View from above; N Seoul Tower (Fail vlog post re-do)

(*NOTE: I think made a mistake calling the tower the "Nam-san tower".  They call it the N Seoul Tower (hah, like CN Tower, right? That's what I was thinking too!).  I mean, it's possible that the N does stand for Nam-san, since it is located on top of the Nam-san (Nam mt?).  But, I don't know for sure...I kind of made an assumption, hah.  Apologies for name-butchering.)

VLOG! (click)

I tried to post a vlog earlier during the week about our trip to the N Seoul Tower, but it didn't work! I figured it was too long, so I made a new one today and tried to upload it onto Blogspot...FAIL.  I decided to just upload the new one onto photobucket and so above is the link to the video.  I would have used the initial video to upload onto photobucket because it is much more detailed, but I think I deleted it:( Boo.  Well, hope this works out!

Some pics!:

N Seoul Tower.  We took a bus up a winding road to the top of Nam-san Mt.; the view was amazing.  Bad day to decide to wear boots with heels though.

We made friends with bears from the Teddy Bear Museum before going up to the observatory:)

See that 553er right at the front there? That's the CN Tower.  We win! (Hah, just kidding).

Next stop: "Beijing!"

The view! Beautiful, but sooooo much better in person.

Love padlocks on the terrace fence

(Click to enlarge for a better explanation about the padlocks I spoke about)

Wake up, time to shop!

The past few days have been a bit of a downer; I've been feeling exhausted from taekwondo, over-whelmed by Korean class, and homesick.  Don't get me wrong, I'm loving it here, but I had lost a bit of my previous spirit.  Something was missing in my experience abroad, and a little excursion to Dongdaemun's market for some therapy was just what I needed.  Ladies and gents, I discovered shopping in Seoul, and I am wide awake again!

I tried my best not to be over-whelmed, but it was difficult.  The streets are packed with different places to shop for great deals.  The indoor market Serena took us to was 7 floors (1-3 womens, 4-5 mens, 6-7 bags, shoes, accessories), and there were lines and lines of small booths filled with goodies.  It was awesome.  The first thing I noticed were the jackets and coats: Fur, fur, fur; fur-lined,-fur-trimmed,fur-furred. There was mod, military, geometric-structured, 50's ladylike, over-sized ...but no matter what style, it seems like everything included either a band, buttons, or a belt, to allow for a tighter fit around the waist.  I loved how everything was made to be fitted!  Serena explained that Korean girls like to show off how skinny they are.  Hah.

Into my shopping cart fell a coat.  I knew I needed it as soon as I saw it, and luckily Serena was there to do some bargaining for me.  I  noticed that the price always went down a lot more when she spoke to the sales person.  So thanks Serena!  The coat I purchased was not as structured as some of the other things I saw, I wanted something over-sized...But like everything else, it came with a tie to tighten around my waist, giving it a much more feminine silhouette.  My classmates also picked up some great coats.  See below for pics:)

Other looks I saw advertised were the ultra-feminine, and the ultra-ultra feminine.  Seriously, ultra-ultra-feminine is a very prominent style here in Korea, and by that I mean lots of frill, fluff, bows, barely-there skirts, super-high platforms, glittery this and that, cute panda bear sweaters... 

I picked up a light and feminine blouse for myself too, although I chose a safe colour palette; instead of pink and pastel green, I stuck with black and cream.  Sorry Korea, not ready yet.

Pics:

Coat I bought at the market at Dongdaemun.  Love it.

Nicki in her new military-esque coat!

Evelyn in her fitted off-white coat. Love the colour of this one.

Something light and feminine.

Make-up; all about the eyes.

Just wanted to mention something quickly about something about the make-up I've noticed here.  Highlight highlight highlight the eyes!  The bigger, the brighter, the better.  Before coming to Korea, I was really into the smokey-eye look (heavier and smudged dark eyeliner and shadow), but I'm starting to get into this look...It has a much fresher look.  What I like about it is that it hides my eye-bags more than the smokey-eye look does (which I find actually accentuates them)...it makes me look more awake! Hah, so when in Korea, put your face on like a Korean:

Highlight highlight highlight!

No look can be complete, without finishing off with a fierce peace-sign pose. 

(fyi: Scarf was also bought in Korea...at the Co-ex Mall.  Love it! It's duo-animal print (tiger print and cheetah).  I wear it with everything now.  

More notes on shopping in Korea: Picture time.

Shopping in Seoul makes you love New York?

(shopping bag from the market)

Don't forget to pick up your face-roller!  Slim slim slim your face.  I actually saw a man use this while waiting at a bus stop.  Yes a man, yes, bus stop, yes, a slim-roller.

It's important to be prepared.  Buy a handy dandy bunny case for your spoon and chop sticks!

