#ihwa mural street | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lunavadash-creates · 3 years ago

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First of all, bro, you have Sims! You won a life! My laptop is too old and broken for such luxuries! Please make my sim and my harem too lol. Give me all the men I deserve.😂

I may or may not be thinking about buying a new one tho. And it may or may not be just because of the latest expanded pack to the game and possibility of having my own cow.🐮 But on the other hand, I would love to go somewhere for a few days in nearest gutter if covid lets me.. So having savings would be nice.

Speaking of travelling. Stories. I am not a storyteller buuut… you mentioned you travelled by metro in Prague and that in your country there is just one line in the capital. Seoul has so many lines! It’s so easy to get lost.. Korean metro is one of my clearest memories of my stay in Seoul. On the very first day of my stay I and my 3 friends had a “houston we have smol problem” situation, just because 2 of my companions hadnt bought a korean sim card (our cards didnt work at all) and we got separated in the metro train. I mean.. I and my good friend didnt get inside on time while other two friends made it. In our group just one person knew where our hostel was and how we could get there. And she was gone. There wasn’t any plan b, no one even thought about the possibility of getting separated. No one amongst us spoke korean, Koreans had problems with communicating in english.. WELL, SH*T. We didn’t know if we should take the next train and others would wait at the next station or if we should stay where we were. Luckily I and one of my friends that got into the train on time had our mobiles working so we were able to communicate, but we were this close to having HOME ALONE IN SEOUL.

The second one memory and one of things I miss the most are metro jingles! God, I loved them so much! If you see Seoul Metro Jingles on Xander Tiberius channel on youtube you will be able to hear my favourite one! It’s the first one in this short video! I am pretty sure you will love it.

We came right on korean thanksgiving festival called Chuseok and it was the best decision ever. People were wearing their traditional costumes, hanboks, all the time! They were so freaking beautiful! 💕 We went to Gyeonbokgung Palace and Changdeogung Palace and when I saw them covered in paintings with obangsaek scheme with my own eyes I almost cried. I love art, so Seoul was the perfect place for me. I love korean folk paintings (please, check them with my favorite tigers and magpie theme - tigers on them are so funny and wonderful - I bought like a million postcards with its images), but their modern art is great too. Especially all those murals - you can check Ihwa Mural Village. It was ASDFGHJKLLOVE.

Street food? Excellent, however I don’t like spicy food. I wanted to try silkworm stew but at the last moment I gave up on this. Too extreme for me. But I have eaten the best ice cream in my whole life and they tasted like earl grey tea.

But what was definitely the best part of my trip? Cafes! Dog cafe, raccoon cafe, Moomin cafe, sheep cafe, Hello Kitty cafe! I love dogs with all my heart so that one was definitely my favourite one and I would love to stay there forever! Raccoon one was also freakin good! For the very first time I had encountered a raccoon. Their paws are so delicate!

Travelling is such a magical experience.There are so many things to see and to try! What was your favourite place you travelled to and why? Do you have a place you would like to visit again? Where would you like to go the most? You said you were travelling with your family. Do you have some stories to share?

I am sorry for such long messages! But I can talk for hours about such things. And I like to chat with you. I am impressed with my ability to produce so many words at once. Usually I am the quiet one and very awkward too.

🔪

I have no idea how I missed this message. Like really, I was wondering if you will tell me your travel story and look! It's been here for who knows how long! I'm m so sorry ;;

So yeah, lemme show you my Sims because idk. I think I'm kind of proud of this Altair.

So first is the randomly generated Sims

And here is Altair I made:

I wonder what do you think about him. Don't mind hie clothes tho 😂

Back to you baby! I love your story and I envy you so much! Raccoon cafe? Good food? You won me, really. I always wanted to see/touch a raccoon but since they aren't here I simply can't. But those grabby lil pawsies! U realu envy you and I'm also so happy you had fun and now you have so much fun memories you can share. Thank you so much!

As for spicy food. I love it.

And really I really enjoy talking with you, you are so nice and passionate and never be sorry for writing a lot! I love having your messages and responding to every single one of them! Even if sometimes I'm a bit late (sorrtyyyyyyy)

As for my stories... I was attacked by a bear in Albania! 😂 I'm still terrified of them. A lady was walking a bear on a chain leash and I was passing by with peanuts. And the bear attacked me, trying to take them from me. It was so scary but I win the battle over peanuts. I was like 13. But really I don't like bears now.

I want to see literally all the world. I want to go to Greece again and Bulgaria. Bulgaria is my favourite country! Also I want to see Turkey and Egypt and Japan and China!

Hbu? Do you have more travel plans?

#ask #knifey my beloved #knifey

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uberstip · 5 years ago

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Tanpa disadari, demam Korea telah merasukimu. Diawali tiap episode K-drama, kamu mulai menyebut indomie rebus dengan ramyeon, memakai skin care glowing ala Bae Suzy, bergaya modis ala Black Pink, menggalau dengan lagu K-pop, memanggil kekasihmu dengan sebutan Oppa, sampai berlogat ke anyeong-anyeongan.

Puncaknya, kamu membeli tiket ke Seoul. Dengan bergairah ingin merasakan langsung suasana disana. Memperhatikan Oppa-oppa berkeliaran, menonton pertunjukan tari, mengenakan hanbok, berjalan di antara istana megah, dan nyeruput ayam ginseng. Menikmati budaya Joseon ditengah kota yang modern. Kamu pun semakin K-pop AF!

Seoul needs no introduction. Great food, rich culture, beautiful scenery, awesome shopping, pretty girls, mega popular music and film industry

When it’s snow in Seoul, it’s melodramatic

What months does it snow in South Korea?

Korea merupakan negara 4 musim. Jika datang di musim dingin (Desember – Februari), besar kemungkinan kamu akan merasakan salju. Saya sendiri berada di Seoul dari tanggal 13-24 Februari, dalam jangka waktu tersebut, hujan salju turun beberapa kali. Saat itu Oppa hanya bisa bermimpi, putri salju bangun dari tidurnya dan datang menghampiri.

Incheon Airport to City by AREX

Setelah mendarat di Bandara Incheon, kamu bisa ke pusat kota dengan naik AREX – Airport Railroad Express. Express train yang akan membawamu non stop ke Seoul Station. Perjalanan ditempuh dalam waktu 45 menit. Harga tiketnya 9,500 Won | Rp. 114,000.

AREX is a railway line that connects downtown Seoul with Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport. There are 2 classes of train: The All Stop Train that stops at every station and The Express Train that runs non-stop between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station. Picture courtesy by visitseoul.net

Opsi termurah adalah naik All stop train yang berhenti di tiap stasiun. Harganya 5,000 Won | Rp. 60,000. Waktu tempuhnya 60 menit, ga beda jauh sama Express train. Worth it untuk berhemat. Bayarnya cukup pake T-Money, tinggal tap tap aja. Info lengkap tentang kartu transportasi ini bisa kamu baca di blog saya sebelumnya: Valentine’s Day in Seoul. Sekecup sepi dalam segelas soju

Download Seoul Metro Map in HD seoulsublet.com

What to see in Seoul?

Selain asyik buat berfoto dan cuci mata, tempat-tempat yang saya sebutkan dibawah pernah menjadi lokasi syuting drama yang menguras air mata. ‘가자 ga ja!’

1.Ewha Womens University

The two huge side is not just a wall, it’s made by glass. There’s a lot of cute students walking inside this building

Universitas khusus wanita yang sengaja dibuat agar mahasiswi fokus belajar dan ga main cinta-cintaan. Kampus bergengsi dengan desain bangunan yang instagram-able. Dua kaca besar memanjang dengan megah layaknya tembok perbatasan. Ciamik!

I enjoyed strolling around campus which had beautiful gardens and charming architecture

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You Are My Everything 별처럼 쏟아지는 운명에 그대라는 사람을 만나고 멈춰버린 내 가슴속에 단 하나의 사랑 You're my everything My destiny comes like shooting stars Letting me meet someone like you And deep in my heart It's only my love for you #shotoniphone6s #latepost #ewha #ewhawomansuniversity #seoul #korea #love #descendantofthesun #songjoongki #songhyegyo #kdrama #gummy #ost #winter #snow #spring #slowmo

A post shared by Steve (@uberstip) on Mar 10, 2016 at 11:50pm PST

One of the most beautiful campuses i’ve ever seen

Saya berjalan menelusuri pepohonan cantik dan taman yang indah. Area disekitarnya juga hype abis. Cafe, butik, dan toko skinker berderet di sepanjang jalan. Di tengah perjalanan, butiran salju turun secara perlahan. Karena saya berjalan sendirian, kecantikannya bikin auto-ngenes.

Founded in 1886, EWHA Womans University is the first ever educational institute for women in Korea

Ewha Woman’s University

52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Direction: Take Line 2 (Green) to Ewha Womans University metro station and go out from Exit 2 or 3. Walk straight for about 10 minutes Google Maps Location

“The world needs miracles, beautiful & strange miracles” – Ji Eun Tak

2. Ihwa Mural Village

Ihwa Mural Village started in 2006, when the Public Art Committee carried out a project with artists to paint the walls of the houses with beautiful murals to improve the local ambience

Area perumahan warga yang dipenuhi mural-mural indah diantara gang-gang sempit. Hidden gem yang sering dijadikan tempat syuting K-drama, salah satunya adalah serial favorit saya, Rooftop Prince.

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September October November December… Winter is coming, the snow is falling. It's been a while, since I took this video, i miss the beauty of the cold #ihwamuralvillage #seoul #korea #snow #winter #december #February #throwback #trip #vacation #christmas #kpop #kdrama #life #leejongsuk #w #ost #slowmo #shotoniPhone6s

A post shared by Steve (@uberstip) on Sep 19, 2016 at 7:16pm PDT

He looks like me, but I’m a lot more handsome

“Even if 300 years will pass… I will still love you” -Lee Gak and Park Ha

Kindness is like snow, it beautifies everything it covers – unknown

The colourful fish under your step

Ihwa Mural Village is a popular filming location and was also featured in other Korean dramas and movies. So if you are a fan of Korean dramas, you might find some of the areas in this village very familiar

Be like snow, cold but beautiful

Sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Just do your best and take a rest and sing yourself a song – Snow White

“I’ll try asking God to let me come back with the first snowfall of the season” – Kim Shin

There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather – John Ruskin

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Couple under an umbrella. I think being in the snow with your lover is special feeling, just like them… #snow #winter #korea #seoul #ihwa #ihwamuralvillage #descendantofthesun #ost #soundtrack #songhyekyo #video #kpop #kdrama #slowmo #video #shotoniphone6s #songjoongki

A post shared by Steve (@uberstip) on Mar 6, 2016 at 6:52am PST

3. Cheonggyecheon Stream

These day, Cheonggyecheon is famous for a dating spot. It’s relaxing to walk along a beautiful stream, take a break and peacefully people-watching

Dibangun sejak era Joseon (1392-1910), sungai yang mengalir ke Hangang River sepanjang 11 km ini menjadi ‘revolusi mental’ bagi warga Korea. Dulunya, sungai ini dikelilingi oleh gubuk tua dan sampah yang mengapung. Mirip pemukiman kumuh di bantaran kali Ciliwung.

Kini, semuanya berubah. Air jernih mengalir diantara trotoar luas dan gedung-gedung pencakar langit. Di sekitarnya banyak orang begaol dan duduk-duduk santai menikmati suasana. Di malam hari, sering diadakan pertunjukan musik dan festival lampion. Cheonggyecheon berubah dari zero to hero bagi tourism Korea.

Cheonggyecheon Stream used to exist merely as an overpass neglected in 1970 until it was restored in 2005, becoming a beautiful area. The result that makes Seoul a better city

Bersantai disini ga ada perasaan was-was takut di copet. Korsel adalah negara dengan tingkat kejahatan terendah di Asia. Gak kaya di Eropa yang kadang kita harus ekstra hati-hati dengan tas bawaan.

Cheonggyecheon Stream

Recreational area constructed around a revived stream with walkways, bridges & greenery

Address: Cheonggyecheon-ro, Sinseol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Open 24 Hours

How to get here: Keluar melalui Exit 5 Jonggak Station, lalu berjalan kaki 200m Cheonggyecheon Google Maps Location

Cheonggyecheon stream is picturesque and instagram worthy-shot at night, a place for tired tourists like me to rest and enjoy the moment for a while

4. Gwanghwamun Square

The imposing statue of admiral Yi sun-sin, famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the war in Joseon dinasty, a national hero of Korea

Alun-alun luas dengan monumen ‘super hero’ bangsa Korea, King Sejong dan Laksamana Yi Sun-Sin. King Sejong merupakan pencipta Hangul – Korean writing. Tanpanya ga bakal ada alunan percakapan manja di drama Korea. ‘Andweee, miyane, ottoke, udeleee…’

Sementara Yi Sun-Sin merupakan salah satu komandan angkatan laut terhebat dalam sejarah. Dia memimpin banyak kemenangan melawan Jepang selama perang Imjin (1545-1598). Konon, dia tak pernah terkalahkan di laut. Ga tau kalo di udara.

A status of King Sejong the Great, the fourth king of Joseon

Gwanghwamun Square

Address: 172 Sejong-daero, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Direction: Keluar melalui Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 9 Gwanghwamun Google Maps Location

His name is HAECHI. He’s a mythical beast, part lion, part dragon. His legend is as guardian of the old palace in a cute way. Imaginary creature as the symbolic icon of the city

Lokasinya yang berdekatan dengan Gyeongbongguk Palace dan Cheonggyecheon, menjadikan tempat ini selalu ramai dikunjungi. Selain menjadi simbol sejarah, Gwanghwamun menjadi tempat favorit rakyat demo. Park Geun-hye, Presiden Korea yang terlibat korupsi saja berhasil digulingkan.

Sewol ferry disaster, occurred on the morning of 16 April 2014, when the passenger was en route from Incheon towards Jeju. Out of 476 passengers and crew, 304 died in the disaster, most notably around 250 students from Danwon High School

Saat mengunjungi tempat ini, saya melihat sebuah tenda yang memajang foto anak sekolah korban tenggelamnya Ferry Sewol. Banyak surat-surat berisi doa dan pesan menyentuh yang di tempel di sekeliling foto tersebut.

Sulit dibayangkan bagaimana mereka yang seharusnya akan bersenang-senang di Jeju, malah kehabisan napas saat terjebak mencari jalan keluar dari kapal yang terbalik. Momen tragis yang membuat siapa pun sedih melihatnya.

5. Gangnam

With all the Gangnam style hype, Seoul’s Gangnam district made the world curious how it’s like to live there. It’s full of crazy rich lifestyle.There’s a lot of lovely cafes, high-end boutiques, and global brands. Garosu-gil which means ‘tree-lined street’ in Korean – is one of the hippest area in here

Gangnam ibarat Beverly Hills. Rumah para konglomerat dan borjuis di Seoul. Apartemen elit, resto kelas atas, pertokoan mewah, dan tempat ajib-ajib berderet di sepanjang jalan.

Garosugil merupakan kawasan yang paling populer disini. Banyak cafe dan pertokoan unik seperti Gingko Avenue, Line Friends Cafe, Cafe de Paris, dan IKOVOX. Shop til you drop!

Gangnam

Gangnam-gu is Seoul’s upscale, modern center, home to gleaming skyscrapers, designer brands and stylish nightclubs where big-name DJs spin techno and house

Address: 27 Dosan-daero 13-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Direction: Keluar dari Exit 8 Sinsa Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) Garosugil Google Maps Location

6. Seoul World Cup Stadium

Stadion yang menjadi saksi heroik bagaimana timnas Korea melaju ke semi final Piala Dunia 2002. Taeguk warriors yang dipimpin oleh Guus Hiddink, berhasil mengalahkan tim-tim besar seperti Portugal, Italy dan Spanyol. Di dalam stadion saya duduk melamun, mencoba merasakan euforia saat itu.

Family, friends, food and football are the 4 best F in life

Seoul World Cup Stadium

This prominent stadium is a popular football venue & features a shopping mall & movie theater

Address: 240 Woldeukeom-ro, Seongsan 2(i)-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Direction: Keluar melalui Exit 1 World Cup Stadium Station (Line 1)

7. Yeouido Hangang Park

When it’s too cold outside, but you need to take at least one picture

There’s a lot of people walking, cycling, and jogging in this park. A best place to chill

Ditengah udara dingin yang menusuk, saya menyaksikan banyak anak muda bersepeda dan berlari marathon. Pemandangan jembatan panjang diantara Hangang River, benar-benar terlihat dramatis dari sini.

Konon di musim semi, tempat ini selalu penuh dengan keluarga yang piknik sambil makan snack dan minum soju.

It’s such a peaceful sight to see Hangang river

8. Walking Randomly around Seoul

As a typical Indonesia who has never got a chance to feel snow, the thought of winter strikes excitement. I enjoy waking up to chilling breezes since i’ve lived in a tropical climate

Seoul merupakan surga bagi pejalan kaki. Trotoarnya lebar dan nyaman. Gak dipenuhi tukang jualan maupun parkir motor. Berjalan di tengah salju memiliki romantisisme tersendiri. Memandang tiap butiran salju yang turun membuat saya menggigil dengan indah.

Seasons change, so do we – unknown

You’re never too old to be young – Snow White

Snow all over the city, beautiful white makes you so happy that you forget about he cold

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCeTxY_NLX2/?hl=en&taken-by=uberstip

9. Korean Folk Village

Koreans love their big pots. They use them to store Kimchi, soy sauce, red pepper paste, soybean paste and chilly paste. I love Kimchi with pork barbeque the most! Best place to see the lives of people back in the old days

Desa dimana kamu bisa merasakan kehidupan rakyat Korea di masa Joseon, 700 tahun yang lalu. Rumah-rumah kayu beratap jerami melingkupi ruangan yang dipenuhi karpet dan arang. Di luar rumah, terdapat Gentong-gentong keramik yang menjadi tempat Ahjuma menyimpan makanan untuk musim dingin.

Look back and smile on perils past – Walter Scott

Don’t script all of your images, shooting anything that appeals to you while you’re exploring, whether it’s a pretty flower or local residents conversing at a sidewalk cafe, can also lead to album-worthy photography – Natalie Amrossi

Be like a duck, above the surface, look cool and calm, below the surface paddle like hell – unknown

Look back and smile on perils past – Walter Scott

Oppa back to the past. Kembali ke masa Joseon 700 tahun yang lalu. Masa dimana Oppa hidup menemani ahjumma-ahjumma bercocok tanam

The Farmer’s Dance is one of the oldest dance forms in Korea. It was traditionally performed during planting and harvesting season. Amazing dance to watch!

Disini saya juga menyaksikan atraksi The Farmer’s dance dan Eolssigu Jeolssigu. Pertunjukan musik dan tarian tradisional yang diadakan di performance area dan market village pada pukul 10.30, 14.00 dan 16.00. Don’t miss it!

Yang paling saya suka adalah atraksi akrobat jumpalitan diatas kuda yang berlari dengan cepat. Keahlian para pemain untuk menjaga keseimbangan membuat adrenaline saya ikut terpacu. Saya tak berhenti menganga dan bertepuk tangan saat menyaksikannya.

