Sky high

Well (long blog so settle in with a coffee!) - Saturday in Seoul. After last night I was a little later rising. The area was still very quiet and civilised- a lovely run. Hongdae (at least) doesn’t seem to be a day person! I tried the brekkie toast and while interesting and a local institution it isn’t going to be a ‘must have’ recommendation. I then researched both Seoul towers and decided on the World Tower - the 6th highest in the world won me! A long train excursion to get there but well worth it. The underground mall is mega and high end (Gordon Ramsey burger place to boot) . I emerged to take a short trip outside to see just how big the tower is. Then up the super fast lift to the 1st of 4 viewing floors. I took most of my pics early on but the sky was clearing as I was leaving (sorry). Huge city with lots of brown- I guess spring is only just starting- very interesting seeing the Olympic precinct. None of this perspective is visible from the ground and the tower, unlike the Eiffel Tower that appears wherever you are - this is the opposite and isn’t apparent anywhere I have been. On leaving I thought I would kill two birds and visit Gangnam and then cut across to the market I was at yesterday. Gagnam was worth seeing - I didn’t wander much, but it was very NYC. A tick I hadn’t planned ✔️Ok - back for the easy trip across town to the market. Nup - no matter how I tried to mix lines the machine wasn’t going to make it happen. The a couple of saviour options failed with me losing the tickets by having to exit before I returned the way I came - 50 minutes later but I got there and - it was very busy but I snagged a stall side seat at the kimchi pancake place. Holy grail done ✔️ nice but didn’t scream kimchi so I added some awesome mandu (dumplings). They served beer too but getting it was secret peoples business - by the time I leave I will have learned all the tricks I needed. Back home using the train routes I can nail! An hour or so feet up (and beer) to download pics and then a lovely catch up phone call with Kerry. She had a good day with the girls. I mentioned that some things I knew I could access in Oz (like Qantas partner lounge at Incheon) were just not available to me here 🦗 so after we hung up she was back with lounge info - train details and a suggested day’s itinerary for tomorrow!! My own PA just like that! So - dinner tonight. I really wanted KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) but knew the option I had seen - across the road was a national chain, the reviews weren’t the best and the dish was at least a whole chook. I stood outside and- yeh nah. I wondered a few streets away from the bright lights and almost went Vietnamese- but I decided to hold true and walked another 20m and saw this place that that served KFC but also a fair bit of other traditional Korean options (including kimchi pancake- will be on every corner now I have had it! The place just reeked local and popular with a switched on character running the show. I had the straight up KFC and a draft beer. I knew the dish would be big as I saw other tables get similar but - one dish for 3-4!! It was delivered and yes - it was huge. It was also A.MAZE.ING. Hard to describe but super crisp without being silly, moist and oily without being greasy. Simple condiments- salt, pickled radish, ketchup and American mustard. I tried very hard but was struggling to get to half way so gave up. I started to pack up and then the host slipped a doggy box over my shoulder- much appreciated as I have hated sending so much back this trip - great place. Surprisingly not waddling so I did a bit of a circuit home. It was VERY crowded and some of the street performers were out and about. As I turned for home I saw a classic tick off item I wasn’t expecting to have - egg bread! I had to give it a try (taste/nibble). Extraordinary- a soft boiled egg in a Victoria sponge type batter. Not too sweet and I could see this being a super comfort foot - another ✔️ and a great day!Read more