Dongdaemun – Seoul, South Korea

In stark contrast to day 1, today we explored the hip and modern area of Dongdaemun. This eastern part of Seoul is home to many markets, shops, restaurants and hotels, including ours, allowing us to explore on foot.

To start, we strolled along the Cheong-gye-cheon, a stream cutting through the city. Once, a raised highway, this area was transformed to provide a peaceful, green place for locals to relax. Although not green today, we did enjoy the tranquility, fish spotting and ice formations around the rocks.

Cutting back into Dongdaemun we found the DDP or Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Much like a futuristic UFO, the plaza is an aluminium and concrete landmark that houses galleries, event spaces and design shops. It was quite unlike anywhere I’ve been before, with the studios and exhibitions spaces interconnected by flowing pathways and interesting staircases.

An art or design buff could spent hours wondering this place with each exhibition costing around $10-12 to enter. We were happy to wonder and marvel at its uniqueness but didn’t enter any of the exhibitions. Historians can also visit the museum where artefacts from its construction can be found.

After yet another steaming coffee, the Travel Bees went shopping……… and I did something outrageous. It goes without saying that Master 17 was in his element, bartering and searching out bargains, but I did something very unusual for me………

I went to a cosmetic counter got a makeover and purchased a heap of skin care products. I was completely sucked in by the charm of my Korean sales lady and Miss 14 just egged her on! Apparently I deserved it! She gave me the full experience which included escorting us to the best place to eat Bimimbap for lunch.

So, with my gold infused snail serum in hand (yes, you read that correctly) we headed back to the hotel for a nap before our night market food tour. Located a 7 min walk from our hotel is the Gwangjang market, the oldest and largest food market in Seoul.

We met our guide HaeJi and our fellow foodies outside the market. She introduced us all and practiced her Aussie slang before expertly guiding us through the busy market. As she went, she waved hello to everyone. They all knew HaeJi.

We tried many foods including gimbap, kimchi, rice balls, dumplings, noodles, pork pancakes, mung bean pancakes, octopus (still moving), beef tartare, beef hot pot and the best donut ever.

In these kinds of situations you do have to be prepared to have a sense of adventure…… you never know what you might be given to eat. I was so proud of Miss 14, she gave absolutely everything a go. That included when HaeJi proceeded to fed her what she said was a worm.

After crunching away for sometime, and then saying it tasted like an apple, we were all very confused. HaeJi got the giggles and we realised she had tricked us all. Turns out it was some kind of pickled root vegetable (related to a radish).

Master 17 wasn’t so brave…….. until the Korean drinking games started……

TTB