Seoul Food and other bad puns

We went on a trip to Korea and Taiwan with our friends Tammy & Marco for a bit over two weeks, spending about a week in each country. First stop was Seoul, Korea, where we met up with Marco's pal Peter, who was also best man at their wedding. Peter, who was born in Korea, is now living and working in Korea and was an absolutely perfect guide for us stumbly Americans.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEOUL:

• Peter points out the "symbol of the Incheon Airport" as he drives us via freeway from Incheon to Seoul. All he said was "it's coming up soon, you'll know it when you see it". And when we saw it, you could almost see the big WTFs on our faces. (it's awe-inspiring when lit up at night, so... porn-y.)
• Our first korean barbecue dinner near Hongik University, with lots of Soju and Cass beer.
• Our first (and only) night at Kim's Guesthouse, otherwise referred by us as "Kim's Stankhouse" or "Kim's House of Feet". It's a dirty dirty hostel (fuck you Lonely Planet!) stay far away!
• Thankfully found Hotel NamKyong the next day (just in time for Tammy's birthday). We actually stayed in the old wing of the building during the next 2 nights, and Marco had to call Peter to help us translate via celphone with the non-English-speaking staff.
• Checking out Gyeongbokgung Palace.
• Shopping and snacking on street food in Insadong district. Tried out beondegi for the first time (the smell haunted us for the rest of our stay in Korea).
• Discovering that channels 2 & 4 in Seoul (possibly all of Korea) is porn. 24/7 porn on regular non-cable/paid network tv. Awkward & hilariously unattractive porn.
• BBQ Chicken & fried rice dinner with Peter & his friend June, followed by drinks at Ho Bar, where we met up with Marcy (this cool chick we met on the plane) and her BF Fletcher. Then a night of noreabang-ing!
• Breakfast and morning shopping at Nandaemun market.
• Meeting Peter and his GF at Noryangjin Fish Market where we bought live seafood, had our purchases "prepared" (i.e. rinsed off and cut up) so we can eat them raw.
• River ferry cruise, followed by a tram ride up Seoul Tower. Then an awesomely good pork cutlet dinner at a nearby restaurant that is known for its pork cutlets and serves nothing else but pork cutlets. Damn, those were some good-ass pork cutlets!

Pictures can be found HERE.

Eating silkworm larva ("beondegi") in Insadong:


Drumline on the streets of Insadong:


Curing our post-noreabang hangovers at the Noryangjin Fish Market: