Day Five

Dear friends.

To sum up today, comfortable. I had finally got used to the way things work, where things are and if I had a couple more days I would have a lot more confidence in where I was going and doing, but that's just life for me though.

My last full day in Seoul was always going to be my shopping day. The plan from the being of the trip was I me spending a day getting Christmas gifts. In the end I did get a few, but I wonder who I got them for. But also I wanted to check out the fashions of Seoul, and also get my k-pop items gifts, and food. All I can say this was the only day that went without a hitch.

After being up late catching up on my blog for you all, I got around 10 ate breakfast of the cereal I was loving (must find out if I can get in London or online). Then I got dressed and head to Mengdong, the Oxford Street of Seoul. I didn't really get started till about 12 and I thought I was late but it didn't seem so.

First off this area has so many health and beauty shops you can walk two shops without find another one. Just like London, if you miss one, there is just another round the corner. I since there were so many different side streets, leading off the main road with brand name shops I did a couple laps to see what was around before I committed to something.

Eventually I ended up in a jewellery store, since my mum had sent me to find her some nice earrings. Sadly nowhere down sold gold so I was out of luck. I then decided to go to the Korean Boots. Which is similar to ours, but with more Korean brands and few English ones. It was good to know if I was doing a long term stay there was somewhere to get my deodorant.

After that I took a look around turn and ended up at the Lotte department store. Which was a big seven floor building with a duty free section on the top. Sadly as much as I liked the clothes they were all labels, and you know I don't do labels, I do height street fashion. Even though, I was tempted to get Leo this beautiful Burberry coat. However I did realise when I went to the electric department there was a lack of video games. I would have to love to seen a few games and maybe pick up a copy, as all consoles are region free now. When I think about it I had seen adverts for video games, but I have no idea where the Koreans get them from.

So after Lotte, I try to get my girls some Korean cigarettes, since there were only like 4,000 but when I approached the kiosk, the man wasn't behind it. This was a shock for me, as we all know if you left a kiosk on the side of the road alone, you’re coming back to nothing.

Since I was in the middle of town I decided I was going to get some Korean food. I found this stall that had all these kinds of stick food. So I decided I would try 2 of the items for 3,000 each. I had a battered and fried hotdog what was then dipped in sugar, then covered with ketchup and mustard. I can honestly say whatever the F I was eating I loved it. Then the other thing I had was a deep fried sausage covered in cheese, and that was just nice as the last. When I finished eating I felt full, which why I knew why the travel guide said you could live off street food alone, which is why I should have passed there earlier.

After my food I wanted to fulfil a mission of having coffee in a Korean coffee shop. I found a shop call something Paris. Even though I was full, I could help but not try out there cakes, and looking at their cakes and tasting them, made me want to try and find out what recipes they use to make these cakes, coz if I can make that double strawberry cake, it would make people full in love with me (#bakesbyfabes). Since it was so light fluff and just tasted like a dream.

After my coffee, cake and listen K-pop, the shopping continued but I ended up in a weird place. As I was walking the streets I saw someone in a giant condom outfit. I kid you not, in the middle of the street with a banner pointing to the shop. If you know me, you know I like sex shops because they are fun and this time was not different, if not weird. When I got into the shop I greeted by a woman who spoke perfect English and was my personal guide round the shop. She told me to touch the display toys, which all of which were out so you could see feel. I then walked over to the condoms, because why not buy foreign condoms (it might be come my thing). Since I had been to many shops and yet to find the condoms, but to be fair I hadn’t been looking. Then I saw they only carried two lines of durex, and this Japanese condoms endorsed by Drizzy Drake. I was like, well if he’s endorsing it he must use, and I was told they were on three for two at 10,000 each for ten condoms, so I thought why not. I should also mention the condoms were all blown up and on display, and they were weird. It seems the sex shops definitely cater to the women, as just about every single condom was rigged and extremely ribbed. But one of the condoms I bought has no tip, so your dick is in there till the end, good for both man and woman (so I was told).

