A cocker and friends meet up in Hongdae

Boy am I really dragging our Korea posts on for an eternity. 

In my last post I had said that we would be back in Paju to visit a little art village but it had been so long since our trip that I completely forgot about a couple more Seoul related posts before we head on back to Paju and the tail end of our travels to Korea. 

First, a very special meeting happened on a warm weekend in Hongdae. A group of people who belong to cockers and friends came from near and far to meet Yangkyu and I. I was a bit nervous in the beginning to meet everyone (what will I say? what if I can't speak Korean because I get so nervous? What if we come off completely awkward?) but was so sad to say good bye when it came time to part.

Instagram has given us the opportunity to"meet" some of the most kindest and caring people who have laughed and cried with us through some of our happiest and saddest times of our lives. The mutual love of dogs created this bond and while I am quite shy and wary of meeting people (severe introvert here), I have always felt beyond thankful by their warm gesture. It's the kind of gesture that I have trouble expressing to others but have received in heaps (I sometimes want to reach out a hand but am afraid that I'll say the wrong thing or cross boundaries. Perhaps because I'm so sensitive to what others say and do, I put the fear on myself when it's me who is doing the talking or doing).

When Piri passed, I received such an overwhelming response from people all over the world and have received gifts to help us cope and remember Piri by. Just 9 months later when Bartles suddenly left us, they were there again, wishing us condolences, a shoulder to cry on and messages of support. 

Some of the people who have been a part of our journey, and us theirs, were there that day in Hongdae. 

  // Ji-Oh and Buddle // 

  // Pok Pok, White Schnauzer, and Michael (pronounced mi-ka-el), Maltese // 

I can't quite remember the name of the restaurant (their speciality is chicken though and is located across from a popular croissant bakery - there was literally a line of people waiting for the bakery to open) but it's dog friendly. I believe the owners have dogs themselves and inside there are little wooden crates for dogs to rest while their humans can enjoy a meal. Dogs are, of course, welcomed to rest under the table or in the arms of their owners as well. 

I don't think I have ever experienced a restaurant here in the US where dogs are allowed inside (there was one in St. Augustine but we never ate there). The feeling I got was that people are more flexible with dogs going inside cafes, stores and restaurants in Korea, although you must always ask (given). Perhaps there are less regulations and customers threatening to sue. I could be completely wrong as I don't live in Korea and don't know what it's like to have dogs there but it was just an initial observation and wishing that we had restaurants like this back home to take Bartles to (there are dog friendly restaurant but we must always sit outside, which doesn't always work when the weather is cold or too hot). 

  // Best buds // 

  // The wooden crates for pets to rest inside the restaurant // 

You would think that there might have been some awkward silences and moments but there was none of that. Some of the personalities present were outrageously funny and warm and inviting and the ice broke right away for everyone to feel close and comfortable.

After a hearty lunch (reservation, ordering and even footing the bill was all done by Win's owners - thank you again!), we headed over to a nearby cafe which was also very dog friendly. I loved the set up of the place, especially the tables that requires you to take your shoes off to sit with folded legs instead of on chairs. There are tables there with chairs to people who prefer that.

At the cafe, we had a bonanza taking pictures of the dogs, interacting with them a bit more since we had more room and talking a bit more. 

At the very end, we were able to meet one more person who belonged to the Korean cocker family club, whose cocker also crossed the rainbow bridge. She is now married and her and her husband belong to another... you guessed it, cocker spaniel. 

I am not quite sure if I said my thank you's properly this day because it was a little hectic meeting new people and dogs to boot. But thank you for taking the time to come out and making us feel so comfortable. 

That night I had a dream about Piri. He was running about like the dogs I had met, which was so great to see, but he kept running away -- going down into sewers and swimming away. I was so scared of losing him because he was so fast. He was so elusive but so vibrant. Perhaps it mirroring real life -- Piri healthy and energetic across the rainbow bridge and me feeling like he is so far away.  

For a few more pictures from this day, you can visit here - it's a blog (written in Korean) of one of the cocker owners (Buddle) who gifted us with a children's book titled "Dog Heaven". It is now my favorite book.

Next post we'll go on a little adventure, again in Hongdae, picking up clues at an escape room cafe, playing new games at a board room cafe and chilling out with cats at a cat cafe. Hope you'll join us for those adventures.

 // Travel Korea : DMZ Tours

 // Travel Korea : Childhood Memories

 // Travel Korea : Seoul

 // Travel Korea : Jeju Island, Day 1

 // Travel Korea : Jeju Island, Day 2

 // Travel Korea : Jeju Island, Day 3

 // Korea, according to my iPhone (pt. 1)

 // Travel Korea: Seoul

 // Korea, according to my iPhone (pt. 2)
 // A Gem in Hongdae