Love Padlocks in Namsan Park |
Arriving in at 5am after a night of good burgers (ok so I ate Korean food for ALMOST the whole weekend) and a cool little basement bar, I knew I would be in a fragile state when I woke up.
The next day with the bonus
of a slight hangover (although not as bad as expected), we headed up into
Namsan Park to enjoy the stunning views from the top of the N Seoul Tower. In a
country proud of its ‘real’ seasons, the different golden shades of leaves reminded us
that winter was on its way as we enjoyed the uphill walk. At the top of the
park, a traditional festival and the surrounding crowds greeted us before we
headed to the famous ‘love locks’ that covered the fencing. It was an
incredible sight to see so many people declaring their love for each other
overlooking the city. The 9,000 Won ticket to the top of the tower was worth
it, even if just for the opportunity to look out the floor to ceiling window
when you pee.
With a beautiful sunset, we
walked back down and headed to Itaewon, Seoul’s primary expat district, for my
first experience with Galbi, a Korean dish of beef or pork, cooked at your
table and wrapped in lettuce leaves. Another one of Korea’s tasty dishes which
also serves as a fun way to socialize, it was to be the last opportunity I had
to learn about Korean food. We headed back to the hotel before then going on to
Seoul station for Laura’s train back to Asan.
Traditional village homes in Bukchon Hanok Village |
Determined to see as much of
the city as possible, I woke up early the next day to walk into the quaint
Bukchon Hanok Village, a small area of Seoul just north of Insadong with
traditional Korean buildings. It was the perfect opportunity to feel like you
were in traditional Korea rather than just the modern sights of a big city.
After some great photo opportunities, I headed back to Insadong for my last
attempt at Korean food, this time I knew what I was ordering, a far cry from my
first day in this big city.
The coach back to the airport
was quick and before long I was hunting for some Korean treats in duty free for
the guys back at work. During my trip, I hadn’t been able to do the DMZ tour
out to the border of North Korea, however, I know I will be back. Korea is such
a great place and with so much to do, I’ll be making sure to fit South and North Korea
(somehow) into my next trip to North East Asia for certain.
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