Anyways, today (one of my days off), they asked that I attend a feedback meeting for the new program at the main branch which is a little over an hour away by subway. Let me remind you, we don't get paid for meetings (which are usually mandatory). *sigh* Whatever. It then forces me to get out of my apartment which I might have just hung out in all day if they hadn't made me go to the meeting.
Since I was out and about anyways, I decided that I should go on a solo adventure. I thought about museums or a temple or maybe a palace... but that didn't appeal last night as I was planning this little excursion so I decided to check out another supposed great shopping area: Insadong.
The adventure itself started off with a hunt for a bathroom. I would have used the facilities at the main branch but I am not up for a squat toilet (that's one adventure I can live without, thank you). So once I got to Jongo Samga station, I tried to follow the signs to the bathroom.
As many of you know, I am not the most directionally capable person... I ended up walking up and down the same set of stairs three times before I was able to find the bathrooms hidden in this little bitty corner. Ugh.
I was pretty impressed once I actually found them. They were cleaner than most public bathrooms in the States (even considering the fact that all the used toilet paper is in a garbage can in the stall...). Also, there was a little baby toilet! Maybe it's for some other special use, but to me it looks like a toilet for little kids. It was cute whatever it was.
One other quick thing, on the way out, I saw the seats in the subway station and decided I finally needed to take a picture of these. This will make no sense if you don't know Doctor Who, but to me they look a bit like a Dalek.
EXTERMINATE.
Anyways...
I will now tell you about the SECOND time (of 3) that I get lost on this little solo adventure.
When I looked up how to get to Insadong, the online source just said to get out at Jongo Samga, Exit 3. I figured it would be pretty obvious where it was once I came out of the station if that was the extent of the instructions.
Not so. I got out in what was definitely not a shopping district and searched for any signs giving directions towards Insadong. No such luck.
What are you supposed to do at this point? Why, pick a direction and WALK, of course!
So I did. I just walked and hoped to find something worth while. I took a few turns into little alleys that didn't look promising, turned around, and kept walking. I eventually found a sign with arrows pointing in general directions of where things were. I saw one pointing towards Insadong! Yay!
Turn right... there is no right turn here. Where do you want me to GO!!?
So I found a road going in that general direction and followed it, hoping to find a sign to Insadong or at least something interesting. I got to a hugs intersection that looked like it was going off into the freeway so I crossed the road (big four lanes...) and walked back in the direction I had come on the other side of the street. I figured that if I didn't see any other signs for Insadong over there that I would at least still be able to find my way back to the subway (maybe...).
Then! Lo and behold! I saw a road sign pointing down this road (not really a road... more of a largish alley) and it said Insadong!
And it only took me ten or so minutes of wandering aimlessly to find this...
I couldn't really see anything down the road but I did catch sight of a blond head. Blond usually = foreigner. Where else would a foreigner go but home or a touristy area!
Follow the foreigner!!
Turned out to be a dye job... best one I've seen here yet.
But I did find Insadong! My first clue was the people wearing the yellow sashes. You see people like this all over and they are usually there to help people find what they are looking for.
I had found it!! I big long road with tons of shops on both sides! And then there were little alleys with more awesome stuff! Here is one such alley.
I found a little store in here that sold these really cute plant vases with sprigs of ivy or something in them. I told myself I didn't need it... but ended up going back and getting one at the end of my little trip.
Meet Audrey.
Maybe I won't kill this plant. All it does is hang out in water. How hard could it be? Granted, I have killed bamboo in the past. That takes talent.
There was tons of stuff all over. If my mom ever came to visit, this is where I would take her. There were lots and lots of paper stores.
Paper.
Paper.
PAPER.
Needless to say, I spent a fair amount of money while I was out today. Not a ton, but a fair amount. Isn't it neat having a job that pays you real money? It's pretty magical to look at my bank account. :)
I was planning on just looking around and maybe getting some ideas for gifts when I caught sight of a really pretty USB! It was decorated with "mother of pearl inlay" (it's totally a sticker) and it was 4GB. I loved it and the price was pretty okay (maybe a little pricey).
For 8,000 won more, I could get a letter opener and a credit card case. That seemed like a better deal so I got the set and a little box of pens to give out as gifts when I get home. They have mini Korean foods on them!
Here's a closer look at the bibimbop pen.