Then I was the escorted to private viewing only to the men’s toys and S&M items. Which was the top of the building. And here there wasn't much as this was of course, it was catered to straight men. But there were a couple prostate massagers, dress up jockstraps, and of course a lot of artificial vagina’s basses on hentai characters. I wish I got some pictures of them, but since the assistant as with all the time I didn't want to seem like that guy. Then on my way to the cashier, I saw penis extenders. For only 6,000 you can extend and give your dick extra ribbing. She told what there two best sellers were, and I got them since I was getting it all tax free, paid and said goodbye to the ladies.

By this time it was getting on too five and now it seems that this was the time when the street came alive. With tones of street vendors setting up, selling food, clothes, tourist stuff and other times. It definitely had seemed I hadn’t peaked too early. I jumped from beauty shop to beauty shop to looking at different face wash (#stylesbyfabes) and makeup for men. Some were expensive, but I had heard of a few and got myself a few things to try, and also got a gift or two. Since all the shops were encouraging me to spend as me being foreigner I get discounts and tax free. But I kept it cool.

I then found a shopping selling sweets and food. Since I had watched a lot of to I had seen adverts for things like ramen, sweets and other stuff. Since I am a sucker for a nice add, or nice looking food I found a lot of the stuff I had seen advertised, and got it. While at the same time get items for people.

I then went to the street stalls and finally saw some Korean clothes, which I really wanted but I was down to about 70,000 as this point and as much as I wanted to by a whole tracksuit I couldn’t as I still had things I need to get, which is why I wish I had more money but at the same time it was a good thing I didn’t have more cash.

To end my shopping I headed to another K-pop shop where I had a look around and saw items I had been looking for and yet to find in other stores. I got one more cd then I was on my way home to go the supermarket.

So I went back to the Emart, as I needed more soju, my beer and some other little things. Seeing as just like England a supermarket never sells just food, I told a look around. I found the earrings my mum wanted, but sadly I didn’t have 200,000 to get them for her (Next time). I then walked around the toys, and found all the power rangers stuff, which hasn’t even come to the us yet, and I did want to get more stuff to add to my collection, but lack money stopped me. Since toys are about 80,000 for some things, and since that's all I had I could justify it, even thought I could have bought stuff on my credit card. I did get myself a stuff hulk so not all bad.

As I continued to walk I saw things, which I was like why don't we have that, and got surprised when I walked passed the pets section and saw live animals in tanks. Then I went to washing section, where a sales woman tried to get me to buy the massive two piece condition for 11,000. She didn't need to convince me, I would have, but I knew it wouldn’t make it.

Then I went to the home department where I got my Korean chops stickers and spoon which, will be handy to have. Then saw items which I would love to have every day, like disposable to go cups, with which was like under 1,000 each, a fridge water bottle, and a few other things all under 2,000 won each. Then I moved on to the food, where I got more ramen, but couldn't find a ramen pot or bowl. Then got more Korean sweets, or stuff I haven't seen back home in age, but I don't really look any more. (Big baby pop, big baby pop!).

Then on to the drinks, a bottle of water for the next morning, I finally found an energy drink, but the can a lot smaller than the UK. I got more soju, which was this company’s new flavour, a six pact of the beer I liked with free pringles. Then time to check out. I asked the woman for a bag for life which only cost 500 then packed my bags and I had over spent by 3,000 so I paid the rest on my card, which was like £2.18 then went back to pack.

That’s all I did for the next several hours, because I had so much, and was so overweight I had packed and repacked so many times it was frustrating me, and getting my OCD going. Eventually I got everything to a reasonable weight I couldn't sleep I was too weird.

I watched some TV, and saw a program call idol in the room, with boy band Monsta X, and this program was random, but funny. Of course I had no idea what was being said, but I got the humour thought context, enjoyed the show. Eventually I felt tired and decided I should rest as I needed to be up by half 6 to make sure I catch the train.

I did enjoy this day and it made wish I wasn’t leaving, but it make me wish I didn't buy so much stuff. But then again it wouldn’t be me if I didn't. You see its classic me buying tonnes of stuff and not know how I am getting it home. I just annoyed that I spent so many hours packing, not having dinner, and not heading out into the night to get some pictures of the local buildings, or going to the gay bar.

Well that's all for now, tomorrow is my last few hours in Seoul. And I will document how I got back to London, and that's a fun one.

XO FabEs