Warning: Many food pictures ahead.
So, after a lonely day on Day 18, I decided to meet up with Okta on Day 19, since she was free that day as well. I did up my presentation slides for one of my classes (due to present on Day 21) and then I left to meet Okta at the subway station and we took the train together. I wanted to go Edae because I wanted to give that place another chance (there must be something so fascinating about it) and since Okta likes traditional markets, we decided to give Namdaemun a chance too. So, off we go~~~~~!!
We decided to have lunch first since we were both starving. And I am so easy about food so seriously, it's never a good decision to ask me to decide, unless I have a specific craving that day. So, Okta brought me to this place in Edae whereby the girls and her had dinner few days ago but I skipped because I wasn't feeling well. Turns out it was right beside the shop whereby Shan and I had our lunch the last time we came by Edae. Anyway, we have this thing which I didn't know what it was but it looks so similar to 알밥 so it shall be 알밥 (al-bab).
First you are given rice with I think pickles, and some fish roe, and some crab meat and seaweed (may have tuna, kimchi and whatever not) arranged neatly like this.
And then you are also given a pair of gloves, so wear it, and mix it up like this.
When it's evenly mixed, you can roll them into cute riceballs like this!!!
I really love 알밥 and its lookalike thing here. But so far, I haven't seen a single store that sells al-bab here in Singapore. If you know of any, please let me knowwwwwwwww. I need to eat it!!!! Oh yes, it looks like sushi, and it does taste like sushi, but better. Somehow, I always think that the korean counterpart is better. Like al-bab v.s. sushi. And like kimbab v.s. sushi too. I think it's because of sesame oil. And less vinegar. I like my rice less sour and more salty hahah.
We also ordered this seafood jjigae thing, and they have ddeok (rice cakes) inside and cheese (oh so good~~) and ramen and I don't know what else but it tastes so good. Any korean restaurant can whip up a delicious dish seriously. This is a small store tucked away in a quiet street with only one man who is the cashier, the waiter, the cook, and most probably also the boss. And with a seating capacity of at most 20 customers, but the food tastes so good~~~!
Me and my amazing stomach, and I managed to stuff another chicken skewer into my stomach. The sauce is so awesome, it looks like chicken satay though. And even though I am such a picky eater as in like I don't eat anything with skin, bones and fats (my favourite food is chicken breast meat hahahah) but I closed my eyes and ate all the fats and skins because it was just so good. Korea has trained my ability to take in more kinds of food so I think I am healthier now too because I get some healthy fats once in a while hahah.
I also met Sharon, my university friend, while shopping around. What a small world right! Anyway, I saw this shoe that I really like but it was like 35,000won which is about $40 and I really don't want to buy it because I don't think it's worth that price. So I searched all other shops in Edae but I still did not manage to find it. I thought usually Edae shops repeat the clothes and fashion but somehow this shoe doesn't appear anywhere else. Sadly, we left Edae and head to Namdaemun because it was nearly 5pm already.
We wanted to spend the night eating dinner in Namdaemun too, so it was so disappointing. I didn't know whether we came on a wrong day (Sunday), or whether it was raining that day or what, but half the stores were not open, the shopping malls around were all locked up and there were only that many people in that area. I thought we were at the wrong place and Okta didn't want to give up but we were standing right under the sign that says "Namdaemun Market". Oh but I am surprised because a shoe shop owner identified me straight as Singaporean. Because 1) Not many Koreans know about Singapore 2) How did he even know I am from Singapore!??!?!?!?
Anyway, there wasn't much food that fascinated us so Okta and I decide to head to Myeongdong (AGAIN, TOO LAZY TO COUNT WHICH TIME ALREADY) for dinner because Okta hasn't been there before. We had Bonjuk for dinner because it was a rainy day and a perfect day to have porridge. When the drizzle finally stopped, we started our shopping in Myeongdong!!!
Look at what I bought - cute Piglet socks!!! My guesthouse was so cold. Okay or maybe it's just me. And that I'm not used to sleeping in cold rooms. It was only 24 or 25 degree celsius but I always woke up shivering. And I have feet cramps a number of time so I thought getting socks will help, and it did!!!
I also bought this pair of lovely heels that Okta snagged for me. The shop was having a sales, and everything is going at 19,000won. But because I am not sure if I read correctly, I asked for the price and it was indeed 19,000won. (Although the owner sounded a bit irritated like I'm illiterate or smth hahah, but I think he was kinder after realising I'm not Korean - they can tell, my pronunciation is horrible.) This is like one size bigger than my usual size (235mm). And oh yes, they go by millimetres in Korea, I'm a size 7, and a 235mm, so check out your size beforehand or try a few sizes to find out yours. Okta really liked this and wanted it but it wasn't available in her size and she was grabbing to the shoe all the while because once she let it go, and other customer picked it up and she was so worried someone else will buy it away hahahah.
And I am so thankful to her for holding on to it firmly for me, because it is my favourite shoe now!! I was contemplating between this one and another one is navy and hotpink (which I miss very much now) and I decided to get this. I should have gotten both because when I went back the next time round, that shoe was gone. )))): If there is one thing I must buy in Korea, it is shoes. No wonder Korean girls go everywhere in heels. Their heels are so comfortable it feels as if I'm wearing flats.
Mind you, I ran in this 3.5" heels in the airport because we were running late for the plane. So you should know how worried and anxious and how fast we were running, and luckily I was wearing this shoe, if not I might have fell and twisted my ankle or smth if I was running in another pair of heels.
So, the takeaway of this post is that... get more heels (for girls) if you go to Korea!!!!!
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