One of the first things Hottie and I did upon arrival in our new homeland was explore the huge markets. Shopping in Korea is a popular past time, and two notorious places to spend less money in a more open-air (yet excessively crowded) environment include Nandaemun and Dangdaemun Markets. Despite the fact that South Korea is an advanced, savvy developing nation with an extremely consumerist-driven economy, the old market places retain the old world feel similar to those of Middle Eastern souks, with random shops set up all hodge-podge and willy-nilly by entrepreneuring Moms and Pops from all over the city. Unfortunately, we were a little disappointed to find that the prices were still on keel with average U.S. prices (thanks to living in a big city with high levels of demand and generally impressive average income levels), but the availability of fake luxury goods and traditional medicines and food was something to behold.
Hottie struts his stuff down the market aisle. His American ba-donka-donk is a little bigger than these narrow rows were designed to accommodate.
Check out these just-less-than-fabulous "Coach-ida" (Coach) and "Pretty" (Prada) purses. I totally found a booth with way better knock-offs but was nearly mauled when I tried to take pictures. Apparently law enforcement in Korea isn't as lax about copyright laws as it's rumored to be.
Shoes!!!
I tried to buy an adorable pair of pumps from another seller, but the his eyeballs nearly popped out of his head when I told him that I wear a size EU39. Apparently that means that I'm a mutant giant compared to locals. Needless to say, he didn't carry my size.
Crazy looking herbs and roots used in local traditional medicine and health treatments. They look like alien appendages in jar.
Mung beans. The stinkiest most awful dish ever conjured up. Street vendors everywhere stew these up on the side of the road (especially during cooler seasons), and the smell wafts ominously for miles.
***UPDATE***
Those are NOT mung beans. It would be much more pleasant if they were. (I have no idea why I originally thought they were...maybe because I couldn't fathom or accept the truth). They are actually a silkworm pupae (번데기 or Beondegi) that old lady vendors on the street stew and serve a la cart. Yum, no? Here's a video for you on the awesomeness of chrysalis consumption.
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