Tea shops of Insadong

Despite warnings of a rush-hour-subway-like experience, Lauren and I went to the Van Gogh exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art. However, being a Sunday afternoon, the queue to get in was doubling back on itself leading to the decision that a battle against the crowds with a view to a leisurely wander round the paintings was an unrealistic objective.

Instead we found ourselves in Insadong: a cobbled street pedestrianised at the weekends, full of street vendors selling traditional handicrafts, and side alleys with quaint tea shops. Being another one of those icy cold days, despite alluring sunshine, we withdrew to one of said tea shops for some hot plum tea.

We've heard many a tale about flying birds in such shops, but having visited several in our four months here, and searched high and low for particularly recommended ones, we are yet to find one with actual flying birds. We've seen a few with caged birds, but it's just not the same. Having not found any kind of report of a "Law Against Free Flying Wildlife In Traditional Tea Shops", I am still of the belief that we are missing out. Any direction would be appreciated.

Sinyetchatjip Tea Shop and its caged parrot