On the way home I was pretty tired and kind of feeling nauseous. I realized it was probably because all I'd had to eat that day was a coffee this morning, a boba tea this afternoon, and then coconut milk just now. NOT the best combination for a happy stomach lol. Combine that with the constant swaying and abrupt starts and stops of the subway I took all the way home and you get nauseous (I actually still feel subway-sick right now sitting in my room, the room literally feels like it's swaying back and forth with the movement of the subway...so weird. Like seasick or how you feel after you've just been on a treadmill for awhile; like the world is rushing past you on either side, back and forth, back and forth @.@). All in all though, such a wonderfully fun day :) I'm really happy even though I'm dead tired!
Itaewon in Korea is known as the foreigner area in Seoul. Think Koreatown or Little Toyko in LA! It's the longest subway trip I've taken this far; because I'm taking a route with less transfers its taking about 45 minutes. I'm sure if I was more confident in my subway navigating skills I could take a route that had more transfers and took less time. For now though, riding the subway here is a novelty and I don't mind :) I decided to check out the foreigners area in Seoul today to maybe find someone who can speak English well and where I won't get stared at for speaking English, like I was the entire time I was Facetiming Sonny in the coffee shop today lol.
I had the GREATEST DAY EVER in Itaewon, it was so much fun!!! There were barely any white people actually, and the ones that were there stood out a lot. I was tempted to try to help the lost looking ones but refrained since I don't know my way around any more than they do lol. Sorry unknown fellow travelers -.- It turns out that today happened to be the start of the Itaewon Global Village Festival!!! There were booths lining all the way up and down the street with food and drinks from different countries. Predictably, the American booth was selling hot dogs hahaha. Pride of our country, they are. It was amazing seeing and smelling all the different foods! There were arts and crafts for the kids and even drum workshops going on. There were so many different people wandering around of different nationalities; to be honest I put on my sunglasses so I could people-watch and not look like a weirdo. Shhhh :)
After wandering around enough, I started walking up and down the sides of the street where there were plenty of shops, places to eat, and street vendors lining the sidewalk. I got the cutest pair of ballet flats (for less than $9??), an FT Island CD and poster I've been wanting, 2 headbands, 2 scarves, and an awesome new backpack. I've been wanting a backpack like this since I came to Korea and saw everyone with them, they are cute, well-made, and huge with lots of zippers and pockets!
If you come to Itaewon, prepare to be complimented a lot. Just walking down the sidewalk, shop salespeople will look you up and down and say "beautiful" to you, or "neomu ipuda" which means very pretty or literally 'too pretty' in Korean. I'm sure they learned that English just for the sake of attracting customers attention lol. I actually got physically hauled into one shop when I glanced at a salesgirl standing outside with free samples; apparently if you show the slightest eye contact with them, they will take it as interest and shove a sample at you and bring you in. It turned out to be a music store though, so I was happy with that :)
There was a big stage with chairs set up where various live artists were playing; since it was in Itaewon it was hosted by an all-English radio station (although it was run by Koreans). I happened upon the stage just as a young rock group was setting up. If any of you know my musical tastes, rock (particularly alternative) is my FAVORITE genre, so I took a seat. The group was called AXIS and comprised of five 20-year olds, four boys and one girl. And let me tell you, that one girl was a BOSS with her guitarwork. I was impressed. The lead singer sounded like Adam Lambert. Rock isn't as prevalent in Korea as in the US or UK as the MC mentioned when questioning the members. They really only have FT Island and CNBLUE to look up to, but its got a growing following. It's how I first got into kpop, since I simply liked the rock music whatever language they were singing in. Talk about opening Pandora's box...@.@ Anyways, they played three songs and were really good! I was that annoying American waving my hands in the air when the lead singer asked everyone to put their hands up and bobbing my head. The Korean crowd was so conservative, I wanted everyone to lighten up. People did; by the end there were plenty of people with their hands in the air with me :) Mission accomplished.
There were parades and costumes and military men and comedy acts and so much going on!! It was so lively and bustling, it just made you smile walking around. I saw these AWESOME Joseon-era costumed guys and I wanted a picture with them, but I asked the only white people around (this suuuper old couple. Definitely a mistake) to take it for me and they couldn't figure out my iPhone -.- By the time I corrected them for the 5th time, my phone had died :'( I'll go by there tomorrow again on my way out to get a picture. This time I'll ask a younger person...or not be retarded and CHARGE MY PHONE before I leave @.@
On my way out I stopped by a stand and got myself some coconut milk/juice; I had seen people carrying them around. My first time tasting actual coconut juice/milk and its in...Korea?!?! I got some funny looks on the subway ride back too...it could have been because I was carrying a purse, a backpack, AND multiple bags, because I was carrying around a giant green balloon (I got passed one during a parade), or because I was carrying around a coconut in my hand that I was sipping from. I'm gonnnnnna say its all of the above :)
On the way home I was pretty tired and kind of feeling nauseous. I realized it was probably because all I'd had to eat that day was a coffee this morning, a boba tea this afternoon, and then coconut milk just now. NOT the best combination for a happy stomach lol. Combine that with the constant swaying and abrupt starts and stops of the subway I took all the way home and you get nauseous (I actually still feel subway-sick right now sitting in my room, the room literally feels like it's swaying back and forth with the movement of the subway...so weird. Like seasick or how you feel after you've just been on a treadmill for awhile; like the world is rushing past you on either side, back and forth, back and forth @.@). All in all though, such a wonderfully fun day :) I'm really happy even though I'm dead tired!
2 Comments
Justine
10/12/2012 01:18:10 am
The dessert looks insane. Just like you said it would! I've been noticing the clothes and things you have been buying and you have thoroughly convinced me that Korea is a much better place for shopping than America. That humidifier absolutely takes the cake. The extendable straws too, or even the clothes! I was showing my mom all about your adventures and she was more than impressed and excited for you. Sending love from America <333
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Candace Sakamoto
10/13/2012 10:40:37 am
Haha omg we would have a ball shopping here!! I'm so happy you like the posts!! It's been an experience that's for sure, major culture shock everywhere I turn. I miss you boo <3
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