Oh, feet... They take me to see new places and meet new people, yet I am too embarrassed by them sometimes. It isn't an odor issue that plagues my soles. Mine suffer from more discrete problems instead: dry, cracked, and flaky heels, deep calluses, and occasional blisters.
I may not be the most diligent, if at all, with body or foot care. Lotions? Pumice stones? They are almost like foreign concepts to me. But when I compare my soles to my brother's, who also does absolutely nothing but wash his feet, the two are like night and day. My feet like sandpaper. His feet like a nice crisp sheet of paper. Okay, maybe that is too extreme. But you get the idea right?
Maybe being barefoot at home adds to the tough skin. Maybe wearing sock-less shoes contributes. Maybe I got the bad end of the feet skin genes from my parents. Who knows what the cause(s) truly are.
Some people might say they need to get their feet summer ready. Other people might say they need to heal their sandal-clad summer feet. For me, it isn't just a seasonal affair. A weekly or monthly routine is closer to reality. Which is why I completely ignored it for the longest time. As long as my feet were functional and not causing me pain, I was A-okay.
That's not to say that I haven't been interested in possible fixes for these feet problems. Curiosity really kicks in when big events come up: living in a dorm, attending graduation, attending weddings, etc. I tried pumice stones to no avail. It didn't even scratch the surface of the calluses. I tested the Baby Foot Easy Pack a few years ago in hopes of miraculous results but it only helped a small amount. But results do vary from person to person. For the price of the Baby Foot Peel back then, USD $20+, it was too pricey to try it multiple times in exchange for a mediocre outcome. I recently experimented with the Amopé Pedi Perfect Foot File with Diamond Crystals after seeing interesting results via YouTube demo videos but could have hoped for better results with this gadget as well. The electronic file worked alright for sanding the rough edges and flakes on the surface. Alas, it didn't stand a chance against the deep calluses which called my feet home. The absolute worst part was, hands down, the inevitable plume of feet skin dust that came with the filing.
Even though the original foot peeling exfoliator didn't work well for me, I didn't give up hope on all foot peeling exfoliators. I came across The Face Shop's Smile Foot Peeling Mask 스마일 풋 필링 during one of my many many trips to the road shop beauty stores in Korea. Even back in 2014, this was a pretty hot item at The Face Shop. A big motivator that got me to purchase a pack to try was definitely the price. This version was about half the price of Baby Foot's, at around ₩10,000-15,000 (I don't remember the exact price I paid for it in Korea. But in New York it sells for USD $12 at TFS stores.) Boy, am I glad I gave this peeling mask the chance because my feet have been forever changed since I first slipped my toesies and soles into those serum filled booties.
Enough with the words talk. Photos speak a thousand words. I am sorry if the above photo made anyone queasy. But it is necessary! How else can I show everyone the results? Do keep in mind that these are photos from the very first time I tested The Face Shop's Smile Foot Peeling mask. The results I had from the first time doesn't look 100% perfect but believe me when I say it surpassed any of my original expectations. I am definitely in no way sponsored by The Face Shop. Plus, I have used the same product over a handful of times. All with varying degree of results. But I think I have finally figured out the kinks to attack all the stubborn skin.
Before the chemical exfoliation process can really begin, a good deep soak in the serum is required. The packaging recommends leaving feet in the booties for 60-90 minutes. I tend to leave it in for the maximum amount of time while sometimes even edging towards the 120 minutes mark. The plastic socks make it possible to walk around but I prefer to be seated while catching up on shows or surfing the web. When the time is up, take off the pouches and rinse off the remaining serum with water. It is also advised to not forcibly peel off any skin and try to let it happen at its own pace. The Face Shop estimates 4-6 days of major peeling and two weeks for full complete callous removal.
First trial.
I did the bare minimum. Feet in bootie. Serum in bootie. Soak for 90 minutes. Rinse off excess. Wait for skin to fall off. It took 3 days for my feet skin to show a physical reaction to foot peeling mask. From day 4 onwards, a bit of the skin would detach in a small layer (like dried glue on skin) while most would come off in flakes (like dandruff). The very first time I tried TFS Smile Foot Peeling, it took about 9 full days for all the major peeling to finish. My heels were still stubborn but every nook and cranny else was smooth as a baby's bottom. I remember very vividly gushing to my Besties about how nice and soft my soles felt.
Second to (maybe) fifth trials.
