What a memorable fun Spring Break 2014 has been! David has not been back to Seoul since 1988 and I haven't since 1987. It was so much fun to see how much Seoul has changed. We did quite a bit from sightseeing, going to visit various shopping districts, eat street food, meet cousins whom I have not seen since 1987 and cousins whom I met for the very first time. I never met Inho and his wife and daughter as well as my cousin Jaewoo either. It was nice to see them. It was also a treat for David and Emily to meet my extended family in Seoul too - on my mom's side! (next time we go we will travel to Taegu to see my dad's side of the family).
It was also a treat to see Mike, Helen, and Issac as well as Jin, Min, Faith, and Jackie in Seoul too!
Here are some pictures capturing a very memorable Spring Break 2014. Emily's take of Seoul? " Fun meeting more uncles, aunties, and grandparents. Shopping was fun with lots of cute clothes and accessories. Wanted an MCM backpack because that is "very Korean" Emily had her fill of K-Pop posters, clocks, sox, etc...everything Suzy Bae and 2PM for Emily!!!
Speaking and reading Korean was harder than I thought. But I managed to get by with my not-so-good Korean. Everyone including tax drivers thought David was Japanese. At one point I had to convince the taxi driver that my husband IS Korean! Seriously, like I would be lying...c'mon now!
Not so fun? Walking up and down so many flights of stairs and riding subway for everything. Got spoiled from driving everywhere back home. But sure got some great leg exercise. Did not like all the smoking we inhaled. And sad to see so many elderly people breaking down boxes to earn money,selling stuff in the subway stations including bunny rabbits. My heart broke for the elderly grandmas and grandpas... praying for the elderly folks. what happen to the respect towards your elderly? Isn't that the Korean culture???
Anyways, Getting a triangle kimbop from 7-11, getting the cute Yogurt in Starbucks container, our hotel/residence that we stayed at..too much fun and relaxation too! I love Korea!!! I want to go back!
Enjoy the pictures!
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| Getting on Singapore Air from SFO to Inchon Seoul Korea |
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| Waiting for our flight |
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| Kalbi jim for the first course! |
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| Arrived at Inchon Seoul Airport | | | |
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| This is our residence/ hotel for the next week. It is called The Classic 500 near Kyunbuk University |
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| After 12 hours we have arrived in Seoul! |
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| let's taste cafe latte and americano from Cafe Bene in our room |
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| Loving the breakfast buffet. Here Emily is having porridge (juk), shrimp shumai, and tofu |
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| breakfast at the hotel |
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| Tofu was delicious |
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| Shumai! YUM! |
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| latte, then cappucino |
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| Emily stated that art on 7-11 is even C.U.T.E. |
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| eMart for food. |
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| David likes the name of this ramen. |
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| Didn't know you have to pack your groceries in these carboard boxes! |
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| View from hotel room |
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| Hotel lobby |
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| getting subway cards. where's ENGLISH translation! |
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| Ready for subway |
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| Cute area to meet up with Helen, Mike, & Issac - near Korean Cultural Museum. Forgot what this place was called |
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| Best tasting spicy pork kimbop from 7-11 |
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| cute cute shops and restaurants |
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| Ho Duk! YUMMY! |
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| Etude Cosmetics |
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| Cute bear outside a store |
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| Lunch nangmyun + many more stuff w/ Helen and Mike |
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| Had to walk 3 flights of stairs. ugh! |
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| Korean Cultural Museum. Hey grandma photobombs! |
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| Not sure what these are but they are cute. Oh it was for some children's event |
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| too many stairs, daddy! |
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| Loved meeting my cousin seo-ryoung. She's the 3rd oldest. |
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| One of the gallery that Seo-Ryoung runs |
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| So happy to see my Seoul Auntie - my mom's 2nd sister |
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| Dinner reunion with family, cousins |
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| Imoboo, Helen, Mike, Issac |
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| Love my imo and cousin suh hee |
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| My cousin InHo and his wife. I never met both of them till this trip |
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| Traditional delicious Korean food at Insadong |
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| Walking along Insadong |
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| Strolling Insadong after big dinner |
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| This is Suh-Hee, my cousin |
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| My Seoul Imo and all of my cousins here minus few from Taegu, Seoul, and Kyungjoo. The 2 guys at left are my cousins whom I met for first time on this trip. |
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| Visited Yonsei University (my dad's medical school) |
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| Clean nice cafe at Yonsei |
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| Italian restaurant in Hongdae |
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| Our lunch |
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| Bought a hat |
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| First Starbucks in Korea |
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| New hat |
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| MyungDong for street food |
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| gotta try ice cream |
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| Hotel room. This nifty washing machine/dryer and this natural drying rack automated |
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| In our hotel room in toilet. Do not pull this. It will trigger alarm! We pulled it! |
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| Emily's breakfast buffet selection |
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| Emily enjoying kim kimchi bacon and rice |
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| Subway cuteness |
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| War Memorial |
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| David enjoyed this place. Said he could have spent 6 hrs here. (yawn) |
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| Old man did not dress up David b/c he thought David was Japanese |
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| crazy. Old man dressed us up! |
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| Funny to find this name for cafe at War Memorial!!! DUKE!!! David's alma mater |
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| New dress |
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| Back on the subway |
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| Converse hurting Emily's feet; so picked up these new shoes at Gangnam |
