Namdaemun Market, Itaewon, Myeong-dong

Day three began with us leaving our couchsurfing host (she had told us she could only let us stay until Wednsday) for a cozy, 40-dollar a night guesthouse in the heart of Seoul. First we went to the largest traditional street market in Korea. Namdaemun market is located in the center of Seoul and is a famous shopping place for tourists. The market has been open for centuries.

Next we went to Itaewon, Seoul's international district, housing a variety of western-styled venues to eat, drink and be merry. Being a place where many foreigners congregate, it remains somewhat of a niche nightlife area for Koreans who are interested in a more international scene. A number of notable bars and clubs spot the area, both on the main street and in the alleys off it. The alleys were full of interesting little shops. Amara and I got some clothing embroidered with our names on it.

Myeongdong is probably the largest and best-known area; it is definitely the most tourist-friendly fashion area. In the spring and summer, fashion models/sidewalk promoters can be seen strolling the streets of Myeongdong promoting various cosmetics, stores or other fashion-related products. Many regular people also tend to catwalk their newest outfit on these streets. We also saw a korean pop star that was giving a free concert.