Seoul, shall we? - 20 August 2012 (Day 3)

We decided to visit Namdaemun Market in the morning and Myeongdong in the afternoon today. Sadly, we both found Namdaemun Market to be quite boring. I did however, managed to find some nice hankerchiefs for my mum. The ahjumma was watching Running Man and it was the episode where Kim Soo Hyun first appeared and I exclaimed "Oh, Kim Soo Hyun!" and she went "Kim Soo Hyun's really popular these days!" (in korean)

We found these accessories wholesale shops but they were only keen to do wholesale business, some vendors took pity on us and sold us some earrings.

Not wanting to repeat yesterday's episode, we left for Myeongdong really quickly, which was a good thing since we spent quite abit of time there. We had a list of cds and merchandises to buy and I was informed that there was this one guy who had a shop (2 in fact, they face each other) in the Myeongdong underground mall so we headed straight there and it was packed with everyone else doing the same thing cause this guy apparently has a wide range of products and they were affordable too.

 After spending like ages at the shop in the Myeongdong underground mall, we finally came out to see the light >____< This is from exit 5 & 6. We went into Nature Republic building as it says that there is a CD shop on the 3rd floor

Oooo....found the boys emblazoned on a silver wall decoration in a cd shop, it was quite cool! 

On the 2nd floor of Nature Republic, we found some Jang Geun Suk standees. And although I wasn't a fan, I knew who he is from a kdrama and so I decided to take some photos anyway.

 The space was really cramped and there were 3 standees, it was hard to balance and not fall onto the standee, so I put my hand behind the standee, to which Ro said "Please stop touching his butt!"

We spent some time in M Plaza and we really liked this shop at the basement called Kosney, which was like a zakka shop :) There's a Daiso upstairs as well. I love Daiso so much that I visit every Daiso outlet I can find on my travels. And it's really interesting as the product range is different in every country and I found some really cool stuff.

Everything was so cute, we had to restrain ourselves!

I had read about the Myeongdong Cathedral and since I was there, I decided to visit. Being Catholic, I make it a point to visit churches every time I travel if I can. Jokingly, I told Ro to accompany me to see my God and after that I would accompany her to see hers. Hers being a Tourist pop-up store with the Super Junior boys standees as they were appointed Summer Sale Ambassadors. Ha Ha Ha

The church was gorgeous, with all the stained glass paintings

At the Summer Sales Tourist pop-up store, you can get a goodie bag, pose for photos with the standees, print photos, get money changed, write postcards and get it mailed. Such a great idea!

Spotted this cute mascot but I had no idea what it was promoting, poor thing though, having to wear that costume in the summer heat!

While Ro was busy shopping in the Laneige store, I was attracted by their cute displays in the shop!

These 2 chaps were really sporting, they posed for me :)

How cute are these shoes?! Why can't they make them for the bigger kids like me?? Ro says they do not like big kids >____<

Saw lots of yummy street food, but I have a weak stomach so I wasn't sure if I could take the risk

That's Namsan Tower in the distance

Look what I found!! I know, you're thinking "It's a TGI Fridays restaurant, so...."

The CNBLUE boys are endorsing TGI Fridays that's why!!

Since he can't feed me in real life, this standee will do

Strangely, I could only locate 2 standees, that of Yong Hwa & Min Hyuk. Since this was placed at the entrance of the restaurant and we were not gonna have dinner there, we couldn't wander around to search for Jong Hyun & Jung Shin's standees. Besides, the hostess was giving me the evil eye cause she knew I wasn't gonna stay for dinner.

Ok, I took this for all the Emotional Angels (Yong Hwa bias are called Emotional Angels) to photoshop themselves into the picture ^______^

I saw this caramel candy crisp on a program and wanted to try it and so I did!

It was yummy! Kinda like a sweet cookie :)

Goodnight Myeongdong! We're not done so we'll be backkkk!

Seoul, shall we? - 19 August 2012 (Day 2)

We wasted half the day today cause we went to this so-called factory outlet place - Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street, which I suggested cause I found it while doing my online research. Oh well, since it's my first trip, it's forgivable I guess. Ha Ha At least my friend Ro did not kill me >____<

Aren't these safety barriers cute?!

We found a fun place to have lunch though, Mr Pizza! Cause we spotted the 2PM boys fronting the restaurant :)

 

The waiter spoke no English but we managed to order just by pointing and they got it right :)

We couldn't wait to get out of that boring place and head to Apgujeong and Cheongdamdong cause that was what we planned for the second half of the day. I promised to accompany my friend to Kona Beans (opened by 3 of the Suju boys and managed by their mums) and SMTown.

Instructions were for us to take a bus but we prefer to walk and it's about 10-15mins walk from Apgujeong station exit 2. Turn immediate left and walk straight down, when you exit the station, you should see Hyundai Apartments from across the road. Kona Beans is located in an alley (on your right) on this road, there will be a signage.

 

 The fans screamed and ran from front to back of the building whenever they think they spot someone from inside the building, it was quite hilarious!

Across SMTown was the Tory Burch boutique which I recognized from kdrama "Fashion King"

One of the nicest walk I had in Apgujeong had to be the Garosugil in Sinsa-Dong, lots of lovely shops and cafes. And I love the trees flanking this quaint little street. I spotted a Hatson shop and proceeded to ask about this El-Stinko cap that I've been eyeing after I saw Running Man member Song Ji Hyo wearing it (I'm a huge fan of Running Man btw).

Song Ji Hyo in Running Man

 

When told that the cap I was looking for was out of stock, I gave the sales guy a dramatic crest fallen look and he tried hard not to laugh. My friend laughed when she spotted his reaction though.

Jung Yong Hwa! Jung Yong Hwa! I grabbed my startled friend's arm and ran across the street to the Olive and Young store and she realized I'd spotted a standee of Jung Yong Hwa and not the REAL guy! Ha Ha Ha I love CNBlue but the member I love most in CNBlue is leader Jung Yong Hwa. I was really tempted to grab the standee and run away with it but I think spending a day in the police station is not my idea of fun for a first trip to Seoul, so I gave up the crazy idea.

 Love this cute little cafe!

One of the shops I popped in to browse had this multi-drawer cupboard which I love

 

Another restaurant I spotted from a kdrama "My Husband Got A Family" (which stars CNBlue's Kang Min Hyuk) but unfortunately we were too early for dinner so we passed and I really wanted to go to the one that was used for filming in the drama, which was not this branch. Actors Song Seung Hun, Kim Tae Hee & Park Yoochun are endorsing this restaurant, Song Seung Hun is said to be the owner of this restaurant. You can find out more here : http://qiito.com/l/?url=www.blacksmith.co.kr%2Fmain.php

 

It was a day of kdrama filming locations spotting! I found yet another and this time from "A Gentlemen's Dignity" which stars CNBlue's Lee Jong Hyun :) They even have a standee to show what breads/cakes were featured in the drama.

We went to Myeongdong after this and we ended up going to Myeongdong very often on this trip that we should have just stayed in Myeongdong instead! Ha Ha Ha

 One of the things I do daily is to get this tall ice cream cone from the ice cream stall near our hotel, it's 1500won and comes in vanilla, chocolate and mix. I choose mix everyday, the ahjumma recognizes me I'm sure.