Pet Cafe - Gangnam - Seoul

Something different you can do in Seoul is try out a pet cafe. From my research there are some good and bad pet cafe's in Seoul, but Ellie House near Yeoksam Station is one of the better ones on the south side of the river. If you are on the north side of the river Bau House near Hapjeong station is supposed to be good also. 

Unlike a typical Korean cafe, it isn't jam packed full of seats and tables. There is a large open area in the middle for dogs to be dogs. It wasn't too busy when we arrived, but there were a couple of other people there relaxing with their dogs. 

We quickly made some new friends. 

These two were super jealous of each other. 

Initially these two were uninterested in our arrival.

But soon warmed up to us and said hello. 

Is it just me, or does this dog have abnormally long legs?

The menu at the cafe isn't huge but, as you would expect at a pet cafe, you can buy dog food. Prices are a little rich, but Gangnam is quite an upmarket area and they have forfeited a lot of their floor space to their 4 legged customers. 

They have a range of beverages including electrolyte replacement especially for dogs (the blue bottles on the bottom shelf). Just want a can of coke? That will be $7 thank you.

They also stock a huge variety of dog accessories. 

Collars

outfits of all shapes and sizes. 

and even aviation goggles. 

They also will give your mutt a makeover. 

Then take a photo

Which they then hang in the window. 

Overall, Ellie House pet cafe was a nice place to visit. It was interesting and certainly different to anything in Australia, but it is not a place I would make a habit of going to. I'm not a cafe person at the best of times, but the expensive beverages killed it for me. 

Virtual Store - Seolleung Station - Seoul

We had some time to kill in Seoul on Saturday in Gangman. Jihyeon was too embarrassed to dance Gangnam Style with me so we checked off the next time killing activity on my list of things to do. I had heard of a virtual store at Seolleung subway station so we got off the train and wandered around the station looking for, what I thought would be, a high tech store. We soon found it, but it wasn't what I was expecting. 

As you can see below, the virtual store is essentially an advertisement with QR codes you scan with your phone. I don't see how this is more convenient than normal online shopping, but it does make for an interesting way to advertise your products. The virtual store was wrapped around a couple of pillars in the underground walkway. I got a few weird looks from passerby's while I was posing for a photo, but no-one seemed to pay any attention to the technological marvel I was standing next to. 

To buy something:
   1) Download the smartphone app
   2) Find the item you want to buy. If you are lucky it will be available at the store. 
   3) Scan the QR code with the app
   4) Pay with your credit card
   5) Enter your shipping address
It's that easy!

They offer same day FREE delivery (if ordered before 1pm) and you can exchange the goods if you are unhappy. I wanted to order something just for the hell of it, but it was just too much of a pain in the ass. 

The two pillars the store was wrapped around.

and some of the things you can buy. 

Wedding Photo Shoot - Gangnam Seoul Korea

A couple of weekends ago Jihyeon and traveled to Seoul for our wedding photo shoot. In Korea it is normal for couples to go to a photography studio to get a bunch of professional photos taken a couple of months before actually getting married. These photos are then used to send out e-invitations to friends and family (in addition to physical wedding invitation cards). 

Jihyeon had her heart set on a photo studio in Gangnam (Seoul) that she had researched and came recommended. The photo shoot would take all day, so we traveled to Seoul on Friday night (the night before the shoot) so Jihyeon could go to a make-up studio about 6am the next morning. Since Jihyeon works nights, we didn't arrive at the hotel until just after 12am. 

The hotel was nice and clean. 

But this was a little disturbing. In case of fire....

tie rope to bolt, throw rope out window, and scale down the side of the building.

This was nifty. The box in the middle is an intercom service for taxi's. You can request a taxi, and when it arrives it will alert you. No more waiting in crowded foyers with no seats. 

The next morning we got up early (but not so bright) and went to the make-up and hair studio. It was in a house (yes, a house! not an apartment or office building) in Gangnam. I later found out the place was worth about 10million dollars. It was a busy hive of activity inside. Make-up artists, hair dresses, their assistants and customers filled every room of the home. Outside there was a nice deck where you could sit and get away from the craziness. Since I am a man and require less work to look good, I got to spend a couple of hours outside relaxing in the peace and quiet. 

Meanwhile, Jihyeon was undergoing a major overhall. 

Then, it was my turn for a minor tune up. 

I don't know what this is, but it looks like some kind of alien mind probe brainwashing device. No doubt it is used by the wedding industry with nefarious intent and is what they secretly use to control bridezillas. 

We then had 10 minutes to relax outside before....

getting dressed and....

going to the photo studio.  

Waiting... 

and we are off and racing. Philby takes the lead.

I don't mean to be captain obvious, but here is the first of the professional photos from the studio. I like it, but I feel it has been over exposed too much. Half the picture is blinding white light. 

Jihyeon's parents then arrived and brought some vitamin drinks and sandwiches for me to snack on. Thanks~~~

Family photo time.

No photos allowed.

Don't push me~~~.

It was then time for the assistant to do important assistant things.

lol. These ladders were so old and rickety. An accident waiting to happen.

Lunch time. Maccas, apple, kimbap and grapes. 

 

Then... more photos.

STOP PUSHING ME!!!

Look at the camera dunkoff.

Having only gotten about 4 hours sleep the night before, I was starting to run out of steam. 

Finally, some comfortable clothes. My hanbok, unsurprisingly, feels a lot like my Taekwondo uniform. I felt like Goku from dragonball Z. Time for an epic power up sequence. Stand back!

Oh.... why am I getting married to you. Meanwhile, Philby prepares his Kamehameha attack.

Goku is so cool^^.

Mwahahaha.

The jeans and shirts were a gift from Jihyeon's sister. 

 Then, it was time to go home. Jihyeon's parents drove me the 3 hours back to Daejeon. The sunset lit up the sky like it was on fire. I wish we could have stopped on the side of the road so I could have taken a steady picture, but it wasn't safe.