My friend Fifi Kao from Shanghai graciously contributed this entry from her recent trip to Seoul. She says:
"The health, beauty and shopping culture in Seoul is magical, diverse, magnetic. Here's my diary."
I had prepared long and hard for this trip after working long and hard at my job. Five days in Seoul to pamper myself, live healthy, eat healthy, visit spas and focus on beauty, inside and out.
First, in Shanghai: I went to see my friend, Bang Jie, a big Shanghai guy, married to a lovely Korean lady from Seoul, Moon Miok. They have two cute kids who speak Mandarin Chinese, Korean as well as the Anhui dialect of their maid. After collecting all the necessary travel information from Bang Jie, I flew to Seoul. My Japanese girlfriend Reiko did the same from Tokyo. Our aim: to be healthy and beautiful.
Day One, Wednesday
We met at Hotel Lotte, which is Seoul's hottest hotel for Japanese and Chinese tourists; it stands beside the towering Lotte department store. The famous Myongdong, chic shopping, eating, and tea house/nightlife district, is just on the other side of the street. It is the in-spot for the young generation -- and for designers to open stores to establish their brands. There are hundreds of tea shops and thousands of shopping places which are busy until midnight or later in the area. No restraints, it's wide open for shopping and fun.
