SEOUL'S NEIGHBORHOODS AND AREAS OF INTEREST

Apkujong Material girls in Apkujong There are Loads of Chic Eateries in Apkujong Apkujong has truly earned its reputation as the Beverly Hills of Seoul. In Apkujong, appearances count. Those who can, invest a lot of time and money looking good. Aesthetic clinics are ubiquitous. These clinics perform all kinds of procedures from regular facials, to waxing, to liposuction, to other cosmetic surgery operations. In Korea, nose jobs and the double eyelid procedure are among the most popular. These procedures tend to westernize Asian features thus creating a beauty that can be universally appealing. The surgeons and dermatologists in this area are among the best in the world in terms of price, experience and advanced techniques. Brand name goods and fancy cars are shamelessly sought after as symbols of wealth and status. Discretion is not required nor admired. Prada, Louis Vuitton and Gucci all have big shops here. The overpriced Galleria department store is a great place to shop if you are a name brand junkie with a bottomless bank account. Of course all these beautiful people sporting the latest fashions demand places to see and be seen; therefore Apkujong is glutted with chic cafes and swanky restaurants. The dining scene is concentrated in an area called Cheongdam Dong. Fabulous events at ultra hip venues regularly host Seoul`s A list crowd. If you are a modelizer, an aspiring actor, or a trust fund baby looking to drop a wad of cash for a taste of the high life, then Apkujong is right up your alley. Take a photo tour of Seoul's areas of interest!

Iteawon Namsan Tower at Twilight Antiques for sale in Itaewon Itaewon is by far the most international area in Seoul. The neighborhood around the hills near the Hyatt is popular with ambassadors, diplomats, foreign businessmen and their families. Just adjacent to Itaewon are the neighborhoods of Hannam dong and Dobinggo Dong, which are also packed with expatriates. Because of the language barrier, foreigners cluster to this area because it`s convenient and a lot of people speak English. Itaewon is home to many popular restaurants. One can also find supermarkets selling imported goods. Shopping is one of the best things to do on the main drag. Some good things to buy are Korean antiques and replicas, custom made leather goods, designer overrun clothes, sports gear and hats. You can also find A grade imitation handbags. Sometimes you have to follow one of the people on the street to an unmarked shop to find the best copies. Some of these unmarked shops also sell copy shoes and watches. Naughty nightlife is another facet of Itaewon. Girly bars pepper the entire street. There is a street infamously called Hooker Hill which is particularly seedy. Try to avoid catching a taxi on a weekend night at 1AM at the foot of this hill. Not only will it be a fight to get a taxi driver to stop, but the decadent atmosphere looks just like a scene from Sodom and Gomorrah. Aggressively drunk American soldiers cram into taxis bound for Hongdae. Groups of Indians and Nigerians amble up the street to get an eyeful of exotic Russian dancers. Korean girls with painted on faces and painted on outfits fraternize openly with Western men. No wonder Korean parents have the image that Itaewon is the foreigner`s Den of Iniquity! Take a photo tour of Seoul's areas of interest!

Hongdae A Funky clothing shop for the Art Students of Hongdae DJ's Spin Nightly in Hongdae Hongdae is the hip area surrounding Hongik University. Hongik a school is renowned for its art department. Not surprisingly, Hondae is populated by edgy young students who are expressing their individuality and experimenting with alternative lifestyles. Hongdae has a lively café culture and an even more active nightlife. You can find everything from pubs, to rave clubs, to salsa halls. Popular DJ`s spin techno, jungle, funk, hip hop and drum and bass at many of the happening venues. If you are an English teacher, you`ll find a lot of your colleagues here. You`ll also see a lot of American military later on in the night as the curfew for Itaewon partying expires at 12:30AM. Take a photo tour of Seoul's areas of interest!

Insadong Art at Insadong Reams of Hanji Paper Insadong contains most of Korea`s artistic cultural heritage all within a few quaint cobble stoned streets. Despite the fact that the area seems built specifically for tourists, there is something charming and authentic about the place. For example, you`ll see older Korean man with a beatnik beret, black turtleneck, and a goatee discussing something with a woman with bowl-cut hair wearing lots of big necklaces. They look like actors who were paid to pose as artist prototypes to entertain tourists and add atmosphere. But as it turns out, the man is a real artist and the woman is a curator of one of the many art galleries in the area. You can delight in the multitude of artisan shops selling everything from ceramics, to hanbok (traditional Korean outfits), to hanji (Korean paper which is used for a variety of crafts). If you get tired, there are several traditional teahouses where you can rest your weary feet. Or you can pop into one of the many modern cafes and watch the world go by. Take a photo tour of Seoul's areas of interest!

Samcheong Dong There are lots of restos which are renovated old Korean Houses A big artist community is cropping up here This area has only recently turned in a `neighborhood`. Historically, this place has really good Feng Shui due to the surrounding mountains. Because it is near the Blue House and Kyongbuk Palace, this area wasn`t allowed to be developed for a long time. Now the govt. has has a change of heart and decided this area could be a big draw for visitors. Cafes, Galleries, Wine bars, Restaurants and shops are popping up like mushrooms. The next Insadong? Perhaps. People I speak to prefer this area to Insadong becuase it feels closer to nature and not as contrived. In the future this could well be a new tourist zone. You will discover a very artsy and peaceful neighborhood if you explore this area. Make sure to walk around the quaint back streets.     Take a photo tour of Seoul's areas of interest!