Seoul!

Seoul – population: 10.5 million – the “soul of Asia.”  So much to do and see.  We just spent the last three days there and only got a taste for what the city has to offer.  It was fun, exhausting, and really, really hot! : ) 

Sun. 7/28  Seoul Day 1

In the morning we hopped on the KTX train in Changwon and headed north.  It is about a three-hour ride to Seoul from Changwon.

Changwon train station

We arrived in Seoul around noon, hopped on the subway, and headed to our hotel which was in Itaewon, located in Seoul’s Yongsan-gu district.

District map of Seoul

I loved the subway system in Seoul!  My impression was that it is complicated and extensive like New York’s subway, but user-friendly like DC’s metro.  The line numbers and colors and all of the transfer points are really well labeled and explained – and in three languages too!  Korean, English, and Chinese.

The area of Itaewon is known for its international food selection.  There is even a street called International Food Street!  So we headed there for lunch and found Johny Dumplings:

After lunch we made our way to Deoksugung Palace in the Jung-gu district, which is literally in the middle of the city, right across the road from City Hall.  In some of the pictures, you can see the skyscrapers of the city looming in the background.  This is one of the palaces preserved and restored from the Joseon Dynasty.

The palace "guards" outside the front gate

After the palace we headed across the street to check out City Hall.  In the picture you can see the old City Hall building in the foreground and the new City Hall building in the background (the uber modern-looking one).  The former City Hall building has been converted into a public library.  Yeji said that many of Seoul’s residents were unhappy with the city government’s choice in architectural design of the new City Hall…

 Inside the new City Hall:

Inside the old City Hall, now a public library.  Some of the old offices and meeting rooms have been preserved.  Here I am at the old mayor’s desk!

Next stop – Seoul Museum of Art:

Then a jaunt down Doeksugung Palace Stone-Wall Road…

And back to the hotel.  For dinner we decided on Greek.  It was Yeji's first time trying Greek food:

Mon. 7/29  Seoul Day 2

Today we saw a lot, walked a lot, and sweated even more!  It was a hot one with humidity that rivals Virginia’s!  And since I forgot to put suntan lotion on in the morning, I had a very red nose and shoulders by the end of the day… : )

We headed to Gyeongbokgung Palace first.  This palace also dates back to the Joseon Dynasty and was built in 1395.  This palace and grounds are much more extensive compared to the palace from yesterday, however. 

Earthenware jars used to ferment various foods

My zodiac buddy - the rat!

After that we wandered around Bukchon Hanok Village for a bit.  This is a section of town near the palace that still contains hundreds of Korean traditional houses, called ‘hanok’, that date back to the Joseon Dynasty.  The village had a really unique and charming feel to it.  Many of the houses serve as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants, and tea houses, but some are still residential.

Then headed to Insadong street and Samzigil market in Jongno-gu district for some shopping!

Our lunch – cold noodles and fried dumplings!

After lunch we walked along Cheonggyecheon stream to check out the statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong.  Admiral Yi Sun-sin was a Korean naval commander and is famous for his leadership and success against the Japanese invasion of the 1500s.  King Sejong was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty and is most famous for his creation of Hangul, the Korean writing system and alphabet.  Before Hangul, the Korean people used Chinese characters.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin

King Sejong

Original Hangul alphabet

We then headed to Seoul Tower for a wider view of the city.  Since the day was so hot and muggy, the view wasn’t very clear which did not allow for very clear pictures of the city, but the effect was still there.  Seoul is a huge city!

Yes, I am!

So at the base of the tower lining all of the railings that surround the shops and lookout points are thousands and thousands of locks and tags attached to the railings.  These locks and tags are left there by young couples as a sign to profess their love and commitment to one another!  Each one has a little love note written on it : )

I saw something very similar to this when I went to Busan Tower a few weekends ago.

By this point in the day we were exhausted, so headed back to the hotel.  For dinner we decided on the super cute and trendy-looking Bee Dining Lounge:

Tues. 7/30  Seoul Day 3

In the morning we headed to the National Museum of Korea first.  I am now so much more knowledgeable of Korean history!  Previously, my knowledge was pretty much limited to Korean War era history…

After the museum we made our way to Namdaemun market in the Jung-gu district – one of the largest traditional markets in Seoul – for some more shopping.  For lunch I had some kimbap.  I couldn’t possibly leave Korea without eating kimbap! : )

Then we perused the market for a bit more before heading to the train station to catch the 4:00 train back to Changwon.  Goodbye Seoul!

Now I only have a few days left here in Korea before heading to Mongolia… It feels like I have been here for a long time, but it sure has gone by quickly!  I am beginning to feel the tugs of homesickness, but also a sadness for leaving the people and country that I have grown to love...