Dongdaemun Design Plaza (동대문디자인플라자)

Dongdaemun Design Plaza is one of the iconic landmarks of Seoul located at Dongdaemun, the popular tourist destination.

This futuristic and uniqely cool UFO-like design standout because

of the smooth circular curves instead of straight lines.

 

Kiddos and hubby were amazed standing infront of this marvellous building...

as if they just landed on another new planet out of the Earth.

 Though this was my second visit, but didn't really see it closely

because we came here for dinner with VIP Invitation Tour at nTable (n테이블).

Wanted to bring them to nTable too, because they like Shabu Shabu too...

Walked around and only found Design shop, exhibition spaces,

park on the roofs... but didn't know how to how to go to the restaurant!

 Seoul Seonggwak Fortress Wall (서울성곽)

Seonggak Fortress wall was built using individual stones and earth in 1396, five years after the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty and the ascension of its first ruler King Taejo. It's aimed to protect the city from enemy forces, marauders and control the passage of people. 

 

This 18km-long fortress wall linking the ridges of Bugaksan, Inwangsan, Namsan and Naksan mountains that surround the capital and 4 main gates (Heunginjimun, Donuimun, Sungyemun and Sukcheongmun) and 4 small gates (Honghwamun, Gwanghuimun, Changuimun and Sodeongmun). 

 In an excavation project, archaeoologists uncovered a section of

123m long Seoul Seonggwak Fortress Wall and sluice gate bridge.

 

It'd been burried underground, and some of them were restored

to their original state and transferred to thir current locations.

On top of that, they also found others relics including tiles, pottery, coins 

and iron artifacts which regarded as great source of knowledge about

lifestyle of Korean people during Joseon era.

 Overwhelmed by the beauty of  LED rose garden along the fortress wall.

Good news is the installation of  20,000 LED roses has been extended until 2020.

This exhibition was supposedly ended in Oct 2016.

I took so many photos at this LED Rose Garden, but had to leave because...

kiddos were out of batteries and need to be recharged the soonest before they burst!

 

 

There are many on-going activities, concerts, exhibitions,

group / field tour. For more information, please check their website.

  

Several shopping malls around DDP...

  

If you're wondering how I took bird's eye view photo of DDP...

 

It's taken from the Korean Chinese restaurant at Lotte Fittin.

(to be continued...)

Visit Korea Special VIP Tour [Day 2-7]

We left Grevin Museum much later than Taiwanese and Japanese teams, therefore left not have much time to shop before we go for dinner.

~ Dongdaemun (동대문) ~

Christmas holiday atmosphere at Dongdaemun.

Wanted to go to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

because I never been there before...

 

But don't worry, I'll post this iconic DDP and its famous LED roses soon,

as I went there with my family after this VIP Tour.

 

 But Jas eonni, Lucky and me just walked to Good Morning City
(굿모닝시티쇼핑몰) which we supposed to gather there later.

This store selling all sort of luggage, bags, backpacks and handbags

on the second floor at Good Morning City shopping mall.

You might want to guess how old is the seller. Friendly seller and he did speak a bit of English.  He complimented that I looked young for my age, as he guessed that I was around 28 years old. So, I told him that he's handsome (꿏미남 = flower boy). He told me that he's old ahjussi, but I didn't belive him until he showed me his ID card! He's 52 and he got grandson already. Wow! Anyway he's kind and gave me huge discount.

 

Random photo: Stalls along Dongdaemun Street and fashion stores inside the mall.


Copying Kim eonni's Angel wings pose at Trick Eye Museum.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~ nTable (n테이블 엔테이블) ~ 

We walked to DDP Food Story Zone to have our dinner there. That night dinner was Shabu Shabu buffet at nTable . 

 I just found out from their website that nTable is under 놀부(Nolboo) group. 

It's a famous Korean franchise restaurant which has 520 branches of 8 brands (Bossam, Budaejjigae, Samgyeopsal, Ori, Myungga, Sundae and Hangari) in Korea.

There is Nolboo Hangari Galbi at Orchard Central Singapore. I forgot how the taste of Korean BBQ there as I'd it 5 years ago when they just opened. But, it's quite expensive so I only went there once with my family. 

 

 I'm not fans of Shabu-Shabu or Hotpot or Steamboat.

Yes, I know I'm a very picky eater. But when we went inside, I saw they also has Korean Salad Bar  besides those vegetables and noddle for Shabu-Shabu.   

 

Korean special menu: Roasting Pork (로스팅 수육).

Instead of boiled braised pork belly (bossam), they have it roasted. It's served the same way as how you eat bossam. Just wrap the thinly sliced suyok with lettuce, kimchi and leek. I ate bossam few times, but never try suyok before. I didn't have chance to taste this because the tray was empty. I think it's too popular.

 DIY your own Bibimbap with the ingredients you like. 

 Hot dishes corner: Fried squied, French fries, 

fried fish with sauce and seaweed riceball.

Salad Bar: Sweet Pumpkin Salad, Tropical Fruits Salad, 

Broccoli Salad, Seasonal Vegetables Salad.

Fruits: Banana, Lyche. Desserts: Korean Traditional Crackers (센베)

Drinks: Coffee, Omija, Green Plum Tea and carbonated drinks, beer and makgeolli.

  

Mushroom Shabu-Shabu (버섯 샤브샤브)

(Lunch: 11,900₩ Dinner: 14,900₩).

Kim Eonni, Jas Eonni, Tere and me shared Mushroom shabu-shabu, and the rest have Beef Shabu-Shabu (쇠고기 샤브샤브) - Lunch: 13,900₩ Dinner: 16,900₩.

Kim eonni's plate (left) vs mine (right)~!^^

 Minimalist Korean-style restaurant with spacious dining area. 

BTW, they're using induction cook top so it's easier to adjust the heat.

Website: www.n-table.co.kr

2-1 Dongdaemun Design Plaza B2 (Food Zone) 

281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04566

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (Subway Line 2, 4 or 5)

Tel: 02 2153-0712 ~ 3

This trip is made possible by VisitKorea organised by Korea  Tourism Organization.