is readily accessible from a lot of Seoul's most renowned landmarks and locations, so on my return to Seoul (with Antho in toe) we'll definitely be exploring this area more in depth. It's too enticing not to!

More photos below!

Korea: Bukchon hanok village part two

If you tire of admiring the traditional architecture and cobblestone streets, you can always make your way to one of the busier streets back towards the major streets. You'll find these areas a lot more populated and bustling, and also filled with an additional bounty of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and snack-stands ready to fill the gaping void in your gastrointestinal tract. When my belly demons started piping up from their slumber, I opted to grab a cup of goguma matang or Korean sweet potatoes that have been deep fried then glazed with a sweet and sticky sauce that makes them glisten like candy. I have to say; TOTALLY delicious! SO good! I had to make them when I came back from Korea and forced them upon Antho, who had to admit that even with my amateur recreation were pretty craveable. They're SO MUCH BETTER when freshly made on the spot and the thick, syrupy glaze is borderline hardening.  It's something so deceptively simple that is undeniably comforting and homey....something I think the Korean cuisine does exceedingly well. 

There's no shortage of delicious things to try while wandering the streets of Seoul, to be sure. 

There's also a lot of charm and innovation to catch here. If you can make your way through the throngs of tourists ambling through the bigger streets, you might find yourself stumbling upon the Chicken Museum... well, let's be clear; this is the Ginseng Chicken Soup museum or Samgyetang museum. Samgyetang, if you've never had it, is a quintessential summer food during the doggiest of dog days during the unrelenting heat waves of peak-summer. Summer in Seoul is hot, swampy, humid and oppressive. Eating a hot, steamy bowl of the light but flavorful and rejuvenating soup can help power you through it. Typically made with a whole chicken (ideally a younger, smaller, bird) stuffed with medicinal herbs and sweet, sticky rice, samgyetang is absolutely delicious, and a must try when you're in Korea. You can absolutely check out the museum here and try their version, or more specifially you could head towards Tosokchon, which is one of the most prolific names in Samgyetang, and not far from here.  Personally, I ate samgyetang for the first time at a tiny restaurant just across the street from the apartment I lived in out in Hwajeong, where the ahjummas running the joint were bemused by my presence and the food was cheap, delicious, and absolutely felt like homemade. But to each their own, my friends. 

Many more photos below!

Korea: Feast at Noryangjin fall 2016

If you're in Noryangjin market to pick up some seafood but find that you aren't sure exactly how to prepare it, or you aren't in a position where you can readily cook for yourself, have no fear! There are many restaurants located just outside the doors of the old market or inside the new where you can have your freshly picked seafood prepared for you at a reasonable cost. You have ample options, from sannakji:

Octopus a'squiggling! Sannakji is one of Seoul's classic dare foods :D #sannakji #octopus #food #foodporn #korea #southkorea #delicious #seafood #noryangjin #market

A post shared by Jessthulhu (@shethatisnau) on Aug 29, 2016 at 4:05am PDT

Have you ever tried Sannakji?

It's octopus served so fresh that it's tentacles are still twitching and can grab your lip or tongue...or throat. They're served with sesame oil to help lubricate their journey towards your gullet and minimise the risk of choking...

Sannakji, live squid chopped up quickly and doused in sesame oil then eaten while still wiggling. The noise I made was because the suckers were doing their thing and sticking to my lips and tongue. It's a unique sensation, to say the least. #Noryangjin #fishmarket #sannakji #seafood #foodporn #octopus #korea #southkorea #food

A post shared by Jessthulhu (@shethatisnau) on Aug 29, 2016 at 3:54am PDT

Then there's the raw, still twitching shrimp. If your seafood is still twitching when it hits your plate you can rest assured it's the freshest of the fresh. I have to admit that eating the still live shrimp here at Noryangjin market spoiled me on the tasty little sea bugs. I have long been a fan of sweet shrimp when available at sushi restaurants, especially when they serve the fried heads alongside the sweet and succulent tails raw, but having them here and still alive was the absolute pinnacle of freshness. There was some feelings involved, and I tried to ensure I took their heads off as cleanly as I could to reduce the amount of time they spent contemplating their fate. The shrimp were SO fresh, in fact, that I had to chase some of them down the aisle in the restaurant to ensure they met their pre-ordained fate. In my mouth. It isn't pretty, but it sure was delicious. 

