Another English friends trip!

Each month our GEPIK - the english programme that Rich and I are involved in arrange for a trip for it's english and native Korean teachers.

This month we got to visit Songanri old tombs, Gongju National Museum and Gongsanseong Fortress.

There was even time for archery and an appearance on Korean TV roasting chestnuts!

Rich's birthday!

Last weekend was Rich's birthday so I decided to arrange a dinner with some of our friends at one of the restaurant's we like in Uijeongbu - "The Italian Plate" some of our friends even arranged a cake for Rich which was really sweet.

Namdaemun Markets

In the Lonely Planet Guide to Seoul it says "You could disappear for a week in Seoul's mind boggling markets and still not see everything" this is totally true - there are so many huge markets with so much "stuff"! Recently we visited the Namdaemun markets very briefly and here's a few photos - but there was so much to see we will have to go back another time soon.

Everland!

Recently Rich and I visited Everland with some of our friends - Seoul has three big amusement parks and Everland is one of these. The park was all orange, pumpkin and creepily themed for Halloween - which of course appealed to me.

Itewon

A couple of weeks ago Rich and I visted Itewon as we were told it's the place for foreigners to visit - It's not my favourite place in Seoul so far but there are some really good restaurants....there are some really interesting stores as well...especially the shop front in the last photo!

Adventures in Hongdae

Last weekend Rich and I visted Hongdae, we had heard so much about this part of Seoul. I really wanted to go there as I heard there was a really great craft market there.

The market there was really amazing, like a Korean version of Craft 2.0 and just as busy! So many amazing artists there. I could have spent some serious money there but instead I was able to limit myself to one set of earrings, one necklace, a stamp and some stickers. But I am really keen to go back there and get some more goodies.

There are a lot of great food places in Hongdae and we had some burgers for lunch which tasted like they could have been from a cafe in Wellington.

After lunch we wandered around the stores and streets and for a moment it felt like we could have been in Cuba Street - lots of funky and alternative stores and cafe's and people.

We picked up a flier from the information centre which talked about an amazing tea house which we tried in vain to find - but we did find an amazing cupcake store and a very cool muesuem full of collectable's and figurines called "The World's Best Uniqe Muesuem".

Seoul by Night

It's Hanbok time!

Recently Rich and I attended a teachers orientation training and had a chance to dress up in traditional Korean Hanbok - here's a photograph of us dressed up Korean style.