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The performance was really entertaining and exciting! some of the stunts looked so dangerous #koreanfolkvillage #kpop #kdrama #fun #cool #attraction #video #joseon #joseondinasty #entertainment #shotoniphon6s #trip #traveling #korea #seoul

A post shared by Steve (@uberstip) on Feb 23, 2016 at 2:15am PST

Korean Folk Village

Living-museum village showcasing traditional Korean homes & customs, plus dining & a theme park

Address: 90 Minsokchon-ro, Bora-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

Hours: Senin – Minggu 9:30AM–7PM

How to get here: Get off at Sanggal Station (Bundang Subway Line), Exit 3. Take Bus No. 37, 10-5 or 5001-1 to Korean Folk Village or Nagok Village

If you think you have it tough, read history books – Bill Maher

Korean Folk Village is used to film many K-dramas so they have lots of boards like this in the area. Some of the shows have been filmed in this village and there’s an area dedicated to these shows. You can see some billboards for these shows with some of your favorite actors and actresses

Desa ini memang sering digunakan sebagai tempat syuting K-drama. Kamu bisa berfoto dengan poster artis idola.

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Isn't it cute how this little boy suddenly crying when the fake beggar ask for food #cuteness #overload #moment #shotoniphone6s #latepost #saturday #seoul #korea #koreanfolkvillage #dream #travel #trip #vacation #fun #awesome #iphonesia #weekend #cute #descendantofthesun #songjoongki #songhyegyo

A post shared by Steve (@uberstip) on Apr 1, 2016 at 8:22pm PDT

I had so much fun exploring the place, stopping at various spot to see houses related to old day of Korea

The folk village happens to be a site where various Korea drama filming. Hence, the standees of famous celebrity can be found at various location around the village

The folk village is very interesting and bring back the memories of Joseon dynasty movies. It gives much insights into old day Korea

I felt like i was walking into one of the ancient Korean drama series. The village provides an excellent overview of many Korean traditional and cultural practices, as well as examples of traditional Korean architecture in the past

There’s a wishing rock in the Korean Folk Village They provide slips of paper, people actually write down their wishes. After you write your wish, you are supposed to fold them and then tie it to the string on these rocks. You can see that many people have tied their wishes there. The paper is burnt along with sheaves of rice on the first full moon of the new year

10. Dongdaemun Plaza

Dongdaemun Design Plaza opened on March 21, 2014. Designed by world-famous designer Zaha Hadid, the DDP took four years to build. It’s a large building featuring three floors above ground and three underground. It includes a museum, business center, and park

Big suitcase to fill your travel dream

A dog made out of recycled plastic bottles in front of Dongdaemun Plaza. Wuk!

Zebra ball!

Gedung futuristik yang berisi museum, laboratorium, aula konser, dan taman budaya. Banyak event pameran produk dan peragaan busana di dalamnya. Cafe dan butik juga memenuhi underground plaza ini.

Pastikan mampir ke Rose Garden dekat Yigansumun Exhibition Hall. Biasanya di malam hari, 25.550 mawar menyala dengan romantis.

enjoying its grand outer architecture, you can also stroll through DDP’s huge 5 halls namely, Art Hall, Museum, Design Lab, Design Market, and Dongdaemun History and Culture Park

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Architectural-landmark events venue with futuristic design, a design market & food vendors

Address: 281 Eulji-ro, Euljiro 7(chil)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

Opening Hours: Selasa – Minggu 10AM–7PM, Senin tutup

How to get here: Keluar dari Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Line 2,4,5 Dongdaemun Design Plaza Google Maps Location

10 Spot Dramatis di Seoul. Snow in February Tanpa disadari, demam Korea telah merasukimu. Diawali tiap episode K-drama, kamu mulai menyebut indomie rebus dengan ramyeon, memakai

#bulan berapa Seoul turun salju #Cheonggyechein Stream #Cheonggyecheon Stream #Ewha Womans University #Gangnam #Gwanghwamun Square #Ihwa Mural Village #Kapan Seoul turun salju #Korea #Korean Folk Village #musim dingin di Seoul #Must see in Seoul #Must visit #Seoul World Cup Stadium #tempat wisata di Seoul #The best time to see snow in Seoul #things to do in Seoul #wajib dikunjungi #Yeouido Hangang Park

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kchatjjigae · 5 years ago

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Surprising lack of images to go along with this post. Turns out, when one is shopping, one forgets to document for posterity. Don’t you worry, I’m similarly irritated with myself. That being said, we have an interesting and different day in Korea. There’s a moment when you’re getting to the end of your trip, you’ve hit your highlights and are like…what else is there to do? Don’t get me wrong, we knew there was tons of stuff left to do, even now there are things on our to-do list we kick ourselves for not getting to either due to distance, forgetfulness, or simple ignorance. So…we wing it. And end up having a really great day…including meeting future Mr. Stephanie, my very own Milk Tea Coffee Prince.

First off, let me say, you’re going to wander around these posts and say, “Why didn’t you go here, or you forgot to go there.” Undeniably true. One of the places of note that’s on a lot of people’s list and was on ours as it looks incredible was Ihwa Mural Village. Let’s just say it now, we didn’t go. We planned on it, things happened, I did more research and found out the people who live there? Turns out a good portion of them actually hate what they are known for. Hate the fact that these murals have turned where they live into a tourist attraction. To the point where some of the murals have been painted over in an attempt to stop the buzz.

It made me feel really off about going. So we right or wrong, we didn’t go. But we still got our mural on. In my research, I found another, lesser-known mural village known as Ant Villiage who put up their own murals once upon a time in an attempt to do what Ihwa is fighting against. It wasn’t as successful as they wanted it to be, and in the end, the murals have fallen into age and disrepair.

Which for SaraG and I, made it that much more of a lure.

No, for real! On our date we were going to go to the remains of an abandoned amusement park where you can wander the property, viewing the broken relics of the past. Sounds amazing. Unfortunately, it also seems like it was far away and hard to get to and by then? I hate to say it, my super adventurous spirit was weary. Yes, this remains high on the list of things I kick myself about now. Heads up whoever goes with me next. We’re going. Get over it, it’s happening.

So all these things we didn’t do, perhaps I should, I don’t know, tell you what we did do? Because it was a lot.

