Looking through my pictures from the last few weeks, I see that while I don't have a BIG adventure to tell you about, I can show you a bunch of pictures from my little adventures these past few weeks.
So this is a picture post! My favorite kind to read in other people's blogs so I hope you enjoy.
Adventure 1: Vietnam Embassy
I had to go to the Vietnam Embassy to get a traveler's visa for my upcoming trip with Jesi and my Dad. Every time I called, no one would pick up (I later discovered I was always calling during their two hour lunch break or after hours or on holidays) so I turned to the internet for directions on how to get there. Finding directions online to this place is very difficult. I finally found directions with a map that looked pretty straightforward. I was very excited... until I discovered that the stupid map led into an alley that contained only garbage and few things of interest. I was pretty upset.
I finally managed to get through on the phone and the woman gave me very explicit instructions on how to get there. It was in a completely different area from the map I found online.
Anyways, short story long, I made it and ended up getting me a visa to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (BAM!!). It was such a nice day that instead of trying to find a taxi back to the subway station, I decided to walk. I saw a bunch of really cool things along the way, too.
Here's a view of the hill. It was a very pretty day. A little warm on the warm side, but with my handy folding fan, I managed to stay cool.
I always see the strangest little statues walking around Seoul. This one had two crazy heads eating both ends of the bench. Om nom nom!!
There were several traditional looking houses along the way. Quite pretty.
For Mom, the Museum of Chicken Art!! Unfortunately, it was not open. Very sad. I would have liked to have an entire post devoted to pictures of chicken art for my mom. :)
Adventure 2: ItaewonI realized once it started getting warm here that I have very few summer clothes! That's not good. It's very hot and muggy here and I did not fancy walking around in the same two or three outfits. I was recently lucky enough to find a very cute summer dress at H&M in Myung Dong (finding clothing in my size at H&M is usually a crap-shoot). However, my best bet for clothing my size is Itaewon. So I hit my favorite store, OKBT.
It's also one of the few stores that says "Plus Size" and not "Big Size." It might look small, but this is the best selection of cute clothes over size 12 that you will find in Itaewon.
The woman working there, Kelly, was super sweet and ended up finding me on Facebook! She said I was her most polite customer. Aw, how sweet. :) I ended up getting a nice summer shirt and a green dress that everyone at church loved. I felt super cute... though it kind of reminds me of something my mom might wear if it were in a different color! I still love it, though.
Then, because I've re-read at least 8 of the books I brought with me and I'm tired of begging around work for books I haven't read, I went to What the Book?! The wonderful foreign English new and used bookstore. I bought a used book for 3,000 won (about $3).
Adventure 3: Dongdaemun
I know I'm always going shopping, but what you MUST understand is that I usually do not spend that much money! Also, my bank account has, like, 3 times more money in it than it has EVER had at any one time. Granted, this money will all disappear once I get a car and start going to grad school... but STILL.
Anyways, my friend Tara and I wanted to go do something but it was late. The only thing we could think of that was opened late was Dongdaemun. Since I had only been once with Kendra and it had been totally closed at the time, we decided to go wander around the area.
Coming out of the subway, we saw the great Dongdaemun Gate. My picture really doesn't do it justice. It's really pretty.
We wandered a lot and saw some cute, cute clothes and shoes. We finally made our way into this building that had lots of stalls in it with clothes, luggage, wigs, etc. Very fun.
We stayed out pretty late and even when we left it was still pretty happening. I'm not used to that. I don't usually stay out that late and I was really surprised that so many people were still out and about! Looking at this picture, you might guess that it's, maybe, 9 or 10pm, right?
This is when we went home. At 2:30am.
Wow.
Adventure 4: Eating out. A LOT
I don't eat out a lot here. I have a strange schedule so I don't get to get together with friends to eat all that often. Eating at a restaurant alone is boring so when I do get opportunities to eat out with friends, I take them up on it.
I ate out at an Italian place on Saturday with Tara (spicy pane... delicious). Then on Monday, a teacher at work asked if I wanted to go out for dinner with her so we had barbecue which is always good. Then Tuesday I went and had lunch with Katelyn from church at this really great dumpling place in the mall. We discovered that we both have the same television obsessions (X-Men cartoons, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Firefly, Criminal Minds... were were geeking it up). Not to mention the delicious dumplings.
Then I went home and got ready to clean. This is how I felt about that idea.
Then I went out AGAIN for dinner with Tara! Soo much eating out! I will be sticking with stir fry and tuna for the rest of this week so I can spend money on shopping with my Chicky in Vietnam!
As part of an appetizer, they gave us these little multicolored corn balls. They tasted like Froot Loops on steroids.
Tara liked them.
And that's it! This weekend, Tara and I are going to try and hit Dongdaemun again for our last shopping hurrah since she leaves the day after I get back from Vietnam and I won't see her again until she meets up with us in Disneyland this October (she's from L.A.). We might try for Hongdae on Sunday after church; we'll see.
Then Monday I'm off to Vietnam!!
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