Japanese Noodle Bar, Daejeon

On a recent trip to Daejeon (Farmboy and I taught in Daejeon back in 2010) we headed to one of our favourite restaurants. We had been dreaming of these japanese noodles for the past 3 years since being out of Korea, and now that we are back we were dying to head back there for lunch.

The food was great, not quite how we had imagined it, but I think that tends to happen when you look forward to something too much. Still, it was yummy, and there was so much of it. I had the Miso Ramen, and Farmboy had the Seafood Miso Ramen which was incredibly spicy, so watch out! 

The food was very reasonable, and prices hadn't changed since we were there last 3 years ago. The Miso Ramen was W6000 and the Seafood Miso was W7000. Definitely worth a stop if you're in daejeon (its even worth the trip across the country like we did!).

Directions:
By bus (48, 101, 102, 105, 106, 109, 113, 114, 115, 119, 121, 704, 706)  towards Yuseoung, get off at HongIn Hotel (the name is announced in English). Hop off and walk about 200m towards the big bridge, cross the road and turn right just before the bridge. Its next door to the music shop.

If you’re taking the subway, get out at Yuseoung Spa, headings towards the Chugnam University (it's exit 6 and 7). Once you get to the big bridge (its about 500m) cross the road before crossing the bridge and turn right. Its next to the music shop, with red lanterns hanging outside.

They are open from 11am.

Eat Me Italian Restaurant in Daejeon

While making our way to our new home town in South Korea, we spent two nights in our old stamping ground, Daejeon. It was Farmboys birthday on the 24th June, and so our friends had made a reservation at a lovely Italian restaurant in the Time World Gallery area of Daejeon. Great food, and even better company were on the menu for us.

If you're looking for a little slice of Italian (pizza, pasta, salad) then this is a definite must stop while in Daejeon.

Eat Me is on the second floor in one of the buildings just behind Time World Galleria, opposite a GS25.

Eat Me currently has a most delicious Salad Pizza on the menu, with pesto, mozzarella cheese and a wonderful green salad heaped high on a margarita pizza base. Prices range from W8 000 - W13 000 for a meal.

Eat Me is open Wednesday - Monday (closed on Tuesday)

*Myeongdong* and *shopping* and *food* oh my!

In our previos post on Myeongdong, we recommend going there if you could just go ther for the shopping. Well they have loads of cool restaurants and things to see too :)

Here were some of our highlites:

Lunch at this crazy delicious Indian & Nepalese Restaurant called Om Dristi

Then shopping up a storm at Forever21

And then coffee in the ultra posh area of Sinsadong

Finally ending off with supper at *most* people's favourite watering hole when your in a rush and strapped for cash:

All in all a very successful day in Seoul!

More **Cup Cakes** in Daejeon!

Got a bit of a sweet tooth? Craving something decadent? Head down to Ari's Cup Cakes, which is right at the Jugangno Subway Station Bus stop, and grap yourself a yummy treat.

And then after, why not head underground for some shopping or head to the delightful SumSimDang Bakery for dinner :)

[cincopa A4HAgfKSpSZy]

Directions:

By bus to Jungano Subway Station: # 1, 101, 103, 201, 201, 317, 511, 613, 615, 701

*Myeong-dong* Seoul

So living in/visiting Korea would just not be complete without a trip to the massive shopping district that is Myeong-dong.

Of course you've got to also see Yangsan Electronics market to pick up some cheap technological, Seoul Tower (we are still to go!!) and a host of the other awesome cool markets like Insadong for traditional Korean souvenirs,Namdaemun & Dongdaemun as well as Hongdae for a bit of a student vibe and cheap & funky places to eat...but really...if you only can go to one place for your shopping, go to Myeongdong!

Why not make a few days of your explorations of Seoul. Here are some great backpackers to stay at:

Blu Guest House close to Hongdae

Hong Guest House in the Seogyo-dong area

Banana Backpackers in near Insadong and their other location near Namdaemun

Directions

1. From Exit No. 5 of Euljiro Ipgu Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line No. 2), walk 10 minutes.

2. From Exit No. 5, 6, 7, or 8 of Myeong-dong Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), walk 5 minutes

*Sung Sim Dang* Bakery ~ EunhangDong, Daejeon

The area of Daejeon called Old Downtown or Eunhangdong has loads of things to see and do, especially if you like to eat and shop! One of our earlier posts was about the awesome underground shopping there *click here* and of course the 5 story mega Stationery Store *S.dot* post still to come.

But if you enjoy stuffing your face with baked goods thats don't taste like they have just been covered with layer upon layer of Korean sugar, and if you have been craving some deliciousness that can only be quenched with chocolate covered pastries and 'just out of the oven' freshly baked bread, then look no further that **Sung Sim Dang** bakery in Old DownTown (EunhangDong), Daejeon.

Just a sneak peak...

Another glimpse of their selection of edibles :)

And the best thing, they have a yummy restaurant right above their bakery so you can sit down and relax while you eat your fill of delicious bread rolls filled with creamy carbanara...check it out for yourself:

The restaurant that serves both Korean and Western style food...

The Menu

Yummy yummy putting food in my tummy :)

P.S Cheap delicious food plus free refills...who could possibly say no to such treats!

