Part II

The Sindang Korean rice cake trip was, luckily, only Part I of 'yesterday's date'. Part II of it was fabulous. It started right after we boarded the subway for Eujiro-samga. There we waved goodbye to Evelyn who had to hurry back to pick up her darling angel, Doh Doh. What a pity she couldn't join us or else she could have enjoyed the same fun as we did. (Evelyn, don't cry for missing out all the fun!)

Singki and I disembarked the train at Samga and Part II of the 'date' commenced. Hurrah! First, we walked down Cheonggyecheon. It's my all-time favourite. Guess it's the same to many of the Koreans. Whosoever would enjoy a stroll there, I'm sure. At 광화문, we went up and paid our homage to Young Pyong Book Centre. After spending a handsome amount of time there, we went on the tour to Bandi & Luni's. In Young Pyong, I got myself a book - Introduction to Korean History and Culture. I'm interested in it, you all know. It's time I should really do some serious reading about it. That book is a recommendation of Singki who's doing a Master degree in Korean History in SNU at the moment. A Hong Kong girl carrying out research into Korean history - the Chosun period. Isn't that something?

Bookstore visit might not be fun to some people but to us it is. Korean bookstores especially those in popular spots are exceptionally huge. Wandering around, one can always dig up unexpected treasures. Afterall to me, treasures are always hidden in books. Isn't it the same to you? 'In book innate a house of gold; in book innate a beautiful woman!' (書中自有黃金屋, 書中自有顏如玉!) Though getting a house of gold isn't a target in my treasure hunt, I'd not say 'no' to a handsome young man.

There were really handsome young men! Really! Though not inside the books, they were there among the books. As Singki and I were flipping this book and that book in Bandi & Luni's, all of a sudden, a red rose was put under my nose. I was kind of shocked and looked up. A handsome young man with a bright smile, holding a red rose was standing right in front me. He gently handed the flower to me. I opened my eyes wide with wonder and asked, "Why?" He said, "Just for a beautiful lady!" I couldn't believe it and looked across the table seeking help from Singki. There, another good-looking young man was handing a red rose to her. We looked around the place and saw that all ladies were holding a red rose in their hand and the handsome young men were busily giving out more to those with an empty hand. We weren't the only two receiving the honour but that didn't kill the joy of being presented one. I accepted mine and she accepted hers. Felt very flattered, me especially! A red rose from a cutie to such an old lady!

We didn't know exactly what event was going on but saw heart-shape cards with wishes written on them hanging down from the ceiling like the thin branches of a willow tree. We went closer to take a look. A girl gave us a card and 'encouraged' us to write down ours. I really didn't know what wish I should make. Would it be too greedy to ask for more wealth? Singki asked me if we could do it in Chinese. I said, "Why not?" But I did mine in English at last. You know me. What did I write down? Secret! Haven't people said that if wishes are let out, they'll never come true? I do want my wish to come true. So, hold your curiosity!

Leaving Bandi & Luni's, we headed for Insadong for a leisure stroll. In Insadong, one could never resist the temptation of the stuffed pancake (호떡). Singki and I joined the queue for one. (There're always long queue of people waiting for a bite of the famous Insadong pancake. Always!) At last we got ours. Singki couldn't help giving a big bite once hers was in her hand. "Oh! Hot! Very hot!" Even so, she couldn't stop the bite. I held mine in my hand and waited for it to turn cold. (To me, eating food freshly deep fried or fried would be too heaty 熱氣. I can always wait.) 

"Ah! Urg!" Singki exclaimed. I looked at her. Ha! Ha! Her hand and her sleeve were beautifully decorated with the pancake filling. (Inside the pancake, there's the corn + cinnamon filling.) The filling kept flowing out from the pancake. She had to busily lick those on her hand and suck those flowing out. A very embarrassed her. Clumsy and messy! (I'm always the one who'll be the clumsy and messy one. When eating or drinking whatsoeve, I always dirty my clothes or handbag or ..... But today, it wasn't me. How lucky!) As the sleeve needed washing immediately, we hurried to the bathroom down at the far end of the road. On the way, Singki asked me if I had filling dropped on my coat. I said, "No, not even a bit," I answered with pride.

