Potato in Seoul - Zapangi Tin and Bottle Cafe (Seoul)

Seoul is known for having dozens upon dozens of unique cafes, many of them created based on a specific theme. There's dog/cat/raccoon/meerkat/sheep cafes, color-themed cafes, Hello Kitty, comic or board-game themed cafes...literally everything. As someone who likes exploring places that offer good drinks and good food, it's the perfect city for me. There's always a different cafe to go to. (The repercussions of having so many cafes in Seoul is a different story.)

With my 베프, I headed out to a rather new cafe not too far from Hongdae called Zapangi: Tin and Bottle. It's a cafe that focuses on its milk tea and small cakes that come in little tin canisters. The milk tea and cake were both delicious!

Menu:
They offer a few different flavors of cakes. Melon, cherry, peach, and blueberry were the offerings the day I went. My friend and I decided on a blueberry cake to split between the two of us and then a drink each. I'm a big milk tea fan, so I went with the Original milk tea, while my friend went with a coffee.

Special summer drinks came in floaty stands!

Potato in Seoul - Gyeongbokgung/경복궁 (Again!)

If you're friends with me on Facebook or follow me on Instagram (@lilea_ishere), you've probably seen all of these photos already, however, you're about to see them again! Yay! I decided to make a post using some of my favorite shots from this trip to the Palace.

Last month, I went to one of the palaces that I went to last summer, but this time, I was dressed in traditional regalia. I went with two friends, and we made a quick stop to a hanbok rental place that was right next to the palace where we got all dressed up before heading to the palace. Though palace entry isn't expensive to begin with, if you go to the palace dressed in traditional Korean clothing (hanbok), you get free entry! The hanbok place that we went to was small, and I didn't get any photos of the inside. The staff spoke a variety of languages, and everything was very quick and efficient.

Although hanboks traditionally come in bright colors, I opted for one that's more modern-looking made with darker colors. Those who know me, know that I'm always wearing dark colors. I haven't worn brights in...a long time.T and you get to try on two different options, but if you're still not satisfied with the first two tries, you can pay extra to try on more. I got lucky and ended up going with the first hanbok I tried on.

Potato in Seoul - Seoul Fashion Week Fall 2016

Just recently, Seoul has become one of the new fashionable places to go. There are dozens of Korean models being sent down runways in New York City, Paris, and Milan. Korea's designers definitely lean towards the unique and the styles are hard to find elsewhere in the world. Brands like 99%Is and Kim MeHee are putting Seoul onto the map. The mixture of modernizing traditional clothing and the growing hip-hop and edgy clothing scene strongly influences the Seoul runways.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have an interest in fashion. Since I was young, I've always enjoyed "making" my own clothes by fashioning blankets into skirts with a series of complicated knots or anything similar. I dreamed of learning to sew and someday hand making couture dresses that would be sent down the runway in New York City, Paris, and Milan. That dream never came true (though it's ever too late to try!), but I've still kept up a bit with the fashion world. It was always on my bucket list to attend a "fashion week" somewhere in the world. I was keen on Paris or London but thought that any of them would be fine. I managed to halfway cross that off my list by attending Seoul's Fashion Week held in March of 2016. (Yes, the fall designs are sent down the runway in March.)

When I say "attending", I don't mean I got to sit in the front row (or even general audience) of a runway show. That part of my bucket list is still up for completion. However, I did head on over to Dongdaemun Plaza, one of Seoul's famous art exhibit galleries. Seoul Fashion Week is generally held here with the runway shows taking place inside. Many of Korea's most attractive people strut around outside the Plaza either in hopes of to be spotted by a casting agent or to show off their stylish outfits and (perfectly practiced) model poses. Tourists go to spot popular Korean models and take pictures of the event and to possibly catch a glimpse of any celebrities attending the runway shows and hitting up the red carpet that leads into the building.