Shopping in Korea

Lately I've been doing a lot of shopping. Not that I've actually bought much stuff, but we've just been going to different shopping districts around Seoul. I love just wandering around a place, popping into shops, stopping when I feel like it and continuing when nothing catches my eye. There is just so much to look at, to touch, smell and giggle at. Today Krista, Ashley, Tamara and I explored E-dae. It was a sunny and crisp fall day. Everything was perfect. Just what I needed on a long weekend.

Today the sales lady in one of the first shops we went into kept pointing and saying something about my bottom. She proceeded to open-hand slap it...multiple times. Me, not really not knowing what to do in this case laughed and said "yes, yes I know, it's soooo big". She slapped it two more times before I left. I don't know what their obsession with it is. Everyone in the store was laughing at me or the situation, I don't know which one. I figured I could get something out of her fun. I got her down from 35,000 won to 25,000 won. That was some expensive butt slapping.
Later as I was walking into a shop with hooddies and other "male" clothing salesman tried to push me out saying "no no man shop!" Then he pointed to a "woman's shop" and said " you woman there". First of all,I would never fit into the "women's" clothing and second, I would never, ever put on any of those tripple-pretty-over-the-top crap that they sell. Instead of just leaving quietly I said "it's ok! I have lots and lots of money! It's the same as a man's money!" Everyone was staring.

At another store when trying to bargin on a necklace the salesman did not like the fact that we asked for a discount. Instead of him giving us a higher price to work from he snatched the necklace from my hands and put it back on display. He wouldn't even say anything in reply to our request. I guess he doesn't realize that I would have gone higher if he would have just tried to work with me.

The best part of shopping here is the people watching. Most people are dressed the exact same or variations of the "Seo In Young"/"Geek Sheek"/"flo kids" styles, but every once in a while I'll spot a real gem. Today we saw a girl with cowboy boots, wine coloured stockings, a jean combo skirt and jacket with a brown scarf, a paper boy style tan hat and a huge multi-coloured Louis Vuitton bag. We had a laugh. Too much "A"/
I was content with my 7$ purse and 90 cent earrings. It was a successful day. I love Korea.