Garosu-gil

There are plenty of things going on around here lately, I can't wait to share them with you. But first, I have a confession to unload today. Remember my no to cold coffee-drinking challenge? I was able to abstain until October 26 then...Epic FAIL. Boo! At least I tried. I was able to make it for more than three weeks.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped and supported my fellow countrymen who were victims of the Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. As a Filipino, I will forever be grateful to all of you who've been there for my country.

Anyway, a week ago, we were in the beautiful city of Seoul. I believe in the law of attraction. I think a post I made about Seoul a few months ago worked its magic and we ended up staying in the Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu district. Two words to describe how I feel about the area? I'm in-love!

We chose to stay near Garosu-gil (meaning tree-lined street). The studio apartment we booked through AirBNB was perfect in every way. When we arrived, the place was immaculate, furnished with IKEA and equipped with all the basic necessities. It was just a 3-5 minute walk from the trendiest and hippest street in Seoul. Proximity is one of the factors we consider when traveling to save time and energy.

Photo taken from AirBNB (Julie & Karen Sister House in Gangnam-gu)

Garosu-gil is a change of pace from the other districts in Seoul. I am totally smitten over the artsy cafes, quirky names of establishments, cozy wine lounges, unique shops of local designers and the Ginko trees lining the whole street. It is also known as Little Europe. It has a romantic vibe.

I like how South Koreans put a lot of effort into the aesthetics of their shops!

Cork for Turtle, Mug for Rabbit. The first floor is a coffee and cupcake shop. The second floor is a wine lounge. 

Aren't these pigs adorable? I wanted to bring them home.

We spotted a Korean model/celebrity having a photo shoot who kept waving to the public in between takes despite the nippy weather. I wonder who could he be?

Despite the language barrier, we were able to communicate effectively and got the right stuff we ordered during our whole stay. The food in every place we ate were delicious. The people are very friendly, gracious and respectful. The photo below shows our first official lunch in Seoul. 

We were so lucky to be in Seoul on the first day of snow. Wohoo!

We shared a mug of hot chocolate in Coffeesmith while watching the snowflakes fall. It was breathtaking! 

According to the locals, Coffeesmith is a landmark in trendy Garosu-gil that is a see-and-be-seen cafe.

They say pizza is popular in Korea. So we ordered a margherita in Sognare. Yum!

Garosu-gil at night. It's so full of life!

We capped our first night off with chocolate muffins from Paris Baguette. They say Koreans have an affinity for pastries and anything French-y.

During this trip, we decided to ditch the palaces and museums and focus more on the local culture and lifestyle. We are probably going to see them next spring should our schedules permit it. Stay tuned for more of our Seoul-ful adventures!

Be a traveler, not a tourist!

Most of the photos were taken using a Canon 550D