I didn't plan on going out to Seoul, at all, but I ended up doing so and didn't really regret it either. I was great. The bus we wanted to take that went straight to Gangnam was full so we took a different one that went to Seoul Station and then hopped on the subway for about four stops.
Operating the buses and subway is really easy, actually.
After a long, hot bus ride where several of us started to feel a little bit nauseous, we finally arrived at Sandak Station (산닥역). When you get off of the bus, you need to put your card to the Cash Bee again so you can pay for your ride. I didn't get to see but someone told me it was like 400W which is utterly cheap compared to Milwaukee's $2.25. It's roughly 40 cents.
After the long bus ride, we went to the subway where we all split up. Half of the group went to Mapo for a music library tour and the rest of us went to Gangnam for some shopping and sightseeing. So after putting more cash on our cards, we took line 2 to Gangnam, You have to use your card to get into the station and also to get out of the station.
Inside the station though, is basically a department store underground. There was a lot of people and a lot of shops. Also, people here do not care at all, they will push you, they will walk far to close to you. An old lady pushed a girl out of the way on the subway with force. She's got an arm on her.
And so, we exited the station and began to take pictures like the group of tourists we very much are.
I'm such an awkward photo taker omg
BTS played on that screen for their new commercial and I about lost it...
We went to lots of (girly) stores, makeup and clothes of the sorts. The guys were definitely not all that fond of it, but like we care? We're in Gangnam! We stopped into Etude House, finally! And I bought a bottle of lip tint and I AM EXCITED TO USE IT!!!
One clothing store had a coffee shop on the second floor where here was one (really handsome) guy working the counter by himself and then a hoard of us ordering drinks. And of course, the one I ordered took 5 years to make. I felt so bad... But it was so good! A honey latte. I don't really like hot drinks, but this one was good and cooled down to a nice temperature really fast. Like, if I see it on anyone else's menu, guess what I'm getting.
And after mobbing the poor guy, we decided to get food next.After much debating along some side streets and going to places that turned out to be closed, we finally decided (or rather the waitresses outside decided for us) that we'd go to a place called Jeju Black Belly Pork.
Oh it was so good.
The tables were so full of food. One table was 40,000W so it was pricey but divided up it was only 13,000W for each person (we had three at our table). The white stuff in the black pot was super good. I asked what it was but she said it too fast for me to understand. But I think it was tofu. Or eggs. It had a similar consistency. The meat was so good. You're supposed to make lettuce wraps with meat, rice, and other sides, but to be honest it was beautiful with just the meat by itself. The restaurant gave us bag to put our coats and scarves in so it wouldn't smell like meat. So thoughtful.
After chowing down and then dealing with the hassle of dividing money between 14 people and four tables, the group split up once more. One part, like 3 or 4 people, went to see the World Championship Speed Skating competition since one of the girls from Finland knew a competitor. It was also free. But I would rather see figure skating so the rest of us (who almost all seemed to speak German except lil' ol' me) continued to go around and shop. We also met up with another AGA who lives in Gangnam and we decided to show us around.
At one of the stores, 8 Seconds, there was this priceless artifact.
Work it.
And then the sun started setting and all the lights started to come on and that's when I feel the happiest.
We actually lost someone at one point. Talk about scary. I would probably cry if I got lost, but I mean, if people are leaving, you bet I'm following. It also helps that I'm tall and can see over the crowd to find a blond or a foreigner. Sweet.
We went to another coffee shop after finding our lost friend. It's called A Twosome Place and there's actually one right across from campus. I thought it would be a good idea to get an Iced Chocolate. Turns out that no, I did not like it. It was basically hot cocoa powder with a little bit of milk. It was thick with chunks because hot cocoa powder does not dissolve in cold liquids, I should know, I've tried... So I ended up giving it to someone else. I should just stay away from chocolate. And coffee.
Our AGA led us to probably the most shady destination I've ever been to. A hookah bar called the Rainbow Lounge. Like. It smelled kinda like a mildewy basement and you had to have ID and no shoes on their equally shady floor.
We were here for like two hours and for me it was boring because I don't do that kind of stuff and I didn't feel like getting up to get a drink or anything (though I was tempted to get an apple martini, sounds good). But here was live music that was deafening but alright.
When we decided it was time to head back to Suwon (it was like 11pm), we went out and had to wait for our AGA to come back with the people who went to the speed skating competition. Now this. This was entertaining. First of all, the streets are packed with couples and girls wearing short skirts in below freezing temps and heels too high for them to walk in. And then there are the drunks. The Korean drunks and the foreign drunks. We had our share of both.
But the funniest was this one guy. We had seen him while he was walking by us, head down and definitely struggling to walk. Good lord. He dropped his phone and just stared down at it. We all started laughing and he looked over at us with a weird smile when he picked up and while he was still looking at us, he practically threw his phone down again and we lost it. It was so funny. I'm laughing even know as I remember it. Probably the best part of my night. We all mutually agreed that he's going to hate life in the morning.
After some more standing around and waiting, our AGA finally came back and then we stood around some more deciding what to do until we finally agreed to head back to Suwon.
Well then we got distracted by street food, which I regret not buying but I was tired and wanted to just go. But I mean, I was tired way back when we entered A Twosome Place, it was too warm... After watching someone eat a really big delicious looking and amazing smelling hot down on a stick (essentially, it's a more amazing corn dog), we finally, finally left.
We took the bus in Gangnam that we were supposed to take earlier and went back to Suwon.
Most of the group went to a bar for some nightcaps, but three of us went home, including me. And let me tell you, it's such a hassle to get some off campus to the dorm. Too many hills, so far away. I need a taxi basically.
And that was my unplanned adventure to Gangnam. Today I basically don't have much planned. I need to clean so my roommate doesn't hate me when she finally comes. And I finally get to meet my Korean buddy this afternoon. Yay.
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