Welcome to our new blog. Here we will (try to!) keep family and friends updated on the Dunnagan adventure in Asia. We’ve been in Seoul for about 3 months now and love it. We never thought we’d end up in Korea – Germany maybe, but definitely not the Far East. Seoul has not disappointed us though. On the contrary, this mega-city boasting a population of around 20+ million offers something for everyone, especially – shopping!
If there’s one thing Koreans love, it’s shopping and Seoul is a shopping mecca. Just outside our apartment lies two of the oldest and largest markets in Seoul – Namdaemun (pronounced naam-day-moon) and Myeong-dong (pronounced me-yong-dong). Below are some maps to help with locations:
Namdaemun is a sprawling outdoor market offering everything from fresh fruit and nuts, to men’s socks, to traditional Korean food, to knock-off Dooney & Bourke handbags and more. On any given day, thousands crowd the market looking for deals and daily essentials. It’s not uncommon to see spontaneous eruptions of “super-sales” of who-knows-what with tens of Koreans crowded around a small cart combing through merchandise with a man hovering over them shouting in Korean. It reminds me of that scene from Trading Places where Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd are trading orange juice futures in the Chicago Board of Trade. Ha! On a busy day, expect to get pushed around while wondering through the market, but don't take it personal. With this many people crammed into such a small space, bumping and gentle shoving come with the territory.
Below is a picture of a typical day in Namdaemun.
Here’s a shot of a flower market we stumbled upon on the third floor of a random building in Namdaemun. We picked up ten long-stem roses for less than $5!
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Myeongdong, another market just outside our doorstep, has a very different feel. Most of the shopping takes place inside stores and most of the apparel is name brand, very much like you would find in America. Prices are clearly marked and haggling is much more difficult. Here you will find the most of the latest fashions, but expect to pay handsomely for them.
While Namdaemun and Meyong-dong are two great markets, they represent only a tiny fraction that Seoul has to offer. Seoul is full of other shopping venues, including the huge COEX Mall, dozens of Shinsegae and Lotte department stores, Itaewon and Dongdaemun shopping district, and countless underground shopping areas like Hoehyeon. One could truly shop themselves to death here.
Well, I’ve rambled on long enough. We welcome your comments and questions. And, of course, if you’re ever in the neighborhood, please stop by.
Additionally, Amanda will continue to post photos to her Facebook account, so be sure to visit there often as well.
Have a blessed day!