Later!

Media shmedia

My Korean host family took us to the border between North and South Korea today.  Such a strange reality; two separate worlds divided by so short a distance.  It was heart-breaking to see the memorials and altars that were near the border that mourned for the families of South Koreans still living in North Korea.  The fences were filled with prayers for peace and freedom.  It seems like the public really wants the two sides to come together again, and it's a shame how politics are getting in the way.

While I've been here, I have been able to hear about what some South Koreans think about the North vs South scare that was presented as such a huge deal back home in Canada.  Even my family was worried about my safety here prior to my departure, and who could have blamed them? It was all over the news!  Since I've been here, I've heard almost nothing about the situation.  And in the words of both Serena and another South Korean woman I met, people here just "don't care".  Serena says that South Koreans are almost positive that there will be no such war and that it is just a game of intimidation.  She even joked about a possible bomb attack from North Korea, saying that if anything, her family would be located so close to the border that the bomb would probably just fly right over them before landing.  Isn't the media a funny thing?

Prayers for peace/memorial

The bridge to cross the border, I believe

Spying on North Korea...just kidding.  

Homestay

Serena and her parents

I just got back a few hours ago from Homestay. Yesterday night, I had the opportunity to stay with a beautiful Korean host family. Seriously, they were literally one beautiful looking family.  With her perfectly set hair, leather gloves, and fur-trimmed jacket, the mother was pleasantly elegant.  And of course, Serena, our host-student from Sookmyung, herself is gorgeous (a beauty contest winner, we learned).  The father is a principal of a high school and the mother an astrology teacher in high school…How appropriate for Tiffany and I to stay at their home! 

The family really went out of their way for us.  They prepared a huge traditional Korean dinner for us last night and even with the language barrier, they did everything to make us feel welcome.  I am so grateful to have meet so many kind people in Seoul.   Since arriving in Korea, I have yet to encounter anything close to hostility from anyone.  Not even a crabby bus driver!  My host family did mention that the government is campaigning to encourage Koreans to be “friendly to the foreigners”.  Even so, I think that people are generally very gentle, humble, and modest here.  I also admired the relationship my host family members had with one another.  The three sisters are very close with one another and with their parents.  The way they spoke to one another was so endearing, they really do not hold back their affection. 

Going into the home, I had no idea what to expect.  I think I expected a very traditional and strict household, but Serena’s family was quite the opposite.  Her mother especially loves to make jokes and the daughters playfully tease their parents.  Her father’s thinking seemed progressive and he spoke about the need for countries to open up to “international harmony”.

Playing a traditional Korean card game.

Picture post- OHM NOM NOM

In the past week I've been here, I've had the greatest meals of my life!  Food pics! I've also included some of the prices, just to make a point that awesome food here doesn't cost very much!

$4.50 CAN

bibimbap, day 1

$6.00 CAN?

Fish ball udon (from some Japanese restaurant at the airport)

$5.50 CAN

Andrew's spicy seafood soup

$2.50 CAN

Kimbap!

$1.50 CAN

Walnut and cream cheese bread from one of the many bakeries I have passed by

$5.50 CAN

The BEST bibimbap I've had yet!  Beef was soooo yum.

(Same as above; mixed)

Korean bbq restaurant

$6.00 each?

Beef, "special pork"?

OH-M-G. I just tried these pasta-looking-chip-thingies today, and they are soo good. I have to find out where my friend bought them and stash up

Soup from a Japanese restaurant

Fish/cole slaw from a Japanese restaurant

$5.00 CAN

Pork cutlet with egg on top (on rice) from the same Japanese restaurant

$48.00 for a shared meal for 6

Tuna rolls (the fish was so good!)

Chili shrimp and Creamy shrimp

Rolls:)

Green tea latte from Cafe Bean...So pretty!!

video post-Taekwondo Kid

Picture time! Only in Korea.....(and where ever else..)

Only in Korea:

They aren't sushi rolls, it's "kimbap"

Sidewalks smile at you (look side ways..two eyes, and a mouth)

They have fully-equipped outdoor gyms.  People actually use these! It was -9 degrees!

"American" style Chicken and Beer is available at the "Chicken and Beer Restaurant" (At the Fry Pan)

Condiment engineering is on another level!

Emoticons replace real people.  This is an ad for a plastic surgery company. Top to bottom: bigger eyes, bigger boobs, smaller waist.

They have a kimchi museum

Robots hang out at the mall too

McDonalds serves bulgogi burgers

You get your head stuck in giant beer bottles

You get to wear things that your two year your nephew probably owns...And people won't stare.

Fortune can smile!

You can get orange juice with PULPY. Pulpy is awesome.

The end for now:)