Early Morning Food Hunting at Gwanjang Market

That morning was the 1st of March,  initially our plan was just indulging ourselves with heart-healthy food and a bit of shopping before flying back to Singapore the next afternoon.

I decided to make a trip to Suwon which we cancelled on the second day because we went to Soraepogu instead after Fusion Hanbok photoshoot.

The day before, we found out from 1330 and KTO that we can visit Seodaemun Independence Park and Tapgol Park to know more about March 1st Movement Day.

Suwon City Tour starts at 10am, so we need to be there by 9:30 at latest because we didn't manage to book the tour online.

 Standing in front of Gwangjang Market at 6:30 am.

We took taxi here to minimize the time for walking up and down the subway stations and possibly facing difficulty to find the correct direction to get to Gwangjang Market.

History of Gwangjang Market - nation’s first permanent
traditional market which established in 1905.

We're at the West Gate, and to get to the  Food Zone
we have to walk to North Gate 2 or South Gate 1.

Hanbok~ Hanbok~~!! I want Hanbok~~~!!! 

 "Ehm... where are we now?!"

"Search me~!!!" (blur blur)

 "It's ok... I'll check it out myself!"

"Turn to right to Food Zone! See... clever me~!^^"

'The early bird catches the worm'

This pink bird was so disappointed for getting no warm food at Food Zone!!! ㅠㅠ

 Majeongyo (마전 = Horse Market) Underground Shopping Center...

 Opposite Cheonggyecheon Stream.

 

Finally found this restaurant that one of kind ahjussi recommended us

as we're wandering at the market, as he said other stalls not open so early. 

The problem is I don't really like to have these type of food for breakfast.

This Gwangjang Toast Bread was opened early, 

and few people were waiting for their orders.

Actually I wanted to buy, but hubby said should try 

some specialties in this Gwangjang market...

Hooray! Finally could see life at Food Zone when yellow bulbs were lighted...


  and vapor from the big pots with nice smell came from some of the stalls around 7:00 am.


But most of them still preparing and open for business yet
including this friendly stall owner.




Finally this shop was ready to serve us...


Japchae, Odaeng, Tteokbokki, bite-sized Gimbap, Sundae, Jokbal,...

 

I ordered small pack of Narcotic Gimbap.
Don't be scared of the name 'Mayak' (마약 = Drug) Gimbap.


Wanna try this cute Mayak Gimbap?
Dont worry! The ingredient has 0% narcotic in it, just pickled radish and carrot.
It's named Mayak Gimbap because it's just so addictive that you can't stop eating!

Pig's feet Jokbal (족발), Assorted Blood sausage Sundae (순대고기모듬) and liver (간)!

I only tried a bite of jokbal, and left the rest because I don't really fancy eating these pig's organs, especially after seeing the veins inside the liver. OMG! totally lost my appetite... Ok, let me just focus on my cute mini gimbap!

We'd Sundae in soup as our first meal on our first visit to Korea in 2012.

Forgot how much we paid... should be around 12,000 Won - $15,000 Won for Mayak Gimbap and these assorted plate of pig's organs and...

 

Free Seaweed soup (미역국 = Miyeok guk) as 'service'

   Happy face after had our breakfast.

just wanna take photos with these toilet tissue paper rolls ㅠㅠ


 Bindaetteok pancake is one of the speciality here...

We wanted to eat this, but the stall just opened after we'd our breakfast. We like this mug bean pancake after we had it at Seobichon Village in Yeongju.

Soy raw crabs (간장게장 = Ganjangejang) and

others fermented / marinated side dish.

 Gwangjang Market (광장시장)
88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88 (예지동)
 Operating Hours: 08:30-18:00

 Going to Jongno 5-ga Subway station
opposite Gwangjang Market.
See you in Suwon soon~^^

Related Posts:

~ Trazy Gwanjang Market

~ Suwon City Tour

Insight Into Insadong

Apparently, I just walked and followed my friend without knowing where we're heading to...

"Oh?! Really! Insadong?" A bit surprised as I didn't know that a short 15 minutes walk from Samcheongdong through this quaint alley of Gamgodang-gil will lead us to Insadong.

"Have you been to Insadong?" he questioned me before we crossed the road to Insadong.

"Yes! Of course... You brought me here before." a bit irritated when answering him. Yeah, he must be joking! Tell me how could I have missed it? Insadong is such a popular place, and he's the one who brought me here too, how could he forget so fast?! 헐~!!! 