Remember SaraG and her pink hair? Well, fun SaraG fact? Hair color will not stay in her hair. At all. Throughout our stay, her hair turned from vibrant shocking pink to a soft pastel. It was fun to see the change. We woke up this morning, and SaraG decided she wanted to go and get a haircut and I decided it would be hilarious to watch her get a haircut in Korea. Spoiler alert? It was a lot of fun. This, of course, means we needed to find a place to get this done. Not only did we have to find a hairdresser, but we had to find one that was open, which in the morning hours of South Korea? Not as easy as one would think.

We had a plan! Coffee! (For me, SaraG doesn’t do coffee.) Breakfast! Hair! Ant Villiage! …….something else TBD!

Getting dressed in our newest finery, purchased from the streets of South Korea itself, we hit the streets after the usual, Egg, Passport, Wallet, Phone, Key check. All in place? Yes? Let’s go! We hit the streets, eyes to the second floors of buildings where the non-shopping, non-coffee shop businesses all seemed to live, looking for anything that looked like a place that might cut hair.

Towards the end of our street, before we hit the main fairway, we made the fateful decision to stop into a particular coffee shop we passed by every day on our way to…everything. One we’d never been in before (another thing I will always regret). We’ve been here for a week now. A WEEK. And we’ve only ever chosen to go to the slow coffee ahjussi up the street. Why am I so worked up over a coffee shop? Well, this was when I walked in and I found him. Future Mr. Stephanie. My Milk Tea Coffee Prince.

He worked the small shop by himself, with a helpful, awkward, and yet inviting smile. He wore a white button-up shirt with his dark hair. He was lovely. I know I said this a lot, but it was literally a fanfic or drama moment come to life. Its almost as if he had a glow filter shining above him.

We ordered our coffee and tea while I tried to take a picture without appearing creepy, knowing later I would need photographic evidence. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything without appearing creepy and awkward, so the photo was pretty much a fail. But the coffees were terrific.

Le Sigh, my beautiful coffee prince.

As much as I would have liked to have whipped out my computer and sat there to work the rest of the day, i.e., sat there writing moody fanfic with him as my lead, we had a mission and a plan. Coffees at the ready, a reluctant goodbye to Future Mr. Stephanie, and we were off.

Following the route Leila, Alix and I had taken the previous day, we walked through the quiet streets of Hongdae, on the hunt for a hair place. And then, across the street from this weird pirate boat-shaped building, we found it. Not only were they open, but they had an appointment right then! So, SaraG filed her things into a locker, I found a seat within eyeshot of my friend and the people coming at her with scissors and sat to FB chat with Thea who was very excited about the whole experience. A guy was sitting next to me, who was apparently with the guy who was getting his hair cut in the chair across from Sara’s, kept smiling at me and telling me it wouldn’t be too much longer and I could have a turn. Dude. I have curly hair. One does not trust randos with curly hair. It’s just not done. SaraG will tell you she had two ladies working on her, one who was doing the cut and another, we guessed an apprentice, who watched, periodically gently brushing the hair away from SaraG’s face with a broad brush.

Interesting. Before too much longer, she was done! Come on everyone, doesn’t this hair look great?

Not only did SaraG come out with a great new haircut, but she also managed to find us a bathroom. Winners all around.

Once we were done, we decided it was time to show her haircut off to the world, and when I mean the world, I mean Ant Villiage. But first? Some sustenance! My new favorite food in Korea turns out was tonkatsu. I was there for two weeks, I ate it three times. Although, if we’re counting, I ate triangle kimbap like 13, so maybe that’s the food winner of the trip.

We hopped a bus and rode our way to the base of the mountain before following the road up, up, up, realizing we took a wrong turn, went down, down down, took the left that took us through a building (yes, this was on the map) and then headed up, up, up again. Man! Our butts had better look fantastic after all of these stairs we’ve done.

Of course, we’d probably have to stop eating hoteok and street waffles for that to happen, so probably not. One time, as we were trudging upwards, we were lapped by a bus, which made us realize there WAS a bus service up this vertical climb to death and kicked ourselves.

BURN.

Finally, we reached a village, that was hit hard by age and poverty. There were murals on the wall, you could see where someone had once cared, some places still tried to care, but it had a tired age to it. Somehow, this is not the Korea you see in Kdrama, not even with our saddest attic cat heroines. But it’s a reality that exists everywhere, and it was good to see it. We wandered the streets, looking at the paintings. Looking at the buildings patched together with bits of other buildings. Even here we were able to find a clean public bathroom and people who smiled and nodded to us.

The bus that passed us came back as we were getting ready to leave and we considered catching it but decided no, we’d come this far, by fudge we were going to walk back down. Stephanie and SaraG are no quitters!

Walking back down to the subway, we decided to catch a train towards another shopping area that the guidebooks had mentioned. We’d decided we had so much fun the day before poking and wandering, that we wanted to give it another go. This time we were in the large buildings of the fashion district, which was actually stall upon stall, floor upon floor of clothing sellers. Or, actually, sellers of everything you could think of. Knowing we’d already purchased more than would fit into our bags, we’d been on the lookout for a new bag to take home with us. We found it here in matching overnight bags, sold to us by an old man with rows and piles of various bags. While I believe on sight, Ms. Alix dubbed it a grandma bag, I love it and use it to this day.

The number of stalls just piled high with clothing was both amazing and overwhelming. The ahjummas who ran them mostly sat in bunches, eating or chatting to one another. Some of them talking to their friends/competitors across the piles. Many of them crouched in front of tiny TVs as they watched whatever drama was on. Some stalls were neatly organized, with sizes and a small variety of neatly cared for inventory, but for the most part? It was like a clothing free for all. Think your bed on laundry day. We had a fun time wandering through digging our way through piles, some of the saleswomen engaging, trying to get us to purchase, but most of them? They pretty much ignored us, we were tourists and not really welcome. This sounds like it’s a bad deal, but it’s not. We couldn’t communicate with them. A lot of the ladies were older, and to them, yeah, we probably were nuisances who were there just to look and not buy. We watched them as they went about their own lives, and we were not part of it. It was reality.

It was also overwhelming, and after about 2 buildings, I burnt out pretty fast. Luckily SaraG was good to go too, and we headed out.

From here we were not sure as to where to go next. We walked the Cheonggyecheon stream for a short time, the sounds of the stream and the people chilling beside it a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the buildings below. After some discussion, we decided to head back to Insadong and found our way back to the subway station. But not before a stop off at another one of the National Treasures. You know, popping by as one does. This is Heunginjimun Gate, the east gate of the Seoul City Wall. Just as impressive as it’s sister gate and it’s not at all irritated it has to share the top National Treasure spot with it. (Come on, I think these are probably worthy of their own, separate entries.)

