The Adventures of a PREGNANT Shopaholic in Korea

How to Look Stylish in a Mumu - Buying Pregnancy Clothes in Korea

2011-11-18T14:45:00.013+09:00

When expanding rapidly in places you didn't think possible making you feel like a***insert large mammal of choice*** , (dugong is one of my personal favourites); it's hard to remain stylish and more importantly feel good about yourself. Thanks to my mother passing her infinite wisdom and finely tuned shopping skills onto me at a young age, I never find acquiring certain things impossible, merely a challenge. So for the first time I was thrown into not only a foreign area of shopping but one that had to be done in a foreign country. To be honest, at first it was somewhat daunting, especially when I had already experienced the difficulties of fitting my pre-pregnancy body into most Korean sizes.

Tip #1: Maternity Clothes

I'm sure you've heard it before but I'll say it again, don't buy too many maternity clothes. They are expensive and you'll only wear them for a short period of time. Plus if you buy too many "in style" or "seasonal" pieces, they will probably be outdated or inappropriate if you decide to pop out another baby in a few years. My suggestion is to buy 3 key pieces. Maternity jeans, maternity cargo pants and a pair of somewhat dressy black pants. Believe me, that's all you'll need. Although the department stores such as Lotte or Shinsegae have maternity sections and there are a couple of stores in Myeong-dong that sell maternity clothing, they are still designed for Korean body types and will probably not fit quite right. Save yourself the headache and invest in these items from overseas. If you're lucky, like I was and visit home early in the pregnancy, you can go to maternity stores there. Or if you're not as lucky, there's always online, especially eBay because many of the maternity clothes come from Hong Kong who will ship to Korea without any problem and at a cheap price. Remember, buy your regular size in maternity wear and there will be ample space for your growing belly without the clothing falling off.

Tip #2: Tops and Dresses in ONE SIZE

Load up sister! Go for flowy, flattering tops and dresses in dark colours, marked ONE SIZE. My favourite stores to buy these comfortable clothes are Indian clothing shops (particularly in Ewha Fashion area and Samcheong-dong) or Forever 21 in Myeong-dong. These tops and dresses will last your entire pregnancy and the best bit, they are the fraction of the cost of maternity clothes and you can wear them after you pop the baby out (provided you aren't sick of them by then and would prefer to burn them).

Tip #3: Tights, tights and more tights

Get them in every colour, full length, 3/4 length; whatever you can get your hands on. They will save your life! They can be worn under dresses or long tops and at a push even under one of your man's shirts (thank goodness my husband is over a foot taller than me because his shirts come down to my knees). You can even get away with non pregnancy tights. You will be surprised at how long you can go with your usual pre-pregnancy tights before having to invest in a larger size (mostly to make sure your butt is covered!) When it does come down to buying larger sizes, go for bigger sizes in regular tights. I don't think it's necessary to buy specially made maternity tights and as I mentioned before, you'll pay out the nose for them. If you can find them go for "extra long" because simply put, there's more material in there to stretch!

Tip #4: Damn, it's winter

The most annoying bit about being pregnant during winter is the possibility of outgrowing your winter coat. Outerwear is notorious for being expensive and only needed for about 4 months out of the year. How annoying! I'm currently in this dilemma since I will be at my biggest in the dead of winter. There's no avoiding having to invest in a new coat. So I've come up with a plan. Avoid buying a nice fitted coat in a larger size because unless you plan on being pregnant in winter again or have a friend with a very large beer belly to donate the coat to; there's really no point. Thanks to my mom again, she has suggested I go for a poncho style coat in an empire waist style. This will allow the coat to hang nicely off the shoulders but still allow room for the belly. The best bit is that this style of coat can be worn even when you're not pregnant.

Quick Tips:

- Empire waist is your friend!

- Cotton drawstring pants ARE NOT JOGGING PANTS/TRACKY DAKS! So wear them instead!

- Accessories will always fit, so pile on the scarves, hats and jewellery.

- Shoes will fit for most of the pregnancy (unless you are unfortunate enough to have swollen feet and ankles from early on). Either way, you can pick up a pair of shoes for 10,000 won in most subway stations, along the side of the street, up and down Myeong-dong or in the markets. So get what you need, you'll never have a better excuse and so what if the shoes disintegrate in a few months, they only cost 10,000 won!

- Or simply wear your man's shoes with thick socks (unless he has size 15 feet like my husband, then at least you'll have a nice pair of flippers!)

I feel like Fail Whale - the dreaded weigh-in at the Korean obsetrician and how to somewhat keep things in check

2011-08-29T18:19:00.009+09:00

Thanks to Twitter's Fail Whale, I have an accurate description of how I feel each time I have my weight checked at the obstetrician's office. I know that every girl (and possibly guy) dreads being weighed in public, however, many fellow curvy foreigners can attest to the fact that it's worse in Korea. Even though I'm only 5 feet tall and actually shorter than the average Korean woman (Koreans often get mistakenly grouped into the "all Asian people are small" category), I have always been a rather "healthy" weight and I have a set of hips and buttocks that can rival Beyonce's . Although Korean women tend to be at least 4 inches taller than me, if not more, the majority have mastered that beautiful willowy look that rivals Kate Moss. So I know that even on a good day, I probably weigh at least the same, if not more than the average Korean woman who is way taller than me. I was damned from the start!

Now that I'm pregnant (and eating like a horse), it's gotten worse and in keeping with my horse analogy, I need blinders to keep from looking at the scale. So there I am at every visit among those slim Korean girls who look like snakes who have swallowed beach balls, rather than "that" foreigner who looks like I've swallowed not only a beach ball but a set of floaties on my hips and an inner tube around my backside; "trying to blend in". Well, blending in doesn't happen when I'm obviously not Korean. So I get looks anyway and now I really get looks because I'm pregnant on top of it.

For the average person staring at me, I don't feel too self conscious because I believe that I'm somewhat of a wizard at manipulating clothes to cover the "problem areas" and show off "the assets". However, such magical masking never fools the scale. The first obstetrician's scale was brilliant, you faced away from it and the actual digital read out screen faced only the nurse. Although, it didn't block out the sound of her sharp inhale when she was obviously reading it. At the time I wasn't too concerned because it was very early on in my pregnancy and I was eating all the time because it was the only thing keeping my morning sickness at bay. Now it's hello second trimester, new obstetrician and a stupid normal scale that shows the number to the world. After not being able to look away my first time around, I vowed never to look at that thing again. A week later I was in for an actual scan and they weighed me yet again (which I thought was just cruel) and even though I felt the same and didn't look at the number, the girl weighing me did that intake of breath and actually said "oh, you gained". Well thank you very much! Just what I needed in my state of denial.

