Climbing Yongma mountain (용마산)

The weather is finally warming up in Korea, which means more time spent outdoors! I figured I should get in as much outdoor activities now before the rainy season invades the Korean summer.

Korea is a mountainous country. If it's not blocked by apartments, you can find them anywhere. Even in Seoul, a city of over ten million people, there are mountains to climb. Yongma mountain, or as Koreans call it Yongma-san, is located in east Seoul.

I'm not much of a climber, so I had a bit of a hard time convincing myself that I would even make it to the top. This is the view from the bottom:

Once you start making progress, you will come across this rewarding view: (not of my complaining face, but of east Seoul)

It's even a great photo spot:

The top of the mountain is even more awesome. The view is stunning and you can see literally all of Seoul from there.

Also at the top is a gym. I don't know how or who carried all those weights up there, but all the older men working out looked more fit than most people do in their twenties.

If you have time after climbing, you should check out the park next door. It has a man-made waterfall that turns on only in the summer time at scheduled hours. No tourist sites tell you this, so here is the schedule: (May through September)

One mountain down, 41 more to go in just Seoul alone.

Restaurant: ToSokChon 토속촌

Korea is all about the "well-being" of body and health. The people here claim that most of their traditional dishes all have some kind of health value that can prevent cancer, diseases, or even relieve stress.

Samgyetang is a traditional Korean soup served all year round, but most popular during the summer time. The name literally means ginseng chicken soup, which you can probably guess the two main ingredients. The chicken is stuffed with some sticky sweet rice and cooked whole in broth. It is served in an earthenware bowl with a whole piece of ginseng and a jujube.

I heard people like to eat this soup during the summer because not only does it replenish your body with nutrients, but also that eating hot things during the hot season supposedly keeps you cool.

Tosokchon is a restaurant in north Seoul famous for this soup. I heard about this restaurant from many tourists. They claim that the soup is so good that everyday there is a line of people wrapped around the restaurant waiting to get a taste of the soup. I had to check it out.

I arrived just before lunch time, so I was able to get a seat pretty easily. The building is designed to look like a traditional Korean home, before all the fancy apartments took over. There is a little courtyard in the middle with a nice garden that you can look at when you're eating your soup. I don't know if they have tables with chairs, but all the seating in the rooms I passed by were floor seating.

The soup itself was really good. The meat falls off the bones and the kimchee is perfectly ripe. It was a bit hard to eat because I kept having to pick through the soup to fish out the bones.

The one thing that I wasn't very satisfied with was the seating arrangements and the service. The tables are lined up in rows and placed very close to each other. I sat right in the middle of a row and had to get up every time to let people pass by me. As far as the service, the staff didn't speak any English and they were pretty much nowhere to be found. This place is swamped by tourists from all over the world, and I was pretty surprised that the staff couldn't understand a lady asking for water.

Should you check it out? Definitely. Like I mentioned before, the food is good. Don't expect 5 Star service, but do go there to taste the soup Koreans swear makes you healthy.

Tosokchon (토속촌) is located near exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung on line 3. Walk straight out and turn left when you see a GS convenience store.

Dragon Hill Spa

If there is one thing that Korea is famous for other than kimchee, I would say it is the "jjimjilbang."

Jjjimjilbangs are difficult to describe because 'bath house' doesn't really bring a picture to your head, especially if you are from America. The main part of any good jjimjilbang is the sauna which usually has a variety of hot and cold tubs at different temperatures that say they are 'energy' or 'medicine'. But there is so much more to it than just sweating out all the bad stuff.

After you pay the entrance fee you'll get a key attached to a wristband with a number for your locker and a change of clothes (loose-fitting shirt and shorts) to change into after you bathe and to wear in the co-ed areas. Once you're clean, then it's time to explore or find the perfect place to sleep for the night.

One of the most popular jjimjilbangs in Korea amongst foreigners is Dragon Hill Spa located in Yongsan. Don't be fooled by the appearance of the entrance. It's way bigger than it seems. 

 

The walkway into the spa is really serene as you enter through a narrow passageway surrounded by bamboo trees and green Christmas lights. 

 

Here is the floor plan of the spa. As you can see, each floor is filled with different features including screen golf, arcade, fitness club, rooftop terrace, cinema, PC room, and restaurant.

 

Here is the open space where you can sleep. The floors are heated so if you get hot easily, I suggest going down to the cinema when there's no movie on. It's cooler and no one really goes in there! 

On a weekend, these places get so packed it can be difficult to find a place to sleep as Koreans make it a family event, or kids use it as a way to escape the home. So if you don't like crowds, try to explore during the week, but if you want to see one in full effect then make your stay on a Friday or Saturday!

Although I was appalled by the thought of being naked in front of other women, it was an experience that made me feel closer to the culture. If anything, no one really looks at you as they don't want to be looked at either. I hope you try out different saunas and jjimjilbangs in Korea. It's cheaper than a hotel and you get a free luxury bath out of it!

Farmer's market

Middle school exams are coming up, which means more time to explore my town.


I have been eying street signs to the Agro Fishery market in my town for a while, but never found the time for it. Well this past weekend, I decided to actually go see what it was all about.


This market consists of two huge warehouses that sell vegetables, fruits, and seafood (hence, Agro fishery). The vegetables and fruits are grown by farmers all over the country and the seafood is fresh from the waters of Korea. The cool thing about this market is that the produce is significantly cheaper than the ones found in E-mart or Homeplus (the Wal-Mart of Korea).