While Singki was washing the filling off her sleeve, a little blonde came running into the bathroom with her granny. (The bathroom was an individual booth with a sink and a water closet. Singki didn't close the door of hers. That was why.) Seeing Singki there, they retreated. The girl obviously needed an urgent pee. Seeing her need, we let her and her granny in with Singki washing and the girl peeing at the same time. I was standing outside and kept blah, blah, blah. Fun, isn't it?

Having washed clean the sleeve, we walked out and walked back to where we were just before. As we walked, I suddenly felt something on the rose. To be exact, the platic foil. (The rose was nicely wrapped up in plastic foil tied with a gold ribbon. I put the rose in my shopping bag with the head protruding out to smell the fresh air.) I looked. "God! Isn't it the filling of the pancake?" OH! The filling was all over the plastic wrap. Not only the wrap but also the front of my Tommy Hilfiger jacket. Singki laughed, "Shall we go back to the bathroom and have it washed?" At that moment, I was totally out of words.

Instead of going back to that bathroom, we went inside Starbucks. (I know in most Starbucks, there's a bathroom.) The girls at the counter greeted us but we ignored them and climbed up the stairs to look for the toilet sign. I found it and went inside. After the washing, with an all wet front, I walked out to look for Singki. She was sitting comfortably on a chair reading the book in her hand. When I went closer, she looked up and asked, "All washed?" Really wanted to beat her. I sat down and we chatted and chatted about her studies, about my land-surveying life, about Korean stay and this and that. When I finally looked at watch, it was almost 6:30 in the evening. We sat there for more than one and a half hours already without ordering a drink or a piece of cake. Wow! How could we do that? Feeling embarrassed, we fled out.

Almost 7, it was dinner time. I remembered there was a nice eating place my Korean friend recommended in the area. We went to look for it. Luckily, we found the place in a hidden small lane. (Honestly, without knowing the direction, one can never find the place. Guess to certain people, even knowing the direction, they won't be able to locate it. I can, of course, find it. I've got good sense of direction. No kidding!) It was a place for 수제비 (sujebi - a Korean soup with dough flakes) and 파전 (pajeon - Korean style pizza/pancake). The Sindang Korean rice cake was no surprise but this Insadong sujebi was definitely a big surprise. It was unbelievably yummy. The sujebi, the pajeon, all. Out of expectation, the kimchi there was exceptionally good. Very fresh and sweet. Singki has never been a great lover of kimchi but she kept putting it into her mouth. I, of course, helped myself with a good amount.

As we were enjoying the food, a western couple came in and sat next to our table. Oh! Even western people liked sujebi. Couldn't believe it! They looked the food on our table and the guy said to the girl, "Let's order the same thing as they do." The auntie came and wanted to take their order. The guy muttered something but the auntie couldn't make out. My innated gene of 'helpfulness' urged me to stretch out my helping hand. I asked what they wanted and helped them make the order. Of course what followed was we chatted. They were from Ireland and a friend recommended the place to them. They were just visiting the place. See! I'm really good at conversation.

Dinner wasn't the last itinerary. After it, we walked down to Cheonggyecheon and then walked further down to Myeong-dong. There, Singki visited 'The Face Shop'. Not shopping for someone else but for herself. Ha! A boy-like Singki needed cosmetics. No, she just got herself lip balm. We all need it to survive through winter. Myeong-dong was the same busy as ever, filled with shoppers here and there. What a place!

We drew the curtain of the 'date' there in Myeong-dong. Singki took her line 4 and I took my line 2 home. What a day!

P.S.

I really can't recall when the filling dropped on my jacket and the rose. For God's sake, when did it secretly land on my jacket front and the plastic wrap? It's a mystery I'll never be able to solve. Can you solve it for me? One more thing, mind you, eat with great, great care when you do have a chance to try 호떡.