Seoman Market

 

Here's another Korean adventure to document. Monday we walked more than three miles to a traditional Korean market. I have been in traditional markets in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Johannesburg, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. I have also enjoyed outdoor markets in several areas of our own country. I was really looking forward to this adventure. I put on my hiking shoes and grabbed my 50,000 won (approximately $50) and we hit the bricks. It must have been 90 degrees with 90% humidity, maybe not the best time to start this little trek.

Nothing I had experienced before prepared me for this. The pictures don't even tell the story. This is a real, honest to goodness, Korean market. I didn't see many people that looked like tourists. Just lots AND lots of Koreans with their bags and small carts doing real life shopping. Narrow streets and alleyways filled with tables and shelves which were stacked with food, clothing, accessories and... well everything you can think of. Every direction we turned there was another alley or another doorway leading to more shops or street side vendors. I couldn't look around very much because I was afraid I would run into someone if I didn't keep my eyes focused directly in front of me. It seemed like a population equivalent to the whole state of Montana had decided to go to market on Monday.

So here's a little secret about me. I get claustrophobic. Heat and humidity trigger that closed in feeling. Crowds also kick that nasty little phobia into gear. Then if you add piles and piles of merchandise you have the trifecta of anxiety. Sadly I really didn't give the market a chance before I was practically dragging Elder Fairhurst out of there.

 I know it's silly. So I will try again. I will take a deep breath. I will go on a cooler day, at a less busy time, with one of our friends who speak Korean. I will buy something at a traditional Korean market. It probably won't be the cooked intestines or the squid. But I will buy something.