Book: Increasing body temperature by 1 degree

The importance of good health is a big part of Korean culture.

You will easily be scolded by peers/friends/boss/elders if you aren't dressed warm enough for the weather.  But the most common being food being labeled as "good for ______ ".  Let's name a few...

"eels are good for stamina"  - with a "wink" or smirk from a colleague/friend or even the restaurant staff. 

"sweet potatoes are good for a good bowel movement" - This one being pretty common among women especially.  Korean women are not shy about talking about their bowel movement.  "I've been constipated lately~" is an easy subject to bring up among friends.  Even Korean "yogurt" ads on TV will blatantly tell you it's good for a "pleasant bowel movement" known as 쾌변 :)  Heck, even some yogurts will have those two words on the bottle!

Personally, I'm not fazed by any of their "food for _____".  I used to doubt it all, but after being here for sometime, I've come to realize that, "food is medicine". You will easily see shows on TV educating about a certain type of food and its benefits.  I love all the "heath shows" in Korea.  It has definitely made me aware that food makes us.  Being aware of what you take in only does good~

 

BOOK REVIEW:  This book talks about the benefits of a maintaining/increasing body temperature for good health.  A cold, "lower temperature" body does not fight off self properly and gets ill easily.  A proper temperature allows the body to fight off diseases and stay strong.   When thinking back home in the states, temperatures at home/buildings are freezing cold.  Bad enough that one has to bring a sweater on a summer day inside an office.  Is this healthy?  Try it, keep yourself warm and get being used to the "heat" our body produces.  I actually used to hate "feeling hot".  Now, I can't take "feeling cold".   I haven't gotten a cold in 2+ years. 

No cars on the street - Gwanghwamoon

What are the odds of 8+ lanes being closed in one of the busiest roads in Seoul.  This is right down the street across from the KyungBook Palace.  People got to walk all over the street.  No cars, closed street,  It was like a scene in a movie... more about this later!

Dunkin Donuts - Coex Mall

If you haven't read about my rant on Coex mall, maybe it's a good thing, but be warned.  That mall as a whole gets a big FAIL on its report card.

Coex mall - old school mall

What happened... A recent visit to Coex mall was a big disappointment.

It looked and felt like a rundown mall back at home in the states where you could smell carpet mold and mildew in the air.  I'm sorry that I'm brutally honest, but the mall is horrible.

It needs major upgrading.  I hope visitors to Korea do not think this is what Korean malls are like because it is the opposite of a typical Korean mall.  Korean malls are usually of a whole building, sometimes 10 floors or more.  Lotte, Shinsegae and Hyundai malls are the typical Korean malls.  This one is not a typical Korean mall at all.

Sadly, this mall hasn't changed much in 5 years that I've been here.  It's just bunch of stores put together in a confusing one floor maze for you to get lost and frustrated.  I still get frustrated of the mall after all these years.  You have to walk a mile to get to the store you want.  There's no escalators or an easier path you could take to get to your destination.  The only reason we do frequent the mall is because of a hair salon we've been going since we've been in Korea.

I will most likely never be coming back to this mall after this experience.  The reason I got to spend so much time at the mall was of the convention that was held one floor above the mall.  I will never eat/drink/cafe/hangout at this mall ever again.  The food we had at one of the donkatsu restaurant for lunch (I think called "domodachi") was the oiliest & nastiest donkatsu I've had in a long time.  There is a reason I'm picky with Japanese food because when it's bad, it's really bad! 

Anyways, visitors and fellow residents of Seoul, avoid this mall at all costs if you care about the quality of food, cleanliness, and atmosphere.  Sure there are a few interesting shops, but you could might as well hit MyungDong for that.  It's not worth, it's not.

(colors reeked of "old school" and "disco".. hated the floors!)

Fall weather is perfect in Seoul

Around Gwanghwamoon station on a beautiful fall day!

Right down this road (on the photo) is the KyungBook Palace (not pictured).  The mountains are visibly vibrant casting a spell on the city~~

I need to be out more before autumn says ahnyeong~~ Fall is way too short in Korea, but at least it's perfect!