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| Japanese Restaurant at Gangnam |
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| Coex |
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| Getting some Korean BBQ |
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| Good BBQ |
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| Cute bear donut at Dunkin Donuts |
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| MyungDong |
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| Hotel Buffet |
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| In hotel room being silly |
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| You all know this place, right? |
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| This guy created the hangul letters |
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| More to see inside - whole museum |
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| Our lunch spot inside the hangul |
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| Must cross the street now! |
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| We made it! |
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| Back at Lotte Dept Store near our hotel |
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| Let's try Kang HoDong BBQ |
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| Near our hotel and Kyunbuk University |
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| Dessert at Mango Cafe |
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| Emily gathers all her K-Pop stuff she purchased |
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| Subway |
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| Arrived at Kuyang Jang Market |
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| Great veggies |
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| Kimchi |
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| Best Bing-Dae-Duk (Mung Bean Pancakes). Best around |
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| Walking around Itaewon with Jin and Family |
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| Love the food and the banana milk |
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| Add caption |
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| Auntie Min got Emily these 2 hanbok bears |
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| More bindaeduk |
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| Our afternoon rest spot |
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| Having some snack |
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| Saw Nanta at MyungDong |
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| Waiting for Nanta show to start |
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| David tries it. Two thumbs DOWN |
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| Emily's breakfast selection at the buffet... |
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| Always having fun in elevator |
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| Photobombed by daddy in subway |
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| Daddy comforts Emily |
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| J/K |
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| Art store at Insadong |
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| The best and tastiest mandoo place at Insadong |
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| Photobombed by the waitress |
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| The menu. Everything looked YUMMY |
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| BESTEST mandoo...craving it right now! |
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| Mul nang myun |
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| comment??? |
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| Let's shop! |
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| Meet Itae, Mandu, and Won --- 3 hanbok bears. The 2 bears from Auntie Min called Itae and Won. And middle one is Mandu b/c we got it after having Mandu at Insadong for lunch |
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| Cute rolls |
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| put these veggies inside the rolls |
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| delicious pat-been-sooh |
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| Crowded subway. no where to sit |
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| Good night to Emily's 3 bears |
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| My breakfast |
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| Best muffins ever |
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| Chilling out in afternoon |
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| Subway |
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| Let's go shopping! |
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| Kinda lost |
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| Keep walking b/c we're lost |
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| Some art place to visit |
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| Resting and taking a break on the 9th floor of Migliore |
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| Having lunch back in hotel with Kyo Chon chicken, ramen, and beer |
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| Spiciest ramen even for David - habanero ramen |
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| Seoul Station to meet my cousins |
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| The blue building is SOOMPI --- my cousin Susan is the FOUNDER of SOOMPI! |
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| Cute cousin Suh-Hee |
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| So pretty! |
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| My buddy cousin JungYeup. I grew up with him in Korea back when we were little. He's been my bud! I miss him. |
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| I love my imo |
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| Imo took us here on the last night. |
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| My Seoul family! Going to miss you guys! |
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| Love you so much! |
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| Cheil Hospital where my dad worked as Internal Medicine & his name is engraved at the hospital too! |
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| I miss you, sweet potato latte! |
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| Cheil Hospital |
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| Namsan Tower. Our last day here before heading to airport |
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| Emily loved this milk! IT was really delicious! |
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| Emily enjoyed this Sarbucks yogurt. So good and super cute jar. |
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| Emily says good-bye to what she called home for a week... |
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| Goodbye, Alarm System |
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| Goodbye, Our room keys |
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| Goodbye, bedroom |
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| goodbye, family room |
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| goodbye, alarm system that i don't understand |
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| goodbye bathroom faucet |
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| last day in Korea. This is Namsan Tower |
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| Elevator down to the street |
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| coolest elevator |
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| last kimbop from 7-11 |
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| Emily loved the couch. goodbye couch |
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| We found Charlie Brown Cafe at the airport!!!! |
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| Such a nice airport! |
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| Airport even has an ice skating RINK!!! |
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| Good-bye, Seoul. Until we see you again.... |
