The Challenge

After finally getting settled in my new room, and meeting my new roommates (two awesome girls from the U.S, and then later another really nice girl from Busan), we decided to go exploring in Seoul and search for some food.

Seoul is AMAZING!! Pretty huge, and still a bit intimidating, but there is just so much to see, from amazing architecture, to a world of technology. Also some familiar names (Body Shop, Lush and Accessorize) and some familiar music (OBVIOUSLY, Katy Perry). We eventually found a nice looking place called (insert unfamiliar Korean writing). Was nice and warm inside so we sat down for a meal.

Got to choose from a menu with Korean writing only and some strange looking pictures. Not wanting to accidentally order dog, we found  a waiter with some basic English and asked him which dishes were chicken and enough for three. He pointed at a few, but favoured one. When asking about the spice factor, he laughed and said "It's a challenge". When trying for other food, he kept going back to the "challenge" saying it's very good. So we braved it and ordered the challenge.

Before it arrived we got some Kimchi (a spicy fermented cabbage thing, not bad actually) and some cold "soup" thing that took a while to get the courage to taste as, well, I thought it might be used to wash your hands. Still not sure what flavour it was, but not bad really. As for the "challenge"...

Those of you who remember the chili popper fiasco when I decided real chilli's were a better option...well, that was mild. My nose was streaming, my chest started reacting, at one stage I entered a near euphoric state. But, in between the burn, it was really tasty! Chicken, noodles (that were definitely boiled in chilli oil and then doused in chilli sauce) and rice dumplings (kinda like chewy gnocchi). All really good. Although burn factor was insane. Oh, and eating utensils only flat metal chopsticks and a spoon. I will have to learn :P

On the way home we got slightly lost and ended up at the Gangnam station which is near to our hotel (turns out we merely needed to be on the other side of the road to avoid confusion). Anyhoo, at the station there is a GIANT tribute to Gangnam Style, complete with flashing lights and yellow light up feet on the ground to assist you when doing the dance!!! Too brilliant.

So another night in Korea done. On to training tomorrow!! That's when things get serious!

KIMCHI!! Actually not bad :) Kind of like a curried Sour Krout, but less pickled, more curry flavour.

Tribute to Psy's Gangnam Style at the Gangnam Subway station near the hotel! (See the light up yellow feet to help learn the dance?)

"The Challenge"- Looks harmless... suuuuuper spicy, but really yummy!!:)

McDonalds... Taste of Australia???