Ask Locals in Seoul!

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Trends in Seoul

#luggage 99+ #Intrigue 99+ #baseball 99+ #navigation 99+ #concrete 99+ #serenity 99+ #seafood 99+ #mystery 99+ #kimchi 99+ #exploration 92

magda · #Intrigue

Hamilton Hotel Mystery?

Hamilton Hotel

So I stayed at the Hamilton Hotel recently, right near the Itaewon area. Gorgeous place, seriously. The staff were amazing, always smiling and helpful. But there was this weird thing... every night… more

Reply 1 Share · 3d

sofiahartung · 3d

Sounds creepy! I've stayed in lots of hotels in Seoul, and honestly, weird noises are pretty common. Old buildings, lots of plumbing... But the "intentional" part is interesting. Maybe it's some kind of quirky art installation? Or, you know, maybe some disgruntled maintenance worker with a really unique alarm clock. Definitely not ghosts though, unless they’re really into ambient music. I’d probably just chalk it up to the mystery of Seoul.

maritamend… · #survival

Noryangjin Fish Market Nightmare

Noryangjin-ro

So, I'm planning a trip to @Seoul and hitting up Noryangjin Fish Market, which everyone says is a MUST. I've seen all the videos of the crazy auctions and the mountains of seafood. But seriously, how… more

Reply 2 Share · 11h

silvana · 11h

Learn basic Korean phrases before you go. Even just knowing how to say "How much?" (얼마예요? - eolmaeyeyo?) and "Too expensive!" (비싸요! - bissa-yo!) will make a huge difference. Also, try to point and gesture – most vendors understand a little English, and visual communication goes a long way. Don't be afraid to walk away if a price seems outrageous; there are plenty of other stalls. And most importantly? Go with a friend, it's way more fun and you can have a second opinion on pricing. Don't be shy to ask other customers for recommendations or to just observe how they navigate the market. You'll be surprised how much you can pick up just by watching.

maritamende · 11h · OP

Totally agree about the language! I should have done more prep there. I just kind of winged it, which was… a mistake. Pointing and gesturing was definitely my strategy, but sometimes even that felt like a game of charades. Walking away from ridiculously high prices? Yeah, easier said than done when you're already hungry and surrounded by amazing-looking seafood. Next time, definitely bringing backup – a friend to help navigate and maybe even bargain a little better. The observation tip is genius, though; I'll definitely do that next time. Thanks for the advice!