Moving onwards, the path to Insadong was not quite as successful as other ones I’d lead us on, and we missed our stop by…a bunch and ended up coming back above ground at the Sejongno, Gwanghwamun Plaza. Which, for me, was perfect! Previously, I’d regretted that I hadn’t had a chance to see the two iconic statues up close, not through a dirty bus window. Luckily, SaraG was a trooper, and at my “Can we, please?” Was totally cool heading up there.

Interesting, as we walked up, we passed a Trump protest, or a shaming the Korean government for working with Trump protest. It was an interesting thing to experience as an American.

The statues were incredibly impressive as we looked at them in person. Your tv screen can’t really do them justice, especially with the background of modern technology, the places. It had an old meets new feel — which was fitting for this particular king.

One thing I do have to say is there was a large structure in front of the King Sejong statue, so you couldn’t really get a great straight-on shot. First, we thought it was for a certain event, but realized, nope, that shit was permanent. Hmmm… Seems like someone should have thought that stuff out in advance.

Once we got to the statue, we realized that there was actually a museum down beneath it. Sure, why not?

Underneath, we were pretty much the only ones there. We looked around, got a chance to sit on a throne replica, and learned about all the things King Sejong The Great did during his reign.

Spoiler alert? A lot! He was definitely one of those famed renaissance men, with varied skills and interests, or knew how to get the best from the skilled and interested people around him. Total Sungkyungkwan Scandal feels.

Heading back above ground, we continued our hunt for Insadong, which we knew was between the two palaces, but noting our luck finding the right palaces, this wasn’t as much of a slam dunk as you would think. We meandered the streets, dodging people who were busy about their day, just poking around….until we had the second most amazing moment of the day. (Remember our Milk Tea Coffee Prince?)

We’re wandering the streets, then suddenly looked up and, in the middle of this big city found a temple celebrating the lantern festival. It was actually a famous temple which was heavily listed on a lot of to-do lists, but here we are, whoops, there it is. It felt as if all of the temples we’d seen so far, in their various states of readiness had all been building up to this point. This quiet little nook in the big city, covered in lights. Respectful as there was a service going on, we ducked inside and took it all in. There was the main temple with a gate and a few outbuildings. A tree, it’s branches hidden by lanterns, covering it all.

It was beautiful. It was again one of those moments where it seemed like time just slowed down. A reward for our day. Amazing what a wrong subway stop, a wrong turn after a long day will get you.

After soaking in our fill, we continued on our way, even more, determined to find Insadong. And we did! We meandered the streets, finding some cute shops where, surprisingly, not only did SaraG find clothing to purchase, so did I! And on sale too!

Our stomachs told us it was time to find some food and we put our adventurer shoes on again, headed down the tiny alleyways, knowing we were doing our previous tour guide, Gloria proud, we found the more traditional section, peered into a restaurant, and jumped in. We chose a ‘set’ and some makkoli and waited. I loved the idea of a set (a pre-chosen menu) as I’d seen it in dramas several times. Ours was a small set, but you wouldn’t know it from the table full of food they placed before us.

We took turns trying everything, tiny dabs of all sorts of different foods, some we’d had before and some unfamiliar. It was a pretty great experience and, after that and much makkoli… Stephanie was a little tipsi.

Just a little.

Turns out, SaraG doesn’t love makkoli and who am I to let a bottle we paid for go to waste? The New Englander in me couldn’t let that stand.

Once we were done, we continued about our way on the streets, watching a non-Hongdae busker playing the violin. It was lovely. Tipsi Stephanie was very appreciative.

Deciding we’d had enough adventure for the day, we decided to head home. Though not before another trip to Hongdae for some chocolaty patbingsu.

Mmmmmm Tipsi Stephanie Likes.

Korean Adventure Day Thirteen: Milk Tea Coffee Prince Surprising lack of images to go along with this post. Turns out, when one is shopping, one forgets to document for posterity.

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y-rem · 5 years ago

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#coreedusud#southkorea#seoul#travel#voyageurbain#urban#rue#street#graffiti#tag#graffitiwall#muralart#muralpainting#artcontemporain#photography#photographiederue#urbanart#urbanphotography#photographie#photographe#photography#streetart (à Ihwa Mural Village) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzSIwWgIUl1/?igshid=tlmm40iqugc3

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comettravels · 6 years ago

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Hi do you have any recommandation places in seoul?? You have really nice pictures btw!!

Hi there! Thanks alot :)

Depends what you like! There’s something for everyone in Seoul!

Main tourist attractions

Gyeongbokgung palace (free entry if you go in a hanbok [traditional korean garment]; plenty of places nearby to rent one!)

Bukchon Hanok Village (pretty traditional houses and cute shops)

Namsan tower (make sure to avoid weekends and go a couple hours before sunset to watch the sunset!)

or alternatively Lotte Tower (personally i have not been but it is attached to Lotte mall/aquarium and closeby Lotte World [amusement park])

Parks

Yeouido park (bike by Han river! first choice to see cherry blossoms)

Seokchon Lake (right by Lotte World; second choice to see cherry blossoms)

Cheonggyecheon (stream in the middle of the city, very nice oasis)

Seoul forest (this one is definitely not touristy. mostly see locals go here with their children and dogs)

Markets

Tongin Market (buy coins and trade in for food/drinks at diff stalls!)

Gwangjang Market (huge traditional market with stalls selling food, fabric, hanboks, souveniers)

Namdaemun market (traditional market)

Dongdaemun market

Nightlife

Hongdae (this one i love! lots of buskers at night, but they have a noise restriction after a certain time [~2200hrs]. it’s mostly high schoolers/university age performers and audience. also lots of street food and cheap trendy shopping open late)

Itaewon (foreigner district for food during the day but by night a mix of bars and clubs)

Gangnam (I personally have not been here for nightlife but less foreigners and more ‘higher end’ crowd”)

Shopping

Myeongdong (has all your main chain makeup and clothing shops but heavy tourist are)

Hongdae (trendy cheap clothing)

Ewha/Edae (trendy cheap clothing since this is a female university area)

Garosugil (upscale boutiques, also has many nice cafes !)

