We were extremely excited when we touched down at the Incheon International Airport. I had done lots of research on South Korea and brought with me the shopping list that I had prepared earlier. No items to be sparred, we were determined to make this trip a fulfilling one!

Although we had constantly reminded ourselves to be gentle with our pockets, we arrived home with bags of Korean specialties. We did a great deal of shopping in Seoul and Jeju Island, fully utilising every compartment of our luggage bags to make rooms for the things that we bought. Like Singapore, South Korea is a good place to shop. If you are visiting South Korea, here are my recommendations.

-- Korean Ginseng --

An expensive and nourishing herb, Korean Ginseng is widely known for balancing the “chi” in the body, good for the overall well-being of the body. I got to know from the sales assistant that Korean Ginseng is also effective in relieving menstrual cramps in women. Grown in the mountains, Korean Ginsengs between four to six years old are harvested and sold. The older the Korean Ginseng, the higher the price it demands.

Besides the normal “white” Korean Ginseng that I have mentioned earlier, you will also be able to find what is known as the Red Ginseng in South Korea. The Red Ginseng is prepared by treating “white” Korean Ginseng in Chinese herbs, giving it a red colour. It is known to be effective in treating erectile dysfunction in men.

Apart from being the main ingredients for many of the Korean cuisines such as the Ginseng Chicken, Korean Ginseng can be taken on its own in small slices or in the form of powder. As Korean Ginseng tastes a little bitter, you may want to consider buying honey coated Korean Ginsengs. The sweetness of honey helps to curb the bitterness of the Korean Ginseng a great deal.

If you find Korean Ginseng too expensive, Korean Ginseng products such as ginseng candies and rice cakes are good and affordable alternatives. Korean Ginseng and ginseng products can be found in many shops in Seoul.

-- Amethyst --

We visited an amethyst shop in Seoul. Amethyst is a gemstone that is purple in colour and many women’s favourite. I was amazed by the Korean’s creativity and brilliant workmanship in jewelleries. Amongst the beautiful pieces of amethyst jewelleries, I came across an amethyst bracelet that could be folded into a four-leaved clover pendant! You should see the “WOW” written all over my face! Amazing!

We were told by the sales assistant that amethysts come in two grades – Grade A and B. Grade A amethysts are darker in colour and more expensive while Grade B amethysts are less expensive but in a lighter purple. Drop some hints to your partner. You might just get yourself an amethyst bracelet as your birthday present!

-- Honey --

Honey is good at soothing any discomforts caused by a sore throat. Should you be visiting the Jeju Folk Village, buy yourself a few jars of honey, a perfect gift for everyone back home! Here is a trick that you might want to try. Scoop two tablespoons of Korean Honey into a bowl, followed by some water. Gently sway (not shake) the bowl, allowing the excess honey to stay at the base. Notice that polygons of the same sizes, similar to the cells in a beehive, start to appear in the honey!

-- Kimchi --

Kimchis are fermented vegetables served in every Korean meal. They are made of vegetables such as cabbage, cucumber and radish. Red, hot spices are applied onto the vegetables and kept for fermentation in big jars. Extremely hot and sour, kimchi is a delicacy in Korean cuisine. Kimchi comes in airtight packets and can be found in all supermarkets in South Korea. In order not to cause your fridge to stink, make sure you keep the kimchi in airtight containers after you have removed it from its packaging.

There are simply too many things to try out in South Korea, and it is impossible for me to cover all of them here. If you like shopping and planning to go for a vacation, visit South Korea! I can assure you that you will shop till you drop!

Geraldine Tan
http://www.travel-mambo.com