MYEONGDONG SHOPPING

     Shop 'til you drop in Myeongdong! From the Subway Line 4 tunnel  to the streets of Myeongdong, expect to find everything you want and everything you wished for. From muffins, coffee, schneeballs to cosmetics, clothing, bags, souvenir items, K-pop memorabilia and more.

     Keep yourself from the temptation while still in the tunnel because you'll get the same items in the main shopping area for a better deal. Almost all the stores in Myeongdong shopping area give gifts as you enter their shop. As store attendants hand you a shopping basket, it comes with either a free pen, facial wipes, or a  moisturizer sampler. But before those freebies get you to come to the shops, larger-than-life fiberglass statues smile at you as you walk along the streets. Even the police station has statues near its entrance.

     Tourists from all over the world drop by this area and made the Korean storekeepers used to dealing with foreigners. They may not speak English but don't get intimidated by this. If you wish to shop, ask them about the price and they'll respond using their calculator. I've become fond of these funny socks, because I haven't seen anything thing like it elsewhere but in South Korea, and the souvenirs made of polymer clay and ref magnets so I always tend to stop and grab something at these shops.

     Another attraction in the area are the Korean streetfoods. I'm familiar with udeng, waffles, sausages potato swirls and topokki but it's my first time to see a Korean giant lollipop made infront of me. The sign says it's called popki. I didn't buy it since it smelled like the Filipino candy tira-tira so I already had an idea how it tastes and it's too big just to try out. The lemonade stands also attract tourists, with their freshly squeezed lemons placed in tetra packs, and the ice cream stands which sells ice cream as high as a foot.

Popki candies

Potato swirl and sausages

Ice cream and some cute girls

    Diners, coffee shops, fastfood and restaurants are on every street so there's no problem looking for a place to eat during lunch or dinner. Just look for the signs and check which building level they are found because most of them are on the upper floors of the buildings.

     My husband is an omurice fan, so we chose to have lunch at Han's Deli. The name of the meals are very enticing but not the meal itself. I was disappointed that the premium beef I ordered which looked like a thick slice of steak in the picture is nothing but a burger patty smothered with spicy sauce. But their pizza is the best pizza I had in Seoul (thank goodness) and I would come back for that if I get to go back to Myeongdong.

    Myeongdong gets busier as it gets dark. Rows of food carts, shoes, socks, belts, cap vendors and more line the streets. A colleague said some stay as late as 2am but we saw several started packing away at around 10:30pm. I could say, the place even got more attractive with lights brightening up the shopping area. The Seoul Tower got more noticeable, too.

     Hotels are also everywhere. There won't be a problem looking for a place to stay if you didn't come on a package tour.

     And if all that shopping ate all your Korean Won and need to exchange your Dollars, try looking for money changers found in the smaller streets.