Squirming for their lives! Poor little shrimp T_T about to be viciously devoured alive... #food #southkorea #korea #foodporn #seafood #noryangjin #market #delicious #evil

A post shared by Jessthulhu (@shethatisnau) on Aug 29, 2016 at 3:57am PDT

SO very tasty, though! So good, in fact, that I later went back to get some more. Sure, their little head spikes were stabby and their dying thrashes were pitiable, though sometimes animated enough to send them on an attempted dash at freedom, but the end result was undeniably delicious.

And savage.

But that's okay. I like being a savage sometimes.

Eating live shrimp at Noryangjin market. I feel a bit like a monster for doing this x_x #liveseafood #liveshrimp #shrimp #noryangjin #seafood #seoul #korea #southkorea #food #foodporn

A post shared by Jessthulhu (@shethatisnau) on Aug 29, 2016 at 3:51am PDT

More photos below...

Kyoto Day 2- Part 2 - Kiyomizu-dera 2013-01-26

After waking up a bit and getting some caffeine and food from the cute little onigiri stand by my hotel into my gullet to power me through the unavoidable hang over from my long night drinking and socializing with the crew at Pan and Circus guesthouse, I ventured forward on my rented bicycle from 9Hours capsule hotel and pedaled out into the city. Make no mistake, Kyoto is an absolutely beautiful city! Even on a cold, dreary winter morning the architecture and cityscape were lovely to take in. The sky was bright and weather crisp, making it an especially good day for a bike ride. I completely adored exploring it by bicycle, even when my dumbass decided to visit Kiyomizu-dera first thing in the day. The large, beautiful temple just so happens to be situated high atop a rather steep hill. Getting there was quite the journey and my glutes were on FIRE, but the trek heading back down the mountain was a blast! 

Despite it being a cold wintery morning, visitors were flocking to the famous temple en mass and it was surprisingly crowded. From school children to girls in stunning traditional Japanese robes (which can be rented for the day from many small shops), foreign tourists and curious locals. Even with the horde of visitors, I managed to find a safe location off the heavily traveled path to park my bike and ventured into the melee for my own glimpse of the famous locale. Small shops were abundant, selling various omiyage (locally sourced souvenirs) or snacks. Omiyage culture in Japan (and in Korea) is something else- it's an unwritten cultural mandate that for any vacation you're lucky enough to go on, you must bring back some kind of rarified local specialty as a treat for all those left behind, from coworkers to friends. Because this is such a widespread obligation, many, many shops and train stations (for those last minute shoppers) carry large packages of prepackaged locally created specialty goodies for easy dispersal among all your cohorts back home. All the food on sale looked so amazing, from fish on sticks grilled over charcoal until their skins grow crisp and the smoke-infused meat drips juice with each crackling bite to large steamed dumplings stuffed with a medley of delicious fillings bursting from their centers.

Between the majestic mountain views and ancient, ornate temple buildings it was an extraordinary place to visit. Well worth the sore legs!

Hong Kong Day 6- Final day

As all good things are prone to doing, my vacation to Hong Kong was rapidly coming to a close. On this, my last morning waking in my awkwardly angled little room at the Harbour Hotel (where I had to dance around the door strangely to enter or leave due to the angle it opened at), I prepared my things and went for one last lap around the neighborhood. The staff at the Harbour Hotel were kind enough to allow me to leave my luggage with them for safe keeping until it was time for me to catch a taxi to leave for the airport. For breakfast I stopped over at the steamer shop where I'd been eating breakfast most days. The food was extremely affordable and their menu was quite vast! Everything I sampled was delicious and piping hot and fresh from the steamer. Delicious! Even with my cracked tooth my enthusiasm for eating was not to be overly hindered, especially given this incredible opportunity to enjoy Hong Kong cuisine. 