So although many Korean health care professionals are somewhat more direct than what we are used to at home, don't despair. Do what I do, in your mind turn the words "you've gained" into "you've lost" and unless your obstetrician expresses major concern about the rate you're gaining weight, believe me you're fine! Before wallowing in a litre of ice cream whilst lounging around in a mumu; just keep eating lots of fruit and veggies in between the chocolate and ice cream and keep up those preggo workouts. My workout recommendations are Kathy Smith's Pregnancy workout which can be downloaded (handy in Korea), although it's totally from the 80's with horrendous music and leotards, the exercises are still very good. My favourite has to be Denise Austin's Fit & Firm Pregnancy workout, although I have only found it on DVD so you will need to order it from overseas. The exercises are fun, the music is more up-to-date and the workout clothes are stylish. My only complaint is Denise Austin has one of the most annoying voices and accents I have ever heard (okay it's a bad American accent, sorry US friends, I am from Canada after all). If I hear "this will benefit you and your baby" one more time, I will scream. But this can be easily fixed by putting her on mute.

So there you have it ladies. Don't take the weigh-in comments too much to heart (there's a good chance the girl weighing you has never been pregnant, so what would she know about eating), stay healthy and don't feel guilty giving into those cravings. I know all too well how impossible it is to resist them. This is your pregnancy and no one can make you feel bad about how you are handling it. Everyone does things differently but don't forget that women have been doing this for eons and there isn't a right or wrong way to do things. Also keep in mind that celebrities are the minority and are absolute freaks when it comes to pregnancy so ignore those pregnancy magazines sporting Posh on the cover merely looking bloated when she was 9 months pregnant.

Financing Having a Baby in Korea

2011-08-24T11:00:00.006+09:00

The great thing about Korea, particularly in Seoul, is that the health care facilities available are numerous and outstanding. The downside is that finding full medical coverage for expat maternity care can be tricky. Although most expats in Korea are looked after by National Health Care, the problem is that this barely covers the cost of having a baby in Korea. I can only speculate that this is due to the majority of expats in Korea are here to work and not here to have babies. There is of course private health insurance available that individuals can opt to pay for themselves, however like in my case, unless you've sorted private insurance out in advance, the chances of being able to get it after falling pregnant isn't as easy. The good news is that health care in Korea is affordable even without any medical coverage to speak of.

What does the basic National Health Care cover? Mainly the doctor's consultation fee which is unfortunately the cheapest part of the bill (usually between 15,000-20,000 won).

What isn't covered by basic National Health Care? The tests and ultrasounds, although they are usually much cheaper than most Western countries. It's hard to determine the cost because it can literally range from 60,000-200,000 won depending on where you go and what kind of scan you're having.

What about when it comes time to squeeze that watermelon out? Stay tuned because I haven't hit this point yet (believe me, you'd know and probably hear me for miles). I'm still doing research and arriving at conflicting conclusions so I will write a sequel to this later. From what info I have gathered so far, if you have no coverage, the actual cost of birth is far less than I certainly would have guessed. I've been told that it usually costs between 800,000-1.5 million won. Again, it all depends on where you go. For instance, I will be birthing in a modern birthing centre that focuses on expats which is more pricey (not because we're being ripped off) but because it's rather fancy (there's a snack bar in the birthing area, need I say more!?!)

Now let me tell you about a little hidden secret that I would never have found out about if I didn't have a fab doctor. It's the Little Pink Card! This card is funded by the Korean government and you get it through any KB bank. About 400,000 won will be deposited in your new account that you never have to pay back. You can use up to 60,000 won per doctor's visit to help fund your baby expedition. If you don't use all of it, don't worry, you can use the rest at the delivery. You can also use this money to help with travel costs to and from the obstetrician. This is what you have to do:

1. Ask your doctor for the appropriate form.

2. Have someone at the doctor's office help you to fill in the form (it's all in Korean) and then they have to endorse it with their signature and stamp.

3. Take said form to any KB branch.

4. Go to the "opening a new account" section (not the tellers).

5. Wave form in front of them, along with your passport and alien registration card.

6. It will take about 20-30 minutes for them to process the forms and to open a new account for you. All you have to do is punch in a PIN, sign stuff and look tired and you might get a free drink (I did!)

7. In 3 days you will get a text message saying something in Korean with KB on it (I assumed it meant my card was ready to pick up). Then head to your KB branch and pick up your card (go to the accounts section again and show your alien card).

8. Then you get your new pink card ready to spend someone else's money! Yay!

Not the actual card (I'm not that stupid!)

Haesindang Penis Park - Warning: X Rated!

2011-08-17T16:45:00.000+09:00

I've been meaning to write about this for ages, especially since it most definitely fits into the "weird and wacky" section of Korea. You might be wondering what this has to do with pregnancy in Korea? Well in my case it has EVERYTHING to do with it because a month after visiting this place, I fell pregnant (serves us right for making a fertility park the site for our marriage proposal).

My husband and I decided to take our beat up, hand-me-down Kia Sefia (a.k.a. Sophia) on a road trip to the east coast of Korea. So on a weekend in late Spring, we did just that and it was the best! It's not only fabulous to get out of such a big city like Seoul, but Korea has some hidden beauty in major mountains and wonderful coastlines. Our destination was Samcheok , a town known for fishing, caves and lots of ocean. From the looks on the local faces, I think we were the only foreigners to visit Samcheok during the off season (best time to go is late April/early May - the weather is beautiful and there are no tourists around).

One day I was looking through some local brochures to see what kind of tourist attractions were located in that area. I stumbled across this "Haesindang". The pictures looked nice (and there wasn't a penis in sight) so I had a look online to see what it was all about. I shrieked with delight when I found out that "Haesindang" is the polite name for the penis park! This park has been on my list of "must visit" since my first trip to Korea. Up until that point, I had no idea that the penis park was only 25km from Samcheok, I merely knew that it was too far from Seoul for a quick visit (hence why I hadn't been before). So we jumped in Sophia for a side trip to the penis park.

The day started out overcast but the sun came out just as we were pulling into the parking lot. There was no mistaking it because greeting us at the entrance were 2 very large penis totem poles. After paying our entrance fee of 3,000 won each (best 6,000 won we ever spent), we started along the path. It was surprisingly beautiful with plenty of nature, outstanding landscaping and breathtaking views of the ocean. My husband is quite the artsy fartsy photographer so he had to stop at the entrance to pull out his fancy camera. It was at this point that I mentioned that the penis park would be a great place to propose because it would make for a hilarious story (more to come on that later).

We walked only a few feet and we weren't disappointed. We came upon a bunch of penis statues and benches suspended between a couple of phalluses. Without going into too many gory details, I'll sum it up by saying that there were so many in all sorts of shapes, sizes, some with faces, some without, some were extremely life-like and others were "every man's dream".