"Oh... me? did I?" I didn't notice his expression when he answered me.

"Yap~! We visited the art gallery in the evening." quickly turned my head to check whether I'm walking with the correct person?! or by any chance he didn't tell me that he's an actor (with such a good acting skill)?!

... (silent)

"Remember? on my previous trip last September." I started to worry for him! It's normal if I forget things easily. My sister and my friends concluded that I've Alzheimer disease. But, I still remember clearly, and he totally forgot about it? 어떻게?!  How?!!  He might be suffering quite serious short-term memory loss!

Just about to search the photos in my HP to prove that we're there...

"Oh~!"  when he replied softly and nodded his head few times after silent for awhile.  Sounded like it's just for the sake of answering me. Anyway 다행이다~! Thanks God! He finally recalled it! ^^

But less than a minute, he suddenly said: "I thought that's in Itaewon?!" 

OH?!! Wait for a second! Let me recollect and checked my mind. I did come to Insadong (ticked). I visited Art gallery and it's in I~~~iitaewon (ticked confirmed)!!!

"Yeah hor~! It's Itaewon! Yeah~! You shouldn't have nodded your head and said ooh when you're not sure. Haiz!" Actually I was angry at myself and just babbling to hide my embarrassment of this stupid mistake. Aigoo Aigoo~!!

대박~! Imagined his expression when he was answering me... He must had raised his eyebrows and scratching his head (-_-a) with lots of question marks hanging above his head.

Aish~ It's so embarrassing, Vera! how could you mixed-up Insadong and Itaewon?! Are you a joker?! I need to have power to disappear at that moment!!! Ha...haaaiiizzz!!! HELP!!! Where should I hide myself?!  진짜 진짜 부끄럽다!

Please excuse my brain, it's half frozen and unable to process the information correctly due to cold weather. Added with both 'Insadong' and 'Itaewon' start with letter "I", made my brain more confused and haywired ㅠㅜ. 

Ok, enough with this awkwardness!  >.<

Perfect place for Art lovers and popular place for tourists

Insadong is the place for you to experience the traditional aspects of Korea in the heart of the city. This district is especially popular for art galleries, traditional craft stores, antique art dealers, where you can find old Korean paintings, ceramics and traditional furniture.

It's nice to stroll along Insadong main street as it's vehicle- free. In this buoyant neighborhood, you'll soon see the iconic modern contemporary Ssamziegil building.

'Ssamzie' (쌈지 = 'money pouch' in old korean), 'gil' (길 = road or street)
However, people may consider ssamziegil as shopping mall rather than road

Ssamzie is an abstract word implies a 'Street filled with Ancient items'. Ssamziegil’s footpaths run alongside the shops like a winding staircase around the courtyard, reminiscent the alleyway in Insadong. 

There are about 70 shops including handicraft stores, souvenir shops, 

art galleries, workshops and restaurants in this shopping complex.

My friend told me that Insadong is very traditional and cultural area, therefore you can see that majority of the signboards are written in Hangul or translated into Hangul. 

Starbucks Coffee (스타벅스 커피) 

And when Starbucks opened in Insadong, people came and queued here just because it's the only Starbucks in the world with the logo written in Hangul. 

It was about 6 pm and temperature just keep dropping. It's really really cold for me. My 'kind-hearted' friend still offering whether I would like to have ice-cream! But, he's forgiven for teasing me, as he's quite considerate and gave me hot packs though I told him that I have them in my bag.

Did I come to Insadong before? 

Yes, I was here for my Hanbok photoshoots in Goguan studio (please click the link for the proof).

We walked from beginning to end of Insadong... My friend said he has some works to do, so I just followed him as I got nothing to do. If I wandering around myself, I worried it might troubled him more to locate me if I lost my way :P 

Hollys Coffee facing Cheonggyecheon Stream

While he's busy doing his work, me also busy watching 'My Love From Another Star' Ep 19 from Gooddrama. Well, I don't recommend it, as actually it's not that glam to laugh out loud or sob inside the cafe. For this, I have to blame on Cheon Song Yi's hilarious, crazy but somehow she's sensible in this episode.

It's quite sad when Song-yi asked Do Min Joon to sing a song for her that will make her think of him in the future, and make him think of her. The song that they can treasure for long~~ long time. Do Min Joon sang a song ('Promise' by Im Byung-soo), and proposed to her... Finally!!! 