I also did the bare minimum but the results from each session that I used the foot peeling mask were all different. A couple of times I felt like my feet barely shed any skin. A couple times I would get baby-soft skin. Why the differences completely baffle me. Even still, the most recent trials' results were effective so I continue to gravitate towards The Face Shop's version whenever my soles are in need of some TLC.
Sixth (most recent) trial.
About a month after the fourth trial, I stumbled upon a Snapchat story from (I think) Refinery29 dedicated to Baby Foot's peeling mask. The snaps said something about soaking feet in water for maximum effectiveness. Then everything clicked! The skin on my feet did seem to come off much easier after showers. So easily, in fact, that every step I took when my feet had been thoroughly moistened resulted in patches of skin on the floor. Nasty right? Anyways, I experimented myself and have been completely blown away by the results. Even the deepest callouses and cracks have almost completely vanished. Of all the times I have used the product and similar products, this latest attempt has shown the best results. The downside was the time and effort necessary. I soaked my feet in water for 30 minutes before soaking it in the peeling serum for 90+ minutes. The entire week following, I continued to soak my feet in water for 30 minutes every day as well. The skin didn't start to peel until day 3 or 4, as expected. But the water soaking helped speed up the process of the peeling. By day 6, most of the flaking had ended. Only 2 days of being a walking skin shedding machine? Wondrous! Day 7 onwards, the soaking helped to loosen even the super tough skin on the heels.
The image at the top is my day 9 results from the very first time I tried the product and the photo on the bottom is day 11 results from the most recent peeling. Photos cannot lie. Well, maybe heavily photoshopped ones can. But these are not, don't worry! Life is forever changed. I went from not giving a darn about my feet to very diligently using peeling masks every 1.5-2 months in 2016. Callous formation is something beyond my control but callous removal is very much within my grasps now.
For me, perfect is a word that is usually never put in the same sentence with organized. Things may seem like they were placed well at the moment. But maybe a year or so later I can completely rethink everything and find an even better place for it.
My bag collection has moved around quite a lot since I first moved into this house. Everything used to be& sprawled across a shelf inside the closet. Then I got a couple new bags and the shelf became an eyesore to look at and dig through whenever I was pressed for time to leave.
I upgraded to an accessory hook as I bought more clothes and needed the shelf space. The Container Store is a treasure trove for organization enthusiasts. Although the Classico Accessory Hook was described to be for scarves, belts, or ties, it was a great solution to help consolidate the space my handbags and book bags were taking in my closet. Plus for $2.99 it was a quick and inexpensive solution, at the time.
Little did I know, I was solving a space problem but creating a practicality problem. Getting to other bags was a pain in the butt. If a bag was hung a long time ago, it required me to take out every bag that was hung after that to get to it. The exception was for cross-body bags; those have long straps and I could easily loop through the bundle in one fell swoop.
A good long stare at my closet as a whole gave me an idea to the storage problem: doors. All that free space that was going unused! If only I could somehow hang all the bags up without damaging the doors in any way. I toyed with the idea of getting Command hooks. But decided against it in case they weren't strong enough and they definitely weren't the most affordable option.
Luckily, The Container Store was having a sale at the time and I was able to find 2 different over-the-door organization contraptions that fit what I was looking for. Both made use of a space that previously was unused and made it ridiculously easy to see and grab the bag I needed. The Chain Purse Organizer was perfect for my handbags, while the Door Hook was perfect for my book bags.
Set up for both organizers were quick and simple. All that was needed were my hands, a stool/ladder, and the contraption itself. The only thing I wish I had double-checked on was the width of my closet doors. I lucked out with the Door Hook organizer because it came with 2 sets of different sized hooking mechanisms. However, I had to push my luck a little, literally, with the Chain Purse Organizer as the included hooks were just a tad small for my doors' thickness. Nothing a bit of force and slightly indented door edges couldn't fix.
So far I have ben really loving the current setup. It is perfect, for now.
A part of me can't believe that it's been over 2 years since the last haul post on this blog. But looking back on it, I know why and how it happened. The main culprit was that I never shared the massive beauty haul from Korea. Inevitably, a month went by. Then two months. Then two years. It was very easy to fall off track once something wasn't a part of my routine anymore. Waiting to use products, taking photos, and sharing them were habits that became no more.
As I began to clear out the super old products in my collection that I had been hoarding, I realized how useful those past haul posts could be. Some items that I thought were not too old were actually quite the opposite. Having some sort of record helped me hoard less and made it much easier to toss out unloved products.
