dear blogspot,

I don't know if I like you anymore.  I might get a tumblr instead!

Dear bruises, please go away. 

On another note, I need to start using my camera again. 

Vacation Fatigue!

SOUTH KOREA: DAY... ?

I think I want to come home now.

beach beach beach.

..... Going to Jeju Island for a couple of days.  No internet! Be back later... with a tan hopefully.

vacation from.. a vacation?

I think I need a rest day.


The end. 


phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.        

Random thought:

In Korea, it is somewhat of a trend to have a small dog. 

My aunt's chihuahua is an annoying. little. shit.

Shopping heaven... or hell.

SOUTH KOREA: DAY 4 and 5 (in review... because I didn't post!)

So I didn't post on Wednesday or Thursday but both days were mainly filled with... SHOPPING!  One of the main reasons why I was so excited to come to Korea (naturally.)  My mom and I first hit up MyeongDong which is a medium level priced shopping district (This is where South Korea's only Forever 21 was located)  According to Wikipedia, the floorspace rent is apparently 9th most expensive in the world.  Anyways, I didn't buy too much there because I was holding out for the cheaper goods and they carried a lot of international brands that I could find at home anyways.  It was crazy busy with tons of Japanese tourists, loud music blaring and store front owners yelling to persuade people to come into their shop.  Got over it pretty fast. 

On Thursday, my mom and I went to Dongdaemun in Seoul which is like the shopping haven for teens and people in their early 20s.  This place is also open until the hours of 5:30 am.  That's pretty crazy if you ask me.  There are three main buildings there with 8 floors each (I think) and all the shops are little tiny booths.  Anyways, calling the place ginormous would be an understatement.  I love shopping but getting around and seeing each booth = tiring.  Also very irritating were the shop owners! Constantly asking me if I was looking for anything, if I wanted to try it on blah blah.... yeah that got old pretty quick.  Obviously I couldn't leave empty handed (memories don't count. haha)  So I managed to pick up a fall jacket with a ruffled color (so cute), a forest green shirt, and a beige colored purse (I payed too much for this... damn!)

My mom and I were finished at Dongdaemun earlier than expected, so we decided to go back to GoSuk Bus Terminal for some more shopping.  We had shopped their a bit on Monday but wanted to go back to spend some more time there.  Picture a bus terminal with a mall connected to it underground.  This seems to be a common thread among subway stations in Korea... there's always a mall or at least a good number of shops connected to it!  Anyways, we both realized that this place, was the best place to shop.  Firstly because it was not filled with tourists like MyeongDong and Dongdaemun and because it was pretty packed with locals trying to bargain. 

But, there's not really any mention of it on the internet.  They sold the same stuff as Dongdaemun... just cheaper.  This is where I bought most of my stuff.  Anyways, I'm all shopped out.  If I didn't do anymore shopping here, I'd be satisfied... but knowing myself, I will probably do more.  (Wallet... I'm sorry forgive me... but after I come back from Chicago because I'm going to do more shopping there!)

The purchased goods (so far)..yikes?

• 
  
  three cardigans
• 
  
  fall jacket
• 
  
  3 blazers
• 
  
  4 pairs of shoes
• 
  
  1 shirt
• 
  
  1 long shirt dress (note to self: shrink this)
• 
  
  2 purses
• 
  
  socks (of course)
• 
  
  lots of jewelry and makeup and random little things

I think I got most of it.  Sounds pretty bad but a lot of my items cost only $10 or $5.  So it would have been wrong to not get it.  Overall, shopping in South Korea is definitely amazing if you're little like me.  I found THREE blazers for work.  I can't find jackets that fit in Canada and the prices are awesome but a lot of is really crappy quality so you have to be patient and sift through all the crap.  Combine that with store owners accosting you and it can be a pretty crappy experience if you're not in the mood to shop.  But for me... it was well worth the price. 


Am I all shopped out?  Not...yet. 

Time for a picture post!

SOUTH KOREA: Day 3

Seoul is a beautiful city.  It kind of makes Toronto pale in comparison... but maybe I'm just feeling that way because I was dying to get out for awhile.  Anyways, this is a picture post because I just got home and I'm too lazy to type up all my thoughts even though I know I should. 

Namsan Tower

Went to the top of this tower (highest point in Korea..........)  Looked down and saw this:

Went shopping at Myongdyong which is a fashion district in Seoul but not known to be dirt cheap.  It was full of Japanese tourists!  Didn't buy much.  but did manage to fill my tummy with this:

patbingsoo... sooo good.  Ordered at a sandwhich deli of all places.  yum.  It was huge and it only cost 4 dollars. 

Here's a picture of Seoul at night:

pretty.

Today has been a tiresome day.  Vacations are not supposed to be tiring.......... right? More shopping tommorow :)

 

scary...

SOUTH KOREA: Day 2

rosemery.  Today I am calling myself scary rosemery.  Only a select few know why... shhh!
Anyways, today was a grand success.

And that is all for my update.

finally arrived.

SOUTH KOREA: Day 1

Two flights and one bus ride and I've finally arrived in South Korea.  Let's just forget that United Airlines lost my luggage.  I'm too excited about being on vacation to let that bother me.  It was a brutally long 15 hour trip to get here.  I was in a pretty cranky/crummy mood to begin with because the ticketing agent couldn't find my ticket at first and she sent me to a ticketing counter where someone ended up finding it while muttering that the first agent "didn't look hard enough" which caused a delay and made me panick but it all turned out ok because I got on the plane........But the plane was delayed because an engine "disintegrated" so add plus 1.5 hours to the total trip time.  Almost missed my connection from San Francisco to Incheon because of the engine "disintegrating" but I made a bee-line to the plane exit and basically ran like a maniac to the gate with my passport and boarding pass in time.  I made it. phew.
Anyways, here are my initial impressions:

I love Daiso (little japanese dollar store) with good stuff.  not your typical junky crap. 
I love how things are open late at night even on a Sunday
Incheon Airport = ridiculously immaculate.  The bathroom tiles and walls were gleaming
the Mcdonalds here had a bulgogi burger, kiwi apple mcflurry and green tea mcflurry! and affogato which I tried and it was tasty. 
little asian children running around and playing are so cute but for some reason they are even cuter in Korea... =)
I like how tourists here don't think I speak English and it's always interesting to hear their stupid/moronic comments.  Maybe I'll share later. 

also, guys really do love their man bags here.  Anyways, full day planned tommorow.  United Airlines, you better find my suitcase.  grr.

bags are packed!

I'm ready to go off to the motherland.  South Korea, here I come!  So it's 1:07 AM right now and instead of sleeping... I've decided to attempt and stay up so that I can sleep during my flight.  Apartment is cleaned out, bags packed, camera & reading material are in tow so all I need to do is shower and watch a couple of tv shows to kill time.

Working has been so stressful lately.  So stressful that all I want to do is bash my head on my computer screen, chuck my phone out the window and hide in the washroom.  Thankfully, I'll be away for a full three weeks. 

When I come back, I hope I don't remember how to do any of my work.  I want to forget everything.