Naiise Travels: Seoul, South Korea

There are so many things to fall in love with, in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. For this week's guide, we take you to this city of great shopping and amazing food. If you are paying a visit to Seoul anytime from now till February, we have some winter tips for you too! 

For the entire week we were in Korea, it snowed heavily and in order to keep ourselves warm, what better way is there than to eat! We picked a few places with amazing food that you definitely should not miss!

Tosokchon Samgyetang

Samgye-tang is a chicken ginseng soup dish prepared by boiling a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice in a Korean ginseng broth. It is one of the most popular dishes in Korea and you wouldn't want to miss that when you are here. At Tosokchon, we were served an array of yummy kimchi and we picked both the black and white Samgye-tang, which were both equally delicious. The restaurant floor is heated so you can be sure to feel warm and fuzzy despite the heavy snow outside. 

Gyeongbokgung palace

After your hearty meal, you might want to head to Gyeongbokgung palace, also known as the Northern palace to watch the change of guards since it is not too far from Tosokchon. It's pretty interesting to watch but because it's cold out, do remember to layer on to keep yourself warm!

 Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market

Fellow seafood lovers, you must not miss this place. It is great that they are open 24-hours daily and you can find the freshest seafood at the most affordable prices. Not to mention the really nice ahjummas who kept showing us her interesting seafood — some of which we had never seen before. Once you're done picking out your seafood, you can head to one of the restaurants at the premise to get your sashimi sliced or prawns grilled, and then dine in! You can also find a food challenge for your friends here — eat live octopus. Take our word for it, they wriggle even when they're already in your mouth! So chew quick (and thoroughly)!

Soju is cheaper than water here, so as far as we can remember, we wouldn't leave a place without first getting some of it.

Ewha Women University Shopping Street

It was honestly not easy to shop in all that thick winter clothes but you wouldn't want to miss out on shopping, especially if you are a girl at Ewha Women University Shopping Street. Over here, you can expect many youngsters and lots of small shops selling mostly clothes, as well as some small food stores. If you still fancy a nice cold dessert amidst the freezing temperatures, go for one of the beautiful popsicles with real fruit slices!  

Myeong Dong Street

Another great place to go to will be Myeong Dong Street. Find everything from cosmetics, fashion outlets, salons, cafes, and even cat and dog cafes along this bustling shopping street.

Hongdae

Located near Hongik University, Hongdae is known for its urban arts, indie music culture, clubs and entertainment. This area is especially lively at night with the young and if you are looking for something different, they do have occasional "Free Market" where Korean designers and makers set up little booths to sell their wares. 

Gangnam 

Last but not least, complete your South Korean experience at this area popularised by Psy. Head down to Gangnam station where you can find many popular nightclubs and bars to enjoy a fancy cocktail and a wide assortment of alcoholic beverages. 

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