A day of shopping, K-pop, and culinary delights

On our first day in Seoul, we decided to take it easy and change our original itinerary. Instead of saving our shopping for the last day, we decided to kick off our trip with some retail therapy. We began the day a bit late, leaving our Airbnb in Gangnam around noon to head to Myeong-dong.

We opted for the convenience of an Uber Taxi, which provided a fare estimate to our destination but still utilized a meter system, settling the fare at the end of our trip. The flag-down rate was KRW 3,800 (approximately PHP 160), and it increased in increments of KRW 100 (approximately PHP 4.25) based on time and distance.

Myeong-dong is a bustling shopping district filled with international fashion brands, luxury department stores, and local cosmetics shops. You can find casual eateries serving Korean food and street vendors offering Japanese, Chinese, and Thai snacks.

In Myeongdong, we also took the opportunity to exchange our US dollars. We found the rates here to be more favorable compared to currency exchange outlets at NAIA Airport and Incheon Airport. 

As hunger set in, we opted for a Korean beef and seafood lunch at Jogaewa restaurant. While the food was good, we couldn't help but feel that the prices were on the higher side (the total bill was KRW 270,000 or PHP 11,500 for a party of 4 adults and 1 child).

After lunch, my wife and son explored a K-pop store and picked up some "pasalubong" (souvenirs) for friends and relatives who are K-pop fans. They bought K-pop cards, magazines, and merchandise. Additionally, they indulged in cosmetics shopping at Holika Holika, spending nearly two hours exploring a wide range of skincare, facial, and beauty products. 

As the sun set, street food vendors set up along the lanes; however, we received a cautionary note from the saleslady at Holika, mentioning that the street food might not be the cleanest, and locals often avoid it. So, we opted to visit the nearby Lotte Department Store, where my mom fulfilled her wish by purchasing various fruits, including grapes, apples, and persimmons. 

The highlight of the day was our son Toffy's long-awaited haircut. He had refrained from getting a haircut for over two months in anticipation of trying a Korean haircut. He finally got his haircut at the Myeong-dong branch of Juno Hair, which cost us KRW 30,000, roughly PHP 1,300.

To conclude our day, we enjoyed dinner at an authentic Korean fish soup restaurant near our Airbnb in Gangnam. This was an authentic Korean dining experience, as none of the restaurant staff spoke English, and the menu was entirely Korean. Fortunately, a kind Korean diner at a neighboring table noticed our predicament and assisted us with the translation. This dinner was more satisfying and budget-friendly than our earlier lunch (the total bill was around KRW 80,000 or PHP 3,500).