Garak Market and a Seafood Feast!

My friend's impulsive craving for lobster brought us to one the largest wholesale markets in Korea,  Garak Market.  This market is HUGE! I hadn't even heard of it, having travelled quite a bit further to Noryangjin Fish market the last time I wanted to get my sea food fix.  This market was much closer to me and I will be returning! Extremely fair prices and large selections of food.  We didn't get to do much exploring this day as we had baseball tickets for later in the afternoon.

Then we found the fish.  A HUGE warehouse with anything and everything that comes out of the ocean.

We made our choices - buddy tossed in a bunch of free clams and scallops - then they packed us into a van and brought us to the restaurant that was going to prepare it all for us!

First course: Live octopus - still squirming - don't forget to chew it! The video is a little boring, haha, BUT the octopus was actually very tasty.  Would eat it again anytime!

Next the clams and oysters and scallops and shrimps!

Finally the crab and lobster!

Craving satisfied and another one off the bucket list!

China Town!

Hopped on a bus on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and headed to Incheon, a place most famous for Korean's take on China Town. I convinced my friends Gabrielle, Seona and Mikey to join me.  A lot of my friends are eager to help me out with my bucket list!

To be honest it was a bit of  mission to get to, long bus ride followed by 15 minute cab ride.  The China Town itself was sort of underwhelming but I had been warned as such so I didn't have really high expectations.  Our goal was to find some legit Dim Sum, and it didn't happen.  Most things were Chinese-Korean fusion and were readily available outside of this designated China Town.  There were some cool shops and other things to see though - it definitely wasn't a waste of a day!

In typical Asian style, it was packed!  We waited 30 minutes in line to eat at this famous Chinese restaurant - it has been featured in many Korean Dramas and many celebrities have eaten there!

Some battered fried chicken and a spicy seafood soup! - I regret my soup decision!  I eat this dish allllll the time and I should have ordered something NEW!  They are famous for a white bean pasta noodle dish (white bean jjajamyeon) that looked tasty.

Then STREET FOOD!

We found ourselves in a strange whimsical children's paradise village - super colourful and very random!  BUT THE BEST PART... we found a street artist that for 5,000 won ($5) she would paint you in tradition Korean style!  So awesome - we all tipped her and bought her a beer.

We made it back to Bundang as it was getting dark.  No one was hungry but we decided to get dinner anyways??  It just felt right.

Jokbal! Aka pigs feet, so tasty.  All dark meat - my fav. - and a pasta salad thing.

The long road to Yangpyeong!

I tagged along with some of my more active friends on a SERIOUS bike ride! Saturday morning, I left my apartment at 8am unsure of what I was really getting into.  After the 2 hour commute out of the city we made it to Mangu... and I found myself in what has to be the biking capital of Asia.  We rented bicycles for 10,000 won/day (about $10). The path/trail was so lovely AND about 40kms long!  I spent most of the day on the bike and trust me - my butt really paid for it.

I was the caboose for much of the trip so there are quiiiiite a few photos of the back of Jinny.

It was such a beautiful place and leisurely pace that I barely noticed the length of the trip...minus the butt pains.

We stopped in one of the little towns and had my FAVOURITE for lunch - 감자탕 - Gamjatang or Pork Spine Soup!

It was such an amazing day and really differed from my weekend routine here.   

Next time, I'll be a little more prepared for the journey.

BUT I SURVIVED!