I also went to one of the many shops selling duck and various grilled or roast animal and grabbed a portion of duck for myself. I sat on a park bench and chowed down as best I could with the dental pain. It was greasy and delicious!

Hong Kong Day 5- Stanley and back

Welcome to Stanley, a relaxed little seaside village and shopping destination in Hong Kong. People stroll the streets with an easy stride and calm, unhurried stride. This is in stark contrast to the rushing, racing, crowded populous in Hong Kong proper, and provides a much needed respite from the bustle and business of the city. This being my last day in Hong Kong, I was in need of a bit of rest and relaxation. After hiking across Lamma island  climbing to the Tian Tan Buddha peak, shopping in Tsim sha Tsui, and everything else, I needed a vacation from my vacation! 

Hong Kong: Day 2 pitstop at Tung Chung station

On my way back to Hong Kong proper, I made a pitstop at Tung Chung station on Lantau island. Lantau island is not only home to Hong Kong Disneyland and Hong Kong airport but is the jump-off point to access the Ngong Ping 360 Degree Cable cars and the giant seated Buddha statue not far after. Initially I had hoped to make it out to see the Buddha on my way back but found that I arrived far too late in the day to catch a cable car. Oh well, given the close proximity of most places in Hong Kong it wasn't a terribly long journey even from my location across the bay in Mong Kok, Kowloon.

Seoul: Incheon Airport to Narita

Incheon International Airport is supposedly rated as one of the worlds nicest. 

Still suffering the ill affects of some food poisoning, I wasn't in the keenest condition to be discerning about such things but in all fairness I can confidently say it was a very nice airport.

Seoul: Leaving Yim's house for Incheon Airport

For the duration of my stay in Seoul, I stayed at Yim's guest house. It wasn't the fanciest of joints, but the staff were helpful and polite, lodging was comfortable and the room completely served it's purpose well without breaking the bank. All wins in my book.

Seoul: Neighborhood stroll

The area surrounding my lodging, Yim's House, had a lot of character. I decided to snap a few photos while on a stroll.

Seoul Trip: Seoul Station

Seoul station.

A bustling hub of activity with continual flow of activity with live music some nights. Sky scrapers and landmarks abound.

Seoul Trip: Day 4, exploring near Anguk station

Changdeokgung Palace.

A brief walk from Yim's house stood Changdeokgung palace, a vibrant landmark and beacon of hope during my stay; once I saw the palace in it's resplendent decorative colors and tiles looming into view, I knew I was either close to my home base or off on my way to another adventure. 

I had an appointment later in the afternoon, but had enough time to do a little exploring. Anguk station was the closest and I stayed relatively close for the morning in an effort to avoid tardiness. The area was quirky and fun. 

Seoul Trip: 2014-03-05 Seoul Tower

After an afternoon recharge from Insadong, I headed out towards Seoul tower, which later led me to wander Namdaemun market.

This post, however, is specifically about Seoul tower. It really is a beautiful tower that offers stunning views, so click on through for the photos!

Seoul Trip: May 5th, 2014 Insadong visit

The historic neighborhood of Insadong was a relatively short walk from where I was staying, so I headed over my third day there. 

Photo heavy post below! 

Seoul Trip: March 3rd, 2014

Hey guys!

      It's about time I shared my epic journey to Korea, right? Seoul is a city bursting with top-notch design, beautiful fashions, old and new architectural wonders, and some seriously delicious grub. Korean food has long been a favorite of mine; if you've ever checked out my cooking blog you might have noticed this trend. Have you seen the new Avengers movie?! I got SO excited to see Seoul as a location in a major blockbuster film!

Head's up: image-heavy post ahead!!