If you haven't already wondered why this place is littered with all things penis, then something is wrong with you. The story is actually quite sad. Here is an excerpt taken from the Korea Tourism website (www.visitkorea.or.kr):

Legend of Aebaw and Haesindang - There once lived a young maiden who was engaged. One day, the maiden took her husband's boat out to sea to harvest seaweed. Her husband dropped her off at a rock that was at a distance from the beach. After promising to pick her up later, he returned to the beach to do his work. Later, the weather changed, and brought with it strong winds and pummeling waves. The man couldn't rescue his wife and she ultimately drowned. Since then, the fish resources dried up and some believe it was because of the dead maiden. To soothe the spirit of the dead maiden, the village people made several wooden carvings and held religious ceremonies on her behalf. The penis is used because it symbolizes fertility and new life (hence why I'm now pregnant!) So now Haesindang is covered with close to 300 penis totems.

Now you might be wondering about my proposal suggestion? Well, yes, he did pop the question and yes, it was next to a giant phallus. I've had many female friends lift an eyebrow and tentatively ask if I was excited and I have to reassure them that it was the best proposal I could have hoped for. After 10 years it's hard to surprise a girl but he managed, boy did he ever!

A more traditional Korean scupture (although they usually don't have a huge phallus)

Penis Cannon!?!?!

Site of the Penis Park Proposal

Overlooking the harbour - it's a very beautiful place (despite the phalluses)

The shrine to the drowned maiden.

One of the many main attractions.

Photos courtesy of my own personal photographer - the husband.

Korean Wedding Ducks

2011-08-17T16:23:00.003+09:00

I know you're probably wondering what ducks have to do with pregnancy and rest assured they have nothing to do with it. I meant to post this before I turned my blog into a pregnancy one but I think you will find it interesting anyway. As you already know from my previous entry, I was proposed to in a Penis Park. After trying to figure out the best way to keep our wedding simple at the same time as coordinating 3 countries (I'm from Canada, he's from Australia, we now live in Korea), we settled on getting married at our local "gu" office (Korean equivalent of city hall). When I heard about the Korean wedding duck tradition, I had to participate.

Korean Wedding Ducks are traditionally used in a Korean wedding ceremony. One duck represents the bride and the other duck represents the groom (our ducks are actually two different sizes which I thought was very cute since my husband is over a foot taller than me). The ducks symbolize peace, togetherness and children. Ducks mate for life which is why they are chosen for this. The ducks are given to the couple covered in colourful silk up to their necks, then upon the actual marriage they are unwrapped. The mother of the groom is suppose to throw one of the ducks at the bride who will try to catch it in the apron of her hanbok (traditional Korean dress). If she catches it, the first born will be a boy. If she misses, the first born will be a girl.

Upon our marriage my mother-in-law was in Australia but insisted that she will throw a duck at me when we celebrate with them next month. Unfortunately for this part of the tradition, I'm already pregnant and even though I don't know what it is yet, the sex has already been figured out. I guess we can still have a laugh (more for my mother-in-law) as she flings a wooden duck at me.

My favourite bit of the tradition is that the ducks have to stay in the couple's home always and are positioned beak to beak. When the couple argue, the ducks are suppose to be placed tail to tail. This reminds the couple of their union and not to fight. At first I thought it would be funny mid argument to stomp over to the ducks and turn them around. But my poor husband is scared to death of this happening that if we ever have a little tiff and I threaten to turn them around, he actually checks on them later.

So ladies, keep this in mind - the ducks have power!

Our Korean Wedding Ducks - before

Our Korean Wedding Ducks - after

Ultrasounds in Korea - they love them here!

2011-08-13T09:44:00.000+09:00

Okay, if you're like I was about 5-6 weeks into your pregnancy, you are probably questioning if there is really something going on in there or has this been a major scam and you're looking around for the hidden camera. After about a million Google searches, I was reassured that there is something in there and the preggo symptoms will be flooding in shortly. Now the main point of this entry is Korea's love affair with ultrasounds. I personally do not feel these numerous scans are necessary unless the pregnancy is a high risk one. However in saying that, there is one scan that isn't routinely done in Western countries that I was glad I had done.

At 6 weeks it was suggested by my obstetrician that I go in for my first check up. I knew at the time that it was a bit early for anything substantial to be done but I agreed to go in anyway because I wanted to be cleared to fly to Canada the next day (nothing like leaving things to the last minute!) I was also told that they would be doing an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy (apparently the nurse's ramblings on the phone about HCG levels a few weeks before wasn't confirmation enough - see previous blog entry). So I mentioned all of this to hubby and warned him that all we might see on the screen is a bean like blob. No problem, we were in this together, so off we went.

Fast forward to the clinic. After being escorted into the screening room, I was instructed to remove my bottoms (thank goodness I wore a skirt!) I knew the dreaded internal ultrasound was about to happen (I had avoided this unpleasantness long enough that it clearly caught up with me - see previous blog entry). Not to go into too much detail but it was forgotten once something flashed onto the screen. Now I know I mentioned above that I knew we wouldn't see much but part of me seemed to think we would see this little alien like creature on the screen. Nope, not going to happen! After a few seconds where my husband and I were leaning forward, squinting our eyes at the screen and quite possibly angling our heads to the side a bit. We both said a rather anti climatic "oh". Because all we saw was a perfectly round circle. Noticing our perplexed faces, the technician proceeded to use her mouse to point to the circle and say that's the yolk sac. Yes, now that cleared things up (said very sarcastically). Now I know for a fact my husband didn't have a clue what that was because I know I didn't. But I felt because I am a woman and managed to become pregnant that I should know these things, so I kept quiet about it and secretly thanked the creators of Google. After an emphatic "ahh, yes, of course" (on my part, hubby was still unusually quiet), we were presented with our prenatal information pack (sadly with no information on this elusive yolk sac). The part of the appointment when the nurse was going over the scan photos with us, is usually when most people would ask intelligent questions. Nope, not me. Instead I said, "I feel like a chicken". After a very awkward silence interrupted briefly by a snort of laughter from my husband (bless him, he gets me) we were on our way home. (FYI -I was cleared to fly no problem).

To sum up this experience, although it certainly will not even get an honorary mention next to the likes of "hearing the first heartbeat scan" or "seeing the baby bouncing up and down scan", it was a great way to actually see something in there and knowing it's happening rather than wondering. My understanding is that in Western countries the first scan is usually done around 11-13 weeks. Now that's a long time to wait and to wonder what is going on in there.

To sum up the first ultrasound for all my expat readers in Korea:

- take that first 6 week scan if it's offered to you. You will feel better!

- it's relatively inexpensive (somewhere around 50,000-80,000 won depending on where you go and some of that may also be covered by your insurance).

- expect to see a round circle and nothing else. Embrace the circle beforehand and it might be more exciting.

And finally, the most important advice:

- WEAR A SKIRT

- GOOGLE "YOLK SAC" PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

- KEEP CHICKEN COMMENTS TO YOURSELF!

It's Positive, now what? Confirming a pregnancy in Korea

2011-08-13T06:15:00.000+09:00

As an 8 year old girlie girl planning my elaborate wedding acted out by my Ken and Barbies in my native home of Canada, I would have looked at you as if you had two heads if you told me that I would marry an Australian in Korea and start my family there. Funny, in my very early plans Ken and Barbie failed to fly anywhere which is why you can never plan too much of your life or you might miss out on something fabulous.

