Taking Adi to Namdaemun

Let's do some shopping for Korean souvenirs @ Namdaemun.

Since you're not here for long, you'd better use the one-way subway ticket!^^ 

Okay..the commotion in the Namdaemun market during rush hour/lunch hour. What a sight to behold. It's culturally unique feature of the market. People just go into the small alley full of food sellers who make most of the food on the spot while the customers sitting in front of the stalls waiting for the order to come out.  

Then, off we went to 삼보사, my must-go place for souvenirs inside the Namdaemun market.

This market boasts itself to be a shopping haven for average people like me...who do not have to worry too much about being hassled by others.

n fact, the fun fact about this market is that it has lost of things to offer. 

Looking for the perfect color and design of Korea-theme souvenirs..this time...they'are looking into t-shirts. 

3 for 10,000 Won..........................................................................................!!

The quality, hmm..well..don't ask..but they're surely comfy to put on. 

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Souvenirs (Again) from Namdaemun

Got a quick-morning-rush shopping in Namdaemun @ 10 am. Yes. I rushed myself to the market right after I took my daughters to school. Bought them, wrapped them and have them sent to down under.^^ 

I know that they look so typical Korean souvenirs. But, that's the whole idea. Most of them are traditionally knitted purses and key holders or any accessories compatible with anything: bags, cellphones, wallet, you name it. These little teddy bears as well as their counterparts: key holders are in fact little souvenirs most people would probably see in the market.

Seollal in Korea *Imlek ala Korea*

I was walking through within the Shinsaegae department store at Namdaemun..and one thing that struck my attention was the array of women clad in hanbok serving the customers. Yes.. Seollal's atmosphere was already in the air.  

Since a lot of people were going back and forth of me while I was trying to take the picture...I could not take a closer look, let alone a good picture out of it.

A small party, it was..

A party? yes...I guess it was a kind of luggage packaging party. My fellow students who happened to be on a trip to Korea spent three day visit at hour house. Two day trip in Seoul had apparently made their luggage bloated. They bought lots of Korean souvenirs...from Namdaemun.

Farah and Nano bought most of the souvenirs not for themselves....but rather...most of them were the request of others. ^^So, a night before they left Seoul, they got to pack all of the things they bought.

To end the day of their visit, their other fellow friends who happened to be currently spending their 1-year program at Kyunghee University (Melizza & Asma) came to our house and ...this was when the party started. 

Simply to have a light dinner or so, I packed the meat-free pizzas from Seoul Cheese Pizza which happened to be our fave pizza in the neighborhood. Inexpensive, clean, yummy, and more importantly..it served no-ham nor no pork pizza ....that we could just order upon request. 

Souvenirs from Namdaemun Market, Seoul

It's not that I am going back home to Jogja. But, I got to buy all of these Korean little cute stuffs for my wife. What? well, she's gonna do something about it. I guess she really needs them since she is thinking of having to give all of her colleagues something that may represent Korea but those that are not that expensive, but still worth-giving. Well, it is (actually) expensive to Indonesian standard.^^:) hehehe. But, I think it is worth it...because they have relatively good quality and more importantly...it is a cute little stuffs that fit into the luggage to carry back home.  It was a bit hard to decide which ones from soooooo many choices of stuffs to choose from.
Namdaemun market where people go for shopping is also famous for having a wholesale area of Korean traditional souvenirs.

six pendants of differing colors, well only 4 colors, though. attachable to any device or gadgets or better yet, it'll just be fine for any wall decorations or as a hanging decoration.

nail cutter attached to or with...a Korean traditional doll

a key holder equipped with a pen

key holder beatified with small cute doll and janggu 'Korean traditional musical instrument

key holder equipped with a flash light 

see the flashlight?

Finally, after a stroll along the corridors of seemingly endless arrays of shops and shops, I set my eyes on one particular shop "삼보산 한국 전통 민예품 전문점' (Sambosa: the store for beautiful traditional products of Korea). Since I bought all of the stuffs there, I got a pretty good bargain. Even,one ajumma served me with a one bottle of yakult. Sure, it was not much, but the warm welcome that people have in a store is more important. More importantly, they were so kind and patient enough in answering most of my curiousness. So, here are the results of souvenirs hunting.^^
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Another story that I would like to jot down here was my trip back and forth to buy 녹차구루 ( green tea powder) and kim (김) for Pak Mohtar whom Mrs. Mohtar asked to bu them.
So, here I am.
back from the trip to take pak Mochar to the train station and back from the 'blietzkrieg' shopping at Namdaemun.
See the little pink round thing: it is a mirror, as an extra bonus for having bought a lot:)
The ajumma asked whether I had a girlfriend (hmmm I may not look like I am married man (?)^^, and as I nodded , she gave me a pink mirror for my 'girlfriend' :)
Now, after sending them home, it will be up to Mama to decide who's gonna get what.