Hip&Trendy Hongdae: Photo walk + unexpected new friend?

I spent a few days in Seoul to get away from the bustling & stuffy city that was Tokyo. The trip served me well despite being so nervous about using Korean again after neglecting it for 5 years. Before my trip I did some research and ask around about the best places to stay (and the cheapest because lets face it, Im still technically “career-less”) and decided to stay in Hongdae because I felt that I could also capture great photos of Korean youth since Hongik university is really close by (I feel like Gai Sensei from Naruto rambling on about youth now). My host also recommended me some places to check out on both the university side of Hongdae and also the vintage & retro side where lots of small knick-knack stores were scattered about. I was told that a lot of older people on this side don’t speak much English or Japanese as the younger generation so I’d probably have to learn a little more Korean to get by.

I planned my first full day in Hongdae; sending the morning in the trendy youth side, the afternoon on the more quieter retro side, then meeting up with a friend for dinner plans we had made prior to my trip. Of course plans did not go so well as I overslept a little in the morning but I still was able to do 70% of what I wanted to do.

Thanks Nature Cafe

My first stop was of course a place to find breakfast. I had originally planned to go to a flower cafe in Hongdae that I had found while browsing my travel book but since I had forgotten it back in Tokyo, I did a quick google search and stumbled upon Thanks Nature Cafe. The First thing I noticed upon going down the stairwell were two SHEEP right outside the entrance in a pen. Their names were respectively Tom & Jerry Which I thought were so cute. If the owners were trying to name them after the famous cat and mouse duo then I give them points.

Speaking of owners, I was greeted by a sweet elderly couple who I presumed were the owners of the cafe, which I feel is really rare coming from Tokyo where the owners of shops and restaurants are never in the actual store (take it from me who has worked at an Izakaya at Tokyo’s Salaryman Sanctuary in Shimbashi, Mr. Owner is almost never around except for on the rare occasion). I took a seat at one of the open tables and flipped through the menu which mostly consisted of sweets and an array of soft drinks or coffee/tea. Then, when I was able decide, I placed my order at the counter and waited.

The interior was beautiful (think plant mom owning a barn) and loved the natural state of wood against green and concrete.

I ended up ordering a hot caramel macchiato despite me being in so many layers under my coat and citron/yuzu waffles that came with some ice cream. Let me just say, for the price of coffee in Korea, it’s WAY worth It. The huge cup was almost as big as my face for about 6,000 won. A price like that in Japan at almost any cafe will get you a coffee drink in a small mug cup depending where you are in Tokyo. The Waffles were also really refreshing as well! I really thought that having something heavy and sweet for breakfast would make me feel sluggish as that’s how I usually feeling in Tokyo after eating a wet breakfast piled on with ice cream and whipped cream and everything, but I surprisingly felt really good.

Halfway through eating I noticed some of the guest going outside to look at the sheep. Being really curious I too left my table to go outside as I felt that Korea had the same safely level as Japan where you can leave your belongings and still come back to them still being there. I entered the pen and was able to touch the sheep. It was my first time touching a sheep and their wool was so soft and fluffy! It was also really satisfying to have One fo the sheep come to you to let them touch their cheek. I felt like a sheep whisperer ふふふ!

When I went back, I made sure to clean and disinfect my hands and continue where I had left of eating. A casually found my self chatting with group sitting at the table next to me because they found out I could speak Japanese (バレた！！ww）and found out they were university students from the states. Nice to make easy conversation and give some lessons in Japanese. It felt like I wasn’t alone and confused on my solo trip (and I totally meant that in a good way).

After breakfast and coffee I decided to continue my photo walk around Hongdae’s shopping district. I picked up some street food along the way and munched on fried spicy wieners and mocha sticks, juice, grilled meat and all sorts of things which trying to manage taking photos with one hand. Eventually even buying some self packaged kimchi, and what looked like other pickled vegetables from a small street cart. I looked around the small shopping street lined with minor shops selling clothes, phone accessories and other treasures That were super hella cheap! Surprisingly I didn’t do any shopping for clothes as I spent most of my money on eating. I was also surprised to find out a lot of store staff spoke Japanese well If not English. I did buy some earrings from a store that I remember seeing in my travel book and from a bunch of Instagram stories from friends who also took trips to Seoul.

I sadly didn‘t have much time to check out the other side of Hongik Station where lots of the retro corner shops were as I was to meet a friend for dinner later and felt like I wouldn’t have enough time to browse. But maybe its a save on my part since I would probably freak out from trying to learn Korean. It’s okay, I’ll get my revenge on my next trip with better phrases than “One cafe latte” in Korean (it was the only thing I could remember to say).

I stopped by at the place I was staying at to drop off some things and have a little bit more to eat before meeting my friend and her boyfriend at a different part of Hongdae. We came to know each other though a mutual friend from my workplace in Japan and I was really glad I could meet up with her plus meet her boyfriend while I was in Korea. We conversed in a mix of English, Japanese and small Korean phases that I was trying to absorb.

During this time, The streets of Hongdae are lively and full of colorful neon lights and rowdy university students, young adults and youthful business men and women getting off from work to drink (oh! Just like Tokyo!) or getting into clubs. The 3 of us had dinner at a self-coooking Korean BBQ restaurant because what’s a trip too Korea with out authentic KBBQ? All you can eat meat, self-serve side dishes and soft drinks for I believe 20,000 won? Or was it Cheaper? Well, all I know Is that it Was WAY cheaper than say a BBQ place in Tokyo, maybe. Paired with some flavored fruit soju, you have a party haha! Actually, speaking of party, the inside of the restaurant played really old school K-pop that I remembered from my high school (or was it middle school?) days like Wonder girl’s Nobody, Super Junior’s Haengbok, and Brown Eyed Girl’s Abracadabra. The two of them were so shocked to know I knew these songs as they were from their parent’s generation of music.

After Dinner we went out to eat a lot more. hopping around at different shops and food establishments. Stopping by at a favorite gelato stop, I had rice flavored Gelato for the first time! Made with sweet rice, the texture was stretchy and some how in a way gooey. Think of plain mochi with a little bit of sweetness. I really wished that I could take a tub of it back to Japan with me!

We were actually pretty tipsy from drinking (all of us are weak when it comes to alcohol) and we just kept laughing and walking haphazardly, we took a couple photos at a self photo booth (similar to the the プリクラ booths in Japan) and eventtually spent the rest of the remaining hours at a late night restaurant stand that apparently had been there for 20 years! cafe style trays and seating, and the inside covered with a big vinyl tent to keep out the cold, our last meal together was a large serving of Korean Style Tempur, Soondae (boiled stufffed sausages mixed with other cow and pig organs and my favorite, tteokbboki (spicy rice cakes). Before we knew it, it was already 10 minutes to midnight and the two of them had to catch their bus back home.

I wish my trip was extended a little longer because it was my favorite memory from my Korea trip and I wanted to see them again before I left but since the next day was Valentine’s Day, I didn‘t want to impose on any plans that were made before hand. But its okay, The next day I had plans to continue my photo walk but this time near myeongdong and the older alleyways of ikseondong. Since my host apartment was within Hongdae, I decided to take the long walk home to take more night photos. I was able to capture a few interesting shots of dimly lit roads and a bunch of littter haha!