COEX mall

Other

Ihwa Mural Art Village

Hope that helped! And please let me know if you go to any of these ! ;)

#ask #q and a #south korea #seoul

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stacylaughs · 6 years ago

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Bye, Korea

I taught English in Busan, Korea for a year, ending June 2011. I remember the dread I felt flying to Portland then. I left Portland again and returned to Korea February 2013. I felt like I was home. Since then, I’ve quit teaching and I’ve been working remotely for almost four years. When I flew back to Portland in August 2017, without any intention of coming back to South Korea, butterflies (different from before) filled my stomach.

I love Korea and it’s been a great experience living there. I love learning more about where I come from and improving on the language. I also know in my heart that I’m American and that I want to create my home in the U.S.

For the last month in Korea, I walked around as if in a trance. I can’t believe how much time has passed and how much life has changed. I miss singing along with my appliances (i.e. rice cooker and washing machine) and waking up with tinfoil in my bed because I fell asleep eating kimbap.

I feel nostalgic for a time, as well as places, which is an overwhelming feeling. It’s scary to think of returning to Korea, and think of the last time I left, as if no time had passed at all. Time goes fast, life is short, and the impermanence of things is hitting me harder than it ever has.

I did SO much in Korea, met amazing people, ate all the things, and had amazing experiences. But, still, I know I can’t do everything I wanted to do or do things again. There are so many places to go in this world, but maybe I’ll be back. Because I obsessively make lists, here’s a list of places I wanted to experience but didn’t make the time for:

Andong Traditional Folk Village - Rural Korea is a sharp contrast from the fast-paced neon and concrete cityscapes. I never went to the mask festival at the end of September and beginning of October each year. Apparently this is the town for some awesome chicken, as well.

Anyang Art Park (안양예술공원) - This a cool park in Anyang City that's free and a photo dream. You can get off at Anyang Station (Line 1) and take bus number 2 to the park. It's a very large place and it might be a bit confusing, but so many photo worthy spots. Definitely wear walking shoes and bring water in this heat!

Beopgi basin - Nestled in the mountains just 45 minutes north of Busan. Renting a car and visiting Hongryong Falls (홍룡폭포) would be a great way to spend a day.

Beopjusa temple stay - Literally “Mountain Removed from Worldliness,” Songnisan is where the 7th-century Buddhist Beopjusa temple is still located. It has the largest buddha in Korea.

Bukchon Village - I’ve been here before but really wanted to visit this picturesque neighborhood again. It’s flanked by two palaces —Gyeongbok Palace to the west and Changdeok Palace to the east— this village has the largest cluster of privately owned traditional Korean wooden homes or hanok in Seoul. The easiest way to get to Bukchon in Seoul is to go out Anguk Station (subway line 3) Exit 3.

Cheongdo - I probably couldn’t stomach the bull fights but I always wanted to see the Wine Tunnel (와인 터널).

I really wanted to go to Chuncheon/Gapyeong again just to eat the Dak Galbi (닭갈비). I could eat dalkkalbi every day, and it really is the best where it was invented. The two best places are “Tong Na Mu Jip” and “1.5.″

I’ve been to Geoje several times, but, yeah, I want to go again. I’d love to hike up Mt. Daegumsan, take a short boat ride to Oedo Island, and ride the zipline at Deokpo Beach.

I visited my friend Anne in Suwon when she was teaching a camp there, but I didn’t have the time to explore the Hwaseong Fortress (수원 화성) or Toilet Museum.

Jeonju - I’d like to try the bibimbap and visit the Hanok Village (전주 한옥마을).

Jirisan - What a shame that I never made it to the top of this mountain. I’ll always cherish the lovely trips I’ve had out there and only wish I could have spent more time there.

Kimchi Museum - I walked by this place so many times in Insadong but never went. Where else in the world will you be able to go to a museum solely dedicated to the Korean staple, kimchi? Kimchi, or seasoned fermented vegetables, is at the heart of Korean culture and its food and is usually eaten with every meal. There are 187 different documented types, ranging from kimchi of different ripeness levels to water kimchi, cucumber kimchi, and radish kimchi varieties. In addition, it is not uncommon for Korean households to have refrigerators solely dedicated for the storage of kimchi. At the museum, you can taste 7-8 different types of kimchi, view bacteria found in kimchi under a microscope, and even learn how to make kimchi in the education room.

Oh, to see Kyeongju again. Korea used to be divided into three major kingdoms (Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo) until the Silla kingdom conquered the other kingdoms and made Gyeongju the capital. Gyeongju remained the capital of this region for approximately 1000 years, leading to the creation of a number of archaeological treasures that are well worth your time.

On several visits to Seoul, I missed out visiting a Hanbok Cafe in Insadong or the Princess Diary Cafe outside Exit 3 of the Ehwa Women’s University subway station. These dress cafes give you the opportunity to wear a Korean traditional dress or wedding dress at rental prices of 15,000₩ ~ 40,000₩ an hour.

The Robo Life Museum in Pohang does require a reservation but looks pretty awesome. Some are miniature robots programmed to be Psy back up dancers, some are robotic fish that swim, and some are robotic seals designed for therapy.

Seonyudo sits off the west coast of the peninsula, 90 minutes from Gunsan by boat.

Seoraksan again. It was so lovely in the fall --but I see endless beauty in every season.

Seoul Fortress Trail, the Naksan section covers an enjoyable scenic route from Hansung University Station and the Hyehwa Gate traveling south alongside Naksan Park and Ihwa Mural Village until you arrive in the crowded, neon streets of Dongdaemun with the landmark Dongdaemun Gate at the foot of the pathway. The route itself doesn’t take too long to cover with sunset a recommended time to visit so as to enjoy the spectacular views across the city at their finest. Accessible from Hansung University Station, Seoul Subway Line 4 Exit 4.

Seoul Palaces - There are a lot of them (e.g. Gyeonghui Palace. Deoksugung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Gyeongbokgung) and many are near each other. I always planned to see them all but ultimately got a distracted or bored.

Seoul Forest - This park was opened in 2005 and features absolute beauty. It’s a bit of a trip from downtown Seoul, but I’ve heard it has five connected parks and it’s possible to see deer Located outside Seoul Forest Station (Subway Bundang Line) Exit 3.

Ujeon Beach in “Slow City”

Controversy aside, I wanna see Ulleungdo + Dokdo.

Uponeup (우포늪) is the largest and oldest wetland area in Korea, a protected area that dates back to times when dinosaurs ruled the world. A favouite with Korean photographers due to the unspoiled setting and views that the wetlands offer up, it sounds like a romantic weekend.

Yeosu is a port city on South Korea’s East China Sea coast. I haven’t researched what to do there but I’ve always wanted to visit.

