Korea Part 2

... Continued from Part 1

 I took the train, alone, to Anguk station. FIL's friend sells his paintings and other artworks there, so I was going to drop by and say hi, and then shop around.

What I liked about Anguk station, is that it has translators at the station to provide assistance to foreigners. There were English, Japanese, Chinese, and the other popular languages. Very helpful and made it easier for me to navigate around.

I stumbled upon this shop called Eco Party Mearry. It was tucked away and hidden on the 2nd floor of an isolated building in the middle of bustling Anguk. The only reason why I even decided to explore the 2nd floor was because I was attracted by the flight of stairs leading up and wondered what was up there.

Eco Party Mearry is a DIY craft freak's dream. It sells environmentally friendly craft materials and supplies, and EVERYTHING there is made of recycled materials!!! How cool is that??? I saw this really gorgeous lamp at the shops, and they were being sold for over $100, and I saw the DIY version for less than $20. Hence I decided to make it myself and bought all the materials and equipment needed to make my little table lamp work. I also bought traditional Korean wedding dolls to represent me and my husband, and the traditional Korean wedding that I'm still waiting for.

I'm ashamed to say that I've not started working on the table lamp yet, although I've been back for months. That day will someday come =)

On the way back to the train station, there was an unexpeccted drill. The traffic lights were turned off and all the vehicles came to a halt. Some impatient drivers started sounding their horns, but they should've been prepared and avoided that area. I was afraid that the trains will not be running too, but thankfully, it was not affected. When I got home, there were military men at the playground as part of the drill. I guess they practise frequently in case North Korea were to make a sudden attack.

All vehicles stopped as the traffic lights were turned off, and there was a traffic officer standing in the middle of the road.

Military men assembled at every neighbourhood for the drill

We also went to Coex mall. Took a train down from Yeonshinae station.

It was bub's first time on the Korean train. I could tell that he was quite nervous, because he sat very still beside me.

One thing about Korean ahjummas, is that they'll just come up to your child and touch your child without your permission. There was this ahjumma sitting beside me. I could tell that she lived in the USA for a long time, because she spoke good English with an American accent. She saw the mozzie bites on bub, and asked what happened. After I told her, she just took something (I don't even know what it is because she never said - cream? oil?) and applied to bub's skin. I was quite taken aback. I know she meant well, and it's a Korean culture. But what if bub had an allergy and reacted to it? She should've asked first because bub is allergic to Ibuprofen. I know it's irrelevant to the ointment, but still. My onni (big sis) who lives in Singapore, always complained when a stranger just touched her kids too - and she is a Korean.

Bub fell asleep when we got to Coex, so I just walked around. I had to wait more than an hour for this Coex pram because there was a Baby Fair that day. Good timing too because I wanted to buy some Korean toys and books for bub.

Bub just woke up and was enjoying the baby expo

There was a kimchi museum which exhibits the kimchi making process and its' history and variations. $3 per entry.

There was a robot providing assistance and directions. The robot has sensors so it will turn to face you automatically. It talks too! haha I was so amused.

We also visited Yonsei University grounds. My neice had an eye appointment at Severance Hospital, which was affiliated to Yonsei. The medical/nursing students at Yonsei were trained at Severance hospital.

Bub got bored quickly. So I took bub and my other neice downstairs. There was a small supermarket, gift shop, food court, etc.

After the appointment, my SIL treated us to dinner at this steak restaurant (sadly, I can't remember what it's called), but the food was to die for. It was like Sizzlers. Just pay for the main dish, and enjoy the buffet-style salad bar.



Bub and me

At the playground with the twins and bub.



I thought this woman was selling chilli, but she was actually just drying her chilli at the playground. You'll never see this done in Singapore or Australia. Really felt the kampong spirit there =)