Thus I have decided to revive the haul posts again! I would be completely lying if I said I don't spend an extraordinary amount of money on beauty products compared to most people. But compared to me from 2+ years ago, I can say I have been scaling things down.
This August 2016 edition features some skincare essentials in my beauty routine. Eye makeup remover, sunscreens, and foot peeling masks. While the Sephora Collection Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover and The Face Shop Smile Foot Peeling Mask are both repurchases, the two bottles of sunscreens are new buys.
I am not very loyal to any particular skincare or makeup product. It doesn't help that there is always new releases and innovations in the beauty world. When my sunscreen was running low, the hunt for a replacement was on. My specifications? Physical sun protection. Doesn't leave a white mask.
Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day UV Sunscreen SPF 50 and Look At Me Jelly Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ seem to fit the bill ingredients wise. But the true test is definitely whether it comes with a white cast or not. But hopefully not.
A Mandy haul isn't complete without at least one impulse purchase, now is it? Bestie C was purchasing the Kojie san Skin Lightening Soap and said it was similar to the papaya soaps that were really popular a few years back on the Soompi selling forums. I remembered having decent results with that soap for exfoliation and my summer tan lines back then so I was intrigued by this soap. I don't have any expectations since it isn't a brand or product that I have heard of before. Let's see how it goes!
Today marks the 2 year anniversary of sorts of the day I returned home from my study abroad in Seoul, Korea. It was never my intention to drag out the Korea Diary logs for such a long period of time but that's how it ended up. Time sure does go by quickly. As I finally finished reminiscing those days and essentially said goodbye to that time of my life, it is only appropriate for me to say thank you to everyone who followed along the way.
My travel logs may not have been the most interesting. It certainly didn't receive as many views as my past beauty posts. Yet this was a period that I equally wanted to reflect upon for my own records.
For those that found the journey worthy of a little bit of your time to read, thanks!
I've gathered some goodies from various Korean beauty shops as a little token of my gratitude for the support. Some items are personal favorites of mine and others are just random bits and bobs that looked nice. Hope whoever ends up winning will enjoy everything I've amassed!
This is an international giveaway and will end on September 10, 2016 11:59PM USA Eastern Standard Time. As it is meant as a thank you for those that followed me all this way, the only requirement is that you are a follower via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin'. It will be a bonus if you also follow me via e-mail and social medias (Instagram and Twitter). I will be going through to verify all entries and a winner will be selected randomly within a week of the giveaway ending. The winner will have 3 days after I announce and notify. If not, a new winner will be selected instead. In case the Rafflecopter form does not load on this post, please CLICK HERE.
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Highs are typically followed by lows. Good things usually come to an inevitable end. Despite having the photos for this final post in draft for a month (if not more), I couldn't find the words to say goodbye to that chapter of my life (even though I am 2 years late at it already). To say I am not good with goodbyes is a terrible understatement. Whether it was 2 years ago in the lobby of SK Global House with newfound friends or currently at home with this blog post, my emotions run high.
There was not a moment to waste after my friends and I got back to the dorms after our Korean spa visit. We had to have our bags packed and rooms cleaned by morning so that we could have the required check-out inspection done in time.
I was surprised that I was able to fit all my beauty purchases into the biggest 29" suitcase that I had brought. Shoes, schoolbooks, and miscellaneous items fit a carry-on 21" sized suitcase perfectly. While all the clothes I had filled a medium sized Nike duffel to the brim. Getting all my belongings to fit was one problem solved. The next hurdles were to figure out whether or not any were overweight and how I would navigate around with 3 bags as opposed to the original 2.
In the midst of tidying, everyone ignored all rules (i.e. no boys after night) and gathered in the lounge. Routine hall inspections by security meant hiding out in dorm rooms for a bit. But what was the risk, we would get kicked out...on the last day?
Anyways, there was a good reason to the behavior. Remember the birthday event that we had planed? Sometime between 3AM and 7AM all of us gathered in one dorm suite to surprise our friend with a cake.
It was a much welcomed tidying break. Before the event, I think it was safe to say that a lot of us were pretty burnt out from just trying to make some sense of our luggage situation. Afterwards, I felt like I had newfound energy to finish clearing my room. Bestie C and I took our linens downstairs to the laundry room around mid-morning. The pile mountain of bed sheets, blankets, and pillows was unreal! But of course we should have gotten a hint judging by the flood of garbage and unwanted clothing in the lounge.
