Seoul travel guide_Cocktail in a zip lock bag

It's one of the smallest bars in Seoul but the most unique and cozy. Cocktails are sold in ziplock bags. It's run by three sisters and is a must-visit.

more..

It's one of the smallest bars in Seoul but the most unique and cozy.
Cocktails are sold in ziplock bags. It's run by three sisters and is a must-visit.
The sisters designed and made the interior themselves so everything you see inside the bar, from cushions to drawings, are all handcrafted items.

I was first drawn to the music and made my way towards the place about four years ago. It was only days after it first opened. From then on, I became a regular. Vinyl has the best music selection in Hongdae and it's a very fun place to be on Haloween, bar's anniversary and so on. Hongdae's underground DJ's play music on many occasions. The place goes crazy and fun on those days. It's a mini sized bar so you can't help but bump into other customers so in a way, it's a great place to make friends and meet the craziest and artistic people.

Beers and cocktails are sold at moderate price range.
KRW 2,000 ~ 6,000

I suggest you try the lime beer. It's a sour, bitter tasting beer.

You can walk from the Hongik University Subway Station but it's closer to Sangsu Station(line number 6). From Sangsu Station, exit no. 1 and walk straight down until you see it on your left.

Address: 411-1 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (T_02 322 4161)




The zip-locked cocktails.




Also have house wine and vin chaud.




The exterior.




Event, concert, party posters.




Cute little chairs and tables, most of them handcrafted.




I think it was the bar's second anniversary party.




My friend DJ Spitz behind the table.

Seoul travel guide_A very kinky haloween

Come to Hongdae!
Hongdae is the hottest areas in Seoul known for clubs, cafes and fashion. Hongdae refers to areas around Hongik University. Hongik U is known for its arts and design colleges and not for nothing, Hongdae is full of artists, underground musicians, designers and all sorts of creative people.

more..

Come to Hongdae!

Hongdae is the hottest areas in Seoul known for clubs, cafes and fashion. Hongdae refers to areas around Hongik University. Hongik U is known for its arts and design colleges and not for nothing, Hongdae is full of artists, underground musicians, designers and all sorts of creative people. If you want to meet the hottest and the craziest people and fashion in Seoul, Hongdae is the place to be.

I'm posting pictures taken at Hongdae Halloween parties at clubs and streets. Me and my friends decided to dress up as the characters we have secret crushes or fetishes for. Our friends dressed up as Lou Reed, the sexy vampire cop, Mario as in Nintento's Mario Bros., the Queen of England (yes, it's strange!), gay tinkerbell, geisha, smurf, Count Dracula(Gary Oldman version) and so on.

I'll be posting more about events and places in Hongdae.
Stay tuned!

@ Hongdae Vinyl, the smurf, geisha and Lou Reed 

@ Club Via, the sexy vampire cop

@ Club Via, Mario in Nintendo Mario Bros.

@ Club Via

@ Club Via, the Queen of England

@ Club Via, tinkerbell 

@ Club Via

@ Club Via, Jesus and werewolf in one 

@ Club Via, Count Dracula(Gary Oldman version)

Seoul travel guide_Oldies but goodies

Second hand book stores are to be found anywhere in the world.

Korea’s not an exception. In the old days when less people could afford books, second hand stores were more popular.

more..

less..

Second hand book stores are to be found anywhere in the world. Korea’s not an exception. In the old days when less people could afford books, second hand stores were more popular. But now, they are popular for another reason. Nowadays, people are drawn to the nostalgia and the variety they offer and the fun of discovering old books that are out of print at low prices. In the middle of Dongdaemun are these old and friendly second hand book stores. This kind of variety in products and culture is what deems Dongdaemun more attractive.



These book stores are aligned in one area of Dongdaemun, close to the Cheonggyecheon walk way. Taking this walk way, it takes about 1 hour from City Hall subway station. Please refer to ‘Cheonggyecheon -> Gwangjang Market, Dongdaemun Walk’ post.



Taking the Cheonggyecheon walk way, you come across this bridge called “Birdle”



Take the exit on left and cross the bridge.



