Dr. Fish

The other week some friends and I went to do the Dr. Fish.  What an experience, I tell you!

When we went on a Saturday afternoon the coffee shop was populated but not too busy.  We had to wait about 30 minutes before we could do the Dr. Fish because there was a line.  Later, we learned that you can call in advance and make a reservation.  

In order to do the fish thing you have to order a drink (which they overcharge by at least an extra dollar or won from the already expensive Starbucks-standard price).  The reason it's so expensive is because you get "complimentary" all-you-can-eat bread with butter and jam as well as an extra cup of coffee (12oz) to go.  The price of the Dr. Fish is just w2,000 for 15 minutes.  Trust me, you don't need more than 15 minutes. 

When it was our turn I was excited and I thought I'd be fine.  Um, no.  I think I must have said the words "oh my god oh my god oh m god" over and over for 12 of those 15 minutes.  

Why you ask?  Well for one thing the fish look like this: 

 

Look at the mouth on those things!  

Om nom they want to eat your skin and they are ravenous! 

Mali was a pro and she kept her feet in the whole time no problem.  I couldn't hack it though.  

We decided to take an ironic picture of me in a cool calm and collected pose because I was anything but. 

EDIT: The fish feel like little vibrations.  It doesn't hurt but rather it's a slight tickle.  I felt like there must have been close to 50 of them on me but Mali & Nicole assured me that number was actually closer to 5.

All in all, it was a worth it and I'm really glad that I did it.  It's another thing to check of the SoKo-To-Do list that I made a little while back.  

Things still on there that I need to do: 

Everland, Chungmuro Pet street, Jeju Island, temple stay, DMZ, and bungee jumping.  I do hope I get to do it all in the short time that I have left (about 70 days now!) 

Directions to Dr. Fish:

Walk out Exit 6 from Gangnam and go straight a few blocks.  It’s across from the GCV and next to the Krispy Kreme donuts shop.  The name of the café is actually not Dr. Fish.  It’s something along the lines of “read books and relax café” or something weird like that.  It’s on the 2^nd floor of the building.  

Dos Tacos

Today I had the pleasure of my first Mexican food in Korea.  It was delightful!  Now, you should know that I make my own Mexican food on a weekly basis (you can find most things you need for a burrito at Home Plus) but burritos in a restaurant seem to taste a million times better.  

Dos Tacos is located right off the main strip in Gangnam (Kangnam).  I have actually walked passed it dozens of times and never even knew it was there because it's discretely hidden behind the Apple store (which is called Frisbee).  

Even though we got to Dos Tacos at 2pm we still had to wait about 20 minutes before we could get a seat.  The restaurant is very small.  It has about 10 little tables.  

As always, I entertained myself with pictures. 

dos tacos this way

 

                              the inside of the restaurant.  

Finally it was time to eat.  I was so excited about my food that I took a few bites before I remembered that I was supposed to take a picture of my burrito.  Oops.  Now you have to see my half-eaten burrito.  

I got the vegetarian burrito which came

with rice, beans (actually this wasn't on the menu but I was pleased when they showed up on my burrito anyway), salsa/pica de gallo, cilantro, sour cream, and cheese.  I opted to add avocado for w2,000 and not have the onions and jalapenos because I'm a spice wuss.   

My burrito cost w6,500 + the avocado made it w8,500.  I also recommend the Horchata which is a bit pricey at w4,000 but surely delicious with just the right amount of cinnamon.     

Butterfingers Pancakes!

Butterfingers.  Finger lickin'--don't lay a finger on my butterfinger-- good.  The best brunch (read: one of the only brunch restaurants) in Seoul.  It's my kind of place.  Yeah ok, that's their slogan, but it works for me too.  If you know me you know that I love to go out for brunch.  Koreans mostly eat rice, soup, and kimchi for breakfast so this is kind of a big deal.  

Butterfingers is located right off the main strip of Gangnam (exit 6).  To get there find the Bath & Body Works, turn down the street and walk two block until you see the big blue and orange sign.  If you go on a Saturday or Sunday you will know you've made it when you see a line out the door.  

Because the restaurant was super busy and we had to wait for about an hour before being seated, Alex and I entertained ourselves by taking silly pictures at this stop sign in the restaurant and browsing through the really cute boutique crafty nicknack store across the way.

Finally, it was time for us to be seated!  Horray!  We were soooo hungry. 

Butterfinger Pancakes

 Alex got the sampler plate which comes with french toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs, 2 kinds of sausage and maybe something else too.  He wanted to eat his breakfast and was not impressed that I demanded a photo.  

