Korea DAY 10: (Pt. 3) Carry-On Hunting + Fast Food at Seoul Station

Read Part 2 HERE !

An unforeseen mission weighing on my shoulders for the last day was finding a carry-on to re-allocate all of our purchases. The ideal suitcase would be durable, light, and no more than 20 inches in thickness to ensure acceptable dimensions across all airlines. Although Air Canada and most international flights allowed carry-ons up to 25 or 26 inches in thickness, domestic airlines such as Jeju Air would not be so lax in their requirements.

And so, I headed back to COEX after my Tim Hortons stopover in search of said carry-on.

Neither Samsonite nor National Geographic carried the desired size and format combo. Moreover, the sole 20 inch carry-on at Samsonite rang in at a whopping 779,00 KRW!

​According to Naver Maps, there was a supposed standalone Samsonite shop located immediately outside of COEX. Although I had my suspicions from the image-less search result, I decided to take my chances anyway.

Lo and behold, the unit was deserted upon my arrival. Beyond that, the space appeared to be an old bank instead of serving retail purposes altogether. I immediately requested for my browsing partner to procure the 209,000 KRW specimen at The North Face's Myeongdong flagship.
Then, with a burning grudge for Naver Maps, I descended back into the subway entrance, where I encountered another issue with insufficient T-Money funds

​One was unable to reload the T-money card using the self-serve machine with a 50,000 KRW bill unless loading 40,000 KRW. Exasperated by the limitation, I headed into the nearby GS25 instead. With a tired brain, I handed my 50,000 KRW bill to the young man behind the counter and, in English, requested 7,000 KRW to be loaded onto my T-money card. He completed the transaction with ease, then handed me back the change. Thank goodness!

​At this point, I yearned to return to Guro for a good night's rest. How locals could continue to wander the streets with an aching face was entirely beyond my comprehension.
In spite my prolonged series of appointments, my browsing partner requested my presence at Seoul Station. This entailed a lengthy hour-long commute by transit, which I was averse to undertaking. Had I not felt the guilt of needing to assist in bringing back my new carry-on, I would have dismissed the thought of lugging myself into the busiest station in Seoul for the measly objective of sharing a meal of fast food. We had barely eaten any proper meals due to my browsing partner's constant need to explore!

​I attempted a quick trip into Lotte Mall for Terra, but eventually departed at seeing the snaking line at checkout. Many more footsteps later, I finally arrived in front of the Seoul Station Lotteria.

Perched on one of the many backless benches outside, we proceeded to unveil the burgers.

Spurred by SHINee's appearance on Hyeri's YouTube segment, my pick resided with a Shrimp Beef Burger from McDonald's.

The burger was neatly encased in a wrapper featuring a shrimp graphic, and even included a sturdy paper ring to prevent distortion and damage during transport. Gratifying were the beef and shrimp patties, yet the former provided superior texture without reliance on breading and deep frying. I appreciated the abundance of shredded lettuce and plush brioche buns. Condiment-wise though, the compilation was not saucy whatsoever), with only a thin layer smeared between the top bun and beef patty.

I snuck a few fries from the bag next to me. The crispiness was unparalleled, while its interior airy and indulgent. Korean eateries truly knew their way around fried items!

​My browsing partner, who had chosen to proceed throughout the entire day without eating, sought out an extensive array of sustenance from Lotteria. First came was a Rice Beef Burger. It looked hearty, but excessive in terms of carbohydrates.

​Next up was a Hanwoo Burger with the corresponding Hanja stamped on the top bun. Admittedly, the beef patty was more succulent and retained greater depth of flavour than my own McD's selection. As for the tomatoes and mayo though, they were strictly forgettable.

​A side of McDonald's coleslaw had also made its way into the bag. I attempted one spoonful, but quickly grimaced in response. It was sweet, as if the finely chopped cabbage and carrot had been coated in granulated sugar before being sealed. The Korean palate's preference for cloying items again reared its head in an unanticipated - and simultaneously unappetizing form.

From the nearby Storyway (a convenience store that later ceased operations around 10 PM), I'd reluctantly invest in a small can of Terra to conclude the night. Without a doubt, it was pricier than Lotte Mart, but the checkout time was nonexistent.
All factors considered, Terra did not reveal itself as refreshing or tasty as all the ads had made it out to be.

​The way back to Guro approximated another hour, and we were absolutely exhausted by the time we finally collapsed through the hotel door. While my browsing partner swiftly began to pack, I began to inspect my new luggage.

​Evident in its ease of transport across the subway, the suitcase was notably light, yet sturdy nonetheless. Zippered compartments were housed within the expandable shell, allowing for neat organization. In the end, my browsing partner took advantage of my purchase to seek relief from an overweight check-in. On the other hand, my two check-in luggage were well under the limit; the main concern lay with bulky items that depleted volume instead.

​Another few hours would pass as one of us griped about having to repeatedly re-organize weight luggage (not me), while the other mumbled about wasting time to meet and eat together instead of staggering shower times. I continued to organize my receipts past midnight, but eventually couldn't muster the willpower to complete the tracking task. Receipts required for tax refund purposes were simply separated from the rest. Bracing the pangs from my post-treatment complexion and neck, I resorted to retire.
​The clock would read 2:30 AM.