Seoul Delights

TRAVEL+LIFESTYLE NOVEMBER 2012 MABUHAY NOVEMBER 2012

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Spotlight On Korea SPOTLIGHT ON KOREA

HIP SEOUL • BUSAN KOREAN POP & CUISINE

OFF THE RADAR BUDGET TRIPS LANGKAWI KOH SAMUI LUANG PRABANG SIEM REAP PAHANG

PLUS:

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SOUTHERN SEDUCTIONS LUXURY + TRAVEL

THE SEA PRINCESS’ TOP 10 LOCAL SPOTS

BATAAN’S LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE ACUZAR • ENCHANTING SULAWESI • HOW TO PACK LIKE A PRO

HAWKER ZONE: Namdaemun market is often abuzz with activity from sunrise to sundown with its diverse merchandise and great discounts. From clothing and accessories, to trinkets and what-have-you, this is every shopaholic’s dream come true. Photos courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization.

SEOUL DELIGHTS Shop till you drop, eat all you can, and party all night long in BIJU SUKUMARAN’s funky Seoul.

W

ith the great hallyu (Korean) wave surging across the world, all eyes are definitely on this megacity of over 10 million people. Know why the South Korean capital is becoming savvy travelers’ favorite destination.

SHOPPERS’ BLISS Namdaemun South Korea’s largest market, roughly 300 meters at its widest and home to hundreds of stalls, is located in one of the eight gates of Seoul’s ancient Fortress Wall. Namdaemun, tucked between Seoul Station and Seoul City Plaza, is a chaotic warren of stalls teeming with everything worth buying, from local and imported clothes to stylish handbags. It’s easy to get lost here, but if you fancy hunting for hidden gems, this market is for you. Savvy hagglers rejoice—a trip to this market promises great discounts!

Step inside the buildings for some of the best finds—past shops selling traditional masks, 56 I Mabuhay Magazine I November 2012

IN VOGUE Gangnam District, one of Seoul’s wealthiest neighborhoods, is home to celebrities, politicians, and big corporations like Samsung. It is famous for its shopping and glitzy nightlife.

photography equipment, and packaged Korean foods. As if the maze outside was not enough, the individual stalls inside are even more congested.

Check out imported goods in the basement, including impressive selections of high-end scotch and cognac.

TIP: If you end up going around in circles, the Information Center is located at Gate #36.

Dongdaemun For something less frantic, there’s Dongdaemun Market, a Special Tourism Zone. The place is divided into various indoor malls and specializes primarily in textiles, clothes, leather goods, bedding, and fabrics, often at a higher quality (though slightly more expensive) than Namdaemun.

Located at the Great East Gate, the market is also a wholesale electronics and office supplies haven. Pick up premade hanbok (Korean traditional attire), or scour some of the world’s largest wholesale providers of jewelry. TIP: The market caters to newlyweds and older clientele. Doosan Tower and Migliore, the market’s newer areas, appeal to college students and the teenage set.

SEOUL FOOD: Prepare your haggling skills and try to bring down the prices of seafood even further in the sprawling Noryangjin Fish Market; (BELOW) Food-tripping in Namdaemun market is a breeze what with a huge variety of fares from Korean pancakes and sweets to the more exotic fried silkworms.

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Illustration by Kasey Albano

FOOD-LOVERS’ CORNER Noryangjin Fish Market Step right this way to experience the glory of this seaside nation. With more than 700 stalls covering over 6,000 square meters, Noryangjin is one of South Korea’s largest fish and seafood markets. This is the place to get the freshest catch of the day—from fish, clams, and shrimps, to sea cucumbers, crabs, and octopuses. To get the best deals, come when it opens at 3 a.m. You can snatch 20%–30% discounts while witnessing the market’s well-known flurry of activity.

TIP: Have your seafood roasted or fried by vendors on the spot, or ask them to prepare Korean specialties like maeuntang (spicy fish stew) or sannakji (a plateful of squirming, chopped octopus). Prices are negotiable but grilled prawns are about US$13.50 per kilo while kingcrabs can go up to $90.

Itaewon Welcome to Seoul’s International District, a multicultural food haven. Covering several city blocks, this district not only promises excellent shopping, but also Indian restaurants, Turkish pulled

Korean Drinking Etiquette Locals drink as hard as they work. Be prepared to do business!

As courtesy, never refill your own glass. An empty glass means you expect someone to pour you another drink—which they will.

At a drinking table, alcohol should be offered to the eldest person first.

SEAFOOD LOVERS REJOICE!: At Noryangjin Fish Market, one can buy freshly-caught seafood and have it cooked immediately on-site.

PSY GOES VIRAL: “Gangnam Style,” a song popularized by Korean singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer, and record producer Psy (or Park Jae-sang), is now the most-viewed K-pop video on YouTube with more than 420 million views and 3.7 million likes.

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CLUB CULTURE: Don’t let the name “Hongik University” fool you. Hongdae, as the campus is fondly called, is the epicenter of all things indie and underground. Clubs abound and street arts festivals and concerts often take place to the delight of the youthful, party-hopping crowd.

ice cream shops, and Pakistani, Egyptian, American, Thai, and Mexican foods. Located close to the former U.S. army base, the district has gave way to wellknown gastronomic finds, such as Suji’s, known for serving some mean brunch fare, and the very popular Zelen, which serves no-nonsense Bulgarian dishes.

High-end Korean restaurant Si Hwa Dam, which serves beautifully presented Korean staples, is a good choice.

WHERE’S THE PARTY? South Korea boasts a strong drinking culture, and it’s even more dazzling in Seoul’s thriving club scene.

The Confucian ideals that Koreans live by encourage bonding, both in and out of the workplace. The city’s streets are filled with colleagues and friends raucously eating at streetside restaurants, loudly clinking glasses of soju (Korean rice wine), or dancing nonstop to funky tunes at the clubs.

High-end hotspots include Club Eden or Club Ellui in ritzy Gangnam District: loud music, shoulder-toshoulder dance space, and a young crowd dressed

Top 3 Seoul Attractions GYEONGBOK PALACE One of the most scenic spots in Seoul THE WAR MEMORIAL OF KOREA A 20,000-square-meter museum located at the old Army Headquarters NAMSAM TOWER A major landmark with an observation deck offering a 360-degree view of Seoul

RETAIL THERAPY: Shop in style and comfort at Dongdaemun’s numerous indoor malls.

up to be seen. Some of the world’s top DJs spin at Club Volume. For a college feel, there’s Hongdae, located close to Hongik University. You can leisurely stroll through closed-off walking streets while on the way to catch indie bands in the area’s many bars. Or choose from an array of quiet, British-style pubs in the district.

PAL flies between Manila and Seoul daily. Swingaround tour packages are available. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com. www.philippineairlines.com I 59