There were 9 of us and finding a place was difficult so we ended up going to different eateries before settling for the one that we ended up in because it could accomodate us. It was a place near school that served Dak galbi (닭갈비). I was dying to eat because I was so hungry!
Dak galbi is a dish made by stir-frying marinated diced chicken in a gochujang (chili pepper paste) based sauce, and sliced cabbage, sweet potato, scallions, onions and tteok (rice cake) together on a hot plate. Dak galbi appeared after the late 1960s as an inexpensive anju (안주 - food that is eaten while drinking) in small taverns, on the outskirts of the city to replace the comparatively expensive gui (구이 - dishes which are grilled over charcoal).
Dak galbi before it is cooked
Starving and wanting to start eating now!
Finally cooked!
Fried rice on the pan
It was a satisfying meal, but nothing to rave about. I generally like pan-fried dishes in Korea because I like to eat my food hot and continuously cooking the food in the pan allows it to remain hot for as long as I am eating it! The chicken was quite tasty but could have been more well-marinated. I wish that the fried rice on the pan could be more spread out so that it could have been more charred and they could have added cheese into it. What a pity.
All of a sudden, Oppa left the table and ran out of the eatery like superman on call. He returned back after a few minutes with a tube of 'Yakult'. Initially Baby and I thought that it was the original Yakult but Oppa later told us that it's the Korean version of Yakult and is much cheaper and tastes better than the original. Indeed it was really delicious!
Korean version of Yakult
After something like a 15-minute walk from school, I found my way to my destination -Changgyeonggung (창경궁). Changgyeonggung was a side palace which was built because the main palace, Changdeokgung (창덕궁), was getting too crowded. Changgyeonggung mainly housed the concubines, princes and dowagers during the Joseon era. Although it is supposed to be a smaller palace relative to its parent palace, Changdeokgung, it is still rather large. I can barely imagine how big Changdeokgung is.
Although only about 30% of what Changgyeonggung used to be remained, I must say that the conservation efforts of the palace must be complimented. The palace has managed to maintain it's beauty and charm. The exquisite designs on the roof remained intact and showcased the artwork of what it was like in the Joseon dynasty.
The moment I stepped into Changgyeonggung, I almost felt like I had returned in time. I conceived how the guards and kings and queens must have behaved in the palace and imagined how the guards standing at the sides of the walkway served the king sitting on the elevated seat of his. Ahh, the effect of too much traditional shows that I have watched on television.
I love taking photos of things and more so of myself and was so glad that I shipped in the traveller's tripod from the States because it became handy today! I was initially slightly embarrassed when I took the tripod out and started standing randomly in front of the different buildings of the palace to pose for the camera. Just as I was fixing the traveller's tripod to prepare for my first picture with it, a really nice ajosshi (uncle) who saw me using much effort to fix the tripod laughed at me and offered to help me take the photo. What an embarrassment! He was really nice that I could bear to tell him that the photo did not turn out as great as I thought it would but put a thumbs up sign when he asked if it was okay.
Thankfully it was a weekday and there weren't that many people in Changgyeonggung so I could camwhore on my own without any awkwardness or embarrassment. What a great day!
The gate of the palace
The 'runway' where the guards will line up to greet the Emperor
The Emperor's high seat
A pavillion
Elaborated roof design
Hwangyeongjeon - Sleeping quarters of the current king and his wife
Yanghwadang - The residential quarters of the empress dowager
A bridge to cross to go up to Changdeokgung
No! Don't stop me!
Punggidae - Stone pedestral to tell the speed and direction of wind
Taesil - Shrines where the royal family stored the placenta and umbilical cords of their children
Chundangji area - Ponds
The greenhouse
Changgyeonggung is really pretty and I wish that I could really go back in time and visit the palace during that time, or if better, be a princess during that lifetime of mine. =P
Changgyeonggung (Palace)
Hyehwa Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line No. 4), Exit #4,
Walk along Daeyeonggeory street to the end of the street, Walk along Changgyeonggung-ro street for about 1 km or take bus 172, 162, 272 - 1 stop away
Done with sightseeing, I went back to school to look for Baby and we had dinner together near our hostel at a restaurant called Twoowy because she was craving for Korean fried chicken. Korean fried chicken is traditionally eaten as fast food, at bars, or as an after meal snack in Korea. It is not often consumed as a meal but that was what we did - eat it as dinner!
Korean fried chicken
Because Korean fried chicken is prepared in a way that removes the fat from the skin, the crust outside is thin and transparent. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside but juicy and tender on the inside. Because the crust on the outside was thin and light, I could go on eating the chicken without feeling uncomfortable. When I usually eat the usual types of chicken like KFC, the flour batter on the outside of the chicken meat will leave me feeling quite sick/nauseous after I am done with the 2-Pcs chicken meal. The crust on the outside of the chicken was also very well marinated, rendering the chicken tasty, but not too salty. The sweet chilli sauce went so well with the chicken and it is a must have. Finger-licking good!
Twoomy
Sungshin Women's University line 2
Exit 1
Turn right and walk into the street
At the second cross junction of the street, turn right
The restaurant is on your right
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