Returning the linens meant we were ready for inspection. For us it was a quick and painless process; in, out, and OKed. Then it was goodbye to our dorm room forever.
The SK Global House lobby was hectic as everyone cleared their own rooms and met their friends to say goodbye. Even though I spent my entire night with all our friends perfectly fine and cheery, I was a hot mess the moment my brain finally took in the fact that we were all separating. I have always been the more emotional one so it wasn't a complete surprise that I ended up bawling. Social media and the internet may keep us connected but it wouldn't be the same as seeing everyone day in and day out.
Bestie C and I were the only ones in our group to immediately fly back home that night. The others were staying behind for an extra week or two to do some more exploring. Some were meeting up with family members who were flying in. Somehow it just worked out that most of our friends ended up staying in Korea and even the same guesthouse together for the rest of their summer. (I had tried to extend my stay as well but flights back to NYC were apparently packed until September!)
Bestie C and I chose to leave on a night flight in order to make the most of our stay in Korea. When time came to it, we didn't end up doing much the last few hours anyways. I was an emotional mess, the weather was rainy, and we were both pretty tired. Things just didn't work out the way we imagined.
We helped the big group of friends load up their luggages and sent them off with hugs and byes. A few hours of recouping later, Bestie C and I grabbed a taxi and headed towards Incheon Airport ourselves. The potential headache of fitting our luggages into the sedan taxis thankfully never came. This particular taxi driver was super patient and nice. He somehow found a way to fit 5 suitcases, 1 duffel, 2 personal bags, and 2 passengers into the vehicle with him. Just like that we were on our way home.
The last anticipated hurdle I had to face was the weight of my suitcases. Despite the 29" suitcase still having free space, it was way over the maximum weight with all the Korean beauty goods that I amassed over the past 50 days. There was no reshuffling things between bags or tossing things out. At that point there was nothing I could do but pay the overage fee. On the positive note, at least I had the option to pay a fee instead of being told it was completely too heavy to fly.
Who knew we would be faced with more issues once after that?
Due to some miscommunications, I ended up passing through security before Bestie C thinking that she was already inside. I actually somehow got permission from the security personnel to let me backtrack to the check-in area when I couldn't find her. They even gave me special permission to return via the faster "TSA Pre-check" equivalent lane once I located Bestie C.
We were both at the airport well before our scheduled departure time yet mother nature had other plans. The rain storm was heavy and relentless that day. It was inevitable that our flight ended up being delayed a bit. Luckily it wasn't by much and I think we even arrived back home around the expected time.
The homebound flight was a little easier than the Korea-bound one. No more worrying about being in a new place and being on such a long flight for the first time. I really wasn't homesick while studying abroad but I was definitely thinking about the comforts of home awaiting me after the flight.
Who knows when I would get to fly internationally or even get to go to Korea again, but whenever that would be, the experience would definitely not be the same as what those past 50 days were.
Oh before I knew it, the last full day in Korea with my new friends awaited me. Some of us may have gotten back during the wee hours of the morning but it would have been a waste to sleep in and waste our limited & precious time left together.
My last To-Do item was ticked off with the pickup of the prescription glasses and sunglasses. For Bestie C and a few of our friends, their next goal was to get a fresh new haircut in Edae. They decided on a Juno Hair Salon and off we went. Juno was a pretty popular chain in Seoul with many locations throughout the city. The prices were pretty very affordable at around ₩20,000 for a wash, cut, and style. I believed my friends also received a discount for showing their Yonsei IDs as well. The service at the salon was impeccable. Customers received complimentary drinks during their visit and I believe they were able to voice their hairstyle wishes with the help of a digital photo album that the stylists had handy.
Since I was trying to grow my hair out in order to donate it to charity, I decided to skip out on the haircutting experience. Another friend and I leisurely strolled along Edae and window shopped as we waited for everyone else to be pampered at the salon.
Those who got haircuts finished just in time for lunch. We grabbed quick bites at Albab House in Edae. This place never disappoints: fast service, delicious food, and inexpensive price.
Now my memory starts to get really fuzzy about what happened after eating lunch. Bestie C mentioned going back to the dorms to grab things for the jjimjilbang or Korean spa, yet I don't have much memory of needing to bring much for our spa visit. What I do remember is our group splitting in order to divert attention so that a surprise birthday cake could be purchased.
