1. Itaewon - This is very close to where we live, about a 5 minute walk. There is one long street that has hotels, stores and restaraunts galore. Do you want to eat food from India, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, Greece, France, Itlay, Mexico, America, or anywhere else you can think of? Okay, they've got it. Do you want to buy a custome-made suit, a leather coat, traditional Korean costumes, purses, shoes pottery, souveniers....okay, I can't just sit here and name all the stuff you can buy there, it's just a lot of stuff. Here's the beginning of the street.
Here's the middle of the street looking down one end.
And here's McDonalds. Well, I DID mention American food. Actually, Joe and I have not eaten at McDonalds one single time since we've moved here. But we had given Joe's parents their fill of Korean food, so we thought we'd take them here.
The coke tasted like good coke, although it was in a regular glass (not a throw-away glass). The french fries tasted like real McDonald's french fries. The Big Mac tasted like a real Big Mac (almost, except that they don't use American beef, and American beef is better, in my humble opinion).
"I'm lovin' it". Oh wait, is that outdated? I'm a little out of touch with American advertising. Besides, I'd really love it more if they offered a fruit and walnut salad here, instead of a Bulgogi burger. Oh McDonald's, and their regional deviations from their standard menu.2. Dongdaemun - this is the blessed fabric market. This building is a city block long, and is 6 stories high. And it is FULL of fabric, as well as every other item imaginable that you would ever need for your sewing needs.
There is a virtual labyrinth of aisles like this - seriously, you could get lost in here.
Every aisle is booth after booth (see the blue signs), and each booth looks kind of like this.
Of course, this is the very best one - it's called Happy Quilt - it makes me happy. There are also booths that look like this, but are full of buttons, or ribbons, or zippers, or thread, etc. And even outside the building the streets are lined with shop after shop of the same stuff.
It is a sight to behold. Some people just get too overwhelmed when they come here for the first time, and they can't buy anything. The fabric is cheap too. If you are into good quality fabric, designer brands, etc., you can get it for pennies on the dollar here.3. Namdaemun - this shopping area is like Itaewon on crack.
Did I use the word labyrinth already? Okay, let's mix it up. This is an intricate and perplexing arrangement of endless streets and alleys. I've blogged about this place before, way back here. Even after Joe's parents had seen all the other shopping places, they still weren't prepared for this one. I tried to explain it to Joe's mom, and she told me she thought, "How much different could it be then the other places? Ruth is probably exaggerating." But when she saw it, she was speechless. Some things you just can't explain. Some things you just can't fully capture in a picture. Some things you just have to experience for yourself. There are all kinds of interesting things to see in this place. In the picture below, right smack dab in the middle, is a lady balancing a large tray of food on her head (no hands).
Here is a motorcyle (delivery guy) FULLY LOADED! Surprisingly, it didn't tip over, but it precarious.
Here is a woman gutting a fish. Refridgeration is highly overrated, don't you agree. Okay, I admit it, I took this picture with Joe last winter, and it was pretty cold. But we had a guy come and seel fish on the corner of our last apartment complex every week - even the hot ones - and his were in open containers just like these.
This was the same time of year, and Joe was looking for a coat. Some of these stores are SO small, and they are SO packed with inventory, it just makes you laugh.
And here were some shop owner's who were having their lunch, just outside their shop, with a little gas grill they set up on a little makeshift table and little shares.
It's such a different world we live in.
This was the same time of year, and Joe was looking for a coat. Some of these stores are SO small, and they are SO packed with inventory, it just makes you laugh.
And here were some shop owner's who were having their lunch, just outside their shop, with a little gas grill they set up on a little makeshift table and little shares. 
It's such a different world we live in.
It was a beautiful day, and this was a beautiful palace, and I don't think I can say anything that will be more interesting then just looking at the pictures. Enjoy:)
