[Part 2] 037. 7 September 2010 Tuesday

I am really really really happy today. It's a dream come true for me...so surreal. I really did it but I'm not telling; maybe you'll notice it or maybe you won't :) To those who know, please keep this secret for me!
My day only really started after 3.15pm when my Korean class ended and I met Yuhong opposite my place. To get to Namdaemun 남대문, we took Bus no. 1212 to Sungshin Woman's University before taking the subway to Hyeheon (not sure of the romanization which I'm terrible at) 회현 Station, which is just 1 stop after Myeongdong.

Namdaemun is quite an interesting place but it's obvious that it's not a shopping area for young adults but rather, for ajumas, because of the types of clothes sold there and the sheer number of ajumas there.

It's also a touristy area filled with tourists and shops selling ginseng and seaweed. There are many tourist information counters around so if you need any help or directions, you can approach the counter staff for help, because that's what we did when we couldn't find the camera shops lane (it's actually near Gate 2 of Namdaemun) and had walked in many rounds. There's one area that sells accessories and accessories-related products.

I'll go back again to further explore the place another day because today, we were only set on one mission: to find Hyosung 효성 Camera which is to the left of Gate 2. Yuhong did his research online and found that Hyosung Camera is the most reliable and foreigner-friendly camera shop in Namdaemun with a salesman called Paul who's fluent in English. I think he was the one who attended to us and he's quite reliable. We spent a looooong time in the shop, given Yuhong's shopping list and stuff, until about 7pm+! Halfway, we went to Shinsegae to withdraw money from the ATM machine before returning to the shop. I also checked out other camera shops and I realised that a question Koreans like to ask is: do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? In my case, as I was with Yuhong (who already has a girlfriend, by the way), Paul asked if he was my bf -.- Another guy in another shop asked me too and it was strange because I just went in to enquire about a camera price and he said 예뻐요 to me, asked whether Yuhong is my bf and what had happened to my leg (conspicuous knee guard) -.- -.- -.- Another observation Jeannie and I have made is that there are many many many couples everywhere in Korea, especially in Namsan Tower, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and many other places and singles like us feel like oddballs.

In search of Hyosung Camera

Testing out the lens that Yuhong wanted to buy

Always giving us this face

His purchases for the day

Felt so tempted to get a Canon 550D!

I want these lenses!!!

After settling everything, we walked to Myeongdong for dinner. Namdaemun is just beside Myeongdong. In the end, we settled for the eatery in Hotel Ibis which I've always walked past but never entered. The food's not bad, quite cheap too! 4,500KRW for my rice cake dumpling soup.

Favourite brand

Chanel

Another classic expression of his

One day, when I miss Singapore enough, I'll go in for some Chinese food even though it's more expensive than Singapore's.

I shopped in F21 before we went back to Anam. I realised that my taste in fashion has evolved quite a bit. I no longer go for cheap 5,000KRW tops; instead, I like clothes that are made of chiffon and require dry cleaning and difficult ironing procedures and I know my mum's going to scold me for buying such items when I'm back. I'll have to remember to tell her that I'll iron those clothing items myself.
I returned to my hostel to see this parcel waiting for me...my pretty black skirt from Gmarket! I immediately matched it with my new F21 blouse and rushed down to Jeannie's room to share with her my purchases for the day.

Just when I thought people in Singapore don't care about me (other than my parents whom I faithfully skype with every night), Liesl sent me a FB message. Thank you, girls :) I didn't want to disturb you girls who are probably very busy studying while I'm on exchange and having the time of my life here. haha.
Congratulations to my lil brother for passing his driving test on the 1st attempt, like me :) Now, there's someone to drive me around or pick me up and someone to share the chore of washing the car because we'll share it. Yay!