Anyways...! Once the surprise event had been settled, our group met up again to head to Myeongdong. A few friends had wanted to visit a Haunted House type of place there so why not make one last visit to the shopping haven. I wanted no part in the scary trip and luckily Bestie C was on the same page as me.
We ended up eating at a nearby budaejjigae 부대찌개 or army base stew @ Choissi Ahjussi Budaejjigae 최씨 아저씨 부대찌개. My favorite part was the ddeokgalbi 떡갈비 or minced short rib patty that came with the stew. Not that the budaejjigae was bad or anything but since we ordered a non-spicy version to accommodate for the non-spicy eaters at the group, our stew just didn't have the same flavor.
Our last visit to Myeongdong wouldn't have been complete without a street food sweep. This time, we had the most mouths together which meant we could sample even more foods.
There's no better time to visit the sauna and spa than after a full belly. We wound up at Dragon Hill Spa 드래곤힐스파 in Yongsan. Boy was it an interesting experience that I didn't even fully immerse myself into. (I'll explain more on what I mean later.)
We were greeted by the clerk who collected the admission fee of ₩13,000. In return, we were given a key along with a change of clothes. Once we crossed the turnstile there were rows and rows of small lockers for our shoes to be put into. The number on the keychain corresponds to the lockers number. But yes, be prepared to wander around the place barefoot.
The next stop was to the elevators which led to the locker rooms, changing area, bathing area, etc. This was when it began to get slightly uncomfortable for me. As the elevators were gender segregated and led to gender-specific floors, we were greeted by much nakedness the moment we stepped off the metal box. All the ladies walked around without a care in the world and only wanting to get cleaned and relaxed.
Lockers and changing rooms were on one side of the floor and the other had the snack bar, resting area, heat/sauna chamber, and bathing pool area. I stayed in the resting area most of the time we were there because I was pretty exhausted. Plus, I needed a little shuteye to help with my mission to pull an all-nighter packing, cleaning, and trying to adjust to jetlag before the flight. We did enter the heat chamber once or twice for a few minutes while we were there and it was HOT. I don't know how the older Korean ladies did it but I was sweating the moment I stepped into the contraption. Some point during the night we snacked on eggs and sikhye 식혜 (sweet rice drink) from the snack area. The cool thing about the keys was it doubled as a credit system. If we wanted to buy food or pay for anything while at the spa we could just tap it to keep a record. The bill was settled right before we left.
Before we even arrived I was already adamant I wouldn't take part in the cleaning part of the jjimjilbang experience. My body was and still is not something I am 100% comfortable with, even if everyone else there doesn't give a damn there. While I don't regret missing out on this part of the spa, I won't rule out the idea of trying it later.
We ended up leaving Dragonhill around 2AM. Apparently there was a co-ed arcade area in the spa but we realized it too late. The guys ended up having their bro-time and us girls had our gal-time. It was definitely much needed relaxing nap time to ready ourselves for the checkout process at SK Global the following morning.
I was really excited for the day's plans. It was something I had wanted to do the moment I landed and got situated in Seoul. I read somewhere on the interwebs about the inexpensive glasses available from Namdaemun and my goal was set, prescription sunglasses shall be mine at last!
A late night meant most of us ended up waking up around noon. After grabbing a quick meal in Edae, our group took the subway to Namdaemun Market to scout for some new specs.
Since Bestie C wasn't too interested in glasses shopping with me, I was really excited to hear that our Californian friends were. I was most afraid of my haggling skills and welcomed the extra support of going with a group of people. It was definitely reassuring to know that those friends had superior price negotiating tactics than me.
I probably mentioned it in one of my first Korea Diary posts, but Namdaemun Market had way too many eyeglass shops to choose from. What originally began as going into one to just price gauge became staying at one to price haggle. Our first and only visit ended up at Good Morning Eyeglass 굿모닝 안경원. It was one of the bigger places that could accommodate our large group.
One side of their store housed mainly the designer brands like the Ray Bans, Chanel, etc. The other side had the Korean brands, which were, of course, the more affordable options. Regular clear glasses from the domestic Korean brands could cost around ₩20,000. The price went up with additional things such as the thickness of the lens. Sunglasses frames were also priced a little higher as well.
If my eyesight wasn't as terrible and I was a stronger haggler, perhaps I could have gotten a pair of new specs for less than ₩20,000. Alas, that's not me. I was prepared to pay more for the thinnest lenses possible. These things practically live on my face so that I am able to navigate the world. I needed them to feel as if they weren't there. To no surprise, the prices the salesman gave was much higher for my requests. It wasn't as expensive as what it would cost back in NYC but a big difference from a no-frills version in Seoul.
