Two Hop Shopping // And On the 17th Day, I Rested

Welcome to Kyobo.

Finally, a Korean textbook that speaks to me!

A popular cosmetics shop with an unusually lively sign.

A perhaps unusual but popular pedicure treatment in Myeongdong - having tiny fish nibble the callouses off your feet!

Finally, an ARTBOX.

ARTBOX's representative cast of adorable animated characters. Basically everything in Korea is represented by its own such cast - even public services like mass transportation have their own casts of characters who appear in ads, signage, and PSAs.

Selfie opportunities abound.

See also the famous giant teddy bear at the Line Friends shop, which has its own line for selfies.

On the ground level, street food carts; second floor and above, plastic surgery clinics.

A burger joint advertising some... interesting endorsements.

One can never have too many masks, it seems.

And they're not just for your face.

BTS repping Mediheal.

My own little mask haul.

An aisle in the Myeongdong underground shopping center.

An underground kpop shop.

The famous kpop socks!

Some sample swag stanning Suga from BTS.

The facebook of friendos at the dog cafe.

Fun fact: the lookbook at the cat cafe included some funny warnings,

including that one grumpy cat would punch you in the face if you gave him the chance.

An eager customer.

"Wany" the diva.

My pug buddy.

Ice cream waffle at Cafe Coin.

Ice cream waffle at Cafe Poem.

(Are you sensing a pattern forming here?)

The main Insadong shopping street.

Ssamzegil.

From the balcony.

Carry-on-friendly cacti!

Guess which shop this is!

(If you guessed Starbucks, you're right!

The Hangul reads SEU-TA-BEOK-SEU.)

Some red bean buns and cafe snacks at Miss Lee Cafe,

a cute, kitschy hangout and popular kdrama filming location.

A cheat sheet to cool stuff around Hongik.

My samgyeopsal feast. Mmmmm...

Soybean stew and BBQ side dishes.

My last cup of coffee in Korea, an absolutely delicious cream mocha at Taylor Coffee in Hongdae.

Final packing - my clothing (top) versus all the souvenirs I'm bringing back (bottom).