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eva · #Tranquility

Finding Peace at Dunsan Mountain?

둔지산

I'm heading to @Seoul next month and plan to hike Dunsan Mountain (둔지산). I've seen photos – it looks stunning, but the descriptions are all pretty generic. My question is: what's the vibe like at… more

Reply 1 Share · 5h

florentine · 5h

Depends on the day, really. Weekends, especially nice weather weekends, are gonna be busy. Think lots of families, groups of friends – the usual. Weekdays are much quieter though. I've been up there on a Tuesday morning, and it was almost deserted. Perfect for meditation, honestly. You still get the city sounds faintly in the distance, but it's definitely a good escape from the main hustle. The top itself isn't massive, so if it is crowded, you might need to wander a bit to find your own space. But yeah, generally peaceful if you go on a less popular day.

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 · 2h

silvana · 2h

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 · 2h · 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!