I'd follow Jane to Gangnam 나는 강남에 제인을 따라 줄

It's winding down to the last few days .... and it seems like our schedule of plans keeps changing by the hour.  I almost forgot to make grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast, with our eggs. So much to remember!

Today we managed to get to the huge Namdaemun market district, with streets and buildings full of stuff. Lots of STUFF! Everyone has their little square to set up, and its packed full of merchandise, they barely have room for themselves, and it's tight walking between them. And today, we think because it was rainy and chilly, it didn't seem all that crowded. Some stuff is handmade, other stuff cheap junk, things geared toward tourists, and many made-to-order things especially for Koreans - like the drapery, bedding, and traditional clothing.

 There are bags, hats, clothes, underwear and socks, designer sunglasses, shoes, dishes and pans, quilts, drapes, decorations, plants, food, furniture, cheap and fine jewelry and accessories - the list goes on. It is even organized by product, so in one building this level is all jewelry, another is the mature-ladies fashion, then kitchenware, etc. One cubicle after another, all very similar things. It gets overwhelming.

But it's a place you can bargain on the price! With my blank "I-don't-speak-Korean" stare, and Jane's sweet "awe-you-can-do-better-than-that-price" grin we did alright.

in line with hangry faces

Shopping that hard-core will give anyone an appetite, so Jane took me to a special, special place. It's a tiny little stand on the corner, and they make a veggie-filled "doughnut", and it was so hot and tasty! There was a long line, evidently they are a popular stand, and people know its worth the wait.
The first lady has a HUGE pot of glass noodles and other veggies, she mixes it and stuffs handfuls into the dough, and then plops it down into the fryer. The man was turning and flattening the fritter, and when it's done the third lady throws it in a cup and adds a little sauce from the small pot. yum

nom nom nom

But that was just a snack, we needed dinner. In the tiny alleys are "restaurants" that are like the shops in that they are lined up one after another and all serving the same thing.

We walk through the door and we are badgered by each cook to sit at their counter - but Jane knew which one was best. And it was already full of customers. We just sit down and the bowls start coming - bibimpap (a rice/barley and vegetable "salad"), bean curd and seaweed soup, spicy cold noodles, and then another soup with homemade noodles. It was so much food! (and only $5)

mix that flour!

The ladies working there were all from the same family, and they were characters. One was preparing the flour for tomorrow's noodles while we ate, and told us if we don't finish all our food she charges a fee. She was glad to hear that she would be a part of my blog, and told me to come back the next time I'm in Korea.