(For comparison, I had my eyes checked before going to Korea and was quoted for a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses with thinner lenses and I believe anti-scratch. A sales person at a popular eyeglass chain in NYC told me it would cost $600+ for the sunglasses. The typical cost of my previous glasses with thinner lenses and anti-scratch was around $400-500.)
It took me a very long time to finally decide the frames that I wanted to buy. There were just so many choices to choose from. While I went in knowing 100% that I was going to walk out with a pair of sunglasses, I also tacked on a pair of normal glasses as well. Being in an Asian eyeglass shop meant most of the frames had nose support that suited small Asian nose bridges. This was an opportunity too good to pass up on. Plus, I thought it would help with the price haggling. Saying 2 for $xxx is easier than going 1 for $xxx.
If my memory is correct, I think the salesman originally told me that the prices of both frames together would be around ₩500,000. If I was back at home, this would have been a great deal. But I was hoping to get a steal.
I made the "ehh I don't know" and "it still seems pretty pricey" faces while staring at my choices.
Mr. Sales saw and shot back with a lower price saying that it was because I was buying two & he was giving a special discount.
Again, I gave him my unsure face. Until some time later he asked me how much I was thinking.
Bingo! Without looking too excited, I gestured 2 fingers, pointed at my picks, and then replied with ₩200,000.
Of course, Mr. Sales didn't give in that easily. After a bit of insistence and more back and forth, he finally gave in. YES!
In just an hour's time, the new spectacles would be mine. I say I definitely won the lottery at ₩100,000 a piece. I couldn't even have bought 1/6 pair of a sunglass in NYC at that price.
I went in knowing my eyesight so that I could avoid any potential language dilemmas surrounding an examination. But for those who aren't sure of their prescription, I believe shops do basic exams free of charge.
Everyone had souvenir gifts they needed to purchase and there were so many snacks to try. An hour at the Namdaemun Market went by really quickly. Same day glasses service is the best. Everything from start to finish only took less than 4 hours of the day. If you're not as indecisive as me it could even take only take 2 hours before new glasses reach your hands.
By the time we settled our glasses To-Do, dinner time was greeting us. Our big group found our way to nearby Myeongdong for dinner at School Food Blooming Mari. I don't have much memory of this place except for their colorful cidar/Sprite fruit drinks.
The only bar my friends and I went to in Korea was Bar Pro and that was for their unlimited drinks for an inexpensive price. It definitely wasn't the strongest cocktails but none of us went to Bar Pro for the drink quality.
After introducing our Korean friend (the one who studied full time in America) to Bar Pro, he told us he could show us a better place, alcohol-wise. That's how we ended up in Hongdae's 1st Island that night. 1st Island was definitely interesting. The first thing we were greeted with as we walked inside was a little inflatable pool with a turtle and then a small alligator inside a tank. I think the fee was around ₩25,000 for unlimited drinks, which is considerably higher than at Bar Pro but the cocktails were much much stronger and of bigger quantities.
A few friends left early because they didn't feel well. Being a little curious as to what bar culture was like, I decided to stick around. The more experienced friends in the group led the drinking games and that's how we entertained ourselves for the next couple of hours as we slowly drank/sipped on the vodka cocktails.
The last thing I wanted was to be utterly hammered. I had no idea what my limit was but I kept myself in check with how much I sipped since we had no pressure from each other to chug anything. While I left 1st Island conscious and aware, the same cannot be said about a couple of my friends. None were had the point of throwing up but their imaginations sure ran wild. It was probably in the AMs, we were all walking along to get towards a busier area and someone had mistaken a dog to be paper or vice versa. That sure was a good laugh!
I am not sure what the hangover eats are in Korea but a seollongtang 설렁탕 (ox-bone soup) shop was open at the insane hour we were still out. We needed a place to sit and clear our heads anyways.
By the time we were all okay enough to head back, the only options we had were either a taxi or on foot. Most of us were more than glad to hail a cab the short distance from Hongdae to SK Global. A few wanted to journey back via a stroll, so we ended up splitting up and saying goodbye for the night. It was already past 3AM by the time I arrived in my dorm room and Bestie C had probably been asleep for a few hours already. The hard mattress in my dorm room never looked so comfy.