I don’t know much about the city of Yulpo but when my friend Allison went, she couldn’t wait to share: “I just spent three days there and visited the big tea plantation ten minutes away (TWICE!). It's a tiny farm village next to an empty beach. And there is a green tea spa on the beach. It was heaven.”

Alright, Korea, maybe next time.

#byekorea #korea #korearound3 #travel #travelkorea

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whatsjenniupto · 6 years ago

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12 Free Things to See in Seoul

The Seoul Blend is quite unique. Traditional houses and alleys lead right up to the base of sky scrapers. Street food stalls line walkways with towering department stores. Best of all the city is filled with free things to do leaving your travel budget to be consumed by food, all the food.

1. Cheonggyecheon Stream 청계천 The bustle of Seoul never ends, but ducking below street level to Cheonggyecheon Stream provides a lovely break. The 11km walkway showcases public art installations, stepping stone walkways, waterfalls, and an amazing juxtaposition of relaxation and activity. Eleven kilometers too daunting? Join the stream in the middle and go right one night and left the next.

2. Dongdaemun Design Plaza 동대문디자인플라자 When Seoul decided to re-envision the purpose of Dongdaemun Stadium, the city hosted a design competition for architects to create the new landmark. Zaha Hadid’s powerful structure won the honor and opened in 2014. The DDP hosts numerous exhibitions, shows, and events throughout the year making it a must-stop on any Seoul visit.

Seoul Subway Lines 2, 4 and 5 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station 동대문역사문화공원역, Exit 1.

3. Ihwa Mural Village Another area in the city rehabilitated in the early 2000′s is Ihwa Mural Village that has since battled with the influx of tourists. Many of the incredible murals which were visible for years have been painted over and removed by residents. Climbing up to the village will still provide an amazing view of Seoul and there are murals remaining, but tread quietly.

Seoul Subway Line 4 to Hyehwa Station 혜화역, Exit 2.

4. Seoul City Walls 한양도성 A short stroll away from Ihwa Mural Village stand the city walls constructed back in the 1300s. The original walls extend for almost 19km through the city’s hills, but even a walk along a small portion provides that famous Seoul blend of new and old.

Seoul Subway Line 3 to Anguk Station 안국역, Exit 2 or Lines 1 and 4 to Dongdaemun Station 동대문역, Exits 1 or 10.

5. Insadong 인사동 The alleys of Insadong are known for their restaurants and galleries, and it was here that I ducked into a restaurant tucked back in a corner that had galbitang 갈비탕 on the menu. After the amazing galbitang of our first night in Busan, I wanted another round. Was the food delicious? Yes. Did it involve twelve impromptu training sessions (all in Korean) by the waitress who felt I was still not eating the food correctly? Also yes. To be fair, the soup came with chopsticks, tongs, a spoon, scissors, two extra plates, a dipping sauce, and a large vat of rice, plus the apparent supposed understanding of a decent amount of finger use. I basically had no chance which therefore must mean that I should go back and try again.

Seoul Subway Line 1 to Jonggak Station 종각역, Exit 3 or Line 3 to Anguk Station 안국역, Exit 6.

6. Jogyesa Temple 조계사 As the seat of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Jogyesa Temple is one of the most famous temples in Korea. The grounds are home to numerous ceremonies throughout the year and are colorfully decorated with lanterns and flowers.

Seoul Subway Line 1 to Jonggak Station 종각역, Exit 2; Line 3 to Anguk Station 안국역, Exit 6; or Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station 광화문역, Exit 2.

7. Gwanghwamun Square 광화문광장 Gwanghwamun Square is an open plaza dedicated to Korean history with Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukaksan Mountain in the background -- and yet which country has officers two deep lining the entire block and wielding fire extinguishers and giving everyone the stink eye? Yet another time I tried to look as unAmerican as possible. Can all of our embassies please be moved into unobtrusive corners?

1) Seoul Subway Lines 1 and 2 to City Hall Station 시청역, Exit 3. 2) Seoul Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station 경복궁역, Exits 6 and 7. 3) Seoul Subway Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station 광화문역, Exits 1, 2, and 8.

8. Bukchon Hanok Village 북촌한옥마을 The neighborhood in between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces is filled with hundreds of traditional Korean hanok homes. Many of the hanoks have been converted into cute tea houses and cafes with each tiny street begging to be explored.

Seoul Subway Line 3 to Anguk Station 안국역, Exit 1 or 2.

9. War Memorial of Korea 전쟁기념관 In exchange for my undesire to head to the DMZ for a tour, I decided to quickly visit the War Memorial of Korea. I then became incredibly upset with myself for not having arrived earlier because I had to scoot through some of the rooms before the museum closed. There are thousands of artifacts from the war here as well as numerous interactive exhibits -- aka, there’s nothing quick about a visit here. There’s way too much to learn and experience.

Seoul Subway Line 6 to Samgakji Station 삼각지역, Exits 1, 11, or 12; or Line 1 to Namyeong Station 남영역, Exit 1. Hours: 9:00-18:00 (Last admission at 17:00)

10. Seoul Olympic Park 올림픽공원 Park, sports facilities, sculptures, museums -- Olympic Park has it all. The former Olympic grounds can easily occupy an entire afternoon with history dating back to the Baekje period of Korean history (18 BC – 660 AD).

Seoul Subway Line 5 to Olympic Park Station 올림픽공원역, Exit 3, or Line 8 to Mongchontoseong Station 몽촌토성역, Exit 1.

11. Myeongdong Cathedral 명동대성당 How often can you find gothic revival architecture in Asia? While the architecture style is found in many Asian countries, it’s not quite as common as on other continents. The Myeongdong Cathedral, officially the Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception, is the first gothic cathedral in Korea, completed in 1898, and is the seat for the Archbishop of Seoul.

Seoul Subway Line 4 to Myeongdong Station 명동역, Exit 8, or Line 2 to Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station 을지로입구역, Exit 5.

12. Visit a Grand Palace Five palaces dot the center of Seoul, dutifully reconstructed after the wars of the 20th century. While only one palace is actually free to enter, Gyeonghuigung Palace 경희궁, the remaining four have fees ranging from KRW 1000-3000 (USD 1-3). I entered the courtyard of Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁 (as far as you can get for free), decided it was a madhouse I didn’t want to experience and moved on to nearby Changdeokgung Palace 창덕궁 which was much calmer. The remaining two palaces are Changgyeonggung 창경궁 and Deoksugung 덕수궁.

#asia #south korea #seoul

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