So what do you do after you've finally figured out that Korean home pregnancy test (HPT) and it has the two lines? Personally I like to make sure which is why I took 4. Actually I have a confession to make, after my previous experience with home pregnancy tests in Korea (see previous blog entry), I vowed never to use one again which is why I stocked up on a bunch the last time I was overseas just to be on the safe side. My shopping basket looked very peculiar with nothing but HPTs and Kraft Dinner (I told the girl at the checkout that I live in Korea as if that should explain everything; she politely declined to comment).

So once my 4 tests were positive and I walked around all day in a daze waiting for my husband to come home so I could tell him, I had to start thinking about seeing a doctor to confirm everything. Now this is the tricky part. In most Western countries it's standard practice to have a blood test to confirm everything and it's very accurate. Well in Korea when you go to the doctor never having a pregnancy confirmed before, you could end up having all sorts of less accurate tests before you realise that the time saving blood test is not going to happen. That's what happened to me. Now because I had used early response tests from overseas, I was able to confirm things extremely early on (unlike if I had taken a Korean HPT, I would have had to be 2 weeks late). Once at the doctor they made me do a urine test which is interesting because I thought I had already done 4 of those! Sure enough, if it's very early on your HCG levels (pregnancy hormone) are low and probably won't be detected in the urine test (which is the same problem with the Korean HPTs). With 4 positive sticks, I wasn't going to take no for an answer. The next thing they wanted to do was an internal ultrasound. Now I had never heard of one of these things before so I was skeptical and needed to know what its purpose was. It was then explained to me that it can sometimes show the gestation of the embryo, therefore confirming the pregnancy. I was like, you can see something 2 weeks in? The technician said, probably not but maybe. Now, my dear readers, this is where I lost it. I proceeded to inquire as to why anyone in their right mind would let them put a wand thingy up their lady bits when it probably won't show anything? So I ever so politely asked if it's possible to have a blood test? Well shock horror, they could do that for me. Hallelujah!

5 minutes later, a slightly sore arm and an inflated doctor's bill due to the unnecessary tests; I left with the assurance I would get the results in 2 days. When this day finally came, I did indeed get the promised phone call, however it wasn't what I expected. The nurse on the other end started rattling off all sorts of numbers and said that I was "normal". I sat their perplexed wondering what the hell all that meant. After a few minutes I felt the need to interrupt her and ask what she probably thought was the dumbest question.......am I pregnant? After a very lengthy pause with crickets chirping in the background, she started giggling and said "well yes". Okay, fab, that's all I needed to hear.

So expat ladies (and partners along for the journey), to sum up confirming a pregnancy in Korea:

- if you go to the doctor and are first offered a urine test or internal ultrasound, think twice because it might be a waste of time (and money).

- don't be afraid to refuse tests and insist on a blood test.

- from my research into this, the blood test is about as accurate as you can get and can be done extremely early on so you might as well opt for this option first off (and it will save you a lot of unnecessary violation of the lady bits).

Korean Home Pregnancy Tests - a little misleading!

2011-08-12T10:53:00.000+09:00

Hello one and all! I know I have been disgracefully neglecting my blog, however with working full-time, getting married and visiting family overseas; time was tight. However now my circumstances have changed somewhat that warrants many new entries. I'm pregnant (happily) and with living in a strange land (although it's becoming less and less strange) and with the prospect of not leaving before the 9 months are up, I thought I would share my experience to help other expats facing this very same challenge.

Challenge #1 - The Home Pregnancy Test (HPT)

My first experience with this is a memorable one! Although this happened a few months before my current condition was confirmed, I think it still warrants an entry since it made me realise how very ill informed I really was. My first ever experience with a HPT was also my first experience with one in Korea. After chatting to a fellow expat friend who suspected my symptoms at the time warranted a check, I headed down to the local pharmacy. After asking for a "pregnancy testuh" I was met with a confused look. So I then re-enacted the scene from Bridget Jones 2 when she asks for a HPT at a pharmacy in Switzerland. After much gesticulating on my part with exaggerated arm gestures in front of my extended stomach, the pharmacist finally understood me with a great big "ahhhh" and presented me with a box that resembled a test.

So off I went home with some moral support from the same friend as before who decided to casually mention, "oh I hope it's one that has a plus or minus sign". I was like what? Why would that make a difference? She then told me to look at the box. Sure enough the entire thing was in Hangul, including how to read if you're pregnant or not. Great! So I took the test but it really didn't matter since the results meant absolutely nothing to me. I tried translating it using Google Translate but I can't even begin to tell you the things that were coming up. So I called my friend again and asked her what she did when she had this similar problem. Her answer was that she too had no idea so she took the HPT stick, walked around with it and asked random Koreans if it was "yes" or "no". After a good laugh, I asked her which one it is. She said she didn't remember! So I contacted one of my close (and very discreet) Korean friends, explained my predicament and asked her if she could please help. Of course she did, so after I sent a quick digital photo of the stick (with instructions), she was able to tell me right away it was negative. I then made sure to write down that 2 lines means positive and 1 line means negative and ensured that my expat friend knew this too.

It was some time later that the same expat friend was in a similar predicament. So on one of our many shopping trips, I suggested we head to the pharmacy to get a HPT. So we did. We happened to get an extremely helpful pharmacist who also spoke great English. She made sure we knew that 2 lines means "positive". We said don't worry, WE KNOW! But just as we were leaving, she casually mentioned that the test will not show an accurate reading unless the user is at least 2 weeks late in her cycle (sorry guys, too much information). We almost fell over! We asked if that refers to all HPTs in Korea and she said yes. Well that kind of information is rather important! Especially when 2 fairly clueless expats are used to the early response HPTs sold in most Western countries that can detect a pregnancy before you're even due. That's almost a 3 week difference!

So ladies, to sum it up. If you need to buy a HPT in Korea, please note the following:

- 2 lines means positive

- 1 line means negative

- most HPTs cost between 3,000-4,000 won

- don't even bother taking one unless you are two weeks late

Or simply stock up on Early Response pregnancy tests next time you visit home!

A Mug that Needs Translating

2010-08-07T17:00:00.000+09:00

Love is Enter!

The love must enter with a mind.

Confront the initial mind which starts a love with each other warmly.

I'm sure it's obvious where this little written gem came from..........my new mug. Enough said.

De-dreading the do

2010-04-16T14:01:00.000+09:00

The cat after staying up all night watching me wrestle with my hair

My dreadies - we were inseparable for 2 years

After cutting them in half

After 12 hours of combing them out

A visit to the hair salon and I'm a new person (and I bet you were expecting me to be bald!)