This is a typical second hand bookstore. About 20 of these stores are aligned on one side and each specializes in a field like children’s books, design, imported books, magazines and so on. It’s not hard to find what books each store specializes in. You’ll notice books stacked in front of the store they specialize in.



This is one of the children’s book stores.



This store specializes in imported books, design and art books.



See one of the owners. Wish I could have a big enough house to fit so many books in. You can call him/her “juin-a-ju-see”(to generally refer to the male store owner who’s older) or “juin-a-ju-mu-nee”(female owner).



People in various age groups, career groups enjoy browsing through the books.



There are a lot of imported books here too. You may come across valuable and rare books that are long out of print.



The stacks in strings are series and sequels.



There are good old Sidney Sheldon, John Grisham. I’ve also found stacks of Agatha Christie’s. As a mystery lover, I was a kid in a candy store.



I’ve also found a hard cover National Geographic series book on Korea called “The Hermit Nation.” There were a lot from this hard cover, all-color series books.



National Geographic magazines.



Best selling novels by Bernard Werber, Dan Brown.



Jackpot! Found ‘Gateway to the Great Books’. It’s Britannica of literature.? See more about this on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_to_the_Great_Books.



Besides, there are stores selling hats, sportswear, uniforms, scarves, gloves, belts and more.



Another “juin-a-ju-see” amid the books.



Books on art for sale at bargain prices.



This is a magazines store. You can find new issues as well as old issues. Busy Dongdaemun designers often buy new and old issues here.



It was a delightful surprise for us when we found these book stores in Dongdaemun because we had originally thought that Dongdaemun was all about clothes and fashion. Dongdaemun is amazingly big in size, diverse in items and cultures. Every block of it contains so much history and items. Dongdaemun reminds me of a saying?“Rome wasn’t built in a day”?or something like that.



This is what I found. I was so thrilled to come across this book as a big Star Wars fan and the kind “juin-a-ju-see” was willing to give me a discount

Seoul travel guide_Cheonggyecheon -> Gwangjang Market, Dongdaemun Walk

Restored in 2005, Cheonggyecheon stream runs through the central business and cultural district of Seoul.

more..

Restored in 2005, Cheonggyecheon stream runs through the central business and cultural district of Seoul. A lot of cultural events and exhibitions are held at the Cheonggyecheon walk ways and is now a place not to be missed while you’re in Seoul. Taking the Cheonggyecheon walk way, you can get to Dongdaemun and Gwangjang Market by foot.

*What is Cheonggyechoen?  Cheonggyecheon is a 5.8 km creek flowing west to east through downtown Seoul, and then meeting Jungnangcheon, which in turn connects to the Han River and empties into the Yellow Sea. (from wikipedia)

To get there, take the subway line number 1(blue line) or 2(green line) and get off at City Hall Station. Go to exit number 4 or 5. We exited from no. 5 to see City Hall building and the Seoul Plaza, a little park situated in front of the City Hall.

You'll find leaflets and maps introducing the interesting spots around the area. 

This is the Sejong Belt Map. 

Go to exit no. 5.

Take the escalator up.

When you exit, you’ll find yourself in front of the City Hall building and Plaza Hotel. 

You'll see Plaza Hotel. 

On your left is City Hall but it was being renovated. 

Turn left, walk towards Gwanghwamun direction until you see Seoul Finance Center on your right.

The Cheonggyecheon walk way starts between SFC and Donga Ilbo Building. Look for the twirling art installation of vivid color. It’s a Claes Oldenburg called “Spring.” It’s now a landmark indicating entrance to the Cheonggyecheon walk way.

Seoul Lantern Festival is being held now. We saw many kinds of lanterns installed on the stream. The lanterns were made of Korea’s traditional paper called “Han-ji.” The lanterns were creative depiction of Korea’s traditional animals, characters from fairytales, history and events.

This is what it looks like in the evening. Awesome, eh? The lights come on at PM 5:30. 

Nights Pics from:
http://blog.naver.com/tkclrhddnjs?Redirect=Log&logNo=120144158806

While you walk through Cheonggyecheon, you get to pass under numerous bridges. There'll be a separate posting on these bridges. 

When you come across a bridge that looks like this, exit walkway through the stairways on left. You’ll find Gwangjang Market on left. Dongdaemun is only a bridge or two away.