Directions:

By subway~get off at Jungang-no  station (number 105 just before Daejeon Station), and then just follow the hoards of people! Take exit 4 *the sign will say Sung Sim Dang* and then just follow the pwople. Its a bit of a maze in there but just look for the big Holy's coffee, its opposite it

By bus to Jungano Subway Station: # 1, 101, 103, 201, 201, 317, 511, 613, 615, 701 (then just go underground via the big green stairs in front of you) and take exit 4 *the sign will say Sung Sim Dang* and then just follow the pwople. Its a bit of a maze in there but just look for the big Holy's coffee, its opposite it

*Korean Friendships*

One sunny afternoon while making my way to Korean class on the always stuffy and crowded bus, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a very smiley face clutching a cellphone and pointing it in my direction. I wasn't quiet sure what exactly i was suppose to do with the phone, so I took it and saw that   a long message had been typed on it for me to read. In English. Feeling slightly intrigued I began to read...

"Hello. I hope you don't mind but I was hoping that you could be my friend. I would really like to chat with you and improve my English skills and it would be a great pleasure to speak with you. If you are free, lets meet together"

And that was the start of a wonderful friendship with my new friend Sohee! She invited me to her new house a little while ago where she feed me the most delicious food! Not only does she get the opportunity to practice her English, but I have gained a lovely friend and am learning a whole lot more about Korean culture too :)

Me and Sohee :)

The dinner she so lovingly "prepared"...

Home cooked samguypsal :) and one or two sneaky prawns. Unfortunately, the gas died in the cooker (thats why the meat is looking a little under-cooked...but never fear...mom to the rescue with her frying pan!)

Dessert...yummy!

An American-Italian *Birthday*

Last night was a very special friends birthday, and to celebrate a couple of us girls headed to EAT ME in the TimeWorld area to stuff our faces with yummy food! What a great way to spend a chilly Thursday evening!

The birthday girl~ Christina

Me, Amy & Jennifer

Joanne, Jenny & Claire

Salmon Salad

Any birthday just wouldn't be complete without a Paris Baguette cake!

Make a wish!

*I apologize for the very bad quality of these pictures, the more I realize the quality of my snap&shoot little canon the more I am persuaded to get myself a proper DSLR like Claire's awesome*awesome*awesome*new Nikon D3100! Soon soon soon I hope!*

*Eat Me* Italian Restaurant near TimeWorld, Daejeon.

EatMe is a really awesome Italian restaurant in the TimeWorld area in Daejeon. Just a 3 minute walk from Time World Galleria Depertment store, and with prices ranging from W8 000 - W13 000 for yummy pizza's and tatsy pasta's...you can't go wrong! Anway, see for yourself:

Directions:

With the main entrance to TimeWorld behind you, walk right towards the Paris Baguette. Take your first left up a dirty road,    with the Western "Sponge Bar" in front of you. Walk for about 2 minutes and EatMe is on your right. Look for a small, round,    black sign with "EatMe" written on it on the second floor on your right. The entrance is just round the corner, on your right by   a jewelry and accessory store :) Its in the 2nd floor.

The following buses go to TimeWord:

#104, 106,116, 211, 216, 301, 315, 318, 604, 605, 706, 911.

Or get off at City Hall Subway stop, exit 2 and walk straight for about 10 minutes.

*Costco* wholesale shopping at it’s best here in Daejeon

Farmboy and I headed off on a little adventure this Saturday. When I left my house the sun was shining, and it looked like it was going to be a lovely day (but I had my trusty brollie *umbrella* with me just in case the weather man was right about the days weather).

Well... by the time I got to Farmboys bus stop ( a mere 7 minutes away) there were gale force winds, and it was pouring with rain...probably not the best weather to head off exploring in.

Anyway, we had heard mixed reviews about the infamous Costco here in Daejeon, and thought it was about time we head on over there to check it out. I had obviously misheard my super friend Holly in her previous account of their trip to Costco, as I thought she had said the membership fee was W300 000 (about $300), and so we thought we would just have a look around as you need a membership card to shop there. Well, I didn't realise you actually need a membership card to even enter the building! Ridiculous! Well, luckily i realized my mistake, minus a zero from my initial idea of the membership fee, sign up, realise you can only pay with cash, spend ages trying to find the stairs to get to the basement to draw some cash, head back upstairs to pay with cash (unless you own a fancy smancy Samsung Debit/Credit card), say cheese and hey presto...you are now the proud owner of a Costco card!

We were bowled over by the size of the place and by the number of foreigners. I was a little disappointed as I soon realise that the everything was for sale in BULK (duh I know but I didn't really think about this before) and so I really have to need for 4 liters of maple syrup when I just need about 500ml. But it was a great experience, they had loads of things to try...so lots of snacking for us...yay!



And lunch was good too...especially when we looked around and realised why so many foreigners come to Korea and end up piling on the pounds...the picture belows explains this:

The size of one pizza slice! I know this is a common thing in the States, but in South Africa I've never come across 1 piece of pizza being so darn big! But Farmboy said it was really yummy and my hot dog was pretty good too, so I guess good things also come in Really Large packages too :)

If your looking for good old *tasty* cheese, salami, sauces, spices, great looking meat and *normal* tasting bakes good head over to Costco :)

Membership

W30 000

Directions

Costco is right next door to Seo-Daejeon Train Station (map)

By bus: 612 goes right past, and Bus's 119, 201, 202, 314, 612, 613, 701 go very close. You will probably get dropped off infront of Say Department store. Then just  follow the signs for Seo-Daejeon Station.

Subway: Seo-Daejeon Subway stop, follow the signs for the Station. Its about a 7 minute walk from the subway

Hours:

• 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Monday - Sunday
• Closed : NEW YEAR'S DAY,
LUNAR NEW YEAR'S DAY,
CHUSEOK
• We close at 7:00 pm on
NEW YEAR'S EVE,
LUNAR NEW YEAR EVE,
and CHUSEOK EVE.