Namdaemun

Saturday was lovely here. The sun was shining, a bit of a breeze was blowing, and I was is a happy mood. I decided to head out aroud lunchtime and go to the outdoor market in Seoul, Namdamun (which means South Gate). The market covers blocks and blocks outside, and is found near the city's old South Gate. I walked over there to take some pictures, but I guess sometime last year it was nearly burnt to the ground so it is covered for renovation and not near finished yet. It is a gorgeous gate, I'll snap a photo for you to see once it's all redone!

So as I said, the market covers blocks and blocks and blocks. It carries everything you can imagine, and I'm sure that despite the fact that I've been there 5 or 6 times, I still haven't been down all the streets. There are areas that sell traditionally Korean food items like ginseng (In-Sam) and seaweed (Kim), other ares with shops selling childrens shoes, womens purses, sports jerseys, belts, hair accessories... it's like a big garage sale as well, with some tables piled high with $1/$2 shirts or pants etc.

The sound of the place is also an experience of its own... some places sellers are yelling out like they're at an auction, motorobikes are slowly put-putting down the streets that are crowded with people, women are talking back and forth carring trays of dishes back to their restaurants on their heads, kids are screeching and grandpas are spitting... at the end of the post I'll try to put up a video and you can check it out for yourself!

I also managed to FINALLY take some pictures of handbags for mom, I've been wanting to figure out what kind of bag she wanted so I can bring it when we get together next month - now I just have to get the videos off to her!  :)  So mom, if you see a bag you like in the video you'll just have to tell me so I can go hunt for it again!!   :)

I stopped for a bite to eat as well after all my wandering, and for the FIRST time since I've been to Korea, as in first time EVER, I finally bought myself a steamed bun... omg it was so good I almost went back for another one, lol...

In the background of the picture you can see the metal circles piled on top of one another... those circles are full, layer upon layer, of these lovely buns... I bought the 'meat' bun, but there was also kimchi or redbean available (but the meat is the best!).

As I was walking along I came across this woman sharing her crackers with the pigeons just outside the market... she didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that pigeons are such 'dirty' birds (most people here are afraid of them)...

After the bun I stopped at a little toast shop where they mi fresh fruit into blended fruit drinks... got myself a fresh strawberry juice, and wow was it good...

When I got home I sat at the side of the fountain in the park near my apartment and read my book, listening to the sounds of the water, and feeling the spray in the breeze...

What a day wonderful for my senses... good food, beautiful sunshine, happy people, bustling market streets... Happy Saturday!