Shopping in Korea

So I went to the world largest department store in Busan today and topped it off with eating a delicious meal with my fiance and then wrote an email to some friends. I thought it would be best to copy the email to the blog as it describes the day perfectly and I will never be able to do it again as I am full of Soju and Hite beer!

Hey ladies!

Thought I would send you a quick note as I am a little bit tipsy on Soju and Hite beer (discovered I like a shot of soju in my beer). We went to some BBQ place tonight that had no english on the menu and no pictures and just told them to pick for us, it was delicious!!! If any of you come we have to do that because it is really fun and usually gets you some free beer because they are not used to having foreigners in the restaurant.

Today was one of the best days I have had in Korea. Some of my gal pals here Janette, Hayley, and Chloe (2 aussies and a kiwi) and their 3 little girls and one baby boy headed off to Busan! We grabbed a taxi at 8:20 and headed off to the train station. As you can imagine every cab ride is an adventure because you try your best to communicate where you want to go by 1. telling them in english where you want to go, best done in a loud voice and maybe some arm flapping, 2. in Korean, how your husband has told you how to say it, but of course you butcher it because you are an idiot foreigner, and 3. in the Hangul that your husband has written out for you. You must go through this dance each time as it is the best way to do it and really, the foreigner way. Maybe I will get better at it as the month fly by, keep posted.

So we got to the train station explained where we wanted to go by saying "Ulsan to B(P)usan to go shopping!" Originally thinking the train ride was going to cost us about 6000skw it was actually about 3000skw and we all go on the train for about 160000skw. Keep in mind that we have 3 strollers or "Prams" as the girls called them all day.

The train took about an hour where an older gentleman took a liking to me and Chloe and her little boy Henry. Chloe happily handed over her beautiful 7 month old boy (and seriously the best baby ever!) and he proceeded to hold him very nicely and insinuate that Chloe and I were lovers and Henry was our love child. He was a very "cheeky" guy and made joke the whole hour train ride to Busan.

Once in Busan and after fighting our way through the people trying to get on the train we got in a taxi to head to the worlds largest department store, the Shinsengae Centumcity Department Store, I didn't really know what to expect from this but believe me when we arrived it blew my expectations! This store had more luxury stores than I could ever imagine. This was very exciting but a little intimidating when you are not working and knowing your soon to be husband is paying your visa. As the floors went up there were cheaper stores and I spend some dough. There was a GAP and I could fit in that and I found some nice things at Lacoste. Now keep in mind I am a giant in Korea, if you weren't already thinking that and each time I brought something to try on to the store workers would look at me and then at the size of clothes I brought and then back at me and do a little eye roll and send me on my way. Some stuff, whoa...no good, other things, great! Yay! Things fit and I can go shopping again which is the greatest, I am sure Dennis does not think so!

We had a quick coffee at the ice rink which took about 30 minutes to make (not like NA starbucks) but it was still amazing! The girls had a quick colour in the colouring books and we had a quick chat and we were back to shopping. We spent lots of time shopping in the kids department, which is to be expected as we were with lots of kids and it gave me some time to shop for my new cousin coming in the fall (!!!!!!)

After a long day of shopping we headed to the basement to the best food court I have ever been too. So this is the best most fancy food court I have been to with lots of choices for amazing food and I had a burger and fries! Too good! This was great place to buy amazing wine, cheese, meats, and other things you can't get in Ulsan. I can't wait to bring Dennis so that we can go crazy on wine, cheese, and meat!

So all in all it was a great day finished off by going to some strange restaurant and then to a bar where we had soju and beer! In the bar they had a picture of pretty much everyone that has been to the bar, the bartender/ cook/ server made us make a heart around us with our arms.

I may just make this email a blog post! I am a little lazy with writing so I can kill two birds with one stone!

Miss you all lots and think about you always!!!

Love,

J

Well I hope you all enjoy and I hope this has enticed you to come visit!

Here is some more information on the department store if you are interested

http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/_Largest-Department-Store/blog/411871/7691.html

Miss you all,

Love

-J