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| Haechi Seoul at the foot of Seoul Tower |
What to do in Seoul, Korea? During our vacation in Seoul, South Korea, we availed a guided tour package which includes visits to N Seoul Tower, Namsangol Hanok village, and Insadong. but during the trip, we got lucky because the guide agreed to dropping by Gyeongbokgung Palace as well but we have to deduct half an hour of our alotted shopping time in Insadong. Because of South Korea's effort to boost tourism, these packages are so cheap that it's a no brainer to take them instead of getting into places on your own. From Incheon International Airport, we took off to our destinations and how amazed we were observing different infrastructures being developed around Seoul. You can tell that they are really trying to boost their tourism and trying to imitate the template Japan has created to become an economic power in Asia.
N SEOUL TOWER
Many visitors ride the Namsan Cable Car up the mountain, and then walk to the tower. But from our experience, it's a 200 meters steep walk going to N Seoul Tower so we suggest one must wear comfy shoes. The tower features a gift shop and restaurants on the ground floor as well as a Teddy Bear Museum. Visitors may go up the tower for a fee. There are four observation decks, the fourth one being a revolving restaurant. Most of the city of Seoul can be seen from the top. At the foot of a tower, there is a chicken-wire fence full of "love locks". They are padlocks that were locked in the chicken wire with names of newly weds as a sign of their everlasting love.
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| Seoul Tower can still be seen from Namsangol Hanok Villag |
NAMSANGOL HANOK VILLAGE
As per our tour guide, most of the architecture in this village were just rebuilt as most of the original architectures were destoryed during the war. We still enjoyed looking around because they are still traditional Korean houses, whether newly built or not. It provides an insight into traditional Korean lifestyle: how people used to eat(we saw lots of fermenting pots in the courtyard for their kimchis), dress and live.
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| Pots used for fermenting food |
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| Playing Tuho, a traditional Korean game |
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| Gyeongbokgung Palace |
GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE
If you are interested to see palaces in Seoul do visit Gyeongbokgung or Gyeongbok Palace located in Northern part of Seoul. The details they put on the palace's design is nothing short of incredible. Our tour guide explained that the elaborate design called Dancheong on the ceiling actually has meaning to it as to each design can encourage good spirits and good luck in the palace, kinda like Feng Shui. Dropping by here even for just a few minutes was a good way to experience Korean culture, see their architecture and observe their history.
INSADONG
Insadong gives its visitors a chance to take a peek at Korean tradition even in the center of a very modern city. Even their interiors already include all the modern comfort anyone can ask for, most of the shops and restaurants still have a very traditional, old-style looking facade. The food offered by most restaurants are also Korea's traditional dishes, as such as the one we went into that was mentioned in an
earlier post. It is good to see how they still try to keep their traditions for locals and tourists alike to enjoy.
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| The street of Insadong |
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| Mural in Insadong |
N SEOUL TOWER
