Seoul Weekend Recap 0303/042012
On Saturday morning Gerald and I woke up, caked out bags and caught a bus from Gwangju to Seoul around 9:30AM. After about 3.5 hours on the bus, which is really comfy (the seats are like lazy boys and we slept a lot), we arrived at Gangnam Station in Seoul.
We met Gerald’s friend Kwon and his Wuba and we headed towards a Japanese Restaurant that Kwon had read great review about. The reviews were right because the food was incredible. I don’t know what I ate because I don’t understand a lick of Japanese and we just ate what the waitress and Kwon recommended - but it was a bowl of rice with fried pork cutlet smothered in an egg that was still sizzling when it came out. It’s probably the best thing I have eaten since coming to Korea (sorry 삼곱살). We chatted with Kwon and Wuba and had a really nice time eating together. Afterwards, while walking the streets of Gangnam, I spotted a few girls eating red balls on sticks and I inquired with Kown about them because I decided I need to have them in my mouth. Kwon said that they are a candied fruit and usually only women are seen eating them, but before I knew he it stopped at a street food vendor and told us to ‘pick your stick’ - he had bought all of us a stick of the candied strawberry treat! It was so yummy!
I love Korean Street Food. It’s a awesome part of Korean culture. I love meeting the smiling ajummas and adjosshis, tasting the subtle differences between bungeoppang (붕어빵) recipes, and the fact that everything is really cheap (around $1)! So far, I haven’t had the guts to try to silk worm larvae or the octopus tentacles. Maybe someday… maybe.
NateON: iPhones and Korea (Please help)!
I am a happy iPhone owner and I’d like to continue being an iPhone owner in Korea.
I am trying to understand my choices and so far I think this is what I can do.
If anyone knows any other options, or has done any of this themselves, PLEASE let me know and contact me!
Here’s what happened to me last March:
- I went to the global KTF/Olleh store
- I asked if I could get an iPhone
- They said “Sure! Of course! No problem!”
- They took my ARC and spent 30 minutes putting things into their computer
- They said “The system won’t let us give you a phone. We don’t know why! We can’t ask the main office because it’s after 6 and they’re closed! We’ll send you an e-mail explaining what the problem is tomorrow!”
- I skulked out of the store phoneless.
- I never heard back from them.
- I’m still stuck with a prepaid to this day.
Olleh! indeed.
Go to SK. They are more foreigner friendly.
I got a Samsung Galaxy S2 from the global Kt/Olleh store in Gangnam. They were so helpful and offered me an iphone,which i turned down, but yeah go there. I heard sometimes in Korea it depends who serves you,so keep trying until you get someone willing to sell you a contract with the phone you want.
Yeah I would go through KT because they have a great deal and have English speaking staff and wifi zones everywhere~~~ I went to the one in Gwanghamun. I think the biggest thing is to not take no for an answer. When I had problems with my phone they tried to tell me they couldn’t fix it at first and I kind of got upset. Like I bought this from you and you need to fucking fix it. I dunno if it was me speaking fast or looking like I was about to cry but, they took it and fixed it ~~ It’s till a piece of shit [DO NOT BUY SKY PHONES!!!!] but yeah~~ Maybe try Gangnam~~
I apologize for not putting this link in my first post. I’ll blame it on my extra shot in my Vanilla Latte this morning?
There you can find out loads of info, including English-speaking stores.
Which reminds me, one of the reasons it took 3 tries to get mine was because I came to Seoul once and went to the Gangnam store, and it was undergoing a renovation.
My aforementioned experience went down at the Gangnam store with the nicest, most fluent Korean guy I’ve ever met. Coincidentally, I’ve been planning on going back this week since before Thanksgiving, so maybe it will go differently.
It seems the consensus is that I should go with Option 2 and to the Gangnam store to get an iPhone. OK, I think will do that.
Question: For those of you that have successfully obtained an iPhone with KT Olleh, were you able to get the discounts like Smart Sponsor added to your plan?
I won’t be based in Seoul, so it won’t be easy for me to just stroll on in whenever. I’d need to take a dedicated trip there. I just want the process to go smoothly!
감사합니다, everyone. You’re all great. :)
Edit: Whoa, hold the phone (heh), this mobileboo.com sounds solid. Does anyone have experience with it?
