I know I've been here for a week and all but I still have this stupid little smile on my face that I can't help when I go out on my morning explorations. Because everyone walks here, you see the most interesting mix of people from harried scruffy students with backpacks and sneakers, polished office workers in pencils skirts and tailored suits, giggly schoolgirls in knee high socks, fashionable schoolboys joking around, a few little kids followed by harassed looking mothers, loud food sellers on the sidewalk side, and grandpas/grandpas out running morning errands. I'm not quite sure how to explain it but just walking down the street surrounded by the Korean stores and Korean signs just feels so different! A major difference in their architecture is that I see a lot of shops that are located underground, like that Mad For Garlic restaurant I blogged about earlier. You see the storefront on the street, turn in and immediately go down a set of steep stairs. Way to be efficient when you have limited space lol, we could totally learn from this.
Today's coffeehouse was a place called Java City Coffee. It was a lot pricier than I was expecting but the mocha was really good :)
The Kimchi Museum is located on the 2nd Basement floor of the COEX mall. I couldn't find it the first time I went, so this was my second attempt lol. It was 3,000 won for admission (a little over $2). I had a lot of fun :)
I was super fascinated by all the exhibits and displays considering I actually hate kimchi. I won't eat it, although I have tried. The only time I can handle it is in kimchi jigae. The museum was here to show the history of kimchi in Korea's past and present, and its evolution throughout the years. It was also meant to showcase the various types of kimchi, when they are made and eaten, and for what purpose. I also found an area at the end that had a kimchi tasting area (I passed over it lol) and a microscope focused on a drop of kimchi liquid. It has all sorts of good bacteria in it that keeps you healthy and is good for your body! So interesting...I loved all the different pickling pots and realistic displays of the various kimchis with certain meals.
Kimchi is so engrained in Korea's culture...no wonder they dedicated a museum to it :) I learned a lot for something I don't even like to eat!