Before moving to Korea I had dreadlocks and I loved them. After a lot of thinking I decided it would make my move to Korea easier if I got rid of them. In Australia I worked at a university which never had a problem with my hair. Actually they would never dare have a problem with the way anyone looked because that would be unPC. But Korea is a different story. I figured because Korea is a fairly conservative country and because I would be working as an English teacher, I figured my chances would be better if I went back to my usual curly hair. I also figured that eventually the dreadlocks would have to go and in a way it was easier having the decision made for me.

So after my first visit to Korea where the stares were impossible to count and after an Ajuma actually touched my hair, I decided to lop them off before my next trip to Korea. Note: the term Ajuma refers to married women, however it tends to be used more to describe an older woman.

With the help of the Internet, I researched ways to get rid of dreadlocks. It's a common myth that you have to shave your head to get rid of them. From experience I can tell you that this myth is busted and doesn't need to be featured on Mythbusters. I thought about trying to grow the roots but this would take a lot of time and because my dreadlocks were dreading on their own, it would prove challenging to try and keep the roots straight. So with a couple of inches of roots dread free, I wasn't satisfied. Not one to shy away from short hair, I was hoping for a bit more length. So I turned to some de-dreading products.

I decided to use Dreadhead HQ's Dread Zasta. I ordered two bottles and decided on the night I was going to do it (with an appointment waiting for me at the hair salon for 9:00am the next day). I started around 8:00pm with the first part, cutting my dreads to just past my ears so there would be less to comb out (I actually cried a few tears after doing this). Then I followed the instructions on the bottle and wet my hair thoroughly before applying at least half a bottle of the de-dreading solution. I let it sit for an hour and then started combing the dreads out from tips to roots. It was easy at first because the cut ends were frayed but once I got to the middle of the dread, it was hard going. I found it easier to apply a liberal amount of de-dreading solution to help guide the comb through.

12 hours later I had shoulder length hair (although very thin), a comb with 4 tines missing, a garbage bin liner full of knotted hair, a very messy towel and a cat sporting the oddest expression after watching me all night. Needless to say I was very tired walking into my hair appointment but at the same time very relieved. My hairdresser (who specializes in dreadlocks) was amazed by my hair and after a deep conditioner, a few highlights and a new haircut, I was back to looking like my pre-dread self.

8 months on I've moved to Korea, I'm getting a lot less looks and my hair is a little easier to look after. The only thing I've noticed since combing out the dreads is my hair is a lot thinner than it used to be. I'm not sure if this is from the dreads, the combing out process or simply because I'm getting older. I figure time will tell and hopefully my hair will replenish itself eventually.

Shiny Suits - don't forget your sunglasses

2010-04-14T14:21:00.000+09:00

If you're wondering where shiny suits went to die, well wonder no longer. They have been reincarnated on Korean men. Oh yes, this tragic fashion statement has taken a strong hold of Korea and refuses to let go. Shiny suits are every where and in every colour! The worst bit yet is the constant need for shiny ties to be teamed up with the shiny suit. I'm not referring to a simple satin like sheen, I'm talking about sequins, diamontes and sparkles! If you don't believe me, come see it for yourself.

For best viewing times, venture out in Seoul between 1:00-2:00pm, Monday-Friday.

It wouldn't be Korea without Hello Kitty!

2010-04-14T11:23:00.000+09:00

The Sanrio Company's Hello Kitty will soon take over the world, I'm sure of it! Although Japanese in origin, Hello Kitty has become well known across Asia and Korea is no exception.

I came across this magazine in one of the book stores in Seoul. It's a regular update for members of the Hello Kitty Fan Club. It has some very interesting features such as Hello Kitty sushi, how to make Hello Kitty origami and my favourite, an update on Hello Kitty's boyfriend Daniel and Hello Kitty's pet kitty (oh yes, Hello Kitty has her own Hello Kitty).

You can buy pretty much anything you'd like with Hello Kitty on it. From the obvious items such as hats, jewellery, bags, mugs; to the more obscure dishwasher and desktop computer. I've even found myself getting caught up in Hello Kitty fever. Must be something in the water! The Sanrio Company is genius!

The best snacks and oh how I've sampled!

2010-04-14T11:02:00.001+09:00

If you are a fan of chocolate and cookies, you'll love this post. Some of the best snacks I've ever had have been in Korea.

Admittedly many of the snacks I'll be talking about are actually Japanese but since they are easily found in Korea and this is about snacking in Korea, I think I can have a bit of artistic licence on this one.

Warning: in my inability to read Korean or Japanese, I've come up with my own names for these products.

1. Chocolate Pillows - these little cookie pillows of delight are filled with a soft chocolate centre.

2. Panda Cookies - these are the best! Although there aren't a lot in a box, each cookie is in the shape of a panda and is about the same size as an animal cracker. They are coated with white and milk chocolate. Yummo!

3. Yan Yan - okay, this one I was able to read because it's in English, but who knows what Yan Yan means?!?! Basically this little cup comes with a bunch of cookie sticks that you can dip into a little tub of chocolate. It's like a chocolate fondue on the go!

4. Chocolate Mushrooms - this one is easy, the stem is a cookie, the cap is chocolate. Brilliant!

Coke in the Land of Convenience

2010-04-14T10:46:00.000+09:00

Many of my friends and family will know that my favourite soft drink and a weakness of mine is Coca Cola. The fact that you can find Coke in South Korea isn't anything to marvel at since Coke can be found in virtually every country around the world. Instead, what makes it interesting is the packaging. I've already touched on the convenience of things in Korea and this one doesn't disappoint. Most people would be used to the standard sizes for Coke (2 Litre bottle, 1.5 Litre bottle, 500ml, etc). However one thing I've noticed in Korea is that Coke can be purchased in more sizes than I have seen anywhere else, perhaps to cater to how thirsty you are. The above picture is a cute, squat 300ml bottle which is a good thing to have in case you're more thirsty than a 250ml bottle but not thirsty enough to finish a 500ml bottle.

The Seoul Hair Experience

2010-04-03T10:42:00.000+09:00

I left the salon feeling a bit like this.

Luckily after a lot of product, I managed to get it looking more like this. Note: that is not actually me in the photo, I prefer to remain mysterious and aloof.

After a bit of time living in Seoul the inevitable happened, I was due to have my hair cut. I put it off longer than I should have because of a simple reason, I was reluctant. It is commonly known that Asian hair is very different from most Western hair but to top it all off, my hair is crazy curly which at times challenges the hairdressers back home let alone hairdressers who aren't used to even the basic differences such as texture and facial structure.

So after doing a bit of research and reading many horror stories found on blogs and Dave's ESL Cafe, I narrowed it down to 3 recommendations and took the plunge. I started with Zen Hair near Ewha Women's University simply because it's the closest one. Once I decided, I gave them a call to book an appointment. The girl who answered spoke enough English to make my appointment. So when the day came, I followed a set of directions found on one of the blog posts and found it easily (it also helps that I'm familiar with the area because it's excellent for shopping!) Upon arrival I found the salon to be empty except one guy. I told him I was there for my appointment. He told me that there were no appointments that day and proceeded to call my hairdresser. I spoke to him on the phone and he said he'd be happy to reschedule. I wasn't too bothered because after spending a bit of time in Korea, I've come to realize that this often happens and it's best to just go with it. So we agreed on another day. My second appointment was scheduled for 10:00am. I thought it was a bit early because many places don't open until at least 11:00am but I didn't question it for long (again, just go with it). This time when I arrived at the salon it was completely locked up. I decided not to hang around and I also decided I wasn't going to try a third time.