 I got the veggie omelet with pancakes and potatoes.  The stuff in the little tin cup is honey butter.  Oh my god, it was so good that I was tempted to eat it straight up.  My omelet had real mozzarella cheese in it!  A big treat here in Korea.  

All of the ingredients at Butterfinger are fresh and real.  None of that imitation cheese you see everywhere else in Korea.  Because of this, and likely just the fact that it's all "foreigner" food, the menu is pretty pricey.  I think I paid about 12,000 or 13,000 for it.  

Oh, I was also really happy about my big cup of real coffee! 

I can't wait to go back again! 

Once in a Blue Moon

Highlight of the week:

I got cable television!

I ordered the package that cost just under w10,000 and has about 60 channels but for some reason they actually gave me the 75 channel package instead.  There are about 5 or so English channels at any given time and most of them are terrible.  I watched the show Numb3rs for the first time in my life. Eh.  I also watched the movie While You Were Sleeping.  Nothing all that great so far, but it's still nice to have the TV to keep me company at night.


Highlights of this weekend include:
1.  Now Bar
2.  Itaewon
3.  Once in a Blue Moon
4.  What the Book?

1.  Now Bar
I didn't take many pictures this weekend so you'll have to pardon me on that one.  As always, I stayed out way later than anticipated.  The Now Bar has some way of making me lose all concept of time and it's 3am before I know it.  At Now Bar I played darts and it turns out that I'm really good at darts!  I may have to start being a dart shark.

2.  Itaewon
Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday and I'm very excited.  Thanksgiving is my absolute, hands-down favorite holiday.  Koreans don't really eat turkey but they are available -- at a hefty price.  A turkey that would only feed 3 people costs around $80 or so.  My brother, Natalie, and I decided that we will have chicken instead this year since you can get chicken for just $8.

Some other things that are necessities for Thanksgiving are also not readily available in the regular grocery store such as cranberry sauce, pumpkin puree, jello, and pie crust.  I was able to go to a foreign food mart aptly called Foreign Food Mart and buy all of the aforementioned items sans pie crust.  I may have to just buy a pumpkin & pecan pie at the Paris Baguette.

 
The Foreign Food Mart is located in Itaewon and sells mostly Indian food but some American foods too like Kashi cereal and Pop-Tarts.  I wouldn't make shopping there a regular habit though.  The store is messy and there was food spilling from the aisles onto the floor.  Additionally, I think everything had a slight layer of dust to it.  But, when you need your Jell-o...






Paris Baguette is a Korean bakery that likes to think it is French.  Don't be fooled.  It is not.  But, they do regularly sell Pecan Pie.  If my microwave pumpkin pie fails, there is alway the Paris Baguette to save me.








For dinner I went to a Thai place that, honestly, had better decor than it did food.  It was called Buddha's Belly and it is located on the second floor of a building in an alley off the main strip of Iteawon.  I'm a big fan of eating atmosphere.  Sometimes food tastes better just because of the restaurant's decor.  In this case the decor was what I would call luxury-industrial.  The chairs all had a velour covering to them and the colors were all in rich grays, reds, and blacks.  I felt stylish and elegant eating there.  I was slightly disappointed in the Pad Thai with Tofu that I got though.  While it was fine, it wasn't really delicious either.  


3.  Once in a Blue Moon

After Thai food it was off to Apgujong which is an area of Gangnam and is like Seoul's Beverly Hills.  They even have a Rodeo Drive Street.

This area also has the best jazz club in town.  With the exception of the ridiculously high drink prices, I loved it.  The people that I was with, Jennifer and her two friends, reminded me that the w14,000 glass of wine I had was really not that bad since there was no cover charge to enter and if you think of it like that then it's not so expensive anymore.  Well maybe, but I would have gotten another glass of wine if it was cheaper...    

Anyway, the jazz was great and I'm glad I got to go!

Getting back home to Suwon, however, was not so great.  I got totally disoriented on the main street in Gangnam and couldn't figure out which direction I needed to take the bus back home.  I walked up and down and up and down for close to an hour before I spotted my bus-- naturally going in the opposite direction I was convinced I had to go.  It was 1am when I got back to my house.

4.  What the Book?

While in Itaewon on Saturday I also stopped by the bookstore, What the Book.  It was just a building or two away from the Foreign Mart.  It's known to be the best English bookstore in Korea but it was a lot smaller than I had expected.  Still, it did not disappoint and I found a book that I was looking for, The Glass Castle.

I spent my Sunday afternoon at Tom N Toms reading my new book, drinking a latte, and eating a pretzel.  Tom N Toms makes great soft pretzels.









Back to school on Monday...!