Here is the vegetable section:

There are rows and rows of vendors that sell the same vegetables. A bag of twenty onions is priced at 5000won and veggies such as mushrooms, bell peppers, and potatoes are sold for under 3000won for a whole mountain of them!

Although they all sell the same produce, some will give you a discount, while others will give you some extra on the side.

The fruit section:

The fruits were so fresh that I wanted to buy out the whole market!

Doesn't this make you drool?

Now onto the fish market. There are some weird sea creatures Koreans love to eat, but you know what they say, don't judge until you try it!

Crabs on crabs on crabs (and lobsters)

Almost all the vendors were selling stingray. There are rows and rows of stingray displayed throughout the fish section, which makes you only think of how Steve Irwin died. They even have raw stingray cut up for you to try!

Markets may seem like hidden gems, but they are actually very common and dispersed throughout Korea. Next time you decide to wander around your town, ask the locals where the nearest "Shi-Jang" is!

Things to bring from home...

I have many friends coming to Korea this upcoming year. Whether it is to visit or to teach a year in Korea, I have made a list of essential things for them to bring:

Bedsheets: This applies more to those who want to teach or stay long term in Korea. Now, you CAN find bedsheets of all sizes in Korea, but you have to know that they are rather expensive and the fabric is rough. If you're lucky, you can find sheets on sale at HomePlus (Korean version of Wal-Mart). The down-side is that they will have tacky designs on them or easily pick up lint after one wash. I found that the Arrival Store is expensive, too. Some schools might provide your apartment with a bedsheet, but it wouldn't hurt to have an extra one. Since dryers are not common here, it could take days for them to dry. I know without a doubt you can make a trip to Target, Wal-Mart, or even TJ Maxx in America and buy good quality bedsheets for under $20. Oh, and if you're wondering about the size, most apartments come with single size beds.

Medicine: There are pharmacies everywhere you go in Korea. However, I also noticed that Korean pharmacies love to prescribe Tylenol and antibiotics for anything you can think of. It's a good idea to bring essential medicine like:

• Pepto Bismol: Food in Korea is delicious, but it takes some getting used to. It's common that many people do not see solid poop for at least a month after they arrive here.
• Ibuprofin: Don't expect to find containers of Aleve or Tylenol here. Tylenol has to be prescribed and the meds in Korea are a bit stronger than America.
• Allergy meds: If you have allergies, you might want to bring a bottle of Zyrtec or any of that sort. Although my allergies haven't flared up as bad here, it's better to have some than suffer in the spring time.
• Vitamins: If you're a vitamin person, bring some with you. They're overly expensive here. 

Don't worry about birth control, since you can buy it over the counter here. Just make sure to get your doctor to find an equivalent of yours that is available in Korea. He/She should have a list. 

Makeup: Ok, so this does not apply to those with fair skin. But for those of us on the darker side, it's pretty much impossible to find foundation/powder. Korean girls love to look as white as they can. Depending on how much you use, buy a good amount before you arrive. You can find anything for your skin here, EXCEPT for darker makeup.

Toiletries:

• Toothpaste: One thing I have noticed about Korean toothpaste is that it does not contain fluoride. It leaves your teeth with a not-clean feeling. The mint in the toothpaste is also very dull. What I'm saying is, get American toothpaste.
• Deodorant: Good quality deodorant comes from a country that sweats= America.
• Towels: This one is not a huge deal, but do bring at least ONE towel from home. Korean towels are thin and are soaked before you're even dry.

Clothing: You can find cute and cheap clothes everywhere in Korea IF you're skinny. Most Korean girls are tiny, so when the lady at the store tells you "One size fits all," she means, anywhere from XS to M. If you're on the bigger size, just know that you will be very limited.

• Pants: Like I said, if you're a girl and under size 7 you should have no problem. However, for those who are on the healthier side, stock up on those jeans. If you're a guy and have big thighs, I would also suggest you buy your pants before you arrive. You tend to sit on the floor a lot in Korea, so the chances of your crotch ripping or wearing out are high.
• Suits: Most schools don't require you to dress up, but you cannot show up to class looking like one of your students. Make sure to bring some slacks and blazers to seem more presentable.
• Shoes: If you're a girl and over size 9 or a guy over size 10, it's pretty much impossible to find cute/cool shoes. However, this doesn't mean splurge on shoes before you arrive. Because you walk everywhere in Korea, your shoes will get ruined pretty fast. From experience, I ruined a pretty expensive pair of leather boots in 2 months. 

Gum: That's right, chewing gum. Korean gum is meant to last all of ten minutes. After that, the flavor is gone and the texture of the gum turns into something so unpleasant that you want to spit it out instantly. I'm a gum chewer and I want my gum to last. It's possible to find American gum here, but I find it to be a hassle and would rather have my Costco supply of gum ready in my house.

Cell Phone: Don't hold me to this, but there is a rumor that Korean SIM cards will work on unlocked American cell phones beginning May 2012. However, it might not be this simple. I know for sure Korean phones are more compatible with companies that use CDMA phones, such as Verizon or Sprint. Plus, this is one of the most wired countries in the world, so you can have Wifi without a data plan pretty much anywhere you go. 

I'm sure there are a hundred and some things people would want to bring from back home. These are just some items that I found to be pretty convenient in Korea. There are ways to get these items here, but at a higher price or through a friend in the military.

I hope this list will help future teachers or their friends when they arrive in Korea.