So back to the drawing board. By this time my hair was looking awful, so I tried my second choice, the Green Turtle Salon in Itaewon. This is probably the most highly recommended salon for Western hair in Seoul. I made an appointment with relative ease because the girl who answered spoke excellent English but I wasn't holding my breath considering the luck I had with previous appointments. The day came and I headed to Itaewon. Upon arrival I was relieved not only because there were people there but also because they seemed to be expecting me. So after slipping on a pair of slippers, I was introduced to my stylist Michel (a flamboyantly gay Korean guy who has spent many years in Australia). Since it was a while since my hair had been cut and I had absolutely no style left for him to follow, I was equipped with countless photos. I asked him if I could show them to him and he led me to a couch and took his time looking at the photos and asking me questions. I was prepared to have my whole head coloured (since I turned 30 I've been seeing more and more "pale" hairs if you know what I mean). And I told Michel as much but he responded with a "no, no, no, those hairs are blonde". I appreciated his attempt to placate me, however I still had a situation happening on my head. So after agreeing on a full head of highlights, I was asked to take off all my jewellery (weird) and go into a changing room to put on a t-shirt (also weird). Once in the chair Michel draped a fleece blanket across my lap, offered me beverages and presented me with the latest edition of Vogue (shame he's gay because Michel knows how to make a woman happy!)

Once the colouring process began (a bright red added to my dark brown) I was praying that my hair would not turn orange. I was having a positive experience so far except when Michel decided to go have a cup of ramyun (instant noodles) while watching a Korean soap. I found myself praying some more that it wasn't going to be an intense episode or I might be forgotten and then I would end up with orange hair! To my great relief his assistant emerged at the right time and showed me to the basin. She proceeded to put a towel over my face so that my makeup wouldn't smudge (thoughtful) and proceeded to wash not only my hair but my ears and neck too (hence the removal of makeup and shirt). As usual I was looking forward to the head massage (my favourite bit) and sure enough I was not let down. She not only massaged my scalp but also my neck and then sat me up to do my shoulders!

Back in the chair Michel came back to do the actual cutting. He didn't take off too much which was great and I actually asked him to take off a bit more (it's always easier to take more off than to have to add some on). Oh and I forgot to mention that the colour looked great. Once finished I had both Michel and his assistant blow drying my hair (apparently one person is not enough). The cut wasn't perfect and certainly nothing like what I would get at home but it was good enough and I could do something with it. Glad I figured that out because when it came to the final styling, Michel didn't have a clue. He put in some "curl serum" and messed it up a bit and that was it. I have an inkling he thought that once the curl serum was in my hair it would instantly fall into beautiful even curls. Sorry to disappoint honey but curly hair needs A LOT of product and a lot less messing up. But I didn't complain because I knew I could fix it later. So after I left with my beehive I was greatly relieved that it all turned out okay. I suppose in hindsight I shouldn't have worried, like my supportive boyfriend says, "with your crazy hair, you wouldn't be able to tell if it was cut badly anyway."

The verdict: Green Turtle is a safe bet. It's also reasonably priced for Korea (it will seem super cheap compared to Western countries). I paid 75,000 won (approx $75) total for a full head of highlights and a cut and style. Green Turtle also does nails, waxing, facials, tanning, etc.

Directions to the Green Turtle: take exit 4 out of Itaewon subway station. At the top of the stairs, you will be facing the wrong direction. Turnaround and you will be on the corner where Gecko's is. Directly across the street is the Quizno's building. Green Turtle is located on the third floor above the Coffee Bean.

Men, a.k.a. Handbag Holders

2010-03-20T16:28:00.000+09:00

My guy demonstrating this phenomenon (I know what you're thinking but it actually was a coincidence that my handbag matched his hat perfectly!)

An interesting observation I've made a thousand times and I'm still astonished by is the way Korean girls use their boyfriends to carry their handbags. It tends to happen the most in the 20 something age group. A couple could be having a night on the town, browsing the shops or simply popping out to the corner store for some milk and the guy will be the one carrying the handbag. I've even seen these poor guys juggling not only the handbag but numerous shopping bags and parcels while their girlfriend enjoys sauntering down the street with a spring in her step because naturally there is not a single thing weighing her down.

A valid question remains; when going out, who's outfit should you coordinate the handbag with? Yours or your boyfriend's?

Skin Food - a better bet than Body Shop

2010-03-20T15:52:00.000+09:00

Example of the beautiful packaging

The more you spend, the more samples you get. I acquired all of these after only spending $30!

My apologies for the long delay between posts. After having a few hectic and rather undesirable weeks with other stuff, I'm back in the mood to write about some of my more positive experiences.

Skin Food is a Korean owned chain of shops that can be found all over Seoul. It's very similar to the Body Shop with all sorts of lotions and potions in delicious fruity smells. The difference is that Skin Food is a fraction of the cost, has exquisite packaging, top notch customer service and many of their products are much nicer.

My introduction to Skin Food was having a little basket thrust at me on the street with a free beverage inside. I was in a browsing and exploring mood so I figured, why not? I was so glad I went inside! Up until that point I had been to other popular Korean cosmetic stores such as the Face Shop and Nature Republic but there was something inviting about this beautifully decorated store with all sorts of lovely pots, bottles and tubs. I didn't end up buying anything but when I left the store, one of the sales girls ran after me to give me my free beverage and a few free samples. She clearly wanted a sale but I appreciated her effort.

So my next shower consisted of trying out my free samples. They were delicious! I particularly fell in love with the yummy scent of the Black Sugar Facial Mask. I even specifically went back to Skin Food the next day to buy a full tub of it. With this one little purchase I received another handful of samples. Same as the day before I tried them and of course there were more creams and lotions that I had to have.

Skin Food is smart in their marketing and customer service. I keep going back, my bathroom is stocked only with Skin Food products (which probably cost the same as anything you can buy in a western grocery store). I enjoy the pampering and the personal attention (not to mention the endless supply of free samples). For example one day I went in to buy only a couple of things so I didn't bother with a basket. As I was browsing, I picked out a few items I hadn't planned on. My arms started to get full and the minute I considered getting a basket, one of the sales assistants instantly appeared and loaded all my goods into a basket. Apparently only psychics are hired to work at Skin Food! ;o)

My personal recommendations are (and believe me, I'm an expert sampler):

-Black Sugar Facial Mask (wash off)

-Black Raspberry Eye Cream (wrinkle care) - this stuff leaves your face unbelievably soft!