Though, she's very happy to receive the proposal, but then she calls his name, saying, “My beloved Do Min Joon. It’s time for us to wake up from this dream. You, for my sake, exist somewhere. For my sake, don’t die. Exist somewhere. What I’m saying is, Go. To where you were.” ㅠㅠ

Aissh~! raining locally?! Why my face so wet? I'd to jump down from my seat and teleport myself to washroom!

I do admire Song-yi's decision. To know that the person you love is happy, safe and sound somewhere is more than enough... Unconditional love!

Related Posts:
~ Goguan Hanbok Photo Studio
~ Samcheongdong has Something for Everyone~!
~ Bukchon Hanok Village

Korea Event for May - Jun 2013

I promised myself that I must visit Korea in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Last trip was in Summer, but temperature was around 20 - 25C, my friends there complained that the weather was too hot! As I was told it's hot and humid.

Horray!!! I just packed some short and sleeveless tees with average thickness of cotton material, cardigan and shawls. Should be just fine for me as it'll feel like in air-con room... No need to carry big luggage as it'll be troublesome to travel here and there as we're not joining tour. We brought 1 big and 1 small luggage. We just carried small luggage and left big luggage in my friend, Mr Kim's house as it's just few clothes for the last 3 days in Seoul and some souvenirs only.

It was still alright when we're in Seoul ^^

Omo!!! Was it called Summer? So windy and it was like air-con blown directly to me when we reached Jeju Island (shivering in cold throughout my trip).  Help... Help!!! I think if they're come to Singapore, then they will feel like being BBQ here :P

So to travel in Winter? Hahaha... not sure whether I can survive there or not! Let's not think of that first~~~

Now it's Spring!!! Flower blossoms everywhere... Everyday I saw nice photos posted on FB. Cherry blossom and flowers everywhere! Ok, I'll teleport myself there now...

Here are some of the Events that you might interested to go:

FESTIVALS:

Busan International Performing Arts Festival	2013.05.03 – 2013.05.12	Busan	Busan
Busan Lotus Lantern Festival	2013.05.07 – 2013.05.12	Jung-gu	Busan
Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herb Medicine Festival	2013.05.08 – 2013.05.12	Jung-gu	Daegu
Lotus Lantern Festival	2013.05.10 – 2013.05.12	Jongno	Seoul
Pyeongchang Cirsium Setidens Festival	2013.05.11 – 2013.05.12	Pyeongchang	Gangwon-do
Jarasum Rhythm and BBQ Festival	2013.05.17 – 2013.05.18	Gapyeong	Gyeonggi-do
Seoul Jazz Festival 2013	2013.05.17 – 2013.05.18	Songpa	Seoul
Green Plugged Seoul	2013.05.17 – 2013.05.18	Mapo	Seoul
Uijeongbu International Music Theatre Festival	2013.05.05 – 2013.05.19	Uijeongbu	Gyeonggi-do
Boseong Green Tea Festival	2013.05.14 – 2013.05.19	Boseong	Jeollanam-do
World DJ Festival	2013.05.17 – 2013.05.19	Yangpyeong	Gyeonggi-do
Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival	2013.05.17 – 2013.05.19	Hadong	Gyeongsangnam-do
Chuncheon International Mime Festival	2013.05.19 – 2013.05.26	Chuncheon	Gangwon-do
Busan International Dance Festival	2013.05.31 – 2013.06.04	Haeundae	Busan
Muju Firefly Festival	2013.06.01 – 2013.06.09	Muju	Jeollabuk-do
Rainbow Island 2013	2013.06.07 – 2013.06.09	Gapyeong	Gyeonggi-do
Haeundae Sand Festival	2013.06.07 – 2013.06.10	Haeundae	Busan
Ultra Korea 2013	2013.06.14 – 2013.06.15	Songpa	Seoul
Muse in City	2013.06.15	Songpa	Seoul
Gyeonggi Hwaseong World Dinosaur Festival	2013.05.03 – 2013.06.23	Hwaseong	Gyeonggi-do
Gwangju Toechon Tomato Festival	2013.06.21 – 2013.06.23	Gwangju-si	Gyeonggi-do
Daegu International Musical Festival	2013.06.15 – 2013.07.08	Nam-gu	Daegu

EXHIBITS/MUSEUMS:

Craft Masters Today	2013.03.05 – 2013.05.12	Jung-gu	Seoul
Seoul has the City Walls Special Exhibit	2013.02.21 – 2013.05.19	Jung-gu	Seoul
Art Across America	2013.02.05 – 2013.05.19	Yongsan	Seoul
Hong Soon Tai Photo Exhibition	2013.03.09 – 2013.05.19	Songpa-gu	Seoul
The Peranakan World: Cross-cultural Art from Singapore and the Straits	2013.03.19 – 2013.05.19	Yongsan	Seoul
The Poetic Object - Contemporary Crafts	2012.12.28 – 2013.05.20	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Special Exhibition on the Donated Collection by Lee Byung Chan 'Dyed Nature'	2013.04.10 – 2013.05.20	Jongno	Seoul
Donated Photographs 2012	2012.12.21 – 2013.05.26	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Gansong Art Museum Spring Exhibit	2013.05.12 – 2013.05.26	Seongbuk-gu	Seoul
Gwanghwamun International Arts Festival	2013.04.25 – 2013.05.27	Jongno	Seoul
Opulence : Treasures of Korean Traditional Craft	2013.03.28 – 2013.06.02	Yongsan	Seoul
Korean Art from the Museum Collection_Grand-Narrative Part I	2012.05.01 – 2013.06.09	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
DMZ 60 Years Photo Exhibit	2013.03.19 – 2013.06.16	Gangbuk	Seoul
Rolling! Visual Art in Taiwan	2013.04.09 – 2013.06.16	Jung-gu	Seoul
Calligraphy of Korean Zen Masters	2013.04.16 – 2013.06.16	Yongsan	Seoul
Xiongnu, the Great Empire of the Steppes -Mongolian Archeological Excavation Result Exhibition	2013.04.30 – 2013.06.19	Yongsan	Seoul
New Visions New Voices	2013.03.12 – 2013.06.23	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Youn Myeung-Ro: Traces of the Spirit	2013.03.26 – 2013.06.23	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
The Secret Forest	2012.05.03 – 2013.07.28	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Buddhist Guardian Paintings of Late Joseon	2013.05.14 – 2013.09.08	Yongsan	Seoul
Figurative Journal Chung Guyon Archive	2013.02.28 – 2013.09.22	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
How to Make a Book with Steidl	2013.04.11 – 2013.10.06	Jongno	Seoul

OTHERS:

Dream Concert 2013	2013.05.11 – 2013.05.11	Mapo-gu	Seoul
International Horticulture Goyang	2013.04.27 – 2013.05.12	Goyang	Gyeonggi-do
King Sejong's Court Banquet	2013.05.11 – 2013.05.12	Jongno	Seoul
Korea Food Show	2013.05.14 – 2013.05.17	Goyang	Gyeonggi-do
Jason Mraz Live in Seoul	2013.05.17 – 2013.05.17	Jamsil	Seoul
Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour	2013.05.22 – 2013.05.23	Jongno	Seoul
Cosmetics & Beauty Expo Osong Korea 2013	2013.05.03 – 2013.05.26	Cheongwon-gun	Chungcheongbuk-do
Daegu Tea Expo	2013.05.23 – 2013.05.26	Buk-gu	Daegu
Garden of Morning Calm Wildflowers Exhibition	2013.02.28 – 2013.05.31	Gapyeong	Gyeonggi-do
Korea World Travel Fair	2013.05.30 – 2013.06.02	Gangnam	Seoul
Tea World Festival 2013	2013.06.05 – 2013.06.08	Gangnam	Seoul
Seoul Land Characters Festival	2013.03.22 – 2013.06.09	Gwacheon	Gyeonggi-do
Seoul International Book Fair	2013.06.19 – 2013.06.23	Gangnam	Seoul
Seoul to Jeonju Free Shuttle Bus	2013.03.01 – 2013.08.25	Jeonju	Jeollabuk-do
Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013	2013.04.20 – 2013.10.20	Suncheon	Jeollanam-do
Wednesday Midday Concerts	3rd Wed of each month	Jung-gu	Seoul
Traditional Music & Dance	Saturdays 2013	Busan	Busan
Deoksugung Pungnyu Concerts	Thursdays May to Sep	Jung-gu	Seoul

Source: Korea Travel Notes


If I managed to teleport there, I should be landed around Cheonggyecheon Stream as there's Lotus Lantern Festival to celebrate Buddha's Birthday...

Image courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization. Click here for more photos.


See yah! ^^