Hello store that took my money. :)
It was also strange to see people who were so obviously TOURISTS! I mean, I see foreigners (like myself) all the time when I wander around Namdaemun or whatever and it's always exciting to give a little nod of, "Hey, I see you aren't originally from here as well. SUP." There was this really adorable family and when the teenage girl saw me her face got like this HUGE smile and she waved. I don't know why. I could tell they were tourists, though, from the fanny packs, cameras, and matching shirts.
Stereotypical much?
I was wondering for a while why there were so many foreigners around. The only other place I see this many foreigners is Itaewon (which is known for being the foreigner area). I sat down to take a rest and caught a picture of some of the allusive foreigners. (I promise... they are totally foreigners)
Then I figured it out: they stop all the tours there!
Look at those giant buses...
I got up and walked some more down the rows of shops. I think this store sells paint brushes. I'm not sure though. It's just a hunch.
There were a few people that sold "antiques" on the side of the road. I'm not sure how "antiquey" they really were, but it looked like some things that would look really cool in my future home. :)
This store looked like an old traditional house and was filled with bags of dried mushrooms. It was pretty awesome looking.
At this point, I had been walking around for about three hours and I hadn't eaten anything yet except a quick piece of toast before running to get to my meeting. I was loath to eat out since I had just spent a bunch of money on groceries a few days ago. I even got the band aid on my thumb from slicing my finger while chopping veggies to prove it.
Instead I got a little something to tide me over.
Strawberries + ice + blender = yummy cool snack for Jennifer.
I kept walking and after finishing my drink, I started looking for a garbage can (which are particularly tricky to find in Seoul). I saw a sign for bathrooms and figured there would be a garbage there. Somehow this got me into an awesome area with lots of little shops that went up in like a giant corkscrew so you could just walk up all the floors by going around and around without hitting the stairs! It was pretty cool.
Also, I found a garbage can. Nice.
I don't know what they were cooking at this little place, but it looks tastey.
While in this strange little area, I saw a place that my Aunty Bette would have loved. They made miniature clay things; mostly food. I liked the little miniature snack stand like the ones you see out on the street. It was so cute! They had lots of signs saying "NO PICTURES!!" so I took a picture of the sign outside the store. HA! Take THAT, shop lady!
I also walked through this little hallway. It must be gorgeous when it's all in bloom. Soon, my lovelies, soon.
The best little place I found was this store called "Save Earth Market."
It turns out all of the stuff in her store is handmade by her and made from reused items. I bought a ring made from an old button and vintage fabric.
I would have loved to spend more time in her store, but I had been walking around for four hours at this point and I was getting a little tired. So I decided to start heading back to the subway.
Now I will regale you with the tale of how I got lost for the third time in one day. It's a talent, I know.
On my initial search for Insadong, I walked under this little parking garage, bridge thing. I thought I spied it from one of the alleys and I though, "Haha! I shall not get lost this time! I will easily find my way back to the subway station now! Oh, clever me!" I took a parting photo of Insadong and headed out.
After walking determinedly for about five minutes, I realized I was lost. I would have noticed a McDonalds, Burger King, and KFC all right next to each other on the way over. Walking back at this point would have been admitting defeat. I figured that hey, I'm in Seoul. There's bound to be a subway station somewhere around here.
I just need to keep walking.
After another five minutes, I was ready to be done. I was tired, hungry, and ready to get home. I figured that I could just flag down a taxi. However, I was out of cash. I had about 1,000 won left on me (less than a buck). I don't like the idea of paying a cab with my card (and I wasn't even sure if all cabs take cards) so I told myself that I would walk until I saw a bank or a subway station. That would determine whether or not I would take a taxi or the subway.
After another block or so, I found a Woori bank (my bank!) and withdrew some cash. The road outside the bank was full of buses so I walked in front of them to catch a cab.
What should appear before me but the subway station! HAHAAA!! I KNEW I would be able to find one if I just kept walking!
Insadong gets an A for Awesome little place for souveniers, but a B for bargains. People there are used to tourists who don't haggle so they didn't go for the "40,000? Oh, no thank you." They just let you walk away. However, they had some things that I haven't seen in other places like Namdaemun so that was refreshing.
Double bonus of having my day off being during the week rather than Saturday? I can go places when they aren't as crowded like they are on the weekends! Awesome. :)
Great day.
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