-Honey Melon Hand Balm

-Orange & Mint Body Essence

-Grapefruit Refreshing Body Wash (the scent is to die for!)

-Black Sugar Deep Cleansing Cream (awesome for removing make up)

-Hop Beer Hair Wash and Conditioner (smells so good!)

-Honeypot Lip Balm (the best ever!)

Bing bong, could you bring me some napkins please?

2010-02-22T16:39:00.000+09:00

One of the greatest inventions, or more like an adaptation of an existing invention is the table doorbell in restaurants. I've only ever seen this in Korea or in some Korean restaurants found overseas. In restaurants that offer this fabulous feature, you will find a doorbell fitted to the side of your table. When you're ready to order or need something, you simply press the doorbell and a waiter or waitress will come immediately to your table. This eliminates the need to track down a waiter or to yell "excuse me" or the Korean equivalent "yogiyo" across the restaurant.

Gotta love the packaging

2010-02-17T20:23:00.000+09:00

Tonight I was treated to my partner not only cooking dinner but also picking up a few things for dessert. This included a honeydew melon. Most of my North American and Australian readers will wonder "what's the big deal?" Well, it is a big deal when your melon comes wrapped completely in cellophane, tissue paper and a big pink bow on top. Even the stem was wrapped in green tape (see pic above, no words can possibly do it justice).

I have also experienced takeout being delivered in a gift bag, individually wrapped bananas and brownies boxed in tissue and ribbon. Don't get me started on what jewellery comes in or what they do when you actually ask for something to be gift wrapped!

After reading this post, you may conclude that Korea is a wasteful society with over packaging, however I try to look at it in another way. Koreans are always putting a lot of care into their packaging, as well as making everything special and beautiful. I seem to have a constant struggle between feeling guilty about all the plastic being used and the warm fuzzy feeling I get when an everyday item is wrapped up like a present.

On-Style Channel, self explanatory

2010-02-17T11:17:00.000+09:00

Sex & the City

Devil Wears Prada

Originally from Canada, Korea is the second country I've moved to. From past experience I've found a few ways to ensure a smooth transition. Such as familiarising yourself with your new neighbourhood, mastering public transportation and learning a bit of the local lingo (before I hear shouts of protest because I lived in Australia, believe me, there were times when it felt like I had to learn a new language!) More than anything though, making your new pad as homey as possible and surrounding yourself with creature comforts will give you the confidence to face any new challenge or experience.

For me that includes my E.T doll (mentioned in my first post). I've had him since I was 4 and he's travelled to at least 6 countries and is now living in his third. I'm surprised Canada hasn't given him a passport yet. I also tend to pack a few photos, a favourite piece of clothing, my favourite chocolate (just in case) and my entertainment devices (which have evolved since my first move, I think I only had a walkman then, lol). Modern technology has made moving overseas so easy! This time I was able to bring my PSP, laptop, mp3 player, DVDs, etc. Nothing is more comforting than to watch my favourite movie or TV show.

Luckily Korea was prepared for my arrival. When I first discovered On-Style Channel, my heart skipped a beat. It's a girly girls' best friend. Non-stop, in one place you will find programs about fashion, as well as chick flicks and programs that often appeal to women. I first noticed this channel after flicking through and seeing a flash of Carrie Bradshaw. Yup, Sex & the City is showed daily and when they've made it through every season, it begins from the start. Same with Friends and Ghost Whisperer.

Seoul Palaces - amazing architecture, landscaping and best of all....fab interior decorating!

2010-02-16T11:53:00.001+09:00

Changdeokgung Palace - one of the main buildings

Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace - interior of one of the buildings

Changdeokgung Palace - Secret Garden

Gyeongbokgung Palace - main entrance

Gyeonbokgung Palace - ceiling

Gyeonbokgung Palace - Gyeonghoeru Pavilion

I've had the opportunity to visit many of the Royal palaces around Seoul. I would have to say that Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung were the best. Both palaces are only a block or two away from where I'm living which is handy for visitors and gives me a daily reminder that I'm definitely living in Korea.

Changdeokgung is one of the Five Grand Palaces of Seoul and is located in Jongno-Gu and was built during the Joseon Dynasty. The grounds are massive and have 30 plus buildings located within. It is also home of the famous secret garden, a lush and leafy space featuring a large pond and a beautiful pavilion. When standing in the secret garden, it's hard to believe that you are in the middle of a large and busy city. Due to increasing erosion, Changdeokbung can only be visited by guided tour. English tours are available from Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm. If I remember correctly the entry fee is around 3,000 won (approx $3AUD). Changdeokgung is a 5 minute walk from Anguk Station, exit 3.

Gyeongbokgung is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces. It is more spacious than Changdeokgung and you are able to wander around without a guided tour. Gyeonbokgung was also built by the Joseon Dynasty. Sadly the palace is still undergoing reconstruction due to major destruction by the Japanese government during the 20th century. In my opinion the most impressive building is Gyeonghoeru, a large pavilion situated on a man made island surrounded by a rectangular lake. Gyeongbokgung palace is open every day except Tuesday and has English tours available at 11:00am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Entry fee is 3,000 won (approx $3AUD). Gyeongbokgung station is located right outside the palace, there are signs throughout the station pointing you in the right direction.

In line with the traditional style of Korean palaces, Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung have many buildings with beautiful architecture, statues and markings of great significance and stunning landscaping. The most eye catching of them all has to be the painting. All royal buildings are painted with brightly coloured, intricate designs. Only buildings of high importance are allowed to be painted with these colours and designs.

If you'd like a uniquely Korean experience, I highly recommend a visit to one of Seoul's impressive palaces.

My first pair of Korean shoes

2010-02-13T18:25:00.001+09:00

Today I met up with one of my very good Korean friends. It was a fun filled Korean day with traditional food for lunch and a belated Christmas gift. A fab pair of traditional Korean shoes!!! These shoes are called Hwahye or Flower Shoes and are most often seen in bright colours such as red with intricate embroidery. They are absolutely stunning and were usually worn for special occasions.

On a more modern note. For those of you who have a slightly larger foot size, you may be interested to know that with the upturned toe, traditional Korean shoes will make your feet look tiny!

Underground Shopping Centres - WARNING!

2010-02-12T18:42:00.000+09:00

One of the greatest things about Seoul is that every available space seems to be transformed into something. This includes all sorts of great discoveries underground. The majority of subway stations are naturally underground and often have shops available for your browsing pleasure while waiting for a train. One great invention is underground shopping centres. They often stretch across numerous blocks connected by subway stops. There's a massive one in one of my favourite shopping ares, Myeongdong (see picture of entrance above).

Myeongdong underground shopping centre has many interesting stores. It's a great place to buy cheap bags and clothing. But it should also come with a warning! Keep track of where you're going or possibly pack a compass. I'm serious! The other day I decided to cut underground between subway stations to get out of the wet and cold only to discover that I was terribly lost once I resurfaced. I could have sworn I was moving in the right direction but every turn takes you into an identical row of shops and if you don't keep track, you'll end up in a situation similar to mine.

