Seoul Searching

When we tell people in the West that we live in South Korea, their first question is usually about our proximity to Seoul. One nice thing about Pyeongtaek is that it's really nice to be away from the overwhelming population and resulting traffic of such an enormous capital city, while still being able to take bus or subway up once in while. We live down the street from a train station, and after an hour and a half - and a transfer or two - we make our way to Seoul maybe once a month. Recently, though, we've ventured north 3 times within 20 days. Fun, yes! Exhausting, even more so!

Most people that visit South Korea beeline to Seoul for sightseeing and tourism, and though Tony and I are much more interested in the island and mountains and National Parks, even we can't deny the allure of this international city. One of my favorite things to do in Seoul is the themed cafés. There are so many types! Perhaps you've heard of cat cafés (my hometown of Pittsburgh just acquired its own!), but the furry creatures that accompany you as you sip a warm beverage don't stop there. No, not in Seoul. Here we have dog cafés, raccoon cafés, and even a sheep café! The dogs are usually pretty small but very comfortable and cuddly with customers; the sheep are aloof and standoffish, yet adorable; and the raccoons are lively, playful, and rambunctious - maybe you've read of them already at my previous post. Surprisingly, the cleanliness of these places is not a big issue. In some cafés, the animals are in a separate section from the "dining" area, but in the ones that have critters and coffees in the same location, the pups are well-groomed and employees are quick to scoop and sanitize.

Lulu the sheep at Thanks Nature café in Hongdae

If you're not an animal-lover, or if you're still not convinced about consuming products with creatures in such close proximity, there are other fun cafés to check out. One popular one in Insadong is the 또옹카페, or Poop Café. Childish, sure, but remember: everybody poops. Maybe it's time we embrace it. Personally, I wasn't particularly impressed by this theme, but the coffee was surprisingly good, as was the turd-shaped sweet bread. 

Bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase "eat sh*t."

 
Wait! Now, before you give up on me entirely (Sipping alongside animals? Eating poop-shaped dessert? What's wrong with this girl?), let me tell you about Tony's favorite themed café: the Get & Show (Lego café) in Hongdae. This was a real treat! For about $30, you can get 2 lattes, a delicious sandwich, aLego set to rent for an hour (or pay a bit more to extend). This is such a fun date idea! Tony and I built a Batman/Joker vehicle set, and Fallon and Taylor build a Disney Frozen castle. Considering how expensive it can be to purchase new Lego sets from the toy store, to build them perhaps a handful of times, this was a much more cost effective and fun way to be like children again for the afternoon.

Lego café "Get & Show" in Hongdae

There are other themed cafés, such as a K-Pop café, a hanbok café, and a ring-making café, all around Seoul. The best part? The whimsy and fun is not bargained at the expense of quality. Some of the best coffees I've had were at these shops, and I'm honestly considering returning to the Lego café just for the chicken and basil sandwich. The cost is fair as well; of course, the novelty causes a bit of a price increase, but I think it's quite worth the extra dollar or so.

Besides the fun cafés, some of the highlights from my recent visits to the city include: 

 An incredible variety of delicious restaurants,

 a very talented tattoo artist (check her out on Instagram: @naleak_tattoo),

and the iconic Namsan Seoul Tower.

I am not afraid to admit I'm still quite a newbie at the Seoul life. Every time I step off the subway upon my arrival, the love-hate feelings return - the crowds and traffic are enough to drive you mad, but after twenty minutes, I can't get over the amazing and diverse sights, flavors, and activities that the city offers. But for now, I think I'm ready to kick back at home for a while, away from the hustle and bustle. What about you? If you were to travel to Seoul, what would you want to see or do first? If you've been to Seoul or read about it, what do you suggest we do next?