Waygookin Wonderland

This week, my friend Jill and I found the happiest place on earth in Gyeonggi province ~ Songtan (송탄). I've heard about it quite a few times before and knew it was nearby (only a 35-40minute drive from our home in Suwon), but for whatever reason never bothered to check it out until now.

Just outside the Osan Air Base is Sinjang shopping 'town' (신장쇼핑타운) and Jungang Market (중앙시장); a mecca of foreign restaurants & bars, black market supermarkets, a traditional Korean market, and plenty of shopping ~ my cupboards are now stocked with Blue Diamond Wasabi & Soy Sauce Almonds and Voortman cookies (they even have Canadian brands!^^).

Jill and I first went there on Tuesday and dined on the most delectable Mexican food this side of the Pacific (seriously) and truly amazing virgin juice cocktails at this place (Blue Opera), which is not nearly as frightening as it initially appears, I assure you :D

We were so enraptured with Songtan that we went again on Friday, this time for a double lunch date with the hubbies, and ate at Sawatee Thai restaurant:

I was so excited for the tom yum soup and chicken satay that I forgot to take a picture until after I'd eaten half of it ~ oops. Honestly, I've eaten at my fair share of foreign restaurants in Korea (generally in Gangnam and Itaewon), but Songtan takes the cake! The taste, portion size, and price beat anything Seoul has to offer hands down.

Mark my words, I shall never make the 1 1/2 hour public transit nightmare trek to Itaewon ever again. Instead, I shall be making a beeline for Songtan again just as soon as I can!