Seoul, Day 4 - Shopping in Dongdaemun

Day 4 – 19 March 2011, Saturday

Today, we had to check-out from Lexington Hotel and check-in to another hotel seated few rows behind Lexington, still in Yoido. Below photo was the last taken inside, a big flower bouquet at their foyer for remembrance.

Would be nice to have e a foyer with nice wooden round table and daily fresh flower!

Mr Park tried several times to book the hotel at many hotel counter, but it was very difficult as all the hotel were fully booked due to Japanese and South East Asia tourists. Anyhow he managed to book the hotel through the "hotelmoa" from 19th March 2011 till to 23rd March 2011 at a reasonable price. Two rooms of which 1 room with Queen bed and the other room with twin beds. As usual Nasrul is sharing our room and sleep in between me and my husband. The cost of the hotel which were paid by Mr Park, later I reimbursed him was 800,000 Korean Won,  approximately USD 735 including tax. He came to help us shifting to a new hotel at around 11pm.

Shopping Heaven's!

We had lunch just in front of the hotel which charged a very reasonable price. Again, we enjoy the food that was served. Mr Park introduced us and explain to the shop owner our pre-order meal as she cannot speak a word of English. But really, meals was not a major issue as plentiful of 24 hours groceries shops that enable us to have  instant food, like noodles, pastas, packed rice, soup etc, not to mention fruits and road side stalls.

Photo description: In search for Nike outlets known as Temple of Nike, we found "Hollys Coffee" with nice interior. As he was too eager to reach the temple, we were forced to continue without having our stop.


After lunch, Mr Park offered us a lift to Dongdaemun which is famous for shopping. It literally was known as Heunginjimun @ "Gate of Rising Benevolence",  located in a prominent landmark in central Seoul. The Korean language name "Dongdaemun" which means "Great East Gate and it was so named because it was the major eastern gate in the wall that surrounded Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty. The gate is located at Jongno 6-ga in Jongno-gu. The structure was first built by King Taejo of Joseon during his fifth year of reign 1398. It was renovated in 1453, and the current structure is the one rebuilt in 1869. Below photo is where the gate where Dongdaemun is being named. I wanted to go nearer and explore what was inside the building but all 5 objected by threatening that they would not be coming along. I will be on my own... gosh!

The area around Dongdaemun known as Dongdaemun Market includes upmarket shopping districts as well as several underground shops, stalls and markets that are open for most of the day. It has grown into the largest shopping center in South Korea. In 2007, the City of Seoul started Dongdaemun Design Project (DDP), to renovate what used to be Dongdaemun Stadium Baseball Amateur Park. 

Naim was spending his money... the 1st 1 who spent among the 4

As of 2010, the Seoul Subway station name there was changed to Dongdaemun History Culture Park Station. Nobody listen to my suggestion that we should explore the history culture park.  Everybody has planning for shopping today by having their shopping list ready.

Everybody is searching for his boot and the verge of bullying when he cannot decided

Naim's second purchase made him poor with very little money left. He almost have nothing to spend when we were in Namdaemun and Myeundong. We waited more than 20 minutes for him to decide at this spot :(

A break for smoke!

Hubby finally agreed to stop for short coffee break at Roti Mum.. eh, Malaysia pun ada Roti Mum gak!

Each kid were given Kr 150,000 won as pocket money. We told them to spend wisely. They can buy anything they want including souveniers to be given to their friends within the limit. No extras will be given to anyone should they dont have enough whatsoever. My husband and I decided that we shall not let ourselfs being cheated by them anymore. No more, no more, enough experience so far. If we allow them to choose, they will not even bother to check the price tag. At the end of every trips, when we reached home, everybody will start comparing and quarelling that we are not treating them equally. Given a times, they checked the price tags and compared things that we bought on the trip, whether it differs in quantity and value from each other. How to be fair? Let them be independant and choose what they way within their own budget and their own limit.

Naim was the 1st one to spent. The rest was exploring what to buy. Nasrul only wishes for Grade 2 soccer shoes. Hubby was aiming for tennis racquet. Nazhif and Syahirah pretended to be wiser. We shall see what happened to 4 of them on our last day in Seoul, ok!

This is what I did.. boring, boring, boring!

She who spent next.. hey hey, i'm singing "Material Girl" by Madonna, when I have money I smile, if money gone "don't you dare to speak with me!!"

It's not for her, it's for her brother's girlfriend, the 3rd 1 first purchase :)

Children's act when using their own money to buy souvenirs for friend, from the street. Those days they will simply said.. Please be considerate mother, how can we give low quality souvenirs to my friend. It's a shame! Hubby and I were so proud of our genius decision to distribute the money equally for their own individual shopping

We explored the shopping mall till late evening. Something happened after the last photo of the night was taken. What happened that night shall remain as family secret, we promised each other that no one should ever leak the secret away. Mr Park came to our rescue, later that night. He has gone home from work but came back to make sure everything was alright before sending us back to the hotel. The whole family profusely thanking him for his generosity  ending in a big circle hugs.

This photo will be in our record together. The last photo we took before we finally found the temple of NIKE!

My husband and I wishes for our 4 children's to remember their vow the night when we were there in Dongdaaemun. The promise that they shall look after of each other, to care, to love, to protect and will always lend support (financial or morally), help and assistance to one another. Remember your promises kid, for us, parent to have a peace of mind when leaving you behind 1 day. 

My Apple boy pose a big smile with his purchase after a long day and tiring night...

To be continued....