Luckily after a few blocks I rounded a corner and found my bearings, however I was unlucky in the fact that I had overshot my destination by 4-5 blocks and ended up having to walk an extra 10 minutes in the wet and cold which totally negated the attempt to escape the elements by going underground in the first place!

Insadong Tea Shop - a paradise for birds

2010-02-09T10:14:00.000+09:00

I thought it was about time to combine my love of food and shopping with some culture. On my first visit to Seoul, my cousin who's been here teaching English for years took me to a great spot in one of the more traditional parts of Seoul....Insadong. Luckily for me Insadong is only a stone's throw away from where I'm living. It's a fabulous network of streets and alleys that are full of interesting little shops, museums and restaurants. This is the place to go for all things Korean and the best place to purchase authentic souvenirs.

In a very ordinary building, I was taken up a flight of stairs which opened into a unique place. I've had trouble finding this place since because there aren't any defining markers. The tea shop is located on the top floor and includes one very large room stuffed full of furniture, knick knacks and live birds. We sat at a table which consisted of glass covering a large stone basin with fish swimming around inside. We were given a menu with hot and cold tea choices which all sounded delicious. I had a mulberry tea served with little rice sweets. It was very delicious. To add to our experience, there were very small birds flying around, swooping around our heads. It was a magic experience and one that shouldn't be missed.

Mr Pizza, Love for Women

2010-02-08T11:21:00.000+09:00

One of my favourite places to eat in Seoul is Mr Pizza. Sounds a bit like Pizza Hut but believe me, it has a very different marketing strategy. The sole aim of Mr Pizza is to provide quality food and a comfortable atmosphere for women. You're probably wondering, are men allowed? The answer is yes, however they should probably think twice about going in. Mr Pizza restaurants are usually decorated in very bright, red, pink and white colours with hearts EVERYWHERE! The portions are "small" and "ladylike" and there's a massive salad bar because apparently "women love salad" (I have a feeling that's a nice way of saying, women are always on diets). It has a great atmosphere because the booths are big and comfy, there are groups of women (friends, mothers/daughters, etc) having a great time chatting and laughing and the only looks you're going to get are from other women wondering where you got your shoes or is that a fake Louis Vuitton slung over your shoulder.

Mr Pizza restaurants are everywhere! The food is yummy, reasonably priced and a great place to go for lunch. You can even order takeaway and instead of a greasy pizza box, you're pizza is delivered with a red bow wrapped around it.

What naturally goes with a pedicure? A manicure of course!

2010-02-08T10:40:00.001+09:00

I realize this may seem a bit boring to some but I just have to write a little something about my first manicure in Korea. Which is also the most memorable and awesome manicure I've ever had (and believe me, I've had a lot!) It is commonly known that Korea is exceptionally adept at nail maintenance so it was only a matter of time before I tried it out for myself. The minute I stepped into a nail salon, I was given a pink velvety couch to sit on, a cup of tea and a very large book of nail art samples. I decided to go for the works, so I settled on a very fancy design with lots of bling! After pointing out my chosen design to one of the nail artists and after a brief consultation with her colleagues, she came over to me with a calculator and a very grave expression on her face. I started to worry, how much is this going to cost and have I been that naive in assuming it will be cheap because it's in Korea? Luckily my assumption was right, 50,000 won was punched into the calculator. For something that usually costs well over $100 in Canada or Australia, it ended up being around $50. This included an hour of hand massaging, the usual cuticle work and shaping with various oils. Once she started on the actual painting, I was impressed. I've only ever seen such precise work from an air brush but my fabulous manicure was all done free hand. I had unlimited beverages and at the end I had 3 women on hand to help me with my coat, handbag and the door so I wouldn't ruin my nails. I have a feeling this will become a frequent event in my life!

Dr Fish - an extreme pedicure

2010-02-05T15:40:00.000+09:00

Ok, I know this technically happened during one of my earlier trips to Seoul and might not qualify for this post-move blog but it still happened to me, in Korea and is a beauty treatment.....of sorts.

It took 3 attempts for me to finally find a Dr Fish cafe because even though they are common throughout Seoul, they are hard to find unless you are fluent in Korean. Even though some directions can be found online, they are unreliable because they will undoubtedly use other establishments as points of reference instead of actual street names and numbers. This is common in Korea. You can probably understand how frustrating this can be when your original directions which read "walk 20 steps from Subway exit 6, right at the Burger King and down the alley until you find the red door" are quickly changed if the Burger King moves premises or the red door is suddenly painted yellow. Luckily for me I have a Korean friend who is naturally fluent in Korean but also doesn't mind the odd extreme beauty treatment.

So one day we ventured to Gangnam for a Dr Fish pedicure. This involves a cafe with a couple of tubs built into the floor with fish swimming around. For the cost of a cup of coffee (this includes free freshly baked bread, jam and cream) you also get a Dr Fish pedicure. So after we had our drinks and ate some lovely warm bread, we ventured over to the "tub" area. After a quick wash of the feet, we proceeded to stick our feet into one of the tubs. A timer was set for 15 minutes and from there I experienced one of the weirdest experiences of my life. These lovely fish started eating my feet. At first it was so ticklish that my friend and I were giggling non stop. After about 5 minutes your feet get used to it and it feels like a hundred tiny fingers are pinching your feet at once. It wasn't until after our pedicure was over that we realized we were given the big fish! At 2 inches long, our fish had very big mouths compared to the little half inchers that our neighbours were lucky enough to get. The result??? The smoothest feet I have ever had. The best bit??? My feet tingled for a good 30 minutes afterwards. Not bad considering it cost me only a couple of won and I didn't have to worry about how my feet looked. The fish really don't care!

I wouldn't recommend this for the squeamish or people with strong vegetarian beliefs (after all these fish are carnivores). But if you are ever in Seoul and looking for a unique experience, I would definitely recommend it. Directions to the Gangnam Dr Fish: exit 6 Gangnam subway station, cross street and it's on the second floor of one of the first buildings you come to. You'll know which one because the sign on the front of the building has a picture of a tree on it. The same one that's on the Dr Fish website.

The eagle has landed (or in my case a pair of green suede mary janes)

2010-02-05T13:00:00.000+09:00

Finally after 8 months travelling back and forth from Australia to Korea.........I have moved!!! It hasn't been easy giving up a very good job in Sydney, frantically packing many years worth of stuff for storage, relocating the cat into her holiday home and trying to figure out which handbag has to stay behind because unfortunately my laptop needed that final space in my suitcase. With my battered E.T. doll (27 years old, pictured above) in tow we've moved onto yet another adventure.

Before I officially begin my ramblings, I'd hate to sound like an Oscar's speech but I need to thank everyone who has made this possible. The wait is finally over and from here on in I can settle into a new life of living in luxury, working a little bit and taking advantage of one of the best shopping cities in the world!!! If you're lucky I